The Purpose of Wealth

July 15

(Luke 16:9-12 NIV) “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. {10} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. {11} So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? {12} And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?”

(1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV) “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. {18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. {19} 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.”

It is not a sin to be wealthy. Simply having money does not make a person evil. It’s how we use our wealth and money that makes it good or bad. If we can earn lots of money in an honest way, we should do so for the glory of God, and be generous with God’s provision. We’ll always be tempted to use wealth for power or pleasure. Money can easily become an idol, but that is a temptation no matter how much we earn. Low income people can be just as greedy as wealthy people. Our attitude toward possessions and money is like a spiritual thermometer. The Lord can tell how well we are doing by looking at how we use our checkbooks and our bank cards. It is difficult for us to judge a person’s motivation for giving, but God looks upon the heart. He sees the attitude with which we give. Remember, our investments in eternity are the only things that will outlast us. Use your wealth wisely. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day