In this article we will address three questions regarding personal wealth:

·       Does the Bible advocate socialism for Christians?

·       Does the Bible teach that it is against God’s will for a Christian to accumulate wealth?

·       Are Christians expected to give financial assistance to everyone who asks them?

Does the Bible Advocate Socialism for Christians?

Acts 2:44-45 says, “Now all who believed [i.e., the Christians] were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”  [Note:  Unless we indicate otherwise, when we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible.]

And, 2 Corinthians 8:13-14 states,

. . . I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack – that there may be equality.

Some people may infer from these passages that the early Christians practiced a form of socialism.  However, on page 429 of their book entitled When Critics Ask, Norman Geisler, Ph.D., and Thomas Howe, M.A., present the following reasons to believe that the passage does not teach that all Christians should practice socialism:

First, these passages are not prescriptive, but are simply descriptive.  Nowhere does it lay this down as normative.  It simply describes what the believers were doing.

Second, as far as the text indicates, the system was only temporary, not a permanent arrangement. . . .

Third, the communal arrangement was voluntary.  There is no indication in the text that this was a compulsory arrangement. . . .

Fourth, the selling of property and giving of money was only partial.  The text implies that they sold only extra land and other possessions, not that they sold their only place of residence. . . .

Does the Bible Teach That It Is Against God’s Will for a Christian to Accumulate Wealth?

There are several biblical passages which appear to indicate that having an abundance of material possessions (i.e., wealth) is not in accordance with the will of God.  For example, in Matthew 6:19-20, in a sermon to “multitudes” of people, Jesus declares, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth . . .; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . .” 

With regard to this passage, John W. Haley, M.A., on page 280 of his book entitled Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible, says that verse 19 “simply forbids our making earthly possessions our ‘treasure,’ our chief good.  We must not set our hearts upon them.”

Matthew 19:21 is another scripture passage that seems to indicate that being wealthy is not in accordance with God’s will.  In this passage, Jesus tells a rich young man, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. . . .” 

In reference to this verse of scripture, Geisler and Howe state on page 502 of their book,

It should be observed . . . that Jesus’ instructions to “sell what you have and give to the poor” . . . was to a rich young man who had made money his god. . . . There is nothing wrong with possessing riches – there is something wrong with being possessed by riches.

Haley notes on page 254 of his book, “The young ruler’s was an exceptional case.  His ‘great possessions’ were his idol; love of money was his great sin.”

And, on page 499 of their book, Geisler and Howe declare,

The Bible does not command us to give away all our money to God and others.  The OT laid down the tithe as the minimum all should give. . . . In addition to this, we should help those in need, especially our own family and other believers  . . . .

Jesus in no way intended that we should give away all that we possess.  His advice to the rich young ruler to do so was a special case, since money had become an idol to this man. . . .

Luke 12:33-34 is a third biblical passage that seems to discourage the accumulation of material possessions.  In this passage, Jesus instructs His disciples, “Sell what you have and give alms. . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Haley, on page 280 of his book, expresses his belief that this passage teaches the principle of benevolence (i.e., acts of kindness), but does not sanction improvidence (i.e., not providing for the future).  Furthermore, he notes that the passage is addressed only to the disciples of Jesus. 

First Timothy 6:9-10 is a fourth scripture passage that appears to warn against seeking wealth.  This passage states, “[T]hose who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. . . .”

And, 1 Timothy 6:17 cautions, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

With regard to these last two passages, Geisler and Howe assert on page 502 of their book,

Paul does not say that money is evil, but only that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  Seeking riches for their own sake is wrong, but seeking to have something to share with others in need is not.  Thus, while God “gives us richly all things to enjoy,” . . . in the same breath He warns, “not . . . to trust in uncertain riches.”

Haley, on page 253 of his book, adds the following perspective:

Not those who “are rich,” but those who “will [i.e., wish to] be rich,” those who make riches the great object of life, are admonished by the apostle. . . . The excessive love, rather than the mere possession, of wealth, is the object of reprimand.  The Bible forbids neither the acquisition nor the possession of wealth, provided we hold it as God’s stewards, and use it for his glory.

Also, Larry Burkett, a well known Christian writer and lecturer on family financial matters, asserts, “Contrary to what many people believe, God is not against prosperity.  The Scriptures give evidence that one of God’s blessings to those who love and obey Him is prosperity.”  Biblical examples of people whom God blessed with prosperity include Abraham, Job, and Salomon.

There are several biblical passages that specifically indicate it is appropriate to have an accumulation of material possessions.  For example, Proverbs 13:22 declares, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. . . .”  And, Proverbs 21:20 states, “There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise. . . .”  Furthermore, 1 Chronicles 29:12, which is part of a scripture passage praising God, says, “Both riches and honor come from You. . . .”

First Corinthians 9:11 provides a reason why God gives some people wealth.  Because the translation of this verse in the New King James Version of the Bible is somewhat vague, we will use the New International Version (NIV).  The NIV says, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. . . .”  This suggests that God gives some people wealth so they will share it by being liberal in their giving for ministry that will benefit other people.

Are Christians Expected to Give Financial Assistance to Everyone Who Asks Them?

In Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”  Likewise, in Luke 6:30, Jesus states, “Give to everyone who asks of you.  And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.”  Should these passages be taken literally?

Geisler and Howe, on page 332 of their book, provide the following perspective regarding this matter:

We must understand the context in which Jesus said “give to him who asks you.”  [I]t does not mean to give to those who can work, but refuse to.  Paul said emphatically, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thes. 3:10). 

Jesus is explicitly addressing the legalistic misinterpretation of the OT that says take revenge on your enemy with “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Matt. 5:38).  By contrast Jesus says, don’t retaliate against your enemy.  Love him, and give to help him. . . . But Jesus no more expected His listeners to take, without qualification, the command to “give to him who asks you” than He intended them to literally cut off their hands and pluck out their eyes if they offended them (Matt. 5:29-30)!

In other words, Christians should assist people who have legitimate needs, but they are not expected to help those who don’t have justified needs.

We conclude that the Bible does not advocate that socialism should be a standard practice by all Christians, nor does it teach that having personal wealth is against the will of God, provided that wealth is not given priority above God’s will.  Also, the Bible does not instruct Christians to give financial assistance to everyone who asks them.