20th October , 2006

RUSSELL STUBBINGS

The debate regarding Christians and wealth is one that can have a polarising effect. There are those who argue that Christians should be rich, that God wants to bless His people, and that being wealthy enables one to give generously to the poor and other worthy charities and projects. A prominent Australian Christian leader titles his book You Need More Money while a renowned evangelist who now runs a motivational speaking consultancy urges us to have “millionaire mindsets”. The message of prosperity is blared loudly from many pulpits throughout the Western world.

But what does the Bible teach about wealth and riches? Does God want us to be rich or poor, or is the issue more about our attitude towards money? A balanced Christian perspective on this issue needs to reflect Biblical teachings about money and wealth, an understanding of God’s heart for the poor, and an ethical consideration of the vast gap in wealth between those fortunate enough to be born in developed countries such as the United States and Australia, and those born in Third World countries where poverty and suffering are a way of life.

PICTURE: Max Blain(www.iStockphoto.com) "Quite simply, if God wants believers to be rich, why then are there so many destitute, poor believers in developing countries? Or, does God only want those in developed countries to be wealthy?"

A recent Time magazine article titled 'Does God Want You To Be Rich?' brings the issue to broader public attention. Whilst exploring the issue from a range of viewpoints, a definitive answer is not offered, yet, one can’t help but feel challenged, maybe even offended, by the wealth doctrine espoused by “successful” pastors such as Joel Osteen. The article explores the usual justifications for the wealth Gospel including the notion that Jesus came to bring us abundant life (drawn from John 10:10), having wealth allows believers to bless others, and lack of resources limits benevolence.

At the same time, the writers do not seem convinced by this rhetoric. There is a nagging doubt about the wealth Gospel that permeates the article, and despite the seemingly valid justifications, there remains a lack of conviction. Quite simply, if God wants believers to be rich, why then are there so many destitute, poor believers in developing countries? Or, does God only want those in developed countries to be wealthy? The message of the wealth teachers is full of anomalies and contradictions.

How do we measure riches?
Unfortunately we in the Western world tend to measure riches in terms of money and possessions. We speak of wealth accumulation, investment strategies, superannuation funds, gearing, and financial independence as if these things are gods themselves. The Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and we all freely and readily confess that we don’t love money, and money itself is not evil. But, is it truly possible to live in the West and actually not love money?

Most of us ignore the previous verse, and the whole context of the passage, which teaches that a desire to gain wealth, or wanting to become rich, is evidence that we love money. The same passage teaches about contentment, and the traps that befall those who desire to get rich, including the possibility of straying form the faith. Interestingly, verse three warns against false teachings and doctrines, going on to condemn those who confuse godliness with financial gain. This should be warning enough that a desire for wealth brings snares and traps which no-one is immune from.

I recently attended an investment expo in Melbourne where numerous companies espoused their secrets of wealth accumulation. Property experts and investment schemes, share market gurus, retirement planners, mortgage brokers, franchise operators and a whole bunch of slick salesmen presented their ideas about generating personal wealth.

As a Christian, I experienced a sense of inner turmoil. Why? I know the Bible requires me to be a good steward of what God gives me, but I also know that there is a very real danger that a love of money can readily creep into one’s life. I also know that Jesus teaches that it is hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven. I’m also aware that money can be a trap and a distraction from God’s work. How does all this balance out? There is a very real tension between Godly stewardship and loving money and material possessions.

A broader, releasing way, of measuring wealth is possible. What if we began to measure true riches in terms of relationships, spiritual development, health, our ability to love and give, and similar qualities? What if we learnt to be truly content with what we have, to live simply, and to teach this to others? What if we really committed to living generously and giving from our lack rather than our plenty? To be truly counter-cultural, the church needs to oppose the gods of the age rather than blindly and willingly embrace them.

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger
Why are there so many poor Christians if God wants us to be rich? This is a question that I admit has troubled me for many years, more so now in the light of the contemporary push for prosperity in the pews. It seems that the only ones pushing the wealth doctrine are Western Christians who already fall within the wealthiest 20 per cent of the population worldwide anyway. Prosperity theology is not commonly heard in Third World countries where mere survival is a daily battle.

A seminal book written almost 20 years ago by Ronald Sider is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger should be compulsory reading for any who hold to the doctrine of prosperity. The 1997 reprint of the book contains updated figures and statistics demonstrating the enormous gap between the rich and poor across the world. Sider examines data including Gross National Product, food expenditure, purchasing power, and foreign aid expenditure to show the chasm between wealthy and poor countries. He also notes that “the richer we have become, the less we share with others”. Wealthy countries such as the United States of America are giving decreasing amounts to foreign aid when compared with gross national product. This from the home of the wealth doctrine, and an ostensibly Christian country largely ignoring God’s instructions to care for the poor.

One cannot read Sider’s book without feeling challenged and almost guilty. Through no choice of our own we in the West have been born into affluence. We could just as easily have been born into a third world country where we had to eke out a meagre existence on a daily basis. It is from this perspective we need to evaluate our stewardship and attitudes toward money.

The answer?
I believe the Bible contains the answer to the prosperity paradox. Jesus, in Matthew 6:33, exhorts us to seek first the Kingdom of God and then all these things will be added into us. What does it mean to seek first the kingdom? This is worth pondering. Quite simply it means to put the things of God first in our lives and allow our minds to be preoccupied with Godly matters. Sometimes we can lose sight of God and His ways in the midst of our busy, productive lives which are often so full of distractions. Quite often we manage to get this the wrong way around. We seek first the things and devote what’s left to the kingdom. This is an indictment on the way we live as Western believers. Take the time in prayer to seek God about this, to ask Him how you can seek His Kingdom first in your life, nor second, or somewhere down your ‘to do’ list.

What does Jesus mean by all these things? The needs of our daily life, not necessarily all that we want or desire, but what we need. We have grown so accustomed to our affluence and wealth that we can even feel we are poor despite never being hungry or lacking shelter. True poverty exists where people struggle to put food on the table, clothes on their children, and live day to day, hand to mouth, in a constant battle for survival. As Westerners, we cannot truly understand this level of poverty.

Similarly, Matthew 6:19-21 warns against storing up treasures on earth, concentrating instead on building heavenly wealth. Balancing this instruction against the prosperity doctrine which espouses building wealth is quite a challenge. The text in Matthew doesn’t suggest that storing wealth is fine so long as you are giving to others. A sensible approach is warranted. The cautions presented in God’s word about wealth and its inherent dangers should be taken seriously, but no more so than the numerous other cautions and warnings on greed, immorality, dishonesty, slander, and the like.

It is dangerous to view God as a vending machine solely focused on building personal wealth and bringing blessings to those who seek them. God is clearly more concerned that we focus on Him, live Godly, generous lives, and reach out to the poor in love and grace. While prosperity theology in its various guises is increasingly popular, and those who espouse it appear to be prosperous, this is not necessarily evidence that God’s will is for all Christians to be rich.

There are numerous Christians who tithe and give generously who aren’t rich, some of whom would even be considered to be poor, for prosperity theology to be advanced as doctrine. The opposite alternative, that God desires believers to be poor, is equally flawed. God does want to provide for His people, He is just and bountiful. A better alternative is to focus first on the Kingdom of God and allow Him to provide for your needs as He sees fit.

Russell Stubbings is a part-time lecturer for the Year in the Son program at Tabor College, Ocean Grove. He has a keen interest in contemporary missional church planting, the future of the church in Australia, and the intersection between faith and culture.

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