What Does Scripture Say About Wealth?

What does Scripture say about wealth? That's just one of the questions we'll be answering on today's edition of CORE Christianity. Well, hi, this is Bill Meyer, along with Pastor Adriel Sanchez.

And this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We would love to hear from you and our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so. Here's the number to call. It's 833-862.

That's 1-833-843-2673. You might want to make a note of that. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites. And you're always welcome to email us your question at questions at COREChristianity.com. Up first, here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Terrence.

Terrence, thank you for that question. A controversial one, actually. There are a lot of debates about what is a day in Genesis 1. Are we talking about periods of time?

Are we talking about six 24-hour days? So let me just give you the different views that are out there. And I think that these views are within the bounds of faithful Christian belief.

That is to say that we don't have to divide over whether or not somebody takes one view or another. The first is the six 24-hour view, which is that those days there in Genesis 1, when Moses is writing and he says in verse 5, God called the light day and the darkness he called night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. That's repeated again and again in Genesis chapter 1.

It's referring to six days, in particular six days, but a 24-hour period. And so God created all things in six 24-hour days. Now let me just say, in addition, it's not like God needed that much time. I mean, God could just speak and create everything in a second, right? And so this isn't a question about God's ability. Did God have to take a longer period of time or a shorter period of time?

It's just what is the text telling us? The other view is that these days are periods of time. They're epochal days. It's not just 24 hours. It's a longer period of time. And sometimes folks will appeal to 2 Peter 3, verse 8, quoting from the Psalms, where it talks about a day being like 1,000 years for the Lord. And so from God's perspective as the eternal one, he's not limited by time as we are.

For the Lord, one day is like 1,000 years and 1,000 years like one day. And so some people have taken that view, that these days are really periods, long periods of time even. And additionally, another view that's taken, I think, by faithful Bible scholars who are reading the text a certain way, they'll say, well, this is probably more of a literary framework. So it's not that this is just sort of poetic. This is real history that's being given to us here, Genesis chapter 1.

This is history. But the point here is more theological. This is a literary framework highlighting the fact that God is the great creator king who makes all things from nothing. And so creation ex nihilo, creation from nothing, is really what's on display here. God is the great king ordering the cosmos and filling it with creatures.

That's what's being highlighted. And this is a contrast to the ancient Near Eastern pagan myth related to creation, where the creation came out of conflict, this great dualism. One of the things that you do see in terms of the history of the biblical texts is the Genesis account of creation is very different from anything else that you had around that time. This is God creating all things from nothing.

He's not in conflict. It's just him alone in the beginning, God. And he creates man as his royal ruler on earth. Man has a very high position in the biblical account of creation. That was very different than what you had in the ancient Near Eastern pagan creation myth, where man was mostly just a slave created to work for the gods. No, in the biblical account, God made man and woman as the sort of keepers of creation, this glorious, kingly role, if you will. And so in terms of my view personally, I think what we have to reject is anything that says Genesis is not history.

This didn't really happen. God didn't really create all things from nothing. Adam and Eve were not really historical figures.

That has to be rejected. The moment you start meddling with Adam as a historical figure, then you have problems with Jesus, the second Adam who came to fulfill the righteous works of the first Adam. But I would say those three views, you have the literal 24-hour days, the sort of epochal days, and then Genesis 1 is more of a literary framework, not that it's not historical, but that the focus here is not the time that it took to create, per se. Those views, I think, are all okay within the bounds of Christian Orthodoxy. And so I commend them to you, and I think you just have to study looking into the biblical text, and I think that's where I'll leave it for now. So I appreciate the question. Good to get into the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, as we open up the broadcast today.

We have a scripture that's always kind of stumped you, and you'd like some clarification on it. Hey, Adrian will be glad to dig into that with you. Here's the number again, 833THECORE.

That's 1-833-843-2673. We also have a YouTube channel. Go ahead. I was just going to totally jump in. Based on the last question, one of the things I wanted to add, because there's a lot of confusion about this, is the point of Genesis 1 is not to tell us the age of the earth. That's not the main point of Genesis 1.

There really is a polemic. I remember preaching through Genesis some time ago, and this is clear when you dig into the biblical text. Genesis 1, above everything else, is highlighting the fact that God is a great king, that no one, nothing can compare to Jesus. That he is distinct from all creation. He is the creator God who rules over all things. And so you have an emphasis on God's sovereignty.

You have a polemic against the idols, the ancient Near Eastern pagan gods that were out there. That's what's really being focused on in the Genesis text, and I think it's just so important for us not to lose sight of that specifically, even as we're having conversations about Genesis 1. That's what's really being focused on in the Genesis text, and I think it's just so important for us not to lose sight of that specifically, even as we're having conversations about the creation and how many days it took and people get into the age of the earth and all that stuff as well. We have to focus where the biblical text is focusing, and that's how we're faithful to the scriptures.

Well said. A dramatic difference in those creation stories, so thank you for that. By the way, our phone number, if you have a question for Adriel, here it is, 833-THECORE.

That's 1-833-843-2673. We also have a YouTube channel, and you can watch Adriel on YouTube every day, Monday through Friday at 1130 a.m. Pacific time. Just go to YouTube, look for the CORE Christianity channel, and you can submit your question through YouTube.

Here's one that came in from one of our YouTube viewers. Does God have a sense of humor? If you think so, can you share a specific example in the Bible where it shows this?

That's a great question. I've heard it said before, and I think that this is accurate, that really the only time you see in scripture God laughing, it's at the wicked. It's at those who boast and are waging war against him and thinking that they can undermine his rule. It's not so much laughing at a joke or something like that or telling a joke. It's God and how he views the wicked in terms of it's laughable that they think that they can actually stand to the true and the living God, the Holy One. We do need to recognize laughter, joy, humor. Of course, we know that crude jesting is forbidden, and the Bible Paul says something about that, but just in terms of that joy, humor, I don't think that there's anything wrong with that.

In fact, we are created in the image of God. These emotions in one sense that we experience, like joy, sorrow, anger, so on and so forth, I think is part of being created as these individual personal creatures before God, called to follow him, called to love him. Another thing I might add is as you dig into the biblical text and you look at these various narratives, there is humor in various places as you dig into them. I'm thinking of some Old Testament examples in particular where there's irony, for example. Irony is something you see a lot of times in scripture. This is inspired by the Holy Spirit in the biblical text. I don't know of a specific example in terms of where does it say that God was laughing or Jesus was telling jokes.

You don't have that specifically except for in the context of the wickedness, as I said. But I don't think that means that God is anti-laughter at all or joy. It's very clear in scripture that God is and that the fruit of the Spirit is love and joy. That joy, peace, patience, and so forth.

I appreciate your question and God bless. Now you may not agree that this is humorous, but I know that our producer Aaron loves that account in the Old Testament about the prophet Elisha and those juvenile delinquent boys who taunted him and then what happened to them afterwards. He kind of thought that was humorous.

He must have because Aaron doesn't have a lot of hair, so is that what you're getting at? You better talk about that scripture. You're going to get us in trouble here with our producer. He liked that, I guess. It's an interesting biblical text that we can dig into some other time. Not to be a downer, but you do have that prohibition later in the New Testament where Paul is talking about crude jesting. I think that's one that we just sort of overlook.

It's so easy for many people to just be like, whatever. The way in which we joke and the things that we laugh about, I think that's something for us really to think about and to consider. Are we honoring the Lord or are we dishonoring the Lord and joking about the very things that are grievous and that displease God? That's one of those commands in scripture that I think is just easy for a lot of people to look over.

I want to remind you of it. This is Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We'd love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life, doctrine, theology, here's the phone number. It's 833-THE-CORE. We'll be taking calls for the next ten minutes or so, so now's the time to call.

833-843-2673. I also want to mention that we have a wonderful resource available to you. Right now, a lot of people in our culture are talking about the abortion issue, sanctity of human life, because of the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on that. We want to make this devotion available to you because we think it will really help you understand God's view of life. When I was preaching through the book of Revelation, towards the end of the book of Revelation, there's the judgment on Babylon, this great satanic evil system, political system, world system. At the heart of the Babylonian spirit, what John sees there in the Revelation is the minimizing, the downplaying, the casting aside of the image of God.

John sees them trading souls. They have slavery, these kinds of things. It's that objectification of people made in God's image that is at the core of the Babylonian spirit of this age. One of the ways it's really manifested today is through the abortion industry, through the attack on the image of God through abortion. That's heinous. That's grievous.

It's something that we ought to lament and pray that the Lord brings about great change, primarily change in people's hearts that they would turn to the Lord. I just want to encourage you to get ahold of this resource. It's a devotional. It's not too long. You can get it for free as a digital download. It's called Fearfully Made. It gets into these matters of life and the importance of life and being pro-life. You can head over to corechristianity.com forward slash offers to get your free digital copy of Fearfully Made. Really a beautiful devotional. By the way, we have a lot of great resources on our website.

Many of them are absolutely free. You can look for our core guides or our core questions. Just go to corechristianity.com.

Spend some time browsing around. We know we've got some resources there that will help you to grow in your faith. Well, we do receive voicemails here at the core, and you can call us 24 hours a day with your voicemail question. 833-843-2673.

That's 833 the core. Here's one that came in from one of our listeners earlier this week. I've got a question about Matthew 19 chapter 16 through the 23rd verse. My question is specifically verse 21. Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven.

Then come follow me. My question is all these rich ministries out there. I wonder what would happen to them if Jesus were to pose that question to all of them.

Would they do that? I'm talking to someone that has made a lot of money in his life and he's very wealthy and I've tried to explain it to him. Do you have any other scriptures that you could possibly share with me that I could possibly help them understand that being rich is not a way of buying himself into heaven? Well, anybody who thinks that we can buy our way into heaven through resources, there's a real problem here. We're granted entrance into heaven, redeemed, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

If you're more precious than silver and gold, there's no way any individual could ever earn their way, whether it's through your good works or through the amount of charity that you give. The rich young ruler there in Matthew 19 goes to Jesus saying, What do I have to do to inherit eternal life? Jesus points him to the law. He begins outlining the Ten Commandments. And this rich young ruler foolishly says, I've done all this.

I've kept these commands. And Jesus presses in a little bit deeper. He says, Okay, there's still something you lack. Go sell everything that you have and give to the poor and come follow me. And what Jesus is exposing here is actually this guy who thinks he's pretty good, who's been really faithful to God, actually his heart is gripped by money.

The love of money has crept into his life. There's really an idolatry here that Jesus is exposing. And of course, afterwards, Jesus says, It's impossible how difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

And it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle. And the disciples say, Well, who can be saved? And Jesus' response is, Well, with man all things are impossible. God, all things are possible. With man, it's impossible.

With God, all things are possible. The warning here, one, is just not trusting in ourselves, but two, not trusting in money. And over and over again in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, You can't serve God and money. You can't serve God and mammon. There is a real idol of money and the worship of things, possessions. Jesus says, Where your treasure is, that's where your heart is also.

And that's what Jesus was highlighting here. Now, that doesn't mean, my friend, that having money is a bad thing or that being wealthy is a bad thing. But there are dangers associated with that, spiritual dangers associated with that.

Now, how do I know it's not a bad thing? Well, listen to what Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6, verse 17. Here's what you're called to if you have a lot of money. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. The question is, what is truly life for you? Is your life wrapped up in these riches?

Are you trusting in these things? This is the source of your comfort, your peace. This is what your world revolves around. Or can you listen to the Apostle Paul here and say, what I'm called to is to be rich in good works, in charity, in giving. God has blessed me with this. This is totally a gift from God, and I'm called to steward it well.

Now, if you don't steward it well, then there's a problem. But if you're a good steward of it, and you share, and you do good, and you use the gifts that God has given you in a way that honors the Lord, I think there's a lot of joy in that. So as you're encouraging this individual, one, highlighting the fact that you can't buy your way into heaven, you can't work your way into heaven, Jesus exposes that, but you're also called to be a good steward of the things that God has given to you. And that has to be an encouragement. And so I appreciate your question.

Of course, there are a lot of other passages we could look at, but just those two, the Rich Young Ruler, and then this text in 1 Timothy 6, I think are important. God bless. Well said. This is Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez. Let's go to Joshua calling in from Tennessee. Joshua, what's your question for Adriel? Hey, good afternoon.

Thanks for y'all's ministry. I want to know generally about the chosen and no matter what your answer, you won't offend me, but I've watched it and enjoyed it thoroughly. And so is my wife. But there's been issues that have been raised, which some of them concern me. And I just want to know, is it good?

Is it okay? And the issues, you know, ranging from the liberties taken in the show to controversial issues. Hey, Joshua, appreciate your calling in and thanks for saying, you know, no matter what we say, we're not going to offend you. I actually have responded to questions about the chosen and we've gotten some pushback.

So first, right? I mean, it's meant to be entertainment. It's meant to sort of follow the story of Jesus and the Gospels and apparently the acting is really good.

And I know there are a lot of people like you, Joshua, who have said, I've really enjoyed it. I mean, talk about all the things you could watch on television that are just crazy and out there and not edifying. Boy, how about something that's wholesome and that's about Jesus? And so I get that. So there's one, the theological pushback. And the theological pushback is we're not supposed to create imagery of God, even the second person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus, on the basis of what? On the basis of the second commandment, where it talks about not making graven images.

And so whether that's paintings or whether that's depictions in in in movies and so forth, I think that's that's one theological objection. And the reason is quite simple. It's the same reason that was given in the Old Testament. God says, look, you are prone to misrepresenting me. Well, right.

And this is just the reality. We are tempted to create Jesus in our own image to make him look how we want him to look. And so there's there's a problem here that God is guarding against. And the focus for us in terms of understanding who God is, has to be through his revelation, through his word. He's given us a clear picture of who he is in Holy Scripture.

He gives us these these, you know, vivid pictures of the gospel and baptism in the Lord's Supper. And that really should that really should be has to be where we go in terms of understanding who God is. And so if people are going to the chosen in order to determine who Jesus is and what he's like there, I mean, there are a lot of liberties that are taken artistic liberties, personal liberties, whatever it might be.

And so that's where that's where there can be a danger. That's where people have to be very discerning. And we're ultimately we have to just say, look, when it comes to who Jesus is and what Jesus is like, quote unquote, we need to go to the scriptures. That has to be the primary foundation for everything. We also need to recognize that when we're not doing that, there's there's room for error. And and we don't want to we don't want to fall into errors based on, you know, coming to conclusions about who Jesus is and what he's like through somebody's artistic representation.

So that's that's what I'll say about that. Appreciate your question and the openness. And so my encouragement, just as a minister, the gospel is friends, if you if you want to know and there's nothing more important than knowing Jesus. Let him speak to you through his word. Open it up. Study it.

Meditate upon it. Get to know Jesus in the way he wants you to get to know him through the holy scriptures and what a beautiful thing that is. And it's sufficient, truly sufficient for knowing God personally. Thanks.

That is so well said. Thanks for that, Adriel. You're listening to Core Christianity with Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We do receive emails here at the core and our email address is questions at core Christianity dot com. Just the word questions at core Christianity dot com.

Feel free to send us your question. Think of a really, really hard one. Really, you know, a theologically challenging one for Adriel because he loves those. We do.

We do have an interesting one from Brad. He says, while reading the Bible, I came across some verses about unicorns. I believe it was in Psalms. Are there unicorns mentioned in scripture?

No, I don't think so. So here's usually what happens is there's an obscure Hebrew word that people are like, well, we just don't know how to translate that particular word. And so that leads to a lot of open room for, you know, speculation like, oh, this is probably unicorns. I don't know what version. It sounds like you're probably using the King James version of the Bible.

But I would say just because we don't know exactly what the word is doesn't mean we should insert something like unicorns or pixies or fairies or whatnot. Appreciate the question. God bless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core Christianity dot com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at one eight three three eight four three twenty six seventy three. That's eight three three. The core. When you contact us, please let us know how you've been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time as we explore the truth of God's word together.