The Gospel Coalition
By Wayne Grudem
Wayne Grudem is research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona.
Volume 1, Issue 1, Accessed on July, 2023
PART II
4. The Dangers of Materialism and Asceticism
Now I want to mention two mistakes-two dangers-to avoid.
In talking about business and material prosperity, we must never forget that the Bible gives warnings against loving material things too much:
HEBREWS 13.5
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.”
1 TIMOTHY 6.9–10
But those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation,
into a snare,
into many senseless and harmful desires
that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money
is a root of all kinds of evils.
It is through this craving
that some have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves with many pangs.
MATTEW 6.24
No one can serve two masters,
for either he will hate the one
and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one
and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and money.
And so I strongly disagree with the “health and wealth gospel” that teaches if you have enough faith-or if you just give enough money to a certain ministry-then God will make you prosperous.
Jesus was poor and Paul was poor and Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you” when he healed the man lame from birth (Acts 3:6). And James said, “has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (Jas 2:5). I’m certainly not saying that if you are faithful Christian God will make you rich. Often he will not. 8
There is an opposite danger to materialism, and that is the danger of asceticism.
I want to make clear that I am also not saying that prosperity is in itself evil.
It brings temptations and dangers, but I think it is still basically a good thing, and in itself it is part of what God intended for us as creatures made in his image. In warning about the dangers of prosperity, I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Paul warned about the opposite of materialism-a false asceticism, promoted by people who constantly opposed the enjoyment of material things that God has placed in this world:
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-”Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used) -according to human precepts and teachings?
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Col 2:20–23)
PHILIPIANS 4.12–13
I know how to be brought low,
and I know how to abound.
In any and every circumstance,
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need.
I can do all things
through him who strengthens me.
1 TIMOTHY 6.17–18
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.
And so I think that the command “You shall not steal,” when viewed in the context of the entire Bible’s teachings on stewardship, implies that God created us not merely to survive but to achieve much and to flourish on the earth-and to flourish with enjoyment, abounding in thanksgiving to God.
