Should Christians stay Poor knowing the apostles were not rich?
The concept of Christian poverty has been widely taught by many traditional churches, and is still a debate in the mind of many Christians. This arose due to the financial status of the early Apostles who were not financially mighty, but were living off the Gospel. We will compare both the Old and New Testaments to see what is God saying concerning wealthy Christians.
Have God really called us Christians to be poor?
Ecclesiastes 10:19 says, “wine maketh merry: BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL THINGS.”
God has never intended His people to be poor,” as he said in Deuteronomy 8:18, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: FOR IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE POWER TO GET WEALTH,” Good New Bible says, “the power to become rich.”
Ecclesiastes 5:19, “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 6:2, “A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour,”
Psalms 35:27, “Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
It also says in Job 36:11, “If they (the Saints of God) obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”
It is a wrong concept to think the God who holds the wealth of this world in His hands wants all His servants poor.
But what about the Apostles and Christ? Why were they not rich? God made a promise in Mark 10:30, “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses,... and lands” but why were they not rich?
First of all, no one knows the financial status of the Apostles, except Paul who gave an account of his financial status. How do we know that the others were not wealthy? Nevertheless, The Apostles had to established the foundation of Christianity, therefore, God required their total commitment in establishing the work, and would rather give them their reward in heaven than have them indulge in earthly wealth.
NOTE: There are few things we must see in scriptures concerning being wealthy. God has certain people whom He WILL allow to enjoy the earthly wealth and those He WILL NOT allow to enjoy it. Not all Christians will be rich, yet God prospers His servants continually as He sees fit.
Secondly, Jesus was not earthly rich because He came with one mission, to preach the Gospel, not to make money. His focus was so spiritual that not even food was an essential to him John 4:31, “In the meantime His disciples were asking Him, saying, Master, eat.” Vs.34, “Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”
The concept of Christian poverty has been widely taught by many traditional churches, and is still a debate in the mind of many Christians. This arose due to the financial status of the early Apostles who were not financially mighty, but were living off the Gospel. We will compare both the Old and New Testaments to see what is God saying concerning wealthy Christians.
Have God really called us Christians to be poor?
Ecclesiastes 10:19 says, “wine maketh merry: BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL THINGS.”
God has never intended His people to be poor,” as he said in Deuteronomy 8:18, “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: FOR IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE POWER TO GET WEALTH,” Good New Bible says, “the power to become rich.”
Ecclesiastes 5:19, “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 6:2, “A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour,”
Psalms 35:27, “Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
It also says in Job 36:11, “If they (the Saints of God) obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”
It is a wrong concept to think the God who holds the wealth of this world in His hands wants all His servants poor.
But what about the Apostles and Christ? Why were they not rich? God made a promise in Mark 10:30, “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses,... and lands” but why were they not rich?
First of all, no one knows the financial status of the Apostles, except Paul who gave an account of his financial status. How do we know that the others were not wealthy? Nevertheless, The Apostles had to established the foundation of Christianity, therefore, God required their total commitment in establishing the work, and would rather give them their reward in heaven than have them indulge in earthly wealth.
NOTE: There are few things we must see in scriptures concerning being wealthy. God has certain people whom He WILL allow to enjoy the earthly wealth and those He WILL NOT allow to enjoy it. Not all Christians will be rich, yet God prospers His servants continually as He sees fit.
Secondly, Jesus was not earthly rich because He came with one mission, to preach the Gospel, not to make money. His focus was so spiritual that not even food was an essential to him John 4:31, “In the meantime His disciples were asking Him, saying, Master, eat.” Vs.34, “Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”