I recently came across a tweet by another believer who had received message about “poverty” in Christianity from the Holy Spirit. While I would like to tread cautiously in judging their content and its delivery, here are my current thoughts about “why a christian cannot be poor.”
A major scripture most people speak to purport this is Colossians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” This passage should rather be closely read with Phil 2.5 which speaks on Jesus’ humility and forsaking of his heavenly status to give us eternal life which we could never have gotten otherwise. It’s erroneous to think that becoming “rich” as applied here, speaks about earthly riches. Eph 1 also mentions that we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. In any case, Jesus’ position came from above, so how could such heavenly riches be compared with something as mediocre and fleeting as earthly riches, which the bible tells us not to store as stated in Matt. 6:19-21.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
— Mat. 6:19-21
It is very clear that the road to earthly wealth is not necessarily filled with Christians. For a fact, almost all of the top 20 richest men on earth have little affiliation with religion, let alone Christianity. If we’re waiting on Christ to be rich, then we have wasted our energies since that’s not the main way to get rich.
On a related note, however, I strongly believe that a possible advantage of being a Christian is receiving wisdom on how to make money.
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
— Deu. 8:17-18
This includes being directed by the holy Spirit on what to read, talk about, venture, etc. After all the bible mentions that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” To add, it’s hard to find contentment and rich in the same context as the nature of riches suggests it’s an increasing improvement one has to make to keep in their “richness”.
Finally, in the story of the rich young ruler Jesus himself speaks that it’s hard for the rich to enter heaven. In fact, it’s easier for a camel to enter the eye of the needle than for a rich person to make it to heaven. So once again, why would God bring in such an impediment to make us struggle in our walk with him?
Or yet, have we considered genuine situations where some Christians may be permissibly inflicted for a period where their “riches” might leave them? In those cases, does that mean that they are not being led by the spirit once they’re not rich?
Is it wrong for you to make enough money to take care of your family about 3-4 times over? Absolutely not!
Relating to the initial post, yes, the effect of salvation and the closeness to the glory of God should make any christian excellent in their dealings. This can result in extra income or some promotion or even extreme wealth. What it should not leads us to is to think that drawing closer to God means we’ll make more money. The Lord is our portion, not what he gives.
So should you make money at all? Yes, absolutely. How else can you live in this world without making money? Should you equate your physical wealth with your current level of devotion to God? No. Should you ask for money from God when you’re in need? Of course! He’s your father. But should money be your pre-occupation such that you can’t go a minute without obsessing over it? No, as Paul has mentioned, godliness with contentment is great gain.
When is all this too much? When it’s drifting your heart from God.