Show Me The Money - Brian Taylor

 ​Having spent many years in the Pentecostal world, one of my chief consternations was that damnable heresy known as the prosperity gospel. According to the precepts of that false teaching, in proportion to one’s faith, a believer could and should expect to enjoy wealth and health in this present age. Of course, the primary beneficiaries of this blasphemous teaching were the preachers who promoted it, as they indicated one means to demonstrate the necessary faith was by financially supporting their “ministries.” Plant that seed and reap that harvest, words for one to choke on. For those more orthodox and centered in Scripture, this was their constant battle. 

​Yet, one danger when confronting a heresy is to develop an equally extreme and unbiblical heresy. So, for instance, one could easily fall into a vow of poverty mindset in confronting the prosperity gospel. The proportion of one’s faith, in this case, is indicated by one’s suffering and impoverishment. Not suffering enough? Best grab the whip and start flagellating one’s self. Here again, we see a belief that belies the teaching of Scripture. We are not called to live in a certain condition in order to please the Lord. We are called to live for the Lord in whatever condition to which he calls us. One may well enjoy greater riches in the present age. This is one’s vocation as determined by the Lord’s providence (assuming, of course, that the wealth was lawfully obtained). One may find greater suffering and poverty to be one’s vocation. Here again, we are to view such an estate as the Lord’s providential arrangement for our lives and serve him appropriately. 

​Now having said that, we do notice in the New Testament words of warning addressed to wealthy believers and words of encouragement addressed to the poor believers. To the wealthy, Paul reminds believers of the potential danger such an estate involves: 

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”(1 Timothy 6:17–19 ESV)

Likewise, as an example of the Gospel’s great reversal, James speaks of the low condition to which the wealthy find themselves, even as he speaks of the high condition of the poor: 

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” (James 1:9–11 ESV)

Someone might ask, though, whether we should pursue wealth. Well, I do believe Scripture would discourage the pursuit of wealth as an end in itself. Again, going back to Paul, he warns of the danger connected with the desire to gain wealth: 

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV)

Still, we might better frame such a question by asking whether we should further our own and our neighbor’s wealth and outward estate. In doing so, then, we have the sure guidance of our Standards, particularly our Larger and Shorter Catechisms. The Short Catechism, in explaining the 8th Commandment, states the following:

Q. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.

Yet, before we read this to counter the earlier exhortations about the potential danger of wealth, we ought to reinforce this with the Larger Catechism’s teaching on this command, as we look particularly to question 141:

Q. 141. What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?

A. The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man; rendering to every one his due; restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof; giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others; moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods; a provident care and study to get, keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition; a lawful calling, and diligence in it; frugality; avoiding unnecessary lawsuits, and suretiship, or other like engagements; and an endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own.

​Allow me to draw your attention to two parts of that answer. First, do note, as the system of doctrine taught by Scripture, our Catechism speaks of procuring and furthering our wealth by all just and lawful means. In other words, furthering one’s wealth needs to be accomplished through honest and lawful labor, and not criminal or questionable means. Hence, rather than trusting in the Powerball to further one’s wealth, we need to be about work. Gambling or “wasteful gaming” is how we sin against the commandment, according to the subsequent question (142) in our Larger Catechism. 

​Second, our Catechism also speaks of moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods. As we look to the proof text to understand what the divines meant by this, low and behold we find 1 Tim. 6:6-9, part of which we quoted above (specifically verse 9). The part we left out states the following: 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

But how do we find the strength to practice such contentment? We find such in our dependance upon Christ, as Paul states elsewhere: 

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12–13 ESV)

Should you not know this Christ and so unable to find his strength for your contentment, let me share with you the beauty of this Savior. He, as the Second Person of the Trinity, was “rich” in every way. Yet, hear what Paul says he did for the sake of his people, for their great salvation: 

“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.”(2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV)

Whether wealthy or poor, if you have or will trust in Christ as your Savior, you do or can possess the wealth of God’s eternal Kingdom, manifest in part now, fully manifest in the age to come. 

So, let us be content but likewise let us provide for ourselves by furthering our wealth and outward estate by all just and lawful means. Above all, let us trust in the Savior, who became poor for our sakes, that we might enjoy the riches of eternal life.