Money Is Power

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave of the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7

Even if you own a home, chances are (60% chance) you don’t really own it. The bank does. That’s what a mortgage is. Your mortgage or rent check is your monthly reminder that you’re a “slave.” The lender owns you.

This proverb was written three thousand years ago and money still works the same way. This is one of those “that’s the way life is” observations rather than “this is how you should live” maxims. You have to approach it indirectly in order to pluck your applications.

God is not saying that rich people are better, or more worthy, or more valuable than poor people. Just a few verses earlier we’re reminded that “the rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all (Proverbs 22:2).” Wealth and status are non-factors to God; He’s the one who gave them (John 19:11). God cares what you do with what’s given you.

What we need to learn is perhaps an obvious, but nonetheless valuable piece of wisdom. Wealth corresponds with earthly power. This is not a bad thing. It’s not something to be overturned because it can’t be overturned. Accepting this reality doesn’t mean that making money is now the goal of life; rather, it brings to bear a host of other biblical teachings on how we navigate power differentials.

For starters, take debt seriously. It’s not just a number on a screen; it’s a contract of bondage. That doesn’t mean you never accept a loan, but you should understand its gravity. Read your Dave Ramsey or whatever financial guru you like—they always start with hammering away at debt.

Secondly, approach the power dynamics of money with gospel humility. This goes for both those who have more and less. God calls Christians to respect those in positions of power and authority (Roman 13:1-7). This includes those who wield power because of their wealth. But what if their wealth is ill-gotten, or merely inherited? Unless you’re the IRS, that’s not your concern.

 When the Bible talks about giving respect to those whom it’s due, it doesn’t mean kowtowing to the guy driving a Corvette. It means when you feel the weight of someone’s purchasing power that you don’t despise that person simply for having that power. Nor should you envy or idolize them. You respect the God-given arrangement of that time and space.

On the flip side, when you exercise your purchasing power, you need to recognize it as power. Don’t trample on those who are subject to your power, even if that dynamic exists for fifteen seconds getting your coffee at a drive-thru. As it says later in the chapter, “do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, for the Lord will plead their cause (Proverbs 22:22-23).” God takes special note of those who live under other people’s thumbs. You should use your power for good—stewarding it as a gift, and exercising humble generosity.

Most importantly, we take our cue from Jesus, who “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).” We’ve gained infinite eternal riches through Jesus’ sacrifice. The power God gives you—whether financial, relational, intellectual, or artistic—is for you to pour out in order to lift others up.

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