Is there a "secret" formula for individual health, wealth, and happiness in the Bible? Yes, there is, and while it is hidden it is not secret. In fact, it is hidden in plain sight for all to see. The problem is that people are looking for some hidden truth, and ignore the obvious, or, they try to read their own ideas into the Bible. But before discussing the "secret" Biblical way to health, wealth, and happiness, we will do well to examine what the Bible says about wealth first. Is wealth really a good thing to have? If it is, what are the obligations of the wealthy? How much focus should one have on gaining wealth? Is there a balance between ones obligation to others and the efforts one makes to obtain wealth?

The Biblical Attitude Toward Wealth

There is a fairly popular misconception concerning the Biblical viewpoint on wealth. Many have the impression that the Bible commends poverty and self denial as great virtues while looking disdainfully on wealth. In looking at those men who were central figures in the Old Testament we find that most of them were prosperous and successful men. Concerning the wealth of Abraham, who was considered to be the father of the faithful, we read:

"And Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold (Gen. 13:2)." "And Lot also, which went with Abram (Abraham), had flocks, and herds and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together (Gen. 13:5-6)."

"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan (Gen. 14:14)."

Note that Abraham had 318 men trained for war, quite a number in those days when entire armies were composed of only a few thousand men. This meant that Abraham's entourage was at least 2,000 persons assuming a family size of 6 and assuming that all able men were trained for war. A family size of 6 would actually have been a small family in that age, further there were probably men who were not fit for war due to age or handicaps, so the number could have been greater. Thus Abraham managed a business enterprise that employed nearly 2,000 persons.

Notice also the wealth of Job, who was so righteous that God challenged Satan to cause him to sin:

"His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east (Job 1:3)."

Later, after Job's trials, we read:

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before . . . So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses (Job 42:10,12)."

Of course the ultimate in wealth is that of God himself as is written in the Psalms:

"I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof (Psalms 50:9-12),"

In the New Testament we also find statements suggesting that wealth acquired in a proper manner is not undesirable: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (III John 2)."

Here John is making a definite distinction between spiritual and material prosperity.

Some think that Christ was a sort of forerunner of the modern day hippie, wearing old and perhaps dirty clothes while traveling free around the country. This is simply not true! The coat that Christ was wearing when he was led out to be crucified was a garment of very fine quality, the coat was seamless, woven from the top throughout to the bottom (John 19:23). While the soldiers tore his clothing into four parts, one going to each soldier, his coat was of too great a quality and instead they cast lots for it.

Christ and the twelve apostles formed up what today would be called an evangelical team. In addition to the twelve it is recorded that there were another 120 in this team along with a host of men and women who helped the effort with donations and other aid. This team had a treasurer, namely Judas, and it is indicated in the Gospels that Christ may have owned two houses. Yeshua may not have focused on money, but he certainly had enough to carry out his mission without continual pleas for money, unlike some evangelists today. At least no pleas for money are recorded in the Bible. Indeed, Yeshua complete non-focus on money indicates that his evangelical effort was well financed. Paul, by example, also makes a point of the fact that he did not ask for money, even though he said he had a right to do so.

It is also true that Christ told the rich young man in Matt. 19:21, "If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." This scripture was not a command for everyone to give away all that they have in order to become righteous but rather was directed specifically to this young man. There are two reasons why the young man was told to do this. The first is that Christ knew that this man's wealth meant more to him than did citizenship in the Kingdom of God (Matt 6:23). Secondly Christ was offering this man the opportunity to become one of his disciples, perhaps even an apostle after Judas death (Acts. 1:15-16). As an apostle, the young man would not have a need for large amounts of money, indeed, maintaining his wealth would distract him from his work.

In addition we find the warning to avoid an inordinate desire for wealth:

"Therefore take no thought saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink, or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness: and all these things shall added unto you (Matt 6:31)." Paul mentions in Timothy why riches may not be a good thing:

"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted themselves through with many sorrows (I Tim. 6:8-10)."

So it is not money that is the root of all evil but the inordinate and excessive love (Greek. avarice, covetous) of money that is evil. The impression here is that there may be some advantage to being poor in that one will not be exposed to some of the temptations that those with money would be, but that there is no special stigma attached to wealth or money per se. The best statement to summarize the Biblical viewpoint on wealth and poverty is found in Phil. 4:13:

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therefore to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Paul was stating his willingness to suffer to bring others to Christ. He was putting God and his fellow humans first, and wealth was far down the list of his priorities. Most, however, are not called to be single men and evangelists as Paul was. Rather we are called to support men like Paul and we have families to take care of. We must earn our daily bread, so to speak.

We see that the Bible does not condemn wealth, rather it requires one have a proper attitude toward wealth. To worship wealth is to put wealth before God, and would be disobeying the great command to "Love God with all your heart." To love wealth and to oppress your neighbor to obtain it is to disobey the second command, called the Golden Rule, which requires every one to love his neighbor as himself. These, in fact, are the underpinnings and the theme of the Bible and are the only two absolute laws of God.