The Teaching of the Early Apostles on Earthly Acquisitions of Wealth

Last week we considered the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning the earthly acquisitions of wealth. We found that our Lord condemned in very clear terms, the strong desire by people to acquire enormous earthly riches at the detriment of eternal blessings. He pointed out that those who focus on earthly acquisitions risk the following:
1. Earthly acquisitions remove people’s focus from Him and heaven (Luke 16: 21).
2. Many who pursue riches do become enslaved to them (Luke 16: 24).
3. Riches are obstacles to both salvation and discipleship (Matthew 19:24; Matthew 13:22)
4. Wealth often give a false sense of security (Luke 12:15) and chokes spiritual life (Luke 8:14)
5. It binds one to earthly things than to our Lord Jesus Christ and the hope of His return.
Today, we will be considering the teaching of the early apostles on this subject of earthly acquisitions. We shall closely look at what some of the apostles such as Paul, James and John taught on this. Since we are dealing with the teaching of the early apostles, we will focus on the epistles, where we have most of their teaching.
1. The teaching of Apostle Paul
a. Hear Apostle Paul in Col 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry”. In this passage he equated covetousness (greed) with idolatry. This is the case when someone allows material acquisitions to become the focus of a person’s desires and values. For a covetous person, money replaces Christ as the person’s master.

b. In 1 Tim 6:9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
We see from this passage that riches often lead into temptation and harmful desires. Also it often results in the abandonment of saving faith and total alienation from God.
See 1 Tim 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
c. Let us look at Col 3:1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
This passage points out to believers that selfish amassing of material possessions is an indication that life is no longer seen from eternity’s vantage point.
d. Apostle Paul teaches that true riches for a Christian consist in faith and love that express themselves in self denial and following Christ (1 Cor 13:4-7; Phi 2:3-5).

2. The teaching of Apostle James (the Lord’s half brother)
James 2:5-6 “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?”
We see from these passages that the rich takes advantage of the poor. The poor in this world most often are the richest in faith and spiritual gifts. They in their need cry out most intensely to God in sincere hunger for His presence, mercy and help. They are the ones who readily respond to the Lord’s invitation to “come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy laden.”
3. The teaching of John the beloved
1 John 2:15-16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
The “pride of life” refers to subtle pride and arrogance that often arises with wealth or material blessings, positions, power, personal achievements and self actualisation. It is the spirit that seeks to exalt, glorify or promote oneself in life (James 4:16). It is the opposite of submission to God and His Word.
From the foregoing you will discover that the teaching of the early apostles in relation to riches is the same as that of their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. You may begin to wonder why this is so. It is simply because the Spirit Who is at work in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ is the same Spirit at work in the lives of the early apostles. This Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phi 1:19) Who is the Holy Spirit. Christ imparts the Spirit to the believer at conversion and subsequently baptises the believer in the Spirit (Acts 1:. This is the reason the teaching of the early apostles never contradicted that of our Lord: they emphasised what Christ emphasised, underscored what Christ underscored, highlighted what Christ highlighted and never deviated from His teaching.
This trend has not changed to date, irrespective of modernisation and scientific advancement. Any minister (Archbishop, Bishop, General Overseer, General Superintendent, Pastor, Apostle etc) who has the Spirit of Christ must emphasise and tow the line of the Owner of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. To do or say otherwise is to tow the path of the antichrist (1 John 2:18 – 19). Since our Lord and the early apostles frowned at stupendous earthly acquisitions, we as followers and ministers of the gospel should also shun them. Our Lord teaches us to depend upon Him. He has promised to provide for our food, clothing and other necessities. We need not worry as we seek to let God reign in our lives (Mt 6:33), we are assured that He will assume full responsibility for those wholly yielded to Him (Phil 4:6; 1 Pet 5:7).
Think about these.

God bless you.

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