Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, online, or search ‘The Stewardology Podcast’ in your favorite podcast app.

This outline is based off of the manuscript of The Good Steward, a forthcoming book written by Tim and Roy Russell.

 

“Adversity hath slain her thousands, but prosperity her ten thousands.” 

—Thomas Brooks

 

6 Dangers of Luxuries

We can overemphasize any one of the Five Biblical Financial Priorities, leading to an unhealthy relationship with money. For example, we can put such an emphasis on Priority 1: Giving, that we expect God to materially bless us, or we think God is in debt to us. We can focus so much on Priority 2: Savings, that our trust shifts to our savings, rather than to God, who promises to provide. We can also overemphasize Priority 5: Luxuries, which can harm the heart of the steward and be a danger to our souls. 

 

Danger 1: Luxuries Become a Right

Those who have put into practice the first four of our Biblical financial priorities could think that the payoff for all of their hard work thus far is finally here. Now, they can enjoy themselves and their abundance. They think that luxuries are their right or reward for giving, saving, paying bills on time, and giving to others. The truth is that luxuries are a gift from God; they are not wages for good behavior. Don’t allow yourself to believe that God owes you abundance and ease in this life. It may come in this life, but if not, for those who trust Him here and now, it will absolutely come in eternity.

 

Danger 2: Unhealthy Fixation on this World

Jesus commanded his listeners not to store up treasures on earth: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19, NIV84) In Luke 12, we learn of the rich fool who tore down his barns to build bigger barns. Jesus starts the story with this warning, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). 

When the rich fool thought about his abundance, he concluded that he should maximize his joy in this life, saying: “relax, eat, drink, be merry…” (Luke 12:19). It is right to enjoy God’s blessings as an act of worship to Him, the Giver of all good things. Yet, it is wrong to enjoy abundance without acknowledging our good and gracious God who provided the blessing. It is a great loss to only focus on maximizing joy here and now, without any thought of securing great joy for all of eternity. 

 

Danger 3: We Become Discontent 

Contentment is difficult. We often think that if we only had a little more, then we would be happy. In reality, the more we have, the more we want! Paul warns those who are rich to not put their confidence in “the uncertainty of riches” (1 Timothy 6:17). Rather, they are to trust in God. No amount of possessions or money can provide true contentment. The author of the book of Hebrews states, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). The basis for our contentment is not the amount of stuff we have, the size of our investment portfolios, or our income. Our contentment is founded upon the infallible promise of God to “never leave us nor forsake us.” Luxuries cannot ever match that promise.

 

Danger 4: Exploit the Poor to Acquire More

There are many texts in Scripture that address the rich abusing the poor. For example, consider James 5:1–5: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you… Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you… You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter” (emphasis added).

 

Danger 5: Excessive Luxuries Can Cause Spiritual Harm 

Let us simply point out the various harms that the love and pursuit of money can bring. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Paul says that those who make the pursuit of wealth their chief goal 1) enter into temptation, 2) are caught in a trap, 3) bring ruin and destruction, and 4) pierce themselves with many pangs. In this passage, Paul also makes the profound statement that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” We’ll discuss 1 Timothy 6 in greater detail later in the book. 

In Mark 4:19, Jesus says that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word.” When gaining possessions becomes our passion and goal, there is no room left for the Word of God to take root in our hearts.

 

Danger 6: Luxuries Feed Pride, Selfishness, and Self-Confidence

Paul addresses the rich in 1 Timothy 6:17, charging them not to be haughty. Other translations use the terms “arrogant,” “proud,” and “conceited.” Wealth has a particular way of overinflating our sense of worth, while demeaning the worth of those who have less. 

Consider the message of Jeremiah 9:23–24: “Thus says the LORD: ‘…let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” The size of our savings account does not impress God. Frankly, it’s only God’s opinion of us that ultimately matters. Rather than making wealth your chief pursuit, seek to know God and live in a way that brings him honor and glory. That’s something worth getting excited over.

 

Stewardship Application:

How do we mitigate and avoid these dangers?

First, we need to recognize that you are undeserving. Recognize that what you actually deserve nothing at all that is good, honorable and a blessing, and we mean NOTHING!  Anything at all that we get from the hand of God is nothing more than His gracious kindness to you. So, be thankful for what you have. Steward it with a loose grip because you are not the owner and don’t become entitled to it and realize that as in the life of Job, those blessings could be here today and gone tomorrow.

Take this to heart and regularly invest in your relationship with God. This will help you rest in the Lord, and become content with what God has blessed you with. Accumulating and having Wealth is not the ultimate goal, but reaching people is! We can, and should, use our riches in service to God’s Kingdom, which again will help reorient our minds and our hearts towards Christ.

 

Next Steps

 

Material presented is property of The Stewardology Podcast, a ministry of Life Financial Group and Life Institute. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, create derivative works, or exploit any content without the expressed written permission of The Stewardology Podcast. For more information, contact us at Contact@StewardologyPodcast.com or (800) 688-5800.

The topics discussed in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations.  Investing and investment strategies involve risk including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Securities and advisory services offered through GWM, Inc Member FINRA/SIPC