We see in Acts 24:25 that the Apostle Paul “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” as he preached Christ to the heathen Roman Governor Felix.  In relation to this, the Bible surely teaches that those who love money, along with those who are in any way governed by the corrupt values of the world, will not inherit God’s kingdom.  The account of Jesus dealing with the Rich Young Ruler proves and illustrates this.  

Here are four general Biblical principles for making and using money while avoiding the love of it.

1. Don’t be determined to become rich.  

Professing Christians now have generally been deluded to have the opposite mentality than the reality set forth in the Bible.  They have a narrow definition of being rich and a broad view of salvation.  The Bible teaches the very opposite.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him “Who then can be saved?” in Luke 18:26, they had understood Jesus properly concerning what He had said in the previous verses about the extremity of the difficulty for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  They also understood that Jesus had a much broader definition of rich than ultra-wealthy- since they obviously understood that very many people fall into the category of rich.  

1 Timothy 6:6-10 says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment (clothing) let us be therewith content.  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil (that is, all sorts of evil): which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

2. If riches increase anyways or if they already have, don’t set your heart upon them.

Psalm 62:9-10: “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.  Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

3. Make it a habit to give away excess wealth to the needy and share your abundance with others in order to do righteousness and to condition yourself to not set your heart upon riches.

1 Timothy 6:17-19: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

4. Be so taken up with doing righteousness and with real, impartial justice prevailing so that the things which money can buy which aren’t used for this seem like a very small thing anyways; and so that the loss of wealth and/or income while in pursuit of this seems like a very small thing anyways.

That is what saved Moses in his extremely perilous state as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (see Hebrews 11:24-26).

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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