Blessings of Wealth

"Wealth and riches are in their houses..."

Psalm 112.2

On Sunday we were listening to what God was saying to us through Psalm 112. Psalm 112 is a psalm about how the one who fears the Lord receives his blessing. It then sets out those blessings, which include: eternal righteousness, godly descendants and victory over enemies. It also promises wealth and riches. How do we make sense of this? Some teach that, in his word, God promises that he will give material wealth here and now to every one who fears him. Is this correct? Does being a Christian bring wealth and riches? I think that the correct answer to this is, 'sometimes'! 

Why it cannot be taken as an absolute promise to every believer

The New Testament, in particular, has numerous examples of godly Christians who did not receive material wealth and riches in this life. Jesus himself finished his earthly ministry with no possessions whatsoever. Moreover the way of the Christian is most often described as the way of the cross (Matt 16.24) - that hardly fits with the idea of a life of wealth and riches for every believer.

Proverbial wisdom

Proverbial wisdom in the Bible is when the Bible states what is normally true. It is in this sense that the promise in Psalm 112 and elsewhere in the Bible should be understood. The idea of Proverbial wisdom is that, even in a fallen and sinful world, there are still strong echoes of it's good, gracious and just Creator. As a result, living in line with him often brings rewards. In the 19th century for example, when people became Christians their lives would increasingly be set free from sins that were dragging them down - addiction to alcohol, indolence etc. and so their material situation improved.

However, the Psalms and Job are a strong warning that this is not always the case and to make an absolute rule/ promise out of a proverbial wisdom saying is a dangerous mistake (as Job's three friends discovered).

It will ultimately be the case

When Jesus comes out with the shocking news that it was harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, he was laying an axe to the notion that wealth is an indicator of God's approval. Peter then says, "We have left everything to follow you!". Jesus in his reply says that Peter's reward for his 'fear of the Lord' (in the language of Psalm 112), is that he will receive eternal life in the age to come. So we know that in the new heaven and new earth we will be unimaginably rich in every way (2 Corinthians 4.17-18). Fearing the Lord, will absolutely bring the blessing of wealth and riches when he comes again.

It is still true now

Just before Jesus promises this eternal life he says, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – along with persecutions" Mark 10.29-30. In other words, we are blessed in the most incredible way - through being part of the church. That is a challenge to us to make sure that our church increasingly lives out this calling to be a blessing. He also suggests that persecutions are a blessing. That is a blog for another day, but it is born out in Acts 5.41. 

It is only and finally true in Jesus - He is the wealth and riches promised

"Whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ. The righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection of the dead." Philippians 3