On September 27, 1871, Mark Twain penned a satirical revision of the Westminster Catechism for the New York Tribune. His version was sharp, cynical, and disturbingly accurate:

Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: To get rich.
Q: In what way?
A: Dishonestly if we can; honestly, if we must.

Twain’s words cut to the heart of a timeless truth—the deification of money. In his biting prose, he identifies the true god of many in society: “Money is God. Gold and Greenbacks and Stock—father, son, and ghosts of the same, three persons in one; these are the true and only God, mighty and supreme.”

While his words were directed at the world at large, they ring true within the walls of many churches today. The love of money, as the Apostle Paul warns in 1 Timothy 6:10, is “a root of all sorts of evils.” It’s a warning we must take seriously, lest our churches lose their way in pursuit of wealth.

The Temptation of Wealth in the Church

Consider the story of Warren Bailey, an elderly man from St. Mary’s, Georgia, who left an unimaginable sum of $60 million to his local Methodist church. It was a bequest that brought as much concern as it did blessing. The church’s pastor, Rev. Derek McAleer, voiced a fear that resonates deeply: “How do we remain a Christian church with all this money?”

This question cuts to the core of our relationship with wealth. Money can be a tool for good, but it can also be a snare. It’s not the presence of money that’s the problem; it’s our heart toward it. As we’ve seen time and again, wealth can lead churches away from their true mission if not handled with caution and humility.

The Perils of Prioritizing Wealth Over the Word

I’ve seen firsthand the dangers of placing financial security over spiritual fidelity. A friend of mine, a pastor, was promised a full-time salary by his church, a church that was financially secure. Yet when the church didn’t like his leadership, they cut his pay, despite having the resources to support him. Later, when a lucrative offer came to sell the church property, they took it, but still refused to restore him to full-time ministry. They chose to hoard wealth for a new building rather than invest in the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

This story is not unique. Another church plant I know of was barely surviving when a wealthy pastor offered financial support—on the condition that he take control. When he was denied, his promise of funds evaporated. The love of money, once again, revealed its corrupting power.

A Church’s True Wealth

I am thankful for the example set by my own congregation. At Grace Bible Church, we’ve never had much money, but the Lord has always provided. We’ve seen our “bowl of flour” and “jar of oil” miraculously sustain us, just as God did for the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s provision is not dependent on our wealth but on our faithfulness.

Jesus’s rebuke to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:17-18 serves as a sobering warning: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked.” The true wealth of a church is not found in its bank account but in its faithfulness to Christ and His Gospel.

Guarding Our Hearts

In a world that idolizes wealth, the church must stand apart. We must be vigilant in guarding our hearts against the love of money, recognizing that it is not money itself but our attitude toward it that can lead us astray. Money is a necessary tool, but it must never become our master.

Let us take to heart Paul’s advice to Timothy and ensure that our love for Christ far surpasses any love we might have for material wealth. For it is in Christ alone that we find our true riches—riches that no amount of money can buy.