Contributor: Isekhua Evborkhai

INTRODUCTION

So far in our study we have continued to stress the importance of providing a proper balance on important Christian truths. We have seen how easily people can emphasize a particular idea or concept so much that they carry it to an extreme. Their attitudes erroneously hinged on the assumption that if a little bit of something is good, then a whole lot must be better.  What usually happens is to handle this extremity, another group rises to correct the overemphasis. Unfortunately, often their "correction” heads off to the opposite extreme—because "too much" of this idea is so offensive, let's get rid of it altogether. You might say they tended to "throw the baby out with the bath water."

The result of these extremes is that a great gulf is created between the two extreme positions, and often misunderstandings and animosity arise. People in both camps get so caught up in the conflict that they forget the original motivation of both sides, which was to do good and bless people. And in their overzealousness, both sides often lose sight of the original truth!

We have referred to handling balance in our studies so far by calling the basic truth—the biblical position—the middle of the road, and the extreme applications as the ditches on either side of the road. For some reason, it seems like the hardest thing in the world for the Body of Christ to stay balanced on a subject.

Take note that it is not just bad people who get into a ditch. Good people—sincere, well-meaning Christian believers whose zealousness for the truth is commendable can allow their zeal to exceed their wisdom. I believe that even some of the Christian leaders whose failures made national headlines in past years did not intentionally set out to hurt anyone or to fall into error. They went out on tangents and got away from the main purpose and central truth of the Gospel. Once off track, it was all too easy to go downhill in a hurry.

THE MONEY BALANCE

Bearing the above in mind, let's now discuss the issue of balance when it comes to money. Ecclesiastes 10:19 says:

“A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.”

1 Timothy 6:6-10 says

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

In considering money balance, people tend to end up in one of three positions:

CONCLUSION

Proverbs tell us two simple truths that can change the way we think about money.

Firstly, Proverbs 17:16 says:

"Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?"

Proverbs 19:10a says:

“It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury…"

So, more money is not the solution, but wisdom and a principled life is!

Proverbs 11:4 [MSG] says:

“A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.”

The appropriate money balance the church needs is one that prioritizes wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 says:

“Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life. Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.”

Parts of this study was culled from The Midas Touch by Kenneth E. Hagin