"How much can we safely keep?" This is a question asked by Randy Alcorn in his book, Managing God's Money: A Biblical Guide. His words are challenging, but encouraging, too.
There are some things that no Christian should do--such as hoard money, live in opulence, or fail to give generously. But there are other things that some Christians can freely do that others may sense God's leading not to do, such as own land, a home, a car, or a business; go on certain vacations; or set aside significant retirement funds.
How much money and how many possessions can we safely keep? Enough to care for our basic needs and some wants, but not so much that large amounts of money are kept from higher Kingdom causes. Not so much that we become proud and independent of the Lord. Not so much that it distracts us from our purpose or leaves us with the illusion that we are owners rather than managers of what God owns.
Those who happen to be rich--simply as a result of circumstances, hard work, or wisdom--have done nothing wrong. They need not feel guilty--unless they withhold their riches (which are really God's) from Kingdom causes, including helping the needy, or their lifestyles are self-centered and excessive.
I would add that the sin of greed rears its ugly head in the lives of the poor just as much as it does in the lives of the rich. Those without can idolize what they don't have just as easily as the rich can idolize what they do have. The issue is your heart. Consider the words of Paul in Philippians 4:10-13:
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I take this to mean that by the grace of God Paul I can live in poverty--should the Lord withold. And, by the grace of God, I can live in wealth--should the Lord so provide. The question is not ultimately the size of my bank account--big or small--but the stewardship of everything that God, in his sovereign wisdom, has entrusted to me.
Of course, every Christians should also know that, biblically speaking, we are wealthy and poor all at the same time. Is this a contradiction? Not at all.
We are wealthy (spiritually-speaking) because we have the Gospel--and the Gospel is a treasure (Matt. 13:44). Those who have the Gospel, who know what it is like to have their deepest need met in Christ, those who know what it is like for Christ to bear for them the wrath of God they they deserve--will always be spiritually rich. The believer has, after all, what no one can take away.
We are poor (spiritually-speaking) because we have the Gospel--and the Gospel teaches that there is nothing within us to commend ourselves to God. Thus, Jesus' amazing words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3). The true believer, he and she who is poor in spirit, has experienced what it is like to stand before the Lord with only her sin to offer. We are nothing more than sinners in need of grace. We will always be, in this sense, poor in spirit.
So every Christian is wealthy and poor, both at the same time.
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