Teaching

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luke 16:11 (NKJV)

You must determine you will beat poverty and lack. No one can make this decision for you. You and only you can make the decision to beat poverty and lack. Or, if you like it better - to succeed and prosper!

However, before we even get to this place, we need to clear up some things. How does God view this whole idea? While some Christians have made a new religion out of the teaching on prosperity and have been excessive in pursuing lavish lifestyles, we can't allow these exception do determine our belief system.

Obviously, Jesus' teaching was about more than just riches - he spoke about "true riches". Which means there are false riches as well.

The "true riches" Jesus talked about in this incredible teaching, are riches far different from the material possessions we usually associate the word "rich" with.

The apostle Paul on the other hand describes the Kingdom of God in terms that some of the more pragmatic thinking people might find quite abstract - righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

"...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom." 14:17 (NKJV)

However, when you think of it, even in human terms - righteousness, peace and joy might be what describes happiness better than anything else.

I hope you get my point - my life philosophy does not define material wealth as happiness or the purpose of human existence. I'm not a greedy person and I love to give and share with the less fortunate.

At the same time, it doesn't take very long for any of us to see that poverty is plaguing our world and is causing more harm, grief and suffering than anything else. So there's NOTHING and I mean NOTHING noble or worthy of admiration in being poor! Some poor people are very generous. That's worthy of admiration, namely their generosity. But being poor cannot possibly be anything worth emulating.

Finally, the Bible tells us that money is the answer to everything. Many might be shocked to see such a statement in the Bible, but there it is!

A feast is made for laughter,
And wine makes merry;
But money answers everything. Eccl. 10:19 (NKJV)

So, what is it that will make us happy? Peace and joy or dollars and euros?

What's more important? What does God really want us to have more of, both as individuals and as a society? Does God even want us to have a better life?

I believe the answer the Bible gives is a resounding "yes"!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2Cor. 1:20 (NKJV)

Now here is the wisdom - "true riches", such as spiritual wholeness, family, friends and all these crucial non-material blessings, do not substitute for material riches! All promises are Yes and Amen in Christ. All here means "all" as in all kinds of promises and every single promise as well!

Great friends won't be able to substitute for the lack of money. Still, good income won't necessarily mean joy and peace in your life. So you see it now?

Here comes the really interesting part: which riches does God want to give us first? Or is there any priority when it comes to God wanting to give us "true riches" such as peace, joy and family or do they even have to come in at a certain order?

The Bible really doesn't have a clear cut instruction on whether we need to first get one and then the other. It's different for each person because God's dealings are unique with each individual. However, there are common principles we can see in the Word. Somehow false teaching has told us that we need to first become spiritually rich before we become rich in material riches.

Amazingly enough, Jesus makes the following statement:

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luke 16:11 (NKJV)

There is an obvious sequence here and a relationship between the way a person handles material possessions and their spiritual condition. This lines up with other parts of the teaching of Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matt. 19:21 (NKJV)

Here is the young rich ruler who wants to know God. Jesus instructs him first to dispose of his wealth and then to follow him. The young man's response exposed his greed and fear. Because of holding on the material wealth, he remained spiritually poor.

Make a decision to love God and not money! Then make a decision to make enough money to beat poverty and lack. Take care of yourself, your loved ones and the needy. Make a decision to leave a great inheritance of both faith and financial blessings to your children. Don't be a beggar, don't settle for the "nomadic" mindset of some Christians. Being a pilgrim is not the same as being a nomad. We are called to have dominion through and with Christ, not be poor and bankrupt.

George Bakalov (c) 2009 Source: www.georgebakalov.com
George P. Bakalov