Is it Biblical to Bring Increase to Wealth?

by Ron Bare

The idea of increasing wealth can feel uncomfortable or even taboo in many Christian circles – often raising questions about intent, motive, and faith. While conversations about this topic can feel challenging, I invite you to join me in exploring a new perspective today, one that’s deeply rooted in Scripture.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a story of three servants entrusted with their master’s resources. The first two servants multiplied what was given to them, and the third servant buried his out of fear. The master praised the first two servants and condemned the third. The difference? Their stewardship of the wealth that was entrusted to them.

Throughout the Bible, we see an ongoing invitation to growth – in faith, love, generosity, influence, and sometimes in wealth. This is not about amassing wealth, but rather about faithful stewardship of the resources God has given to us. Like the third servant, we can become scared to pursue growth, fearing failure or loss. Yet we know that fear is not from God and it should not hold us back from pursuing growth.

Why is it important to consider growing, or increasing, our wealth? Ultimately, we know and trust that God is the owner of all that we have. When done with the right motive, seeking financial growth can be an act of worship as we continue to trust in Him for each of our needs. This principle is clear in Matthew 25 – the master entrusts bags of gold to the servants. The servants did not find the bags of gold on their own; they were given them. What they did with these bags of gold was a reflection of their relationship with their master.

Still, we know this topic can carry a stigma, and many churches shy away from teaching this. Why? The idea of growing wealth can appear similar to the prosperity gospel, the teaching that financial blessing will find you if you are faithful to God or have “enough” faith. The prosperity gospel misrepresents both God’s heart and our calling. Rather, our belief is that God has entrusted us each with specific blessings, and that someday, He will ask for an account of our stewardship. In light of this, we believe stewarding these resources well, including pursuing an increase, can be honoring to God.

But don’t forget the point – this isn’t about chasing wealth. In Psalm 24:1, we see that God is the owner of all things. In Psalm 8 and Genesis 1-2, we learn that though God has created everything, He has put us in charge of His creation. He has asked us to manage and grow the things He has made! If you are blessed to see an increase, what you do with that increase can be a beautiful reflection of your relationship with God. When we can combine this increase with a content heart, a generous spirit, and a purposeful plan, we can impact the Kingdom of God for good. This principle of bringing an increase to our wealth, and all that we have, is a thread that runs throughout Scripture. That’s why our impact statement here at Bare talks about how “intentional stewardship and extravagant generosity can change the world for the glory of God.” How can you change the world through stewardship and generosity? We encourage you to consider how pursuing growth might fit into your story, not for your sake, but for God’s glory.