The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2017Sample

Is Money a Blessing or a Curse?

Laurence was in charge of the finances of the church. He was also a deacon. There was a great revival taking place all around him. It was said that, ‘All of Rome were becoming Christians.’

As a result, persecution broke out under the Emperor Valerian in around the year AD 250. Christians who owned property distributed all the church’s money and treasures to the city’s poor.

Valerian ordered all bishops, priests and deacons to be arrested and executed. He offered Laurence a way out if he would show where all the church’s treasures were located.

Laurence asked for three days to gather it into one central place. He brought together the blind, poor, disabled, sick, elderly, widows and orphans. When Valerian arrived, Laurence flung open the doors and said, ‘These are the treasures of the church!’

Valerian was so angry that he decided beheading was not terrifying enough for Laurence. He ordered that this courageous man be roasted on a gridiron. That is how Laurence died on 10 August AD 258. Apparently, he even joked with his executioners, ‘You may turn me over. I’m done on this side.’ His courage made such an impression that the revival in Rome only increased, with many people becoming Christians including several senators who witnessed his execution.

St Laurence had a profound understanding of the message of Jesus. He understood that the poor were the true treasures of the church.

What should our attitude be to the poor? What about the rich? Is poverty a blessing or a curse? Are riches a blessing or a curse? Does the gospel promise prosperity?

Proverbs 19:13-22

1. Money is not everything

The book of Proverbs has a remarkably balanced understanding of wealth and poverty. Neither is seen as wholly good or wholly bad. They are understood as part of the wider fabric of life, and we are encouraged to use what we have wisely.

‘Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord’ (v.14). There is nothing wrong with houses or wealth; but there are more important things in life. Finding the right marriage partner is far more important than having lots of money.

For those tempted to work too hard in pursuit of money or any other goal, it is important to remember the sovereignty of God: ‘Many are the plans in a human heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails’ (v.21). Taking ‘Sabbath rest’ and holidays is a sign that we trust in God’s sovereignty.

Wealth is not the most important thing in life; nor is poverty the worst thing that can happen to us: ‘What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar’ (v.22). We need love far more than we need riches. Integrity of character is far more important than money.

On the other hand, this passage does not exalt poverty as a virtue. Sometimes poverty can be self-inflicted: ‘Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry’ (v.15).

Whatever the reason may be for a person’s poverty, we should be kind to the poor: ‘Those who are kind to the poor lend to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done’ (v.17).

This is an extraordinary and wonderful promise. God is no person’s debtor. Every time you do something kind for a poor person, you are lending to the Lord and he will repay with interest. Often we see amazing blessings in the lives of those who spend their time ministering with the poor, the homeless and the prisoners.

Lord, I entrust you with my finances and my future. Help me to live a life of generosity to all – especially the poor.

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

2. Poverty of the apostles

On the outside, people were rich, honoured and strong; but the church in Corinth was in a real mess. Paul points out that they were arrogant, proud and jealous. They tolerated sexual immorality, and they went to court against each other.

Paul starts to tackle some of these issues. Paul is an apostle. He sees in their lives the arrogance of the rich. They are proud of their material wealth. Paul explains in a nutshell why no one has any cause for pride: ‘Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle’ (vv.7b–8, MSG).

They are rich like kings: ‘Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign – and that without us!’ (v.8a). There is a hint of sarcasm here. They are not really rulers at all, ‘How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we might come to rule with you!’ (v.8b)

He contrasts their material wealth with the poverty of the apostles. ‘You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we’re mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don’t have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living’ (vv.11–12, MSG).

Paul was one of the most influential Christians of all time. His ministry was one of the most ‘successful’ of all times. However, it did not lead to material prosperity. Quite the opposite. He was materially poor. He did not have enough food. He did not have nice clothes. He was homeless.

His poverty did not come about as a result of laziness: ‘We work hard with our own hands’ (v.12a). But, like many poor people today, he was subject to abuse. He did not respond in kind: ‘When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world’ (vv.12b–13).

Paul writes with great love – not to shame them but to warn them. He sees them as a father sees his own children (vv.14–15): ‘I’m writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up.

Paul had a father’s heart. A father’s heart is gentle, kind, nurturing, training, persevering and never gives up on people. This should be the attitude of a pastor. All human parents are less than perfect. But you are loved and nurtured by your perfect heavenly father and can seek to be a parent to others based on his heavenly model.

Lord, thank you that I have received far more through Jesus than anything this world can offer. May I be willing to be a fool ‘for Christ’ (v.10). Help me to imitate Paul’s example.

1 Chronicles 26:20-27:34

3. Riches of kings

When Paul wrote, ‘Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign’ (1 Corinthians 4:8), perhaps he had kings like King David in mind.

David was rich. He had great ‘treasuries’ (1 Chronicles 26:22), he had ‘royal storehouses’ (27:25), he had ‘vineyards’, ‘wine vats’ (v.27), ‘olive and sycamore-fig trees’ (v.28), ‘supplies of olive oil’ (v.28b), ‘herds’ (v.29), ‘camels’ and ‘donkeys’ (v.30b), ‘flocks’ and ‘property’ (v.31).

Finances are not ‘unspiritual’. For example, the worship of God usually takes place in buildings. Buildings cost money. Running the financial side of a church is an important role. The ‘Levites were put in charge of the financial affairs of The Temple... They supervised the finances of the sanctuary of God’ (26:20,22, MSG). Shubael was ‘the chief financial officer’ (v.24, MSG).

Material wealth was often seen in the Old Testament as a sign of God’s blessing. It is still true that godly character – hard work, reliability, integrity and honesty – are characteristics that often can lead to success and material prosperity. However, as we have seen in the New Testament passage for today, this is not the whole picture.

Over the years I have come across a number of very rich Christians. Some of them are among the godliest and most committed believers I have known. Their riches are not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing – but neither are they something bad. The key thing is how you see your money, and what you do with it.

Lord, help us to get the balance right in our teaching and in our lifestyle. May we never be guilty of condemning or judging those whom you have blessed with material prosperity. May we be generous and give freely and be willing to go hungry and thirsty, in rags and homeless if necessary, in order to serve you.

Pippa Adds

Proverbs 19:13b

‘A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.’

Before pointing out the mess any of my family may have made, I do think about this verse. I don’t want to be accused of being a dripping tap!