GIF What Is Wealth?

“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.”

(Ecclesiastes 5:19).

What Is Wealth?
by Larry Burkett

How well do you understand God’s attitude about wealth? There is so much religious folklore in the financial realm that few Christians understand what is from God’s Word and what is not.

There are approximately 700 direct references to money in the Bible and hundreds more indirect references. Nearly two-thirds of all the parables Christ left us deal with the use of money. After studying these verses we have to conclude that God equates our use of wealth with our commitment to Him.

God gives us financial principles in His Word, and that’s exactly what they are: principles, not laws. He will not punish anyone for violations. Those who fail simply will not receive His blessings in the area of finances and will suffer along with the unbeliever.

Historically, wealth has been related to ownership, but wealth is also related to our creative ability and our credit or borrowing ability: the trust others have in us. Thus wealth becomes an extension of our personalities. It can be used creatively—to spread the Gospel and build hospitals and churches—or it can be wasted on frivolous activities. It can even be corruptive—to purchase influence—or destructive—to buy guns and bombs.

Wealth is neither moral nor immoral. There is no inherent virtue in poverty or in wealth. Rather, God condemns our preoccupation with wealth.

We must learn to trust God in every circumstance, believing that He loves us and gives us only what we can handle without being tempted beyond what we can withstand.

God may use money as a testing ground of your true willingness to surrender yourself to Him. Will you pass the test?

Daily Scripture Reading:

Song of Songs