65 - Samantha – “Is it wrong for Christians to have wealth?”
“Dear Michael, thank you for your reply to me about the Joseph Prince message I sent to you? So, then is it wrong for Christians to have wealth?”
Moth, Rust, and Thieves: Where Your Treasure Truly Lies
In a world obsessed with accumulating wealth, Jesus's words in Matthew 6:19-21 ring with stark clarity: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
We live in a society that equates success with the size of our bank accounts and the abundance of our possessions. But Jesus paints a different picture. He tells the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21, a man who amassed great wealth, only to have his life demanded of him that very night. His barns overflowed, but his soul was bankrupt. "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God," Jesus warns.
The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Timothy 6:6: "But godliness with contentment is great gain." He reminds us that we came into this world with nothing, and we can take nothing out of it. If we have food and clothing, we should be content. How often do we forget this simple truth, chasing after the fleeting pleasures of this world while neglecting the eternal riches found in Christ?
The life of George Müller stands as a powerful testament to the truth of God's provision. He and his wife gave up everything they owned, trusting God to provide for their needs and the needs of thousands of orphans under their care. God honored his faith, providing over the equivalent of $300 million in today's currency, without Müller ever asking a human being for a dollar.
What are we truly pursuing? Are we chasing after moth-eaten, rust destroying, thief stealing treasures, or are we storing up riches in heaven? Let us seek first the kingdom of God, trusting in His promise to add to our lives what we need (Matthew 6:33). May we find contentment not in the abundance of our possessions, but in the richness of our relationship with Christ.
