“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NKJV).
Many of us have heard the phrase, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Maybe it’s made some of us feel guilty about using and earning money. But to clarify what the Bible really means about money, we can examine 1 Timothy 6:6-12. This scripture says that loving money leads to all kinds of evil. Understanding this affects more than just our finances.
The passage explains that being content with what we have is good. We can’t take anything with us when we die. Being greedy can lead to harmful temptations and destruction. Some people have even lost their faith because of it.
Instead, we should pursue righteousness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness and focus on eternal life.
The passage addresses what we desire, pursue, and live for. It’s not saying that money is evil, but that loving money can lead to evil.
Therefore, there’s nothing wrong with wealth when we have a healthy relationship and perspective regarding money. God also wants us to depend on him for all our needs according to His riches, as stated in Philippians 4:19.
Becoming spiritually rich is an integral part of our faith journey as Christians. It goes beyond material possessions and focuses on enriching our souls and strengthening our relationship with God.
Whenever I think of someone who represents spiritual wealth, I often think of a woman in our church during my childhood, known as Nanny. She was older and hailed from Trinidad. Nanny spoke with a distinctive sing-song accent, had bowlegs, and taught me to make melt-in-your-mouth chocolate fudge.
I always assumed she was wealthy because when I was in her company, she would either slip me an envelope of money or share a nugget of wisdom that helped mold me into a young woman. I remember feeling better off after being in Nanny’s vibrant presence. It wasn’t until later in life that I discovered why she was called Nanny. She had never owned her own home but instead chose a life of servitude as a live-in servant. Despite her lack of financial wealth, she was beloved by many thanks to her kind-heartedness, wisdom, and mouth-watering recipes.
In retrospect, I now realize Nanny may not have been wealthy financially, but she was among the richest people I’ve ever known.
Here are eight ways to become spiritually rich as a Christian—like Nanny.
1. Pray Often: Prayer is a powerful way to connect with God. Set aside time each day for prayer and meditation. This will allow us to focus on our spiritual growth and deepen our relationship with God.
2. Read the Bible: The Bible is the ultimate guidebook for Christians. Regular reading helps us understand and apply God's word to our life. This helps us grow in faith and wisdom.
3. Attend Church Consistently: Attending church allows us to learn from and worship with other believers. It also provides a chance to receive guidance and support from the community.
4. Serve Others: Serving others is a way to emulate Christ's example of selflessness. By volunteering our time to help others, we will find a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
5. Practice Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. It frees us from anger and resentment and allows us to move forward in love and compassion.
6. Live with Gratitude: Gratitude is essential to a fulfilling spiritual life. Count our blessings and focus on the positive aspects of our lives.
7. Be Generous: Generosity is a way to share our blessings with others. Whether through financial giving, volunteering, or being kind, generosity is essential to spiritual growth.
8. Trust in God: Trusting in God is fundamental to spiritual growth. Believe that God has a plan for our lives and that everything will work out for our good.
We can become spiritually rich and deepen our relationship with God by taking these steps.
Material possessions do not measure spiritual wealth but the love, joy, and peace from living in Christ.
Dear Lord, Please help me develop a healthy relationship with money. Forgive me when I've mismanaged finances or have thought incorrectly about money and biblical wealth. Show me how to be generous with my resources for your people and kingdom. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you ever struggled with the right perspective about money? Are there people in your life who have touched you and shown you examples of what it means to be rich outside of money?