a strangerö (Snipes 2004, 1). We do not give to God to become wealthy but we give to God most and our wealthiest most when we give without expectation in return. As expressed in Luke 6:35, ôBut love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in returnÆ and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most Highö (Snipes 2004).
The Bible does condemn wealth in many instances such as the familiar eye of a needle and camel sentiment expressed in Luke 18: 25, and seems to exalt the poor as more virtuous than the wealth in many other places: ôblessed are the poorö (Luke 6: 20). However, as Rae (2002) maintains, there is ample evidence of other viewpoints on wealth, ôThese texts should be balanced by others that present wealth in a different perspectiveö (1). This is true in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old Testament we see that wealth is but one of GodÆs many blessings to be enjoyed, ôWhatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your mightö (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Such expressions demonstrate that wealth must be acquired through the sweat of the brow and hard work in order to be justly acquired. We see this in proverbs in the parable of the ant. We also see in Proverbs that only wealth acquired through hard work and sacrifice in GodÆs honor is wealth that is justly acquired, ôLazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring great wealthö (Proverbs 10:4).
In the New Testament we see many other examples that demonstrate that God wishes us to have a life of abundance but we must acquire wealth justly and not at the expense of others. So too, we must use our wealth once it is acquired in a manner that undermined injustice and assists the needy in GodÆs name. As we see expressed in I Timothy 6: 18, ôCommand them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.ö Thus if we work hard and acquire wealth in a just manner, it is a guarantee...