grapevine8

The Grapevine

Wealth
by Jack Northart

Wealth is a word or term that is used quite frequently to describe material gain or riches. When someone thinks of a "wealthy person" they get a mind picture of a mansion, a Rolls Royce, several homes all over the world and of course, lots of money and power. The average person who sees this from the outside is many times envious of such things. But when we go to God's Word, we see a very true and clear perspective that we as believers should have on these things.

   1Timothy 6: 17 & 18
   Charge them that are rich in this world, that
   they be night highminded, nor trust in uncertain
   riches, but in the living God, who giveth us
   richly   all things to enjoy. That they do good,
   that they be rich in good works, ready to
distribute, willing to communicate.

In any group of people, including Christians, there will be some more prosperous than others. The Word of God declares that prosperity is a blessing of God, (3John2). However, those who have an abundance of material things are to have the right attitude toward them and use them properly. Very few people can really handle great material wealth because the tendency of humans is for a man to put his trust in his money rather than in God. Too often those who have material wealth place their trust in the stock market or bank account or some other investment rather than in God who gives all things richly.

   James 2:5
   Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God
   chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and
   heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to
   them that love him?

To be rich in faith or believing is a far greater thing than having an abundance of material possessions. To be an heir of God is of much greater importance than to be an heir to some great worldly fortune. As believers we should rejoice in this because this is the true perspective of how little material things matter compared to the spiritual riches that God has blessed us with.


The rich believer, the one blessed with much in the world, should rejoice that all he accumulates in the world is going to pass away as the grass is withered by the burning sun and the beauty of its appearance perishes. The book of Acts illustrates how the believers responded to material abundance and were not in bondage to material possessions.

   Acts 4:32
   And the multitude of them that believed were of
   one heart and of one soul: neither said any of
   them that ought of the things which he
   possessed was his own; but they had all things
   common.

To be immeasurably happier and healthier, a man must have freedom in getting, spending, giving and serving. It is right in society for every job to offer a full, interesting, and useful life for the believer, and the opportunity for the free development of the individual. A worker must take an interest, a pride in his work and exercise his greatest ability to develop his total life. To have the ability to put in a good day's work should be one of the greatest satisfactions of our life. A slothful man who works just enough to get by, has fallen into a very dangerous vice and, if habitually yielded to, brings about the fatal destruction of his character. (See Proverbs 12:24, 13:4, 15:19, 18:9.)

True wealth, tempered by believing in the One True God, puts a man in a position in his own life to be able to give abundantly, thus acknowledging his total dependence upon God. If it was given by God in the first place, then it can be given by God again and again and again. No one is ever poorer for giving of his material abundance and wealth. You cannot out-give God!

   Malachi 3:10
   Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
   there may be meat in mine house, and prove
   me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I
   will not open you the windows of heaven, and
   pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be
   room enough to receive it.

Believers who tithe out of a cheerful heart demonstrate to themselves and to God, that HE is the source of all abundance & wealth in their lives. And to tithe is a way of life for the believer, not just a "whenever I can afford it" scenario. We must see this as a great principle in God's Word.
As it states in Malachi, PROVE ME NOW. So what are we afraid of? That God isn't being truthful here? It's a promise, folks. God will pour out blessings that you don't have enough room to receive! Health is the ability to work and prosperity is the ability to give. This is the true definition of wealth in a believer's life.

Return to main page