The Privileged Life: What Can You Afford for the Lord?
“The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” (Proverbs 11:25)
Want to get rich quick?
Won’t happen for you in a place we recently saw…a new gambling complex.
My husband and I were surprised when we drove past the huge casino. The building was plain outside, no garish colors and blinking lights, nothing alluring. How could this place be so popular?
The number of vehicles in the parking lot, however, told a different story. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people were inside throwing away their hard-earned money. The thought was depressing.
Many people think of gambling as entertainment, like watching a movie or playing a sport. And I’ll be the first to admit I’ve fallen prey to that attitude in the past.
I believe now, though, that gambling is an outward sign of a hidden heart condition—one that isn’t on a healthy track with God. At its root, gambling is an attempt to gain material wealth by good luck, not trusting in God to provide for needs. Sadly, it’s also very addictive.
But this isn’t a rant against casinos, lottery tickets, sweepstakes, or even the stock market. Instead, I’ll pose this question—what does the Bible say about how to become truly rich?

You could summarize the Scriptural pathway to true wealth as this: through generous, sacrificial giving.
God’s principles are counter-intuitive to the views of our world…and to the “health and wealth” false teachings that have crept into some Christian circles.
Our genuine treasure is found in following God’s commandments, having faith in His promises, and sharing His love with other people. He has liberally given us all things, including wisdom, along with the admonition to work diligently, to spend and save money prudently, and not to make idols out of material things. He commands us to give of ourselves for His glory in return.
So, let’s dream now in a different direction—what if the situation my husband and I observed was reversed? What if the people inside the casino took every dollar they intended to throw into the one-armed bandits and instead gave it to God?
Imagine the new diagnostic equipment that would save lives at a remote Christian hospital in Africa. Picture the smiling faces of children receiving a bowl of food in Jesus’ name after days of hunger in drought-parched areas. Listen to the cries of joy from indigenous peoples in the South Pacific as they open Bibles in their own languages. Watch a new church rising in a war-torn zone.
Each year our church family members are encouraged to make a “Faith Promise” to God, asking Him to provide unexpected funds for giving beyond our regular tithes. These Faith Promise donations—sometimes planned, sometimes unplanned—go to more than 25 missionary individuals, families, and groups around the world. What a joy to see how God has faithfully provided over many years! What a marvelous investment in His work!
How much we give doesn’t matter as much as how much it means to us sacrificially. Jesus pointed out the significance in the Temple when the impoverished widow gave only two “mites”—tiny coins compared to the noisy clanging of gold thrown into the metal coffers by the wealthy (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-2). Our Lord assessed her gifts to be worth far more than those from the rich. The widow gave everything she had.
Could you give up a restaurant coffee this week to save a few bucks for a missionary? How about a homemade dinner of rice and beans instead of dining out—so you can pop the dollars saved into a baby bottle bank for your local Christian pregnancy center? Could you purchase a used version of whatever you were shopping to buy, so that a well could bring fresh water to a thirsty village? What can you afford for the Lord?
I love what C. S. Lewis said about small choices in his book, “Mere Christianity”:
“Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.”1
As I’ve written this, I’ve been convicted by God’s word to consider my own choices. Am I frittering away my finances (and limited time) or giving them abundantly to serve Him? Am I wise in managing what He has given me? Do I have a wealth of joyful giving in my daily life?
Join me, especially during this time leading up to Christmas, for examining resources in light of God’s love and eternity. Let’s turn our eyes toward Christ and remember His sacrificial gift of life to us. I think we’ll discover that we can’t afford NOT to be lavish in our praise, worship, and giving to Him!
Jesus, my great King and my greatest Blessing, I praise You for all of the beautiful gifts You have bestowed upon me—salvation, abundant life, the assurance of eternity in heaven with You. I confess I often forget these rich treasures, abandoning them in the pursuit of tinsel toys around me. Show me how to be a wise manager of my material goods, to turn them into Your blessings for others. In Your name, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her weekly blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2024 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography) Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
#gambling #addiction #healthandwealth #generousgiving #generosity #missions #sacrificialgiving
1https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/537819-good-and-evil-both-increase-at-compound-interest-that-is