Biblical Perspectives on Wealth Management

By Lanny Widjaja

According to Sondra Wheeler, the Cultural Mandate of wealth is based on Creation Mandate. Hunter Beaumont develops Money Theology following the storyline of God’s kingdom: it is created, fallen and can be redeemed. Wong and Rae comment that work is a fulfilment of the Creation Mandate (Genesis 1:26; 2:7,15,26) and also a service to God in the transformation of the world into the New Creation (the city of Revelation) . Work generates wealth.

Wealth is not narrowly defined as a blessing or an evil. It all depends on circumstance. There is no correlation between physical wealth/poverty with spiritual wealth/poverty.

Sondra Wheeler elaborates that we are only stewards of material things, even when one has worked for them and earned them in one sense. Wealth is a gift from God and it is subsequently for Him. We should be good stewards (Luke 16:1-13) and must not have the wrong attitude of “Mammonism” (1 John 2:15; 1 Timothy 6:10; Luke 12:16-21). We should seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness (Matthew 6:31-33).

The true security is only to be found in God’s provision. We must have the right attitude by focusing on Christ through storing up heavenly treasure (Matthew 19:21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19) and tie the right use of riches to discipleship by serving the Lord, His mission and His people.

Wealth management is an investment advisory service that combines other financial services to address the needs of High Net-Worth clients. It is important to engage a reputable and wise wealth manager who has high integrity and professionalism (Proverbs 15:22). Wealth managers should not be tempted by financial reward for themselves that they commit fraud and be non-compliant.

A wealth manager has responsibilities to ascertain source of wealth of the clients, invest in ESG (Environment Social Governance) related products, have fair dealing and meet investment criterion of clients (performance return, risk profile, loss tolerance, liquidity, diversification, leverage and legacy planning).

Christian Advisors must manage the clients’ risk profile to achieve good performance return, as in the “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:1430). Christians also need to put aside some liquidity to feed our families (1 Timothy 5:8), care for brothers and sisters in difficulty (James 2:16), being generous (Galatians 6:10), pay taxes, save for retirement (1 Thessalonians 4:12), fund gospel work such as church (Galatians 6:6) and missions (3 John 6), and enjoy His goodness through His good gifts with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4).

Christian Advisors can encourage Christian clients to be better participate in God’s redemptive mission. The clients can do philanthropy in the church’s cross-cultural mission (Philippians 4:14–20; 2 Corinthians 8 and 9) and help the poor (Matthew 25:35-40; Luke 11:41, 6:20-23; Proverbs 19:17; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19; Leviticus 25:35-38). Giving is the essence of philanthropy. It fulfills the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37,39).