Oftentimes as Christians, one of the most difficult questions/concepts we have to deal with is the approach to wealth/riches. There is so much to explore/dissect to fully understand wealth from a spiritual dimension including – thanksgiving, almsgiving, spiritual meaning of wealth, kingdom economy, tithing… and the famous Matthew 19:24 “And again I say to you that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” – a follow up of Matthew 19:21. A lot of times people would hardly preach about this without using disclaimers like “Don’t get me wrong, money is not bad, etc” while trying to dissect a problem that has pervaded our everyday lives even beyond a covetous/idolatorous mindset — Individualism.

First and foremost, wealth is clearly a law ordained by God in the statement, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it” – here, subdue means tame/make it work for us which should ordinarily glorify our maker and father, God. In the parable of the talents, we see the same concept of fruitfulness/multiplication. And then in the parable of the sower, we see seeds that yield a thirty-fold, sixty-fold and even a hundred-fold. Fundamentally all fruitfulness is fruitfulness and is enough. Unfruitfulness however is ungratefulness and thus it is wickedness: it’s hoarding, it’s blocking, it’s refusing to submit, refusing to cooperate and it is maligning of the sower/Giver of talents. If we understand that every word of God cannot go back until it is fulfilled, then we can begin to participate in the decree and word that says Have dominion, be fruitful, multiply… However, we must also understand what is required and cultivate the mindset and attitude that enables us to richly participate in this glory and blessings and thanksgiving and feast.

In today’s world, people learn from a young age to aspire to acquire money despite all the signs that such endeavour could be harmful and a rat race. Nonetheless, only a heart peaceful with God could attract true wealth which is a direct blessing/consequence from participating in God’s decrees through diligent work. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to understand true wealth is to simply search the bible for all mentions of ‘prosper’ or ‘prosperity’. It always boils down to righteousness (being at peace with God), charity/thanksgiving and trust in God. Once you have these qualities, you will prosper in your works and blessings and wealth will naturally flow to you. This is also why Jesus in describing the difference between gentile wealth and Godly wealth describes knowledge of the Kingdom and the righteousness of the Kingdom as the only requirements. Once you fully come to this knowledge, the doors will be opened to you and you will have all you need for the Kingdom of God is described also as a wedding feast. Thus one of the first keys to understanding true wealth (in the world) is to first understand that it’s Kingdom wealth, and because the Kingdom is in the process of becoming, it’s thus also commonwealth for the Kingdom to be achieved — which is in its own self another layer of working directly with God and earning for ourselves in the eternal.

Myles Munroe why dissecting the Kingdom economy describes the concept of commonwealth from a spiritual dimension. We’re not meant to approach God as only people who have but eyes for ourselves but rather people who are conscious of the Kingdom. The Kingdom is a body and a community of God’s children and God’s mandate/commandment that we love our neighbors as ourselves is critical because it’s very important for the realization of the Kingdom. When we say: “our father”, it is not just stemmed from the very fabric of our relationship/sonship with God but also stemmed from the very sense of communion and a common heritage. Not my father, not give me this day, not forgive me my trespasses. A realization that we truly are all of God’s children and present ourselves and others before him always. ‘Give us this day’ further shows there’s certainly a daily flow from God to all of us. And the only reason why anyone is hungry or poor is because someone is hoarding/obstructing the flow directed to them

It’s also important to note that when it comes to charity which is one of the key attitudes/mindset, charity is different from unselfishness. As CS Lewis puts it, abstinence from good things for ourselves is not more important than letting others have those good things. One must learn to be first truly charitable in disposition and with themselves; to operate at a level where it comes naturally to be cheerfully charitable to others; and then be further willing to do this out of a self-giving/sacrificially loving attitude. If I have something and there is someone who dearly needs it more than me, is it not better I give it to them and participate in their greater joy (and in the blessings that usually come with it) with a peaceful conscience than the much smaller comfort/satisfaction I would have by holding onto it. If I hold on to it, is it perhaps in doubt or fear of the power of God or that God’s blessings would suddenly cease or would not be enough for me, and does this then glorify God? True thanksgiving is charitable and a testament to God’s provision/goodness and also a special prayer/communion that fetches for us grace and even forgiveness when we give to the poor. Taxes are designed for the common good, yet we live in a world where leaders in governments are willing to waive taxes and take bribes for personal gains; such a stealing from public coffers is a gross misunderstanding and abuse of God’s design and perhaps comparable to a man marrying another man. In the end, a lot of people gain the idea that money is something that is to be kept instead of something that flows.

A rich man keeps, but a truly wealthy man manages/distributes. Romans 4:3 says Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. The fear of God and faith are precursors alongside thanksgiving that can obtain for us ‘righteousness’ from a spiritual perspective; for it’s impossible to have complete faith in God if we are not righteous. Abraham was never classified as rich and we learn of his charity and good stewardship when he attends to strangers in such hospitable manner in speaking to/welcoming them and with a lavish meal of tender calf and curds of milk. Yet the same Abraham refused spoils of war for no other reason than showing his absolute trust in God’s provision. All our acts of thanksgiving, celebrations/feasts, charity are only pointers to the divine versions. Abraham was willing to give so much that he could give his son, foreshadowing God himself giving his very only begotten son to us. Abraham was also the first figure recorded to offer a tenth of all he had to God; although it was Abel who was first recorded to give some of his finest. One can however clearly establish that it’s not a good thing that we give God anything that is not significant enough/worthy of Him. And perhaps since he gave us two hands with ten fingers, it is only a gesture of worship/respect/thanksgiving to give back one of ten. From a spiritual perspective, this also tallies, since one should never harvest all their crops without replanting some. It is not in our place as stewards to wonder about how a prophet or priest will utilize money if we give that to them since they are directly accountable to God. Nor should we worry about how anyone who is in need will use whatever we have to give them when we truly listen to them. Rather we’re called to give to all who ask (Matthew 5:42) and not obstruct the flow of God’s blessings.

The proliferation and even celebration of individualism in the world leads to covetousness and idolatry sometimes in decorated names like ‘nuclear family’, ‘self-sufficiency’, ‘my body is my own’, ‘financial security’ and what not. Money as a tool is made for portability and easy distribution of goods/services not something to be ‘privatised’, ‘chased’ or wanted for its own sake. Hence the going after or use of money in a way that does not directly map to an end result can be covetous in nature. In fact it is a marvel that sometimes among Christians, individuals are encouraged to pray for money directly. Perhaps this can be compared to praying for gun/armor instead of protection as if we know better than God how to keep ourselves safe and a potential desire to move our attention from a point of faithful/Godly trust to the trust in material things. This type of seeking can lead one to the worship of mammon. And Jesus made it absolutely clear when he says “You cannot serve God and mammon”. There is this saying that if no one blows your trumpet, you should blow it for yourself. This also seems to be a distrust in the divine and rewarding law of humility. Instead we should have the kind of faith Jesus shows in Matthew 19:40 when he says, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out\!”. God must be at the center of our desires and actions. And if God is at the center, we fully trust in his providence/provision at all times and desire nothing that is not from him. The culture of individualism describes us as ‘achievers’ when we prosper, rather than examples/pointers to God’s generosity and blessings. This not only redirects praise and attention to ourselves but oftentimes but can also create pride in the individual. Jesus throughout his ministry refused to attribute any of his actions to himself, and always used the famous phrase ‘your faith has healed you’, and ‘go show yourself to the priest’ as if he was not the great high priest already but to humbly abide by the laws and teach people that it is their knowledge/encounter with God that transforms/heals and the vessel is of little importance; just as no priest was needed for Moses to encounter God in the burning bush.

Giving in itself is an attitude and cannot be forced (though perhaps a misguided fake it till you make it could work by mercy) but learned by a heart that truly yearns to imitate God. Not everyone is called to the same kind of stewardship but the promise of the Kingdom is that you will receive all that you need (Luke 9:3, 10:4). The Bible warns against not just love of money or worship of money but goes on to say in Proverbs 28:27 “Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.” Luke 6:30 says: ”Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back”. The curses in Proverbs also echo what is said in Deuteronomy, “Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin”. Job 22:21 further says “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you”. When we lack the righteousness of the Kingdom, we cannot have peace in our heart with God and for this reason may lack the blessings and prosperity that comes to those who trust in God. We cannot glorify God if we cannot be said to be his children through our actions nor can we have the dominion promised to the righteous man; now through Jesus.

When Jesus says it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, He is describing the rich man: a hoarder, a man who trusts in money, acquiring ‘many possessions’ – as if they were to hold on for eternity and not investments fundamentally meant for the good of others. And thus he could not easily fathom/think of how to give away all he had – despite being righteous by the laws of Moses. When we learn to have and count and cling to possessions, we truly get possessed and start to count them as part of our identity/think them as accomplishments for our own very use alone and sometimes they even slowly start to become a primary means to solve our problems and displace our relationship with God. It is a marvel that we come to place beauty or possessions in such a high place because our bodies only have a little time to live on earth and perhaps one should visit the cemetery once a year to remind themselves of this.

To truly give out of Love and without restraint, our absolute trust and security must be in God. Financial security is not the same thing as financial prudence because our only security is God. A christian might then ask, how much should one give to God or to others? Is it wrong to have savings? The easiest way to give to God is through tithing. It’s a strange thing that we distrust God who first sought glory for us, giving dominion over all created things and still seeking and obtaining our redemption directly by Himself in magnanimous love. God is our only true security and freedom. And there’s no love greater than his love for us, no glory we can seek greater than the one he already seeks for us. This should be our greatest security – that we have sonship in God most High, not sonship with the Cherubim and Seraphim, or thrones and dominions, but sonship with God the Father — a privilege even angels marvel at. If we then think to keep a little back of what we have received from the one who pours his blessing on us; when it could be better used for the good of others – we not only move our trust away from our Father but obstruct the flow and deny another His blessings. To save prudently, one can draw insights from Egypt in the days of Joseph when they had surplus; and knowing there'll be a time of famine they saved 20% for seven years. If you save to afford something big for yourself, you must be able to judge if that need is your priority and also greater than any other need that is requested of you. Since if you deny yourself or others around you good things, you risk being guilty of sin.

Why then are we anxious at all to ask how much we should give to others? If our hands are not empty, how can it be properly refilled by priority? Does it also mean we prefer the lesser things instead of gathering treasures in heaven? And even yet he promises us overwhelmingly good things – 100x of whatever it is we have given both in this world and the world to come (Mark 10: 29-30). In Malachi 3:10 — God promises to “open the windows of heaven and pour down a blessing until there is no more need” for those who give faithfully. And in a final act of blessings pressed down and shaken together, Jesus extended our sonship to Mary at the foot of the cross, the woman through whom the greatest gift came into the world; and as all things in the world have spiritual resemblance, how greatly she is a source of gift/blessings spiritually for those who ask.

God desires us all to be fruitful and to multiply. This is his mandate, and he has put things in place for that for us all, desiring that we manifest the Kingdom right here on earth. All we need is to trust in Him (be grateful, give back and give to others), and be righteous in Him through Christ that our works may prosper and that we may bring about the Kingdom by our very own lives.