NO Holy Week message would ever be complete—in a business paper like ours, at least—if we fail to talk of how God views money.
If we go by what the Good Book says, it is apparent that the Bible has a lot to say about money, and how people should approach it. Yes, approach it. It is not something to be feared, nor is it a thing that God hates. Quite the contrary, the writers of the Bible often depict God as “the giver of all good gifts” and the “provider” of all our needs.
No, money is not the root of all evil, as often attributed to the Bible, albeit erroneously. In 1 Timothy 6:10, it says that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
So, how does God view money? Of the hundreds of passages that speak of money in the Bible, here are a few we can consider:
First, it is God who is the source of wealth. This must be clear from the beginning. As 1 Samuel 2:7 says, “The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.”
Second, the best way to earn money is to be industrious. Proverbs 10:4 is clear: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
If the choice boils down to having money or wisdom, the latter is a more handy and practical choice. As Ecclesiastes 7:12 says: “Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.”
It is also the nature of wealth to be tentative and indeterminate, highly unreliable. We have seen this in the stock-market crash of 1929 and succeeding economic flops in history. Thus, people should not put their hopes in wealth. Money can be put to its proper use through the generosity of the rich. Saint Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:17-19): “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Last, though not the least, money gained in dishonest ways will not last. It’s a spiritual principle that no one should ever forget. In Proverbs 13:11, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
This Holy Week, it is imperative that people consider seriously where they place their treasures, for a man cannot serve God and money at the same time. God will not allow a rival for the devotion He richly deserves. As we go about our business, let us always recall Matthew’s words: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Image credits: Benjo Laygo