Money and giving
Is it wrong to be rich?
Short answer
No, but it is dangerous. The Bible doesn't condemn having money. It warns against trusting it, loving it and keeping it to yourself.
Abraham, Job and some of the women who supported Jesus had wealth. Paul doesn't tell the rich to feel guilty. He tells them not to be proud and not to put their hope in riches, which are uncertain, but in God, who richly gives us everything to enjoy.
Jesus was blunt about the danger. You cannot serve both God and money. He said it is hard for the rich to enter God's kingdom, harder than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. When His disciples asked who could be saved, He said: with man it is impossible, but not with God.
Money isn't the problem. Where your heart rests is. Jesus said to store up treasure in heaven, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Paul's answer for the rich is to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share.
Many people reading this are rich compared with most of the world. Ask: Do I trust my savings more than God? Could I give more than I do? Then take one step: give something you will actually notice.
My verses
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No one can serve two masters: 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 both God and money.
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”