Does God desire us to be wealthy?

[Michael038]

I have been approched by some friends of mine who are part of a non-denominational Christian church. These friends claim that God desires us all to be wealthy and that if we do not achieve wealth it is do to a lack of faith. Also they talk very strongly about power in words(name and claim it). The problem is that they point to scripture to back up these beliefs. They refer to Dueteronomy 8:18, and Proverbs 6:2 to name a few. There are many other verses in the Bible that talk about wealth and prosperity. Does the church view wealth as a wealth of wisdom, and knoledge? I’m very confused because I dont hear this topic very much on Catholic websites and I need to know what the church views are on the subject of wealth. They think that they can say anything they want and it will come to be based on the verse in proverbs. Also, they claim Christ was a rich man because he had a treasurer.
Help!!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear Michael,

Did Jesus seem like a wealthy man as He hung on the cross? “If you want to be my follower, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow after me.” (Mk 8:34) The only wealth I see in these words of His is spiritual wealth—not financial.

In Mt 8:30 Jesus says: Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Does that sound like a wealthy man speaking?

Again Jesus tells a rich young man who wants to know what he must do to gain eternal life and He tells him: “Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come and follow me.” (Mt. 19: 20) Then Jesus says of the rich: “…it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Mt. 19:24)

Your friends are only kidding themselves. The Gospels are full of examples of God’s favor being focused on the poor—not the rich. Jesus enters the world in a stable and lives in a working-class family. St. Joseph was a laborer—not a worker with fine wood.

Through the years there have been many who have preached the gospel of the full stomach. But it is not the Gospel of Jesus. Most of the saints who were born into wealth, renounced it sooner or later.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.