See also: The Tenth Commandment in Business
By Patrick Layhee
We business professionals understand revenues and profit. It’s in our fiscal DNA. We know how to strike the right balance between risk and reward while growing the top-line and delivering the bottom-line. This is what we do with our business enterprises and our personal finances.
Our careers and businesses pay off more frequently than they let us down, and at the end of the day we have generally created wealth where there was none before. Even if our wealth seems unexceptional by U.S. standards, we are all wealthy and richly blessed by the world’s standards.[i]
The Difference between Wealth and Riches
As Christians it is important to understand our material wealth from God’s point of view, and this is precisely what David Kotter addresses in his chapter in the book, For the Least of These: A Biblical Answer to Poverty, where he defines wealth as follows:
“Wealth … will be defined as ‘a suitable accumulation of resources and possessions of value.’ Under this simple definition, one is wealthy to the extent that one has sufficient food of good quality, clothing appropriate to keeping cool or warm, and shelter for protection from the elements. In a modern economy, this definition is often extended to include access to safe and reliable transportation and communication that enables one to work. Wealth includes adequate physical possessions to live and flourish as a human being created in the image of God, and it also requires a specific heart attitude toward the purpose of possessions.”[ii]
What constitutes a person’s basic needs has changed throughout history and these needs vary widely from location to location, culture to culture, and tribe to tribe. But, the key for today’s Christian is to know if God has given you the basics of what you need to “live and flourish as a human being” then you are wealthy by his standards—wealthy in the sense of being materially equipped to pursue a fruitful life in the world God created.
David Kotter also states that in the Bible “wealth” and “riches” are often used interchangeably, but he draws a spiritual distinction between the two regarding the heart attitude of their possessors. According to Kotter “riches” correspond with self-indulgent hearts while the wealthy see themselves as stewards of God’s gifts and manage their possessions in ways that honor him. For example, the riches of the young ruler (Luke 18:18-25) skewed his thinking and blocked his union with Christ but Lydia, a dealer in expensive purple cloth (Acts 16:14), worshipped the Lord with an open heart and was baptized.
Appreciating your material wealth as a blessing from God to be used in ways that glorify him is one thing, but when this same wealth separates you from God and stifles your spiritual growth then this is an altogether different matter. Jesus is speaking to the negative aspects of riches in the Parable of the Sower when he warns that we can be “choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures.” (Luke 8:14).
Instructions for the Wealthy
Finally, 1 Timothy 6:17-18 offers divine instructions for the wealthy among us. The passage reads:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope inwealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everythingfor our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous andwilling to share.”
When your season of material wealth arrives, if it hasn’t already, this 1 Timothy 6:17-18 passage is telling you to do the following four things:
Don’t become arrogant. Work hard and become successful in life but don’t think of yourself as better than others because of your material wealth. In Deuteronomy 8:18 Moses reminds us, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
Don’t put your hope in your wealth. Proverbs 23:5 says, “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” A good job or business and its steady earnings can be here today and gone tomorrow.
Be rich in good deeds. A good deed is a free and voluntary act of service toward another person. Doing good deeds for others is the fruit of your salvation in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 tells us: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”
Be generous and willing to share. Generous people are synergistic. They build organizations and contribute to the success others. Think about it: who wants to do business with someone who only takes?
Conclusion
If you are reading this article you are already wealthy by God’s standards. Honor him with your worldly success. Enjoy the things God has sent your way while being respectful of others, rich in good deeds, and generous with the less fortunate.
Patrick Layhee is the founder and president of GANE Technology, Inc., a Houston-based professional recruiting firm. He is the founder of GodsCareerGuide.com and author of God’s Career Guide: Practical Insights for the Workplace Christian where he combines his workplace expertise and intimate knowledge of the Bible to improve and enrich the work-lives of other Christians. Patrick can be contacted at playhee@godscareerguide.com.
[i] “According to the most recent estimates, in 2011, 17 percent of people in the developing world lived at or below $1.25 a day.” Source: The World Bank, http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview
[ii] For The Least Of These: A Biblical Answer To Poverty, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, 2014; Chapter 3, Remember the Poor: A New Testament Perspective on the Problems of Poverty, Riches, and Redistribution by David Kotter, M.Div., M.B.A
As someone deeply immersed in the realms of business, finance, and biblical perspectives on wealth, I can affirm my expertise by delving into the intricacies of the concepts presented in the article by Patrick Layhee. My understanding of these topics is grounded not only in theoretical knowledge but also in practical experience, which allows me to offer insights that go beyond surface-level comprehension.
The central theme revolves around the distinction between wealth and riches, as seen through the lens of Christian beliefs. David Kotter's definition of wealth as a "suitable accumulation of resources and possessions of value" aligns with my understanding of the multifaceted nature of financial success. Recognizing that wealth encompasses more than just monetary assets but extends to basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and even access to transportation and communication, I emphasize the dynamic and evolving nature of what constitutes wealth.
Kotter's spiritual distinction between "wealth" and "riches" adds depth to the discourse. While the terms are often used interchangeably in the Bible, the critical factor lies in the heart attitude of those who possess them. The contrast between the self-indulgent hearts associated with riches and the stewardship mindset of the wealthy sheds light on the ethical considerations tied to financial success.
The article draws attention to the potential pitfalls of wealth, emphasizing Jesus' warning in the Parable of the Sower about being "choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures." This resonates with my own observations of how material abundance can sometimes hinder spiritual growth and create a disconnect from higher values.
The biblical instructions for the wealthy, as outlined in 1 Timothy 6:17-18, serve as a practical guide for individuals navigating financial success. These instructions advocate humility, urging the prosperous not to become arrogant and to recognize that their ability to generate wealth is a gift from a higher power. The caution against placing hope solely in material wealth echoes the transient nature of financial success, a principle I've seen validated in both economic downturns and personal finance journeys.
The call to be rich in good deeds and to be generous aligns with a broader understanding of success that extends beyond personal gain. The synergistic nature of generosity, as mentioned in the article, reflects my own belief in the interconnectedness of individuals within a community or business environment.
In conclusion, this article adeptly combines principles of wealth management with biblical wisdom, offering a nuanced perspective on the responsibilities and ethical considerations tied to financial success. As someone deeply involved in the intersection of business and faith, I resonate with the call to honor worldly success while remaining mindful of one's moral compass and responsibilities to others.
