There are those who would have us believe that Christianity is all about receiving earthly, material wealth from God. The abundant spiritual life is that of monetary riches, they shout. But like Satan’s lies mixed with truth, this claim doesn’t hold up. The truth, and nothing but the truth, is that the abundant life spoken of in the Bible consists of life eternal; full of God’s spiritual riches.
True, those riches from God could include a blessing of increased earthly wealth, as we presently live, but such should not be our expectation for entering the Christian life. Certainly, it is not what God is offering as our hope.
I believe that God gives great monetary blessings only to those who can spiritually handle the temptations that come with it. For other believers, to give it to them would be a tremendous stumbling block to their spiritual growth. Jesus said in Mark 10: 23, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
Jesus said that because of the risk of worshiping money over God. “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Luke 16:13.
When we hear that God has riches to give, we should think in terms of what His word actually says those riches are. Take, for instance, Romans 2: 4 that says “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” Also, there’s Romans 11: 33. It says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”
Furthermore, Ephesians 1:7 states “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” And then we have Ephesians 3: 16— “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”
These verses, instead of claiming that money will be given, reveal that the riches we receive from God are kindness, tolerance, patience, wisdom, knowledge, the forgiveness of sins, and Holy Spirit power. These things are our abundant,, eternal inheritance.
I could go on with more verses, but I think you get the idea. So I’ll wrap it up with the ultimate wealth verse found in Philippians 4: 19. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” In other words, in Jesus, we are wealthy with all of God’s spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1: 3).
Finally, I think it’s important to also note that not only do believers receive from God, His riches; but that we add to His bounty by becoming a part of it, as is stated in Ephesians 1: 18— “That you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.”
In other words, we are viewed by God as His riches, and He intends to forever showcase us as His wealth. This I get from linking Ephesians 1: 18 with Ephesians 2: 6, 7— “ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
_________________________
“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.” 1 Timothy 6: 17.