What Is God’s Will Regarding Personal Finances? (4)

Introduction

We have seen that God has called one tenth of our income “holy unto the LORD.” This leaves us 90% of the money. Even though God does leave that in our hand, His Word doesn’t omit to declare His will in the management and use of this largest part of what He in His sovereignty has allotted to us. The instruction of the Heidelberg Catechism, after having pointed out that God forbids “all abuse and waste of His gifts,” proceeds to explain what God does require in the eighth commandment, namely, “that I promote the advantage of my neighbor in every instance I can or may, and deal with him as I desire to be dealt with by others; further also that I faithfully labor, so that I may be able to relieve the needy.”1

God’s Sovereignty and Wisdom

God in His sovereign good pleasure has determined each person’s portion hereafter.2 However, also our portion here below is measured out to us according to the sovereign will of God. Solomon wrote, “The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the Maker of them all” (Proverbs 22:2).3 This is not a matter of fairness, but of sovereignty. Scripture states that “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). Again, Jesus stresses this sovereignty in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard when He concludes with, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” (Matthew 20:15).4 Besides the sovereignty of God overruling the size of our portion here below, it is also a matter of God’s wisdom. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus describes the dividing of the talents among the stewards. He then states in verse 15, “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability. ”

May we learn to recognize, acknowledge, submit, and adore these attributes when we review our portion here below. It behooves us to ask, “Why do I still have or receive so much?” instead of curiously, irreverently, and proudly wondering, “Why don’t I have so much?” We are not worthy of the least of His blessings. This is so quickly and often stated, but how seldom is this frame of heart lively? Asking that first question may also open our eyes for the attribute of the goodness of His bounteous hand.

Wealth and its Use

In light of the above, to be wealthy is not an evil in itself. God blessed Abraham and Job with great abundance of possessions. Also in the New Testament church were several well- to-do people, such as the eunuch and Lydia.5 Paul exhorted the “rich in this world” to be “rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

God gives us our earthly wealth for two main reasons. In 1 Timothy 6:17, we read that God “giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” Even though Solomon’s main theme in the book of Ecclesiastes is that “all is vanity and vexation of spirit,” let us not forget that he also was inspired to write, “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which He hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takest under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9). We do wrong when we make our belly our god (Philippians 3:19).

Calvin wrote a very insightful chapter in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, entitled “How We Must Use the Present Life and Its Helps.”6 He warned against the double danger in the use of the good things of this life, namely a mistaken strictness and a mistaken laxity. He counseled that we certainly do not need to avoid those things which are more delights than necessities. He wrote, “Let this be our principle: that the use of God’s gifts is not wrongly directed when it is referred to that end to which the Author Himself created and destined them for us, since He created them for our good, not for our ruin. Accordingly, no one will hold to a straighter path than he who diligently looks to this end.” He then proceeds to call attention to the fact that God not only made food nutritious, but also attractive and pleasant smelling. Yet on the other hand, he corrected sharply, “Many are so delighted with marble, gold, and pictures that they become marble; they turn, as it were, into metal and are like painted figures. The smell of the kitchen or the sweetness of its odors so stupefies others that they are unable to smell anything spiritual.”

Both of these principles hold true for the use of our wealth. God gives us richly all things to enjoy but also exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that... they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” It is this danger of being “stupefied” by the use (rather, abuse) of the legitimate joys and blessings of wealth that God warns against in the book of Ecclesiastes.

On the other hand, God gives us our wealth to use it to “promote the advantage of my neighbor in every instance I can or may.”7 The Heidelberg Catechism does not direct us to the study of “How can I profit the most? How can I increase my profit margin?” but “How can I profit my neighbor (in the first place your family) best?” God calls us to be good managers and stewards of our wealth in order to provide best for my wife/ husband, children, members of church, neighbors, or whoever is in need.

Accumulating Wealth

It is often asked whether it is wrong to accumulate wealth. The answer all depends on the reason(s) why wealth is accumulated. Again let us listen to Calvin’s balanced views on this question. The age in which he lived was a period of great spiritual and materialistic changes. Generally we are more acquainted with the spiritual aspect of the Reformation, but we must also not lose sight of the fact that great economic changes demanded the attention of the great reformer. On the one hand, he needed to deal with the Roman Catholic doctrine of asceticism (avoidance of this world), whereas on the other hand he faced the secular and capitalist attitude spawned through the Renaissance. The world of thought which Calvin was also given to express in this area of human society is impressive for its deep insight in the Word of God and the practical application to the situation of his time.

To sum up his view on the issue of accumulating wealth, we quote, “Abundance becomes a task for the Christian who has received everything as a gift of grace in order to honor Him who has given this by the voluntary and cheerful sharing with the needy.”8 By stressing that all we acquire by diligence and wise management still is to be seen as “a gift of grace” with the purpose to serve God in helping the needy, Calvin brings in the scriptural teaching of stewardship. If God gives us the ability and opportunity to “gain more talents,” we then also have the added ability and opportunity to share this increase in our money. Therefore the rich are to be frugal and sober in order to make their abundance of riches answer the purpose for which God gave it: to promote the advantage of my neighbor.

In other words, accumulating wealth is not necessarily bad if the reason is not to profit ourselves. Paul did not say that money is the root of all evil, but that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Yet there are many wrong reasons for accumulating wealth. Just as God uses money to enhance and direct our lives and to build His kingdom, so Satan will often use it to shackle us.9 If the love of money (and the love of accumulating money) begins to rule in our life, then money becomes the object of devotion and idolatry.

A Balancing Comment

Yet it holds true that “a little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” (Psalm 37:16). Often we reason as Asaph did in a moment of weakness in Psalm 73. Seeing the prosperity of the wicked, he was envious. Their wealth seemed to have accumulated to great amounts. He stated that they had more than heart could wish. Whatever they desired, they got it. Their money never seemed to run out. Looking at his own life, perhaps he could barely make ends meet to provide for his wife and children. Every morning when he arose, he was plagued and troubled. God, also aware of the internal struggle of His child with His providence, came to the rescue. He showed Asaph the true riches. Then he saw that God was holding his hand, leading him through this wilderness to eternal glory hereafter.

Let us never forget the wisdom of the psalmist, expressed in Psalter 136:

Dust to dust, the mortal dies,
both the foolish and the wise;
None forever can remain,
each must leave his hoarded gain.

If only we would seek for that treasure in Christ as we seek for silver and gold, how different would our life be! No, how different would our eternity be!

Looking Ahead

In anticipation of the following article in the next issue, discuss with your spouse and/or family or friends the following questions:10

1. What might be the various reasons that people accumulate money? Identify each as either positive or negative.

2. Thousands of families are destroyed by financial worries each year. One conservative estimate is that 60-70% of the problems in Christian homes revolve around finances. Discuss together how financial problems (pressures, debts) may arise and may be avoided.

3. How must we evaluate retirement plans? Are stocks, mutual funds, etc., permissible ways of investing our money?

1 Lord’s Day 42, question and answer 110-111.

2 See Romans 9; 1 Peter 2:6-10.

3 See also Deuteronomy 32:8; 1 Samuel 2:7; Job 1:21.

4 As parents we are often presented with wonderful opportunities to bring this attribute of God to the attention of our children. How often don’t children object with “That is not fair!” when a sibling receives something that another doesn’t get? Take a moment to point out that you as a parent are merely exercising your sovereignty and explain that you would be unfair to them if you or others had promised them something without fulfilling it.

5 The eunuch possessed a personal copy of the book of Isaiah, which was very costly in those days when every scroll was handwritten. Also Lydia seemed to have been a woman of great wealth as she was able to lodge four persons for some time in her house.

6 J. Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, chapter 10. The substance of this paragraph is derived from this chapter.

7 Lord’s Day 42, question and answer 111.

8 Mr. L. J. M. Hage, Zicht of Calvijn, page 181.

9 Larry Burkett, How to Manage Your Money, page 25. Read through the life stories of the following persons and see how this truth is illustrated in their lives: Laban (Genesis 29-31); Achan (Joshua 7); Nabal (1 Samuel 25); Gehazi (2 Kings 5); Hezekiah (2 Kings 20); rich man in the parable (Luke 12:16-21).

10 I again encourage parents to use these articles as a starting point in instructing your children in this area of financial management. Seek to discuss together the questions in family devotion time or around your supper table. Many of our young people are sadly deficient in a sound preparation for facing the many pitfalls of this materialistic society in which they are to function.

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