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Wealth is a State of Mind

Money is only a part of wealth. Money is what is used as a measuring rod for someone who is poor. God wants us to be wealthy. He sent his Son to die on the cross so we can be wealthy. Perhaps you are saying, “Rick, how can that be? There are still poor in this world. Are they not saved because they are poor?” Not at all! However, there are those who use the crutch of disbelief to stay in their current circumstances. Paul said, “. . . I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Phil 4:12).” Paul is not saying to quit trying or give up. He is saying be content in your current circumstances. In other words, keep the attitude that God is in control no matter what state you are in. Have faith that God has your best at heart.

I have come under scrutiny in the past few weeks for believing that God wants his children to be wealthy. In fact, it has been said that I am twisting the Word of God. Let’s examine the argument of 1 Timothy 6 for a moment.  

There are those who believe that if one is not rich he or she is not righteous. Evidently, there are those who believe that one must be poor to be righteous as well. Neither is true! Unfortunately, many try to balance the scales with each other’s opposite argument. When someone tries to explain the goodness of God’s desire for us to be wealthy, they are challenged by those who believe God does not have the power to bless his children. The extreme right and left can only balance those who listen to both sides. However, both of the extremes will view only what they want to support their own argument. Both stay extremely wrong, floundering in their own misconceptions.

A good example of only one side of the Word resides in 1 Tim 6. 1 Timothy 6:3-10 says:

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

The above Scripture is an excellent Scripture to make the case for remaining poor. If one keeps the Scripture in its current context, which is out of context, one is convinced that we should not strive to be more than we are right now. The above Scripture is a warning for all of those who “seek” after money for their own gain.

However, if one places the remaining Scripture with the above text one gets an entirely different picture. One gets the picture Paul was painting for the reader.

1 Timothy 6:11-19 says:

 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,      endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Those who would want God’s children to remain poor forget about the rest of the Scripture. Did you read the part that says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

God “provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” It is not sinful to be rich any more than it is to be poor. The conflict comes with those who do not get the point of the Scripture at all. The point of the entire argument is not whether one is rich or poor. The point of the argument is for one to seek after God. If one seeks after God, God will bless him or her as he sees fit.

A common favorite argument is the one that says, “What about people in impoverished countries? They cannot become wealthy.” Of course they can. However, we cannot measure the wealth of other countries by the wealth of the richest country in the world.

Wealth is a state of mind. Paul says, “With food and clothing be content (1 Timothy 6:8).” The poor thinker will take this verse and say, “This is all I can expect, therefore I will stay poor.” The rich thinker will take the same verse and understand that we are be content in the current state we are in, but realizing God has bigger plans for us. The rich thinker will strive to do more for God and work to further his work. The poor thinker can do no more than wait for God to take his life. In fact, it can be said that the poor thinker is not content. The poor thinker wants better, but has been convinced by well-meaning individuals that he cannot, not should he, expect more than what he has. He should sit back and wait for the day he or she is taken home.

Which of the above examples do you believe will do better for the Kingdom of God? You do not have to believe me. Look at the parable of the talents. In Matthew 25, Jesus gave a parable about three men. The master gave each one talents (money) to be in charge of, according to each one’s ability. To one he gave 5 talents, to another he gave two and the last he gave one. When the master returned, the first two had used the talents and doubled them. The last did nothing; he simply buried the talents and did not use them at all. When the master returned he was extremely excited about how the first two had invested their talents. However, the last did not trust the master and feared what might be done if he lost his talents. The master rebuked him and had him thrown out.

The above parable is not an example of proof of the argument to be rich or poor. It is an argument that says you must continuously give to God what he has given you. But at no time does the Scripture advocate the believer to remain dormant and do nothing. The “poor” argument advocates for a Believer to be content and do nothing. The “rich” argument advocates for a Believer to be rich and do more.

If you have Jesus in your heart, you are richer than can ever be imagined by the world. God has given you the ability to reach out and do great things for the Kingdom of God. If you succumb to the “poor” argument, you are not pleasing God. If you strive to trust and believe God for the great things he has for you he will say to you, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

In other words, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you (Matt 6:33).” Do not be afraid to trust God and seek to do great and mighty things for the Kingdom of God.