Modern society is quite concerned with wealth and the trappings that come along with having great wealth. Most people put a lot of effort and time pursuing different channels either legitimate or illegitimate to lay their hands on this elusive wealth accumulation. Harsh economic conditions have however made this attempt to accumulate wealth a far-fetched dream. Christian teachings have varying views on the concept of wealth and wealth accumulation as well as its role in determining the kind of destiny wealth has to offer those pursuing it.
Wealth can be defined as the accumulation of suitable resources and valuable possessions. An individual is considered wealthy based on one’s lifestyle (Layhee, 2015). The Bible offers conflicting opinions concerning the concept of wealth accumulation. On one instance, the Bible advocates for accumulation and saving for the future (Prov.10:4, 13:22 and 2 Thess: 8-10). On another instance, the pursuit of wealth is seen having a spiritual impact on believers as in the case of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). Focusing so much on wealth creates a wide spiritual gap since it is hard to serve God and money concurrently (Luke 16:13). The poor seem to have an advantage since God has chosen them to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom (James 2:5-6).
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Christians need to strike a balance between the demands that lay ahead of them as well as the spiritual impact of pursuing wealth. There is a need to understand that wealth comes from God since He is the source of all blessings and prosperity (Bradley, 2014). Therefore, Christians are called to trust God who provides for the birds for provision and supply of their needs without worrying about the future.
The financial implication of the differing Biblical perspectives at personal and societal levels could have far-reaching effects. The confusion arises on which of the two differing opinions should be taken as the optimum choice (Bradley, 2014). It is imperative for Christians to keep in mind that they are living in a totally different environment from the one foreseen during the Biblical times. This means that these teachings may not be feasible and sustainable to adopt in the modern society. In other words, these teachings may not work to a person’s disadvantage.
References
Bradley, A. (2014). Working Towards a Biblical View of Wealth Creation. Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Retrieved on 12 April 2017, from https://tifwe.org/a-biblical-view-of-wealth-creation/.
Layhee, P. (2015). A Biblical View of Wealth and Riches. Houston Baptist University – CCB . Retrieved on 12 April 2017, from https://www.hbu.edu/center-for-christianity-in-business/2015/05/20/a-biblical-view-of-wealth-and-riches/.
