How Should Christians Think About The Pursuit of Wealth? The Five Main Views
For over a year, I've been searching for the correct biblical theology of money, possessions, and the pursuit of wealth.
In all the material I've gone through, I have not found a clear taxonomy that lays out the differing views on wealth. So for my own clarity of thinking, I've arranged the various spheres of thought into five main groups. I've put them in order from wealth-negative to wealth-positive. These divisions are not completely precise, as you will see certain views overlapping with others.
This spectrum/taxonomy is provisional, and I welcome any feedback or suggestions.
I hope this can help your thinking as much as it helped mine.
1. The Pursuit of Wealth as Contrary to Faith
In this view, the pursuit of wealth is always a sinful pursuit.
If one is able, they should avoid participating in business or economic enterprise. A Christian should not pursue wealth or riches, regardless of intention.
If a Christian were to come into possession of great wealth, they ought to eagerly seek ways to give it away. Poverty is a shield against many vices such as pride or love of money.
This view commonly coincides with a view that ecclesiastical/ministerial vocations are more spiritual than others.
This view highlights Jesus's commands to "sell all your possessions," (Matt. 19:21), as well as the pronouncement of blessing to the poor and woe to the rich (Lk. 6:20-21, 24-25), the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), and James's scathing rebukes to the rich (James 1:11; 2:5-7; 5:1-6).
One proponent of this view is Ronald Sider.
2. The Pursuit of Wealth as an Obstacle to Faith
In this view the pursuit of wealth is not sinful, but rather a distracting and tempting obstacle to faith.
This view discourages the pursuit of wealth due to the strong temptation towards the idolatry of money. However, the pursuit of wealth is not prohibited outright.
This view emphasizes that there is temptation in both being poor and being rich. Poverty tempts towards envy, theft, and self-pity (inverted pride). Riches tempt towards self-reliance, pride, idolatry, gluttony, and greed. Therefore, it is ideal to have "neither poverty nor riches" (Prv. 30:8).
This view highlights Jesus's teaching that "you cannot serve both God and Mammon" (Mt. 6:24), Jesus's teaching that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 19:23-24) Paul's warnings against the love of money (1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17-19), and the words of Agur in Proverbs 30:8-9 (quoted above).
Two proponents of this view are John Piper and Craig Blomberg.
3. The Pursuit of Wealth as a Duty of Faith
In this view, the pursuit of wealth is a natural duty, not a worldly desire.
It is a Christian's duty to pursue wealth in order to provide for family, church, and community.
This view sees the pursuit of wealth not as a spiritual pursuit, but instead as a natural obligation for every person, Christian or not.
This view highlights Paul's teaching that one who does not provide for their own is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim 5:8), Paul's teaching that we must engage in good occupations so that we have something to give (Tit. 3:14; 2 Thess. 3:12), and the Proverbs's teaching on leaving an inheritance to our children (Prv. 13:22).
Proponents of this view are Jay W. Richards, John Calvin, and John Wesley.
4. The Pursuit of Wealth as an Expected Blessing of Faith
In this view, we should pursue and expect the blessing of wealth when we have faithful motives.
In this view, Christians are expected to take economic actions and risks in order to take dominion and take part in God's mission to build the kingdom on earth. This is all done in the expectation that God will financially bless the work done in faithfulness.
Christians are expected to take hold of the promises that God will provide bountifully what is needed (Mt. 6:8; Ps. 65). In this view, it is a Christian duty not only to provide for family, church, and community but to bless them in the greatest financial measure possible.
The pursuit of wealth is seen as a spiritual pursuit. Wealth surely tempts the Christian towards idolatry, but it is overall seen as a good gift from God to be enjoyed and used in order to bless God and others.
Much like view three, this view highlights Paul's teaching on providing for one's own (1 Tim 5:8), Paul's teaching on work and giving (Tit. 3:14; 2 Thess. 3:12), the Proverbs's teaching on legacy and the good blessings of wealth (Prv. 10:22; 13:22), and the Bible's philosophy of enjoying good things as gifts from God (Ecc. 5:19; 1 Tim. 6:17).
Proponents of this view are Brian Suave and Douglas Wilson.
5. The Pursuit of Wealth as a Guaranteed Blessing of Faith
In this view, our faith will always result in success in our pursuit of wealth.
This view claims that God has promised to bless anyone who has enough faith with health and wealth. If you find no success, it shows you lack faith. Many times, exercising faith means making a financial donation to a church or ministry with the expectation that God will bring the blessing back to you in larger measure.
This is commonly referred to as "name it and claim it", the word of faith movement, and the prosperity gospel.
This view highlights Jesus's teaching that He came so that "they would have life and have it abundantly" (Jn. 10:10), Jesus's teaching that says, "Give, and you will be given unto." (Lk. 6:38), the Proverbs' teaching that "he who brings blessing will be enriched" (Prv. 11:25), as well as the law of sowing and reaping (2 Cor. 9:6; Gal. 6:7-8).
Proponents of this view are Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar.
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