Think of things that are both good and dangerous. Like electricity. Or sharp knives. Or sunlight (we need it to live, but sunburn can be nasty). Or water (again, we need water to live, and yet even a bathtub can present a risk of drowning).
Or money. Wealth is good—God gives us the ability to develop his resources and bring in a rich harvest (Deuteronomy 8:18). What’s more, the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1; 50:10-12). And in his generosity he pours out his rain upon the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). What do you have that you did not receive from God? (1 Corinthians 4:7). Answer: nothing. So we should thank the Lord for all of the good gifts he entrusts to us—for life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25).
And yet, money is also dangerous. Something in our hearts is tempted to “love” money, even though that desire is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). “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” (6:9).
Further, prosperity confronts us with the temptation to hoard rather than steward God’s goods. But Jesus identifies the rich farmer in his parable in Luke 12:13-21 as a “fool”—because he thinks that the meaning of his life has to do with the abundance of his possessions! And because he doesn’t see how earthly wealth is fleeting. As Paul puts it, “You can’t take it with you” (1 Timothy 6:7)—and we’d be foolish to act as if we could.
Think of it this way: God enriches us not so we can hang on to all his bounty, but so we can joyfully share it with others: it really is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). We are blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). As Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Or as it’s put in Ephesians 4:28 (more or less): work to gain to give. Don’t just work to gain and keep things for yourself: work to gain to give!
