Wealth gives power to those who hold it: even to believers in Jesus.  Also, wealth gives pride space to breed; and without a keen sense of spiritual discipline it will make even the strongest believer become arrogant.   It is folly to assume that money will make the future secure (Luke 12:16-21).  Although Christians know that money cannot bring a happy future, we often manage our finances as though that was true.
 
The humble believer will see things differently.  We come into the world with nothing and leave with nothing (1 Timothy 6:7).  Everything we have on earth is not ours; we hold it in trust.  However God has promised to provide generously.  He gives us all we need, and whatever He can trust us to enjoy, while still giving Him glory.  Our hope of the future cannot be based on what we have today because it may go tomorrow; however we can always be confident in the character of God whose love goes on for ever.

But those who want to be rich or richer are encouraged by the world, it is a worldly ambition … it does not come from God (1 John 2:15-17).  That is why the Christians had to be taught, indeed commanded, not to put their hope in money or possessions, investments or family assets.  Jesus warned of the faith-quenching power of wealth for which the cure is to give it away (Matthew 19:16-26).  
 
Everybody needs this clear command to rethink their relationship between what they have, and who they are, in Christ. And church leaders must not shrink from the responsibility of instructing them to discipline themselves.  However church leaders must not use the verse to extract money from the church for themselves or their own projects, however useful they may be.  The command is to embrace the spiritual discipline of holding wealth in humility and thankfulness, giving glory to God as they enjoy what He has given to them.  Sincere giving will only flow from humble hearts that are filled with the compassion of Christ; but arrogance lives in hard hearts which can neither enjoy God’s good gifts nor share them with others.