Introduction: Why Does God Bless Us With Wealth?
Wealth is often seen as a sign of God’s blessing, and throughout Scripture, we see examples of faithful individuals whom God blessed with riches—Abraham, Solomon, Job, and many others. However, wealth in itself is not the goal of the Christian life. Instead, it is a tool that should be used for God’s glory and the benefit of others.
Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us:
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
God blesses His children with wealth not just for personal enjoyment but to fulfill His kingdom purposes—to help the poor, spread the Gospel, and be a light in the world. But what does the Bible say about wealth? How does God expect Christians who are blessed financially to conduct themselves? And in a world where social media has become a stage for flaunting wealth, how should believers approach wealth with humility and purpose?
What Does the Bible Say About Wealth?
a) Wealth Is Not Evil, But It Comes With Responsibility
Many people misquote 1 Timothy 6:10, saying “money is the root of all evil”, but the verse actually says:
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
Money itself is neutral—it can be used for good or evil. The problem arises when people love wealth more than God or place their trust in riches rather than in Him.
Jesus warns in Matthew 6:24:
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
b) God Expects the Wealthy to Be Generous
Wealth is not meant to be hoarded for personal gain but to bless others.
1 Timothy 6:17-18 instructs:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
This means that Christians who are blessed financially should remain humble, be generous to those in need and invest in kingdom work (missions, churches, charity, community projects).
c) Wealth Should Not Lead to Pride or Self-Indulgence
Proverbs 11:28 warns:
“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
While wealth can provide comfort and security, it should never become our source of identity or confidence. The story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 illustrates this perfectly—he stored up wealth for himself, thinking it would secure his future, but God called him a fool because he was not “rich toward God.”
The Social Media Culture of Flaunting Wealth
In recent times, many wealthy Christians have taken to social media to show off their expensive houses, luxury cars, designer clothing, and lavish lifestyles. This raises an important question: Should Christians display their wealth so openly?
Some may argue that showcasing wealth motivates others to work hard and trust God for prosperity while others believe that wealth is a sign of God’s favor, and displaying it publicly glorifies God. Also, wealthy Christians may see themselves as examples of financial wisdom, encouraging others to manage their resources well.
However, publicly displaying wealth may lead to pride and vanity. Jesus warns against seeking attention for acts of righteousness (Matthew 6:1). Flaunting wealth can fuel pride rather than humility. It can also tempt others to covetousness. Seeing lavish displays of wealth can cause envy and materialism among those who struggle financially. Lastly, instead of pointing people to Christ, public wealth displays may shift the focus to material success rather than spiritual growth.
The Rise of “Christian Wealth Coaches” & Business Models
Another growing trend is the rise of “Christian financial coaches” and business models that promise to help Christians grow wealth through investments, entrepreneurship, or network marketing. Some claim God wants all His children to be financially prosperous and use scriptures to promote wealth-building programs.
Christian wealth coaching has its advantages as it teaches Christians financial stewardship, encouraging Christians to manage money wisely, avoid debt, and invest responsibly. It also helps believers understand that God is not against wealth, and financial discipline is part of Christian responsibility. It also encourages hard work. Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Wise business principles can be biblically sound.
However, wrongly teach that wealth is a sign of faith, leading to false expectations. In many cases, it seems to encourage materialism as some courses focus more on making money than on biblical principles like generosity and humility. There are now even some pyramid-style Christian business models take advantage of struggling believers, offering false promises of financial breakthrough. This is a form of expliotation.
What is the Biblical Perspective?
While there is nothing wrong with financial wisdom, biblical wealth is about stewardship, not self-enrichment. Proverbs 30:8-9 presents the most balanced view:
“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Christians should pursue wealth with integrity, humility, and generosity—not as a measure of spiritual success.
The Christian Approach to Wealth
Key Takeaways:
✔ Wealth is a blessing but comes with responsibility.
✔ God expects generosity, humility, and wise stewardship from the wealthy.
✔ Flaunting wealth on social media can lead to pride, envy, and misplaced priorities.
✔ Not all Christian wealth-building models are biblically sound—wisdom is needed.
At the end of the day, true riches are found in Christ, not in possessions. The question every Christian should ask is:
“Am I using my wealth to glorify God or to glorify myself?”
What are your thoughts? Do you think Christians should showcase wealth on social media, or should it remain private? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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