The Purpose of Wealth

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

What is sustained financial freedom? Are you currently experiencing it? How does one develop sustained financial freedom? 

Let’s explore this topic together in today’s devotional:

According to Deuteronomy 8:18, Kingdom businesses must be profitable because without profit, wealth can not be generated and without wealth, God’s covenant will not be established. According to the Google dictionary, wealth is the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money. It is also defined as an abundance of material possessions and resources.  

It goes without saying that Kingdom wealth goes beyond the material to include spiritual riches such as joy, peace, and righteousness. Kingdom wealth is then defined as the abundance of material possessions and resources with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Natural abundance without spiritual abundance is empty and useless.  

Unfortunately, there is significant confusion in the world and in the body of Christ about what true wealth is, how it is acquired, and its purpose. The world limits wealth to material things and some in the body of Christ define wealth as the income people make rather than the sustained profit that is generated through industrious activities. True wealth must include spiritual abundance and must be sustainable, otherwise, it is empty and short-lived.  

Scripture is clear, God has given us (the body of Christ) the power to get wealth. If this is so, why is it that the body of Christ still suffers from the lack of resources to carry out the mandate of Christ?  

There are five key reasons:

• We are not obeying the Scriptures in all aspects of our lives
• We tend to employ worldly strategies to acquire wealth
• We have an income-based theology rather than a wealth-based theology
• We lack wisdom and understanding
• We attempt to limit our strategies to miracles rather than blending miracles with industry.

Profitable businesses begin the process of wealth building by keeping their expenses below their income. Wealth is built by sustaining the profits over the long term, minimizing liabilities, and investing the profits in other income-generating activities. You know you are beginning to generate wealth when you no longer just depend on your labor to generate income but rather your income is being generated by reinvested profits. In other words, wealth can not be acquired and maintained without some type of passive income activity.  

What then is the purpose of wealth?  

God blesses us with wealth so that we can use the wealth to fulfill His covenant.  

What is God’s covenant?

God’s covenant is the will of God for all mankind.  

What is God’s will for all mankind?  

Though all of mankind will not realize it because of man’s rebellion and disobedience, God’s will for all mankind is:

• That all be saved (John 3:16)
• That all experience the abundant life (John 10:10)
• The works of the enemy are destroyed (1 John 3:8)
• That none of his children suffer lack (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; Acts 4:34)

My prayer for you this week is that the Lord will grant you the grace and wisdom to take advantage of the opportunities in the marketplace profitably so that you can begin generating wealth to fulfill His covenant.