Though the world props up money as something to seek after, yet The Bible says otherwise. Whereas the world seeks security and rest in an abundance of riches, God says, “riches profit not in the day of wrath.” [Prov 11:4] Moreover, where the world uplifts the pursuit of wealth as something admirable, God clearly demonstrates to us its wickedness and vileness. Paul says by inspiration of The Spirit,
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that are desiring to be rich are falling into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which are causing men to sink down into overthrow and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil: which while some coveted after, they have been led astray from the faith, and put themselves upon a spit of many sorrows.” [1 Tim 6:6-10]
The language God uses in the passage is very severe, far different from what wealth advisors and the common person might say. But our Lord is distinct in His clarity and force: the pursuit, yes even the desire only, of riches, causes men to be led astray from the way of life and leads to nowhere but overthrow, death, and sorrow. Jesus speaks similar things to us in one of His parables. Therein, He explains the posture of God toward a man with a focus upon worldly wealth. The man in the parable, having exceeded his current barns, having acquired much stuff, said to himself,
“I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” [Lk 12:18-19]
Though the man may be applauded by the world, they nodding their head in agreement with his course, yet God says otherwise. For Jesus says,
“But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” [Lk 12:20]
This, says Jesus, is the same tone God shall carry against all who “layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” [Lk 12:21] We can see clearly that according to the Bible, God does not hold earthly riches in high esteem. Though they can be a great tool for righteousness and for God’s kingdom, and we should be “faithful in the unrighteous mammon,” [Lk 16:11] yet riches are nothing to give our lives to pursue.
Let us now turn our eyes once again to marriage to see how this truth may instruct us. Just as we may use wealth to bless others and advance God’s kingdom here upon earth, so too it may be used to bless our wives. There is a great danger in being overly spiritual to the end that a husband never, or rarely, as Paul tells us, “careth for the things of the world.” For he says,
“But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to The Lord, how he may please The Lord: but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” [1 Cor 7:32-33]
If we, as husbands, have been called into this great ministry of marriage, to love our wives as Jesus loved the church – to minister to them on God’s behalf, as Christ Jesus did to His bride upon earth (yea, and still does), then certainly we must carry that responsibility over into the area of riches and wealth. Paul clearly tells us that a husband must take thought for the things of the world in terms of his wife. Shall he, in the name of spirituality, forbear from giving his wife good things? From allowing her liberties of spending money, of having certain modest and infrequent luxuries? What? Is Christ Jesus our Husband so harsh and stiff that He does not grant us our supplications, even though they be tainted at times with selfish luxuries? Have we not all tasted of God’s supreme grace when He allows us those little things, though they be not what many would deem “spiritual”? And how then will the husband of a wife, who is to act as Christ to her, be so unyielding and dull that he never takes her on a date and buys her chocolates, for example? Or who never spends part of his earnings upon her, just to simply bless her? My brethren, those of you who are husbands, may you take a few steps down off your spiritual throne and “care for the things that are of the world, [that you] may please [your] wife.”
But let us prolong our stay here some time further. Reading in Hebrews, we shall find some more instruction regarding our relationship with our wives when it comes to this world’s wealth. The author writes,
“But call to remembrance the former days…whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” [Heb 10:34]
In this passage the writer, (for he is not named), speaks of those who had compassion on him whilst he was in prison. And how so? In that they “took joyfully the spoiling of [their] goods” as it were. That is, they gave to him in prison, joyfully and generously providing for his expenses, “knowing in [themselves] that [they had] in heaven a better and an enduring substance,” and so, were not at all afraid to bestow upon him of their wealth. They willingly allowed themselves to be spoiled as it were, by their imprisoned brother, giving up their own resources to provide for his. And so too it should be for a husband toward his wife. He ought to joyfully take the “spoiling” of his goods. Not that a husband, or these Hebrews, are being robbed, but that they willingly and generously submit their wealth to those in need. For us as husbands, we are to willingly and joyfully provide the riches and material goods necessary to satisfy our wives. We are not to be so overly stingy and unyielding, but rather, we are joyfully give what Christ has given us, for He says, “freely ye have received, freely give.” [Mt 10:8] As Jesus says again, “give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” [Mt 5:42]
Are we to be wise with our money? Naturally. Are we to be moderate in our spending? Of course. But are we also to be liberal in our giving? Assuredly. And so, seeing that our wives are so close and so tender in our eyes, so beloved, should we not also be liberal to them? Else we may come under the condemnation which Christ Jesus laid on the Pharisees, who refused to give money to their parents: “full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” [f.f., Mk 7:9] Those husbands who refuse to support and nourish their wives as their own bodies in terms of worldly wealth, disobey God and are likened unto the Pharisees, who greedily withheld that from whom it was due in the false guise of spirituality. My dear brother, do you not know that whatsoever you have is not yours? Yes, as Paul asked, “what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” [1 Cor 4:7] If we are to be truly spiritual, it is not from greedily withholding money from our wives or being like a brier and a thorn when they request a gift or a small luxury; no, for God has said the man holding the true fast does not hide himself from his own flesh and blood. [Isa 58:7]
Husband and wife have become ”one flesh.” [Gen 2:24] And as a result, the husband, who is to provide for the wife, ought to lovingly and generously provide for her with wealth and riches as he would, or does, for himself. Let us not be stingy toward our wives, but generous. Let us throw off the cloak of spirituality, which is greed in disguise, and bless our wives with provision.