Does God Want You To Be Poor?

It’s a natural question that most people have had at some point in their life – does God want you to be poor? Or rich? Does He care at all?

Money is an important part of life, so this is an important question. Throughout the millennia, many Christian believers have taken vows of poverty, in the belief that it helped them to be more spiritual.

I’ll give you my take on the subject, including Biblical verses that support my belief.

It’s a natural question that most people have had at some point in their life - does God want you to be poor? Or rich? Does He care at all? What does the Bible say about having money? Is it okay to have money? #faithandfinances #biblemoney #biblicalmoney — PIN FOR LATER

What the Bible Says

There are a few scriptures in the Bible that might make you believe that poverty is better than riches.

Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-4)

He also said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)

Perhaps the most famous scripture of all can be found in the book of Timothy, by the Apostle Paul, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

So there you have it, simple. Being rich is evil, and being poor is blessed.

Not so fast.

If you take time to read what is actually said and study the context of each scripture, then you’ll realize that it’s not quite what it seems.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This chapter of the Bible is known as the Beatitudes, where Jesus extols virtues, such as those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness”. By realizing our spiritual lack, we recognize that we must turn to God for all spiritual sustenance. He is the source, not us.

The same is true with temporal things. It’s important that we recognize that they come as blessings from God.

The famous “eye of the needle” scripture explains this point even more powerfully. Of course, a camel cannot pass through the tiny eye of a needle – it’s clearly impossible. To this day, no man-made technology can make it happen.

That’s why Jesus explained to His disciples, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Matthew 19:26)

It’s not that rich people are inherently evil. It’s that God needs to save you, even if you are rich.

Indeed, riches themselves aren’t bad. They’re just things. But “the love of money” is bad. Loving riches more than people is bad. Loving riches more than God is bad.

We should love people and use things – not use people and love things.

It’s all about priorities.

What Will You Do With Your Money?

The Bible shows us that money can be used for good and for ill.

Judas betrayed Jesus for 40 pieces of silver. Yet Solomon used gold and silver to build the temple in Jerusalem.

The money was neither good nor bad in either of those circumstances – the important thing was how it was used.

When it comes to explaining the role of money, I like the scripture from Ecclesiastes 7:12, “Money is a defense”.

Money can be used to protect yourself and your family. Consider the following monetary tools:

Insurance
Emergency funds
Social security
Retirement accounts

All of these things protect against the harsh vicissitudes of life. And if engaged wisely, can be used to help people.

On the positive side of things, money can be used for the noblest of purposes:

Helping the poor
Building churches
Educating children
Funding healthcare
Providing homes

Throughout most of the history of European and American Christianity, church institutions were the main funders of hospitals. And many universities have religious origins.

One of the things that motivated me to start my personal finance blog, Digital Honey, is that I think wealth can be used to help people. And that educating people about the proper uses of money and credit can be a huge blessing in their lives.

Surely money can be and often is used for good.

Is It Bad to Be Rich?

I’ve talked about the morality of money with many of my family and friends, and I’ve yet to come across a person who thinks that poverty is better than sufficiency. (Although such people and ideologies do exist in the world.)

Yet some of them do believe that while poverty is bad, riches are bad, too. In fact, I have a brother who thinks that wealth is morally corrupting.

I find that problematic in a practical sense. This isn’t just a philosophical point.

Why? Because your beliefs determine your actions.

If you truly believe that money is bad, then how hard will you work for it? What will you do with it once you get it?

If you believe that money is evil or morally corrupt at a subconscious level, then you will try to get rid of it. You’ll spend it excessively or give it away unwisely. At the very least, you won’t want to think about it or negotiate for more of it.

But if you believe that money is a useful tool, then you’ll use it well. If you believe that acquiring more of it will make your life better, then you’ll try to acquire more of it.

We all have different beliefs about money. I believe that more money equals more freedom and security. And those are things that I really want!

I certainly don’t believe that if I gain more money, I’ll become evil. But that’s what many people believe, whether or not they consciously realize it.

Conversely, many people believe that they are not worthy to have lots of money. This too is a harmful belief. If you don’t believe that you deserve to be paid well for your work, time, and expertise, then you’ll subconsciously sabotage yourself.

Jesus said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

“Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

“But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:28-34)

Indeed, I believe that God rewards “all these things” to people who justly earn them.

Solomon and the Paradox of Money

King Solomon has long fascinated me. He is widely regarded as one of the richest men to ever walk the earth. One modern estimate says that his wealth would be equivalent to $2 trillion in today’s money.

When young Solomon was new to the throne of Israel, God appeared to him in a dream and asked him what he wanted. Rather than asking for long life or riches, Solomon simply asked for wisdom to rule the people of Israel wisely.

God was so pleased with Solomon’s selfless request, that he not only did He grant him wisdom, but also riches and long life.

I find that this story tells a beautiful truth. The truth is that money often comes to those who don’t lust after it.

It’s a paradox because you would think that not focusing on money would lead to not having money. But quite the opposite is true. God often blesses you for doing the right things. And doing the right things often leads to money.

To be sure, you need to work hard to earn money. You still have to save it and invest it wisely. Wealth almost never happens by accident. But when you do it in a godly way, you are simply being a wise steward of the things that God has given you.

Generally speaking, people who love money do so for what it can get them: luxury, pleasure, comfort, prestige, and popularity.

People who love money feel a need for a big house and fancy car because of the social standing and enjoyment they give you. You feel a need to wear the latest clothes and go to the trendiest restaurants.

When you love money, it controls you. You’re only happy when you have lots of it, and when you can use it to satisfy your cravings.

I believe that if you let God’s love fill you, you don’t feel a need to fill your life with worldly pleasures. They feel good in the moment, but they lack spiritual satisfaction.

But when you love God, money is just a tool. And oftentimes it comes to you as a by-product of living a godly life.

If you’re trying to keep God’s commandments, then you’re working hard, obeying the law, serving others, and not spending your money foolishly. In other words, you’re doing all of the things that naturally lead to wealth.

None of this is to say that God will always bless good people with riches, or that rich people are rich because of divine favor. There are lots of good people who aren’t wealthy, and there are lots of bad people who are rich.

But generally speaking, obeying God’s law is conducive to wealth building, if that’s something that you want. Conversely, breaking his laws often leads to poverty.

I think that Jesus said it best, “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

So what do you think? Does God want you to be poor?

Garit is a Christian and a money nerd. He lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah.
You can find him over at Digital Honey where he writes about credit, saving, and building wealth.