Common Sense Thoughts on Prosperity

Tony Cooke

The apostle Paul was aware that the church in Ephesus had members who were well-off financially. Timothy pastored there, and it was a city with significant wealth. Some of Paul’s friends in Ephesus were even “officials of the province” (Acts 19:31 NLT). In light of these dynamics, Paul instructed Timothy:

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life” (1 Tim 6:17-19 NLT).

Not once does Paul shame or condemn wealthy individuals for being people of means, but he does provide very important instructions about their attitudes and actions. He tells them how to be good stewards of what they have. Consider these seven directives:

• • Don’t be proud (high-minded, arrogant, or conceited).
  • Don’t trust in unreliable money, but in God.
  • Enjoy what God has given you.
  • Use money for good.
  • Be rich in good works.
  • Be generous to those in need.
  • Always be ready to share with others.

You may be thinking this admonition applies only to the ultra-rich, to people who live in opulent mansions, own multiple luxury cars, take exotic vacations, and have gazillions of dollars saved and invested. However, it is important to consider who is considered “well-off” or “rich in this world” on a global scale. I ran a question by AI about “the average American” relative to the rest of the world, and received this response:

An average American household falls in the top 10% of global wealth holders, and making just $34,000 a year places an individual in the wealthiest 1% of the world’s population. Compared to the rest of the planet, where the global median net worth per adult is around $8,600, typical American living standards represent extreme global affluence.

That is sobering, but let’s return to Paul’s instructions to Timothy. Earlier in the same letter, he had mentioned the importance of contentment (1 Tim 6:6) and then proceeded to warn believers of the dangers of lusting after money.

“People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Tim 6:9-10 NLT).

Jesus spoke of “the deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19 NKJV), and Paul equates covetousness with idolatry (Col 3:5). Scripture provides numerous guard rails, even flashing warning lights, to remind believers to keep their motives and priorities right when it comes to properly stewarding material wealth.

Paul further refers to those whose “minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy” (1 Tim 6:5 NLT). The Message version renders part of that verse as “They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.”

With all of this in mind, what is a Christian to think? Should believers be afraid of prospering? Of succeeding? I don’t think that is what the comprehensive truth of God’s Word communicates at all. Certainly, we should keep God first in everything, and with his help, protect our hearts and minds from covetousness and greed. But there is an important delineation to be made. Is God against his children prospering, or is he against all of the things we’ve looked at so far that can accompany wealth if unchecked, such as arrogance, trusting in money, covetousness, deceit, etc. I believe it is the latter.

Wisdom from Proverbs

Solomon’s instructions are loaded with insights on how to avoid the many pitfalls and snares of life, as well as directives on how to live a God-fearing, wisdom-based life. Here is an important question: “If God really wanted all of his people to be poor, why does the Bible contain so many instructions on how to do better in life, including in the material realm?” Consider the following:

• Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine (Prov 3:9-10 NLT).

• [Wisdom] offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left (Prov 3:16 NLT).

• The diligence of ants is mentioned as a good example of hard, consistent work that produces a supply. Laziness, on the other hand, results in lack (see Proverbs 6:6-11). Later, ants are described as “small but unusually wise.” Why? “They aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer” (Prov 30:4-5 NLT).

• Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich (Prov 10:2, 4 NLT).

• The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it (Prov 10:22 NLT).

• Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last… Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed… Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring (Prov 11:18, 24-25, 28 NLT).

• A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit …hard work brings rewards (Prov 12:11-12, 14 NLT).

• Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time (Prov 13:11 NLT).

• Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only foolishness (Prov 14:23-24 NLT).

• There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble (Prov 15:6 NLT).

• To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper (Prov 19:8 NLT).

• Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap (Prov 21:5-6 NLT).

• Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! (Prov 21:26 NLT).

• True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life (Prov 22:4 NLT).

• The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble… Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty… Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity. (Prov 28:20, 22, 25 NLT).

• We would be remiss not to mention the virtuous woman who is addressed in the last book of Proverbs. “She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable” (Prov 31:17-18 NLT).

An important take-away from Proverbs is that people are warned against lusting after material wealth, against resorting to illicit or unethical means of gain, or making the acquisition of money one’s highest priority. What is to be passionately pursued, according to Solomon, are wisdom, discernment, insight, good judgment, common sense, integrity, knowledge, obedience, and the like.

Proverbs teaches that there are right and wrong ways to acquire money, and that there are right and wrong attitudes and priorities concerning money. A person with wealth could have a great attitude toward money if they work hard, are grateful, humble, and generous. Likewise, a person with nothing could have wrong attitudes toward money if they are stingy, covetous, or envious of others. Ultimately, it is not about what is in our bank accounts; it is about what is in our hearts.