The desire to be rich is probably a desire that most people experience, and which controls their thinking, their time and their energy. Let us examine a little of what men say about this and also what God says about it in His Word.
One religious leader openly preaches that there is a biblical imperative to making money. Another brazenly says, "God wants you to be rich." Still another one argues, "If we are all poor, who is going to help the poor?”
Those who preach money and material wealth certainly find that saying such things is very popular and gains much attention. It even adds to their own wealth. One man said it this way: "It used Lobe that I thought if I make a lot of money, I'll be happy. Now I say that if I'm happy, I'll make a lot of money.”
Next we will examine a little of what God has to say in His Word of these things. Any careful reader of the Bible knows something of the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, God was working with and testing a people to bring blessing to them as His earthly people. For that people, then, all was conditional. The results were either blessing or cursing.
All started with an "if" and depended on obedience to God and His Word.
We recommend that you read Deuteronomy 28. Verse 1 says, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth." Many blessings on earth are added. But then it changes at verse 15; instead of blessings for obedience, there are curses for disobedience. We ask you, Did they obey and get the blessings? No, they did not, but rather they got the curses. The very last word in the Old Testament is curse.
In these days in which we now live, God is saving people for heaven, and soon Christ will come to take all His own there. Meanwhile, there are promises given to us and they are sure in Christ who has bought everything. He Himself waits to take possession of "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (Eph. 1:1818The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)).
There is the privilege now to live for Christ and to labor not to be rich, but rather labor to give to him that is in need (Eph. 4:2828Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28)). The Lord said when He was here, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:3535I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)). We ought to realize that earthly riches are not forever (Prov. 27:24; 23:524For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? (Proverbs 27:24)
5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5)). In 1 Corinthians 7:3131And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (1 Corinthians 7:31) we read, "This world passeth away.”
In fact, instead of promising riches now, the Lord gives us this promise: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)). Ed.