Prosperity is the prevailing theme, especially during the Chinese New Year. Caught up in its festive mood, Chinese Christians often wish one another a new year filled with peace and prosperity.

There is nothing wrong with wishing “A Happy and Prosperous New Year” as it is a socially acceptable greeting akin to what John wrote: “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

Certainly, there is no inherent virtue in poverty. And we, in our right mind, would not wish that our family or friends remain poor like a church mouse.

But a rethink is needed. Is this emphasis on prosperity, which is ingrained in Chinese culture, correct in light of biblical teaching? As believers, how much significance should we attach to prosperity?

Wealth is positive in many ways. It protects us from danger and ill health, and lets us live in secure, guarded and gated homes. With wealth, we can afford insurance, more nutritious food and better healthcare; and have opportunities to pursue tertiary studies and wider options for work and leisure. Going overseas for holidays, not possible if we are poor, may help us to manage stress and improve our health. After all, a rich man’s wealth is his fortress, the ruin of the poor is their poverty (Proverbs 10:15).

But if he is haughty and thinks there is absolute security in wealth, he is wrong. To cling to prosperity as our security blanket is unwise.

DON’T BE A FOOL

In the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21), Christ warns of the danger of attaching too much importance to wealth. Following a bumper harvest, a rich man decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He told himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God told him, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; now who will own what you have prepared?” Self-centered and covetous, he failed to realise that wealth loses its value upon a person’s death. This reminds me of those who keep on accumulating freehold property, not realising that they themselves are “leasehold”.

Like this rich man, many are constantly driven to acquire stuff. Sadly, they are often insensitive to God’s calling or the needs of others. And when they die, or their empire collapses, everything they hope will grant them security is lost. Our riches won’t help us on Judgment Day; only righteousness counts then (Proverbs 11:4).

We are warned: “Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist” (Proverbs 23:4). The principle here is that we must be wise and not relentlessly pursue wealth. This does not mean, however, that it is wrong to make money through hard work and legitimate means – or even to have a lot of money. Money in itself is not evil; it is the love of money which is a root of all kinds of evils (1Timothy 6:10).

Those with a consuming desire for riches but neither consult God nor live for Him are foolish from a biblical viewpoint. Why? We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. Instead, we should be content, generous, set our hopes on God and be rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6: 7, 1 Timothy 6: 17-18).

Honest work and an enterprising spirit bring honour to God’s name. In fact, businessmen and entrepreneurs can play a vital role in the marketplace by creating job opportunities and funding corporate social responsibility projects. Laziness, on the other hand, ought to be condemned.

The danger lies not in the abundance of wealth we possess but how much the wealth possesses us. The issue is not how much money we have; it is the state of our heart – whether it is covetous or God-centered.