1 Timothy 6:6-10 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. (9) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
There is no scriptural evidence of any of the Lord’s ministers becoming wealthy. On the contrary, there is overwhelming evidence that the Lord’s ministers preached against excessive wealth. The first example we will look at is the Apostle Paul. The above quoted passage of scripture clearly reveals to us the Apostle Paul’s viewpoint of riches in this life. Clearly Paul taught against the concept of desiring to be rich, but rather for the saints to learn to live in contentment. Although Paul did tell us that he had learnt how to be abased and how to abound (Philippians 4:12), scriptural evidence is very clear that the apostle Paul was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a wealthy man. And in fact he described himself as being poorly clothed and homeless (1 Corinthians 4:11).
James 1:9-11 “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (10) but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (11) For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So, the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.”
The second example we will look at is the Apostle James. As we can see in the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle James also has nothing good to say about those who are rich in this life. And in fact later in his letter he strongly rebukes unbelievers that are rich, by telling them that they have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; and have fattened their hearts as in a day of slaughter (James 5:1-6). The Lord’s apostle was not a hypocrite, and so James would not have expressed his views so strongly in this area if he himself had been one who was wealthy.
2 Peter 2:3-15 “By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time, their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. … (13) And will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, (14) having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children. (15) They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”
The third example we will look at is the Apostle Peter. In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Peter teaches the church to avoid those who preach the gospel with deceptive words, using them as a cloak for covetousness. He equates them with Balaam, who loved money and used his prophetic gift to gain riches in this life. And so just as in the case of James, the apostle Peter would not have spoken out against covetous practices in the ministry, if he had himself become wealthy through the ministry gift that he had received from the Lord.
1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.”
The fourth example we will look at is the Apostle John. John also leaves no doubt as to his viewpoint on riches in this life, for in the above quoted passage of scripture he tells the church not to love the world or the things in the world. These are the very things that the world loves and pursues, for they love to satisfy their fleshly desires, and they always want more, for they never have enough, and those who do attain wealth, love to display that wealth with pride. Again, the apostle John was not a hypocrite, and so he would not have counselled the church to refrain from loving the things in the world, if he himself fell into the category of being one who was considered to be wealthy in this life.
Jude 1:11-13 “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (12) These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; (13) raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.”
The fifth example we will look at is the Apostle Jude. In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Jude teaches the church almost word for word, the same admonition that the apostle Peter teaches us, i.e. to avoid those who preach the gospel with the same motive as Balaam, who loved money and used his prophetic gift to gain riches in this life. And so, the apostle Jude would also not have spoken out against covetous practices in the ministry, if he had himself become wealthy through the ministry gift that he had received from the Lord.
Michael E.B. Maher