The desire for upward social mobility is universal. Most of us seem to be on the constant move up to a higher social or economic status in our lives. For many that seems to be what drives them in life dictating the choices they make and how they expend or invest their resources.
Acquisition and management of wealth in the quest for upward social mobility doesn’t get talked about much in the church. But it is a theme that’s openly addressed in the Bible. Across its breadth, scripture speaks directly and boldly about the inherent risks associated with the pursuit of material wealth and placing one’s confidence in it.
These warnings and cautions abound precisely because wealth can be extremely deceptive, offering a false sense of safety and security; and distracting, from that which is true life – one’s relationship and devotion to The Lord (Luke 12:21, 1Tim 6:19). Hence The Lord’s serious cautions about having a falsely exalted view of riches. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the parable told by him in Luke 12. Here’s an excerpt – Luke 12:15
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Wealth is not the definition of life. Your life is not the sum total of what you own.
Upward social mobility through increased wealth does not necessarily equate with a better life. The Lord cautions us not to drop our guard against the seemingly relentless drive for upward social mobility through ever increasing material ownership.You maintain your guard by always prioritising your devotion to The Lord and refusing to compromise it.
Far too often upward social mobility happens at the cost of our devotion to Him compromising our walks with The Lord and severely limiting our usefulness to His Kingdom.
Our devotion to Christ is non-negotiable – individually on a daily basis and regularly in community with others. It is irreplaceable.
Your regular – daily and weekly rhythm of devotion, individually and in community – is there to sustain and progress you. Our daily touch-points with The Lord in the form of quality (unhurried and undistracted) time spent with Him in prayer, worship and listening to Him through the reflective reading of His Word represents the bedrock of our walk with Him. Our weekly and otherwise gathering with the saints for prayer, the study of scripture, sharing life and the Lord’s supper are what encourage us in the faith, empower us for the journey, convict us of our ungodly ways and habits, and restore our souls. We need to be wholeheartedly committed and anchored in community and communal devotion to even keep a check on your heart and stay on the straight and narrow.
Such was the importance the Lord attached to this lesson that He decided to unpack it even further with a parable. The parable illustrated how the pursuit of material riches and desire to have more can actually lead to bankruptcy of the more serious kind – spiritual bankruptcy – nothing to show in that which matters most, in relation to God. Here’s an excerpt:
Luke 12:18-21
And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
The subject of the parable ended up with an abundance of wealth while falling straight into spiritual bankruptcy. He had nothing to show toward his relationship with God. His falsely exalted view of riches and its unchecked pursuit led to his spiritual bankruptcy.
You can be super rich materially but end up stone broke spiritually. Hence why material prosperity can be far more dangerous than poverty.
Upward social mobility is frequently achieved at the expense of one’s spiritual capital – devotion to the Lord and commitment to His kingdom on Earth. Climbing the social ladder frequently demands a significant trade-off in spiritual capital. The almost unrelenting drive for upward social mobility through greater ownership and increased wealth can so consume your life leading you to spiritual bankruptcy. Such an unchecked drive can literally ravage your spiritual life into non- existence. The drive to own more, to be better off, is a very present danger and real risk to Christian discipleship.
In the letter that bears his name, James the brother of The Lord too is unapologetic as he addresses the rich directly about the fading nature of their pursuit for wealth – James 1:9-11
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Riches have zero value in defining a person or his status before God.
The lowly brother is instructed to boast in his exalted position precisely because his position or status is not determined by his material wealth or low social status. Conversely, the rich is to boast in his lowly position because his wealth does not and cannot define him or determine his position before God.
James warns the rich not to put their confidence in their economic standing or define themselves by it. He makes it clear that whatever you own or however much you own cannot define you. Material wealth does not define you or determine your position before God.
The apostle Paul goes even further warning against and listing the dangers inherent in the pursuit of riches going as far as citing the tragic end of some who went down that path – 1 Timothy 6:9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Paul provides first hand evidence to support his assertion. The craving to be rich cost some their faith – and subsequently their salvation too. The unchecked and relentless drive for upward social mobility can be detrimental to your devotion to God leading to spiritual bankruptcy. It not only compromises your devotion to God but your integrity too leading you to routine lying, deception, theft, defrauding, and falsifying etc – all in a bid to acquire and own more.
Our attitude and relationship with wealth must be informed and directed by scriptural truth.
The drive for upward social mobility has left countless casualties strewn along its path. Heed The Lord’s warning and don’t be one.
Prov 24:23 – 24
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
grace unbound 