To hear some Christians talk, you'd think the ultimate in Christian living is to be in poverty. I understand that simplicity is a good thing - eliminating things from your life that you don't really need or things that take your focus off of Jesus. But I have a really hard time reading the Bible and coming to the conclusion that God wants people to be poor.
Some people choose a life of poverty for noble reasons. So that they can be missionaries in foreign lands. So that they can live among the "least of these." So that they are not tempted by materialism.
But it's interesting to read story after story in the Bible of how God blesses faithful people with money and material things. This certainly should not be our expectation in following Jesus, but we shouldn't expect poverty either.
In today's reading from Proverbs 21:20, God's Word says this: The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
Wealthy people are certainly capable of achieving their means in sinful ways. Just check the news to see about the latest Ponzi scheme or corporate CEO that got rich off of deceit and sin. But financial wealth and luxury also comes with wisdom, which is what the whole Book of Proverbs is about - living wisely and honoring God in all that we do.
Wealth does not HAVE to equal greed and conceit. Both of my brothers are really, really smart guys and have used their wisdom to make nice careers for themselves. They have probably already made more than I will make in a lifetime of ministry. I have good friends that pay cash for everything and don't have any debts. They have used their wisdom and strong work ethics to honor God and achieve wealth and luxury.
What differentiates them though is that they realize ALL that they have is from God. They live very comfortably, but they are also very Kingdom-minded people. They invest in Kingdom causes. They use their wisdom and experience in their churches for the benefit of thousands of people. They not only give generously, they LIVE generously. They don't hoard their wealth, but they spread it around and realize that they are stewards of what they've been given.
In Acts 2, one of the hallmarks of the earliest believers was their generosity. The Word says that they gave to others who were in need, and everybody's needs were met. Yet we're not told that anybody had to live in poverty, or that their financial wealth had diminished.
I believe these words in Proverbs. I believe that God honors those who are wise and work hard with wealth and luxury. God did that for people in Scripture, and He continues to do it today. You don't ever have to apologize for what God has given you, unless you've earned it through illicit means. Instead be thankful that God has given you wisdom, ability and skills to make money and enjoy life. And realize that He has given these things to you so that you can bless others.
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