I came across this verse in the Bible that had me thinking…
1 Timothy 6:9-10
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Wealth Isn’t Evil but the Desire for Riches Is
It made me reflect on my own internal ambitions and I know that the desire to be rich is there. I want the financials that provide the economic freedom that money offers. You can live where you want to live and eat what you want to eat. You can do great things with money and make an impact. But there is an insidiousness that I know comes along with this desire.
I know money in itself is not bad. The desire to provide and have resources is not bad. Material things in and of themselves are not bad. They can all be used to the glory of God. BUT that doesn’t mean the desire for riches is good OR even neutral. Paul is clearly telling Timothy that the desire to be rich is all intents and purposes bad. It’s a temptation and a snare for those who desire after it. It controls them in a way that makes them do things that are not holy and pleasing to the Lord.
This made me pause and ask the Lord for wisdom.
There was a conflict inside of me. I know that he’s given me a desire for business. I know there is a desire to use resources for his glory and further the kingdom. But I also know lurking in the shadows of these good things are selfish desires. There is almost a fawning over having money. It’s a status symbol. A way to show that you “made it.” Even when money is used modestly, it can still seep into your psyche and build up pride and self-reliance. It oftentimes can be a slippery slope and we have to be extra cautious as our bank account swells because our ego tends to grow in proportion.
I had to ask the Lord to help me make sense of the apparent contradiction of having wealth (not bad) versus the desire for riches (bad). Don’t you need the desire to be rich to get wealth? Isn’t it the motivating force that allows you to accumulate wealth? It’s been modeled and instructed to me by books and mentors. I should drive around in nice neighborhoods, visit exotic car dealerships, create vision boards, set extravagant goals, immerse myself in opulence so that it becomes my motivation?
After some more praying, reading, and researching, I’m starting to see there isn’t a contradiction with having wealth and the desire for riches. One doesn’t have to precede the other.
What Does God Have to Say About It
As I prayed for wisdom, I felt the Holy Spirit bring to light several key verses that brought clarity to this apparent discrepancy.
Colossians 3:23
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
It’s clear in these two verses that we should work diligently with the talents that we’ve been given. God gives everyone natural talents and he wants us to use them. However, when we start focusing on lusting after money, we taint our efforts because our motivation is gaining more riches. It not only spoils the fun of using our talents but it could be said that your impact could be diminished as well.
I think of the late Kobe Bryant. When you hear interviews about him or of him, you never hear him talking about how he works hard so that he can make all this money. What you hear ooze from his very soul is the desire to make use of all the talents that he’s been given and enjoy the journey.
The irony is when you don’t focus on the riches but focus on using the talents and abilities that God has given you, and you do it with excellence, money tends to follow.
We know in Ecclesiastes, Solomon drives the point home that what is of value is eating and drinking, enjoying the work that you do, and fearing the Lord. That is his driving message. Fear the Lord, enjoy using your talents, and finding satisfaction in the process. That’s the fun of it. If you do, you tend to make the most impact in the world and money tends to be a by-product.
Ecclesiastes 3:24-25
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 10:22
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
God is also the one who brings about wealth. My job is to do the best I can as a entrepreneur, enjoy the process, fear the Lord, and do good with the wealth IF God so gives it to me. If not, I need to know how to be content in all situations.
1 Timothy 6:6-8
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Conclusion of the Matter
- Use your talents to the fullest
- Be disciplined and exemplary in your work
- Enjoy the work that you do
- Serve people
- Love God
- Leave the growth and wealth decision to the Lord
What I realized is having that dangerous desire for riches was tainting the very process I should be enjoying. It was also creating my own snare, going down a road that doesn’t lead to righteousness and holiness.
If I’m a businessman, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Being an entrepreneur can be just as “spiritually” impactful as being a full-time missionary or pastor. In anything we do, we can always be “on-mission” with our profession. This is a whole other topic we can talk about.
However, what matters is my job to use all the talents and abilities God has given me for his glory. I should hone my talents and I should be diligent with my work. I should excel at what I do and enjoy the process of figuring it all out.
But at the end of the day, it’s up to the Lord to provide the increase. Whether I gain wealth or not is decided by the Lord. It doesn’t mean I can be flippant with responsibilities as a business owner. My job being diligent is to increase the top and bottom line. But I shouldn’t covet what others have and fall into the pit of loving money.
So the desire for riches does not need to precede wealth. We do our part, God decides the wealth part.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
*Side note – Do I think evil people that don’t know the Lord can be wealthy? Yes, absolutely. We see it all around us. BUT when the wealth comes from the Lord, it comes without painful toil and he adds no sorrows to it. How many rich people do we know that have lives we wouldn’t want to trade with? Stories of rich people committing suicide or dying from an overdose. Or those that had to lie and cheat their way to riches. The seared conscience of some must keep them up at night.
Even those that don’t know the Lord but are “good” and apply biblical principles, tend to be a lot happier and more joyful. God’s inherent physical laws and spiritual laws tend to apply to everyone. Even if people don’t know they are doing it, they are reaping some of the earthly benefits of God’s invisible design.