Can a Christian Be a Millionaire?

Can a Christian Be a Millionaire?

It’s a great question, don’t you think.

Before we can answer that question, we need to walk through some concepts first, or the answer I give won’t make sense.

Want to share with you a part of my disciple of Jesus development journey that’s applicable to this question.

For many years after becoming a Christian I struggled with this question: “Can a Christian be a millionaire?

Reading books and listening to the prosperity gospel teachers during my early disciple of Jesus development. Trying what they taught. (Didn’t ever send them money — something about that seemed wrong, even in my early development process)

Even while trying what they said I had the nagging feeling this wasn’t right. That I was missing something.

Add on top of that nothing I was learning from them was working.

The desired outcome from my efforts was to be “successful” and wealthy and live the American dream — beautiful wife, 2.3 children — the average American family, big house, nice cars, big bank account.

I tried praying for it, naming-it-and-claiming-it, dreaming big, trying to believe God wanted me to have nice things and live a comfortable life because I was His child.

Still, complete frustration and confusion with a lack of results.

Then in the early 1990’s while I was teaching at the United States Naval Academy. We were at the public pool one day and I was reading a book by Ron Blue titled “Master Your Money.”

(I share the location details because it was so life changing, I can still clearly remember the setting after all these years)

My perspective on Christians and money was radically transformed. And that transformation has been a foundation in my life ever since.

Ron presented this scenario …

Which is the more Godly thing to do with $2,000 (remember it was the early 1990’s — things cost less)? Put the $2,000 in the offering plate or take your family on a vacation?

The answer seemed obvious, put the money in the offering plate.

Ron Blue said my answer was incorrect. The correct answer is, “it depends.” What does God want me to do with the money? Does God want me to put the money in the offering plate? Or, does God want me to take my family on a vacation?

Hummm … I was confused.

Ron went on to explain that God owns everything, including any money I have under my control.

The only Godly thing to do with the $2,000 is to do with it what God wants me to do with it.

This set me on a journey to investigate if what he was saying was true.

Here’s a short summary of what I found out.

The conclusion I came to provides the answer for the question, “Can a Christian be a millionaire?”

The money sitting in my bank, whose is it?

First: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” (Psalm 24:1 NLT)

(God says to Job) “Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine.” (Job 4:11 NLT)

These clearly shows God owns everything — including any money under my control.

Second: “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT)

I didn’t even earn the money on my own. It’s because God gave me the opportunities and abilities I have that I was able to earn the money. So, stop thinking you’re all that.

Third: (Jesus says) “… you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” (Luke 14:33 NLT)

To be a disciple of Jesus and belong to Jesus, I have to give up ownership of everything I have — which would include the money under my control.

Well, this is certainly a different perspective than what I had been learning from the prosperity teachers. Never heard about giving up everything I had, only about getting more of what I wanted.

Some key concepts that have helped me in this area:

1. The money in your bank account belongs to God.

Your investments belong to God. The cash you have on-hand, or stashed away belongs to God. They are not to be used per what you want, but are to be used according to how God wants them used.

2. Since God owns everything, what is your role with the money under your control?

Let’s quickly look at a story Jesus tells in Matthew 25:14–30 NLT).

A master is going away on a trip and brings in his three servants. He gives each of them a some money to manage for him while he’s away. His gives one servant $5 million, another $2 million, and another $1 million.

The master goes away for a time and then returns. He brings in the 3 servants and wants an accounting of what they did with the money he left each one.

The first servant had invested the money and doubled it to $10 million. The Master says to him, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.”

The second servant had invested the money and doubled it to $4 million. The Master says to him, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.”

The third servant failed to invest the master’s money and returned to the master the original $1 million. The master was angry with the servant and said, “‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.” The master sends this servant away to extreme hardship.

The first two servants had managed the master’s money the way he want it managed and were rewarded and celebrated by the master.

The third servant didn’t manage the master’s money properly and was punished for not doing so.

Your responsibility with God’s money and resources is to manage them the way God wants them managed. Not to do with them what you want done with them.

This was the problem with my prosperity gospel praying approach. I was wanting the money and things to spend on myself — not to use as God wanted them used for His purpose. Which James clearly layout when he says, “Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong — you want only what will give you pleasure.” (James 4:2–3 NLT)

3. Who are you putting your trust in to provide for you and your family?

(Jesus says) “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:33–34 NLT)

We are suppose to seek after the Kingdom of God as the #1 priority in our life, and if we do that, God promises to provide for our needs.

“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? … If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.” (Job 31:24, 28)

Putting your trust in your money and investments for you safety and security is denying God and His ability to do what He says. Other translation label it a sin. It’s making God’s Name shamed because you’re telling the world God isn’t powerful enough and/or trustworthy enough to keep His promises.

I know, this is a different perspective than what we commonly hear in Christian circles. But, it seems to be the perspective God lays our for us.

Suppose you go to the bank or your investment advisor and say, “I want to take out all the money I have with you. I want the entire $500,000 please.”

Your investment advisor says, “Certainly we can get that for you. Before we do, I want to show you some photos I think you’ll enjoy. Here’s the new $100,000 car we bought with some of your money. Here’s the family vacation we took to Europe with part of your money. Here’s the lake house we bought with your money. I know you wanted us to be happy and comfortable, so we didn’t think you would mind if we used most of your money on ourselves. However, we did keep back ten-percent of it to return to you. Here’s your $50,000.”

Now, what are you going to think about your investment advisor? What are you going to say to him? How quickly will you be seeking legal representation to have your money recouped? Whose money was it that he spent on his family, yours or his? Did he manage your money the way you wanted your money managed?

God expects us to manage His money the way He wants it managed. Not for our personal lifestyle desires and comfort.

Let’s quickly review what we’ve covered:

God owns the money under your control — not you.

You only earned that money because God gave you the opportunities and abilities to do so.

The money in your bank account/investments is God’s — not yours.

You are the manager of the money God’s entrusted to your care — not the owner of it.

You are to manage that money the way God wants it managed — not the way you want to.

This is a different perspective than what we’re commonly exposed to in Christian circles.

Back to the original question, “Can a Christian be a millionaire?”

Based on what we’ve look at, my answer is “No.”

Because it’s impossible to be a millionaire when you own nothing.

Yes, a Christian can have access to a million dollars worth of resources to manage for God’s purpose.

No, a Christian cannot own a million dollars worth of resources to spend on their lifestyle, comfort, and desires.

In the next article we’ll dive into what it looks like to practically live this out day-to-day.

Managing the money under our control according to what God wants done with it.

Until All Hear,

Brad