Proper Understanding of Riches and Wealth

Today's Thoughts — Special Study

Sunday, September 1, 2024  ·  By Bishop Samson Amajene

Topic: Proper Understanding of Riches and Wealth

"Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all; in Your hand is power and might; it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all." — 1 Chronicles 29:12 (KJV)

"Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to be successful and fulfills the covenant He confirmed to your ancestors with an oath." — Deuteronomy 8:18 (NLT)

In this reflection, I want to emphasize that both riches and wealth are spiritual endowments granted to the righteous who have made peace with God through faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary.

What Are Riches and Wealth?

Riches can be defined as the adequate accumulation of resources — spiritual, physical, and material — in addition to health and possessions of value. Being wealthy means possessing sufficient quality food, clothing, and shelter that safeguard us from the elements. Wealth encompasses the acquisition of physical possessions necessary for us to live and thrive as human beings created in the image of God.

However, I urge you not to allow wealth to divert your heart from God. Christ admonishes us to be rich toward God rather than solely focusing on wealth accumulation for personal gain (Luke 12:16–21).

Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2). The greatest blessing that every Christian should seek is the wealth of eternal life. Salvation through Christ is central to all other blessings within the Kingdom of God. The early church emphasized the importance of ensuring that every person is saved and thus becomes a candidate for heaven.

It is a sobering truth that millions of people worldwide remain unaware that having food, clothing, housing, and academic success does not encompass the fullness of life. As spiritual beings, we must recognize that prioritizing these material aspects at the expense of spiritual well-being is unwise — as exemplified by the rich fool in Luke 12:16–21. So many today are shortsighted, focused only on immediate pleasures and benefits, neglecting the life that awaits them beyond this one.

Spiritual Prosperity as the Foundation for Kingdom Riches

Spiritual prosperity is the key to enjoying the riches and wealth of the Kingdom of God in Christ. When we neglect our spiritual wealth — salvation, knowledge, understanding, revelation, wisdom, and the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit — we become vulnerable, and the enemy can take advantage of our weaknesses, ultimately weakening our faith in God.

True and enduring riches are divine treasures deposited within our hearts, expressed through grace to the human race. In these trying times, as we approach the end of days, we must resist the temptation to become carnal. Strive in every way possible to nurture your spiritual life — it is worth the effort.

"Lord, help me to seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, trusting that all other things will be added unto me. Let my soul prosper, and may my spiritual wealth far exceed any earthly gain, in Jesus' name. Amen."