Is Being Rich A Sin?
Is it a sin to become rich? Is it a sin to be wealthy? What does God consider rich? This is potentially a confusing conversation when scriptures are twisted in either direction. Together we will explore both sides of the coin, so to speak.
First, is being rich a sin? In the New Testament the Apostle Paul wrote to the early church that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, ( First Timothy 6:10 NIV) He declared, in the same verse that some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
It is not simply having money that is evil but loving money more than God. The writer of the book of Hebrews (13:5) states: ‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”’
In Genesis chapter 12, Abram (eventually known as Abraham) was told by God to leave his homeland of Ur and go to a place that God would show him. Due to his obedience, God blessed Abram with great wealth which is explained in chapter 13 and throughout his life story.
What Does God Consider Rich?
Genesis 12:2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 13:5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.
Deuteronomy 8:18 says, But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
This verse shows God’s desire to bless His children with great wealth. It is expressly a blessing from Him because He loves His children. He alone knows the heart and can determine the direction in which the receiver will take that wealth. He has continued to bless those He has chosen, even though we as human beings often forget Him and turn our love toward the blessing instead of the Blesser.
Joseph was given great authority and material wealth, as He listened to God and continued to honor Him even when Joseph was in prison. After being made second in command of Egypt, he was able to save all of Egypt and the countries surrounding it by storing up the harvest for seven years in preparation for the seven years when famine would threaten the vast majority of the world as they knew it.
Is it A Sin To Become Rich?
As it is in the physical world it is in the Kingdom of God, it takes money to expand the Kingdom. In order to do good deeds no matter the reason, the resources are necessary. Rich people are nohttps://shop.troybrewer.com/
t always doers of good deeds, nor are they all bad people.
A rich person may desire to do some wonderful action such as saving young children from sexual slavery and not know exactly how to go about stopping the horrifying actions. So, they may give to a good foundation already saving children from the life of pain and horror and allowing them to heal and learn and continue on in life to become more than they realized was possible. (See troybrewer.odx.tv)
Wealthy people having a lot of money may choose to use it only to gratify their own desires for material possessions. This would be what is known as a love of money. The simple answer is that saving a whale or a child neither are what is required to have eternal life in Heaven. (Find out more about that here.)
There are wealthy Christians that give to the Kingdom of Heaven and still fall into the trap of trusting in the uncertainty of riches. They love God and yet live outside of their means. Worldly goods and worldly success have given them a false sense of security and this may cause the rich believers to fall into traps of fear when the economy shifts. (What does the Bible say about fear? Find out here.)
The pursuit of wealth rather than the pursuit of God’s plan as the ultimate goal is the basis of the prosperity gospel. It is called God’s favor and is what we are encouraged to chase.
Obtaining and keeping a good job, making extra money and saving it in a bank account are all prime examples of God’s blessings in these last days. Being a wealthy person, poor people, or a part of the middle class are all relative terms in this present age.
Is It Better To Be Rich?
Separating us according to our monetary value is shameful according to the Word of God. The Old Testament gives the 613 laws and in Leviticus 19:15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
And in the New Testament, James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Is Being Rich A Sin in The Bible?
It is not the rich man’s wealth that is sinful, it is the favor we show a man of great material possessions. That favor is what we as humans long for and when we see the abundance of his riches, no matter how he obtained it, we are filled with the harmful desires of lust for his perceived financial security.
In the same token, it is not guaranteed that the poor widow is assuredly doing good works. In other words our earthly riches or the absence of money do not necessarily determine our forever home.
Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Examples of wealthy men in the Bible
King Solomon
(1 Kings 3) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” … 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,
12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
His heart was sincere and humble. He did not deny the throne of his father, David and he didn’t try to get out of it. He did not rush toward all the wealth and glory, he instead asked for discernment and wisdom to follow God’s ultimate plan for him and his people.
The Rich Young Ruler
In contrast to King Solomon, this young ruler was not named. Matthew 19 tells his story, 16Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,
19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
This wealthy, but spiritually poor man, had gained the whole world and would lose his own soul. His love of much money was more than his love for God.
Joseph of Arimathea
As my final example, John 19:37 Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
This man both feared and honored the Jewish religious leadership, and trusted God. He did not leave his wealth behind to follow after God, but used it to honor His Son when most everyone had abandoned Him.
The Most Important Things:
When we begin to seek God’s Kingdom and maintain the desire to be stewards of what God has purposed for us, we will be able to stay away from all kinds of greed. We can remain humble as we accept that we are God’s workmanship covered by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be used for God’s glory.
Then, as with all of God’s ways, we will be free of the fear of eternal punishment and freedom of the day of wrath giving us instead a good measure, ( lots of money to further His Kingdom as well as supply our needs; Holy Spirit joy, power, and freedom; health and the desires of our heart) pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Contentment with our daily bread and a genuine fervor to do volunteer acts of service in the name of my God rather than our own name. In this present world of income inequality, where the wages of the laborers demand that our cries reach the ears of the Lord of Hosts; we know that He hears and answers our prayers.
P.S. (Plain and Simple) Is Being Rich A Sin?
At the end of the day it is very simple. God’s desire is that His children be blessed to be a blessing and that their hearts chase after the One giving the blessings rather than the blessing itself. It is not at all a sin to obtain great wealth; it is however a sin to love wealth more than we love God.