The Real ‘Beggar’
We live in a world where a majority of people gain their identity from their economic status. Their status in society is strangely directly proportional to the riches they possess. We do not undermine the value of money, as we are aware that this is essential for our day to day living. However, the bible gives us a good perspective of how one should view riches and how one should use the resources that God has entrusted to us.
Here are some important lessons that the Bible teaches us regarding riches
1. We can’t serve God and money
These are the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (NLT)
Jesus was categorical when He said that if money has mastery over our lives, then there is no way God can have the controls. He went on further to explain that this is compared to a love-hate relationship. The one who loves God will not love money and the one who is enslaved by money will not be able to love God. This is also why Jesus explained it to us in Matthew 6:21 that where one’s treasure is, there will their heart be also. If our allegiance is to money, we can never love and serve God the way we should.
2. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil
In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul explained it this way, “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.” (NLT)
As mentioned earlier, money in itself is neutral and an essential to live life. Nonetheless, when one falls in love with money, it grows in us a root for all kinds of evil. Paul further explains that those who are in pursuit of it and covet after it have the danger of wandering from the faith and also entangling themselves with much grief. Hebrews 13:5 encourages us with these words, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” (ESV) The greatest solace one can have in this world is the assurance that the Almighty God who is with us will never forsake us, no matter what happens.
3. Our hearts should be guarded against covetousness
These are the words of Jesus in Luke 12:15, “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”(NKJV)
When a man in the crowd asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide his inheritance with him, the above was Jesus’ reply to him. Many families are divided over property disputes and there are those who don’t talk to each other over these conflicts. To such the words of the Lord Jesus reminds us that our life is not measured by the abundance of the things we possess.
4. Riches will never satisfy us
Here are the words of one of the wisest men who lived on the earth, King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” (ESV)
Did you know that some of the richest people are the most lonely and unhappy ones? The reason is that wealth and possessions can never satisfy our deepest longings. On the other hand there is a wonderful piece of counsel in 1 Timothy 6:6-7, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” (ESV). The right mindset is to be content with what we have and this can be accomplished when we constantly remind ourselves that we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it either.
5. Riches are fleeting
Proverbs 23:4-5 we read, “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.” (BSB)
We live in a time when there is severe economic crisis like never before and therefore we can understand much better that wealth and riches can disappear in an instant. Keeping this is mind it is good for us to not toil so hard and weary ourselves to acquire wealth, which at the end of the day we are unable to enjoy.
6. Use our riches to bless others
Paul further admonishes the rich 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “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.” (NLT)
Here’s a good bit of advice from Paul. The wealth and riches that God bestows on us is not to be used entirely on ourselves. Rather, we are encouraged to bless others who are in need. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus clearly taught that instead of storing up treasures on earth which is subject to decay and theft, we should lay up treasures in heaven, where it is totally secure. This is possible only when we are willing to be generous with what we have and are willing to share with those who are in need.
The encounter of a rich young ruler with Jesus will give us some additional insights this matter of wealth and riches.
The rich young ruler
In Matthew 19:16-26, a rich young man came to Jesus with an important question. He said to Jesus, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
When Jesus spelled some of the commandments, it seemed that this young man had actually adhered to most of the commandments of God, but still found that there was a void in his life. Jesus went straight to the point and commanded him to sell all that he had, give it to the poor so that he could have treasures in heaven. The young man walked away that day grieving and dejected, for he knew that this would be an impossibility for him.
Listen to Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:23-24, Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, 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.” (NKJV)
There’s another incident that Jesus narrated about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. An in-depth study of this narrative I hope, will help us to view riches as we ought to so we do not miss out on what is evidently more important.
The rich man and Lazarus
Here is another event about the rich man and Lazarus as told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31. There are two men portrayed in this story, one a rich man and the other, a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man had it all, the poshest house, the most expensive clothes, and the finest of food served to him. On the other hand poor Lazarus, was a beggar, left lying at the gate of this rich man, his body covered with sores, literally left to the mercy of the rich man. Lazarus was in such a despicable condition that dogs licked his sores. Interestingly, they both seemed to be aware of each other, though the rich man cared nothing for poor Lazarus, who was literally dependent on the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.
Both of them died, and while Lazarus probably had an insignificant burial, the rich man would have certainly had a pompous one. Surprisingly they both ended up in a place that was contrary to what they had experienced on earth. While the rich man landed in hades, Lazarus was carried away by the angels and taken to Abraham’s bosom, to enjoy the very presence of God.
Watch the tables turn; as the rich man beheld Lazarus from this place of intense torment, he recognized him, and begged Father Abraham to send Lazarus, to give him a few drops of water to cool his tongue. (Luke 16:24) Abraham had to inform the rich man that this was an impossibility for two reasons. Firstly, the rich man had enjoyed his fair share of wealth and luxury while on earth and Lazarus had nothing. Secondly, he explained to the rich man that there was a huge gulf that separated them, so that none of them could get to the other side. It was at this point that the rich man again begged Abraham in Luke 16:27 to send Lazarus back to earth so he could warn his brothers and spare them from the anguish that he faced. Abraham answered that they had already received the word of God through Moses and the prophets, and that if they were unwilling to heed them, they would not repent, even if a man was sent back to them from the dead. There is a dramatic turn of events as the rich man became the beggar and Lazarus becomes the affluent. The question is, who then was the real beggar?
The reasons for such a predicament was that while the rich man lived on earth he was so engrossed with himself and obsessed with his money, that he had no time to even look out to see that there was someone right at his door step whom he could extend a helping hand to. His wealth had so blinded him so that all he cared for was for his temporary life on earth, with no preparation whatsoever for eternity.
Here’s something we all need to ponder on. When God blesses us with riches and wealth, may we use it to bless those who are in need and thereby lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Someone said it so aptly, “When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living, raise your standard of giving.” When Jesus told the parable of the rich man in Luke Chapter 12, he concluded with these powerful words in Luke 12:21, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (NLT)
Esther Collins
