What is affluence? The dictionary says affluence is an “abundance of money, property, and other material goods; riches; wealth.”1 We often believe that others have it better than we do, therefore we couldn’t be caught up in the affluence of this world. Yet, we have more expensive clothes and technology, drive nicer cars, and live in nicer homes than we ever imagined we would years ago. We go on dream vacations and cruises that were only accomplished by those in the past we considered “wealthy.” The truth is, we are no longer considered the church people on the “other side of the tracks.” We’ve moved up with everyone else. And in many cases, we live beyond the average person.
Herein lies the problem … once we have affluence … “the abundance of money, property, and other material goods, riches, wealth” … it is easy to forget who gave it to us. It is easy to feel “we have arrived” and obtained our affluence because of our abilities and not from God. We become our own god, listen to our own desires, and forget the One from whom all blessings flow. Who needs God when we have everything? Why ask for daily bread when you own the bakery?
There are many so many vital Apostolic doctrinal positions on which we quote scriptures and expound in our preaching and teaching: holiness, forgiveness, and plan of salvation; but how many times do we forget the fundamental life style of modesty and caring for those in need? These are also a crucial part of living a Christian life. We often become self-centered when our basic needs are met and forget about helping those less fortunate.
The problem with affluence is it leads to materialism. Materialism is defined as “preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.” 2
I have come to believe that Satan is the lord of materialism. The scripture calls it mammon, and it is clearly Satan’s goal for us to get caught up in it. How we handle money and possessions mirrors our eternal values. If we continue to collect possessions and buy bigger houses and storage sheds to house it all, our values are selfish and materialistic. We are building our treasures here on Earth, and not in Heaven. When we give our God-given finances and possessions for Kingdom work, we are declaring a fight for the message of salvation, and against the work of Satan.
The church is not immune to materialism. Acts 5:1-11 tells of Ananias and Sapphira, members of the first church, who withheld money they said was given to the Lord and were struck dead as punishment. Randy Alcorn in his book Money, Possessions, and Eternity wrote, “It’s no accident that this happened so early in Church history and that God acted in such a powerful and memorable way. It was as if he was saying, ‘The Church will not be immune to materialism, greed, and deceit, but I will bring strong judgment on those who poison my Church with them.’” 3
John Wesley complained that too few preached against the sin of loving money, which he believed hindered revival. Wesley noted that in the old days of Methodism, the people were poor. But he observed that many Methodists had become 20, 30, or even 100 times richer than they were at first. With this increase in wealth had come a decrease in godliness. It seemed to him that the more money the Methodists had, the less they loved the Lord. 4 Does this sound like the Pentecostals who once were poor, but now have all they need and more? Are we now the ones who are 20, 30 and 100 times richer than we were at the beginning of our movement? If so, has our increase in affluence led us into materialism, and do we now love God less?
The hardest part of dealing with our materialism is that it is so interwoven into our lives. Most of us don’t realize how we are materialistic because we have never known what it is to not be. How should the church respond? Our pulpits need to be clear what the Word says about wealth, money and possessions. There is a battle for Lordship of our lives, and the answer is to understand that God is the owner of everything.
There is no U-Haul that follows the hearse to the cemetery. None of us will take anything with us. So why does God give us more than we need? Is it really to have more material possessions? Or is it to share with others who are in need of food, clothing, housing and other basic necessities? What about those who need the gospel message? Sometimes we have to look at our lives and be honest. Are we going to make a difference in the Kingdom of God by buying the bigger house, the nicer car, the newest technology or the most fashionable clothes? Or, are we going to be a blessing to others through our giving and sharing?
Luke 12:15,21 KJV “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth…. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- Dictionary.com - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/affluence
↩︎ - Dictionary.com - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/materialism ↩︎
- Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, 2003, page 34 ↩︎
- John Wesley, quoted in Charles Edward White, “Four Lessons on Money from One of the World’s Richest Preachers,” Christian History 19 (summer 1988) ↩︎
Steve Drury
Stephen Drury is the founding President of United Pentecostal Foundation and United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund. He is retired from directing The Stewardship Group serves in a consulting role. He is also co-founder of LifeSprings.