Is Poverty a Virtue?

As long as we keep God first in our hearts and minds, He is going to continue to prosper us in this life. There are many accounts in the Bible of men that were very prosperous and that kept God first. In many cases it even says that their prosperity came from Him — Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, and Daniel just to name a few.

In the gospels, Jesus ran into a rich young ruler and the ruler’s story is one we should read and know.

Mark 10:17-23 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

This account has been used since the first-century church to show that to be a true follower of Jesus you must give all your wealth away. It has been used to show that if you have any wealth, it really belongs to the poor and that you are stealing from the poor if you do not give it to them.

In our book Poverty vs Wealth, there are many quotes from the early church fathers to this effect. From this type of teaching (that you need to give it all away to follow Jesus) came the thinking that the truly pious are poor, and they have renounced all their worldly possessions.

Jesus Christ never taught that poverty was a virtue.  But this type of thinking comes from lifting the preceding verses out of the context. If we continue to read what Jesus taught, it is very enlightening.

Mark 10:24-30 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?   And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,   But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Notice that the man’s problem was not that he was rich, but that he trusted in those riches. His possessions, and prosperity, not God, came first in his life. He served the world, trusted in riches, and loved his money more than he loved God. That is always a problem.

• Also note that if he had been willing to give it all away and put God first, God would have given it all back one hundredfold. So the issue was not that he was wealthy, but that he trusted in his wealth.
• As long as we keep God first in our hearts, love Him and trust Him, He will add to us all that we need. God has no problem prospering His children. It is His delight. It is up to us to change our thinking to match His thoughts.

Knowing and believing God’s thoughts will keep us on track for the Prosperous Life.