5 Ways Wealth Can be a Burden (and How to Prevent It)

Did you know that wealth can become a burden? While most people want to be rich, there’s a price to pay to achieve it. If you’re not careful, material possessions can possess you instead of you possessing your wealth.

So, how exactly does wealth become a burden? Most importantly, how do you prevent it? To answer these questions, we go back to an ancient story of a man called Abram and see how his life teaches us valuable lessons today.

The Story of Abraham and His Wealth

Abraham is known today as the father of the faithful. However, even though Abraham was a spiritual giant, he is no doubt like any of us, a sinner. He made a lot of mistakes, but God helped him out. Thankfully, God’s grace is bigger than our mistakes. However, the mistakes of Abraham led to many problems.

So, let’s get into his story in Genesis 12:10:

¹⁰ Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.

If you read the previous chapter, we know that Abraham went out from his native land to a land that God had promised. He went in faith knowing that God would be with him. Yet, we see here in Genesis 12:10 that he left Canaan and went to Egypt. There’s no doubt that a famine can cause a lot of great trouble and concern. It has killed a lot of people. However, Abraham made a decision of his own. God has told him to move to Canaan and certainly, God could provide Abraham what he needs there in Canaan.

Yet, we see what happened in Egypt. Abraham lied to Pharaoh. Because of this lie, Abraham was able to stay in Egypt. The Bible didn’t explicitly say how long he stayed there, but look what happened during his stay in Egypt:

He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. Genesis 12:16

Because of Sarai, the Egyptians treated Abraham well. What’s more, during Abraham’s stay in Egypt, he increased his wealth. Now, the text doesn’t directly say that Pharaoh gave this wealth, but we can be sure that Abraham increased in riches while in Egypt.

What was the price Abraham paid to get more wealth? He wavered in his faith by leaving Canaan and he forsook the truth by telling a lie. God has promised Abraham to bless him materially, but not in this way. Now, here’s where things get more interesting. Let’s read Genesis 13:1-4:

¹ Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. ² Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. ³ And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, ⁴ to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 

If you go back to the Hebrew word for rich here, you’ll get a different perspective. It came from the Hebrew word, “Kabed.” It means heavy, difficult, and burdensome. So, Abram was very heavy in livestock, in silver, and in gold. What does this tell you? It gives you a hint that riches can become a burden.

How can riches become a burden?

Let me give you 5 ways.

1. The Burden of Acquisition

Acquiring wealth often involves a considerable amount of effort, stress, and strategic planning. For Abram, gaining wealth in a foreign land like Egypt would have required navigating complex social and economic landscapes, especially given his status as a sojourner.

2. The Burden of Preservation

Once wealth is acquired, there is an ongoing responsibility to preserve it. This can lead to anxiety and fear, as the wealthy individual must protect their assets from theft, loss, or mismanagement. Abram’s growing wealth would have necessitated careful oversight and management to maintain his extensive livestock and financial resources.

3. The Burden of Temptation

Wealth can lead to temptations that test one’s moral and ethical boundaries. With more resources at his disposal, Abram might have faced increased temptation to use his wealth in ways that could diverge from his faith and principles.

4. The Burden of Use

Deciding how to use wealth wisely and justly is another significant burden. It involves making choices that align with one’s values and responsibilities, potentially impacting many lives. For Abram, this meant using his resources to support not only his household but also his broader community.

5. The Burden of Accountability

Finally, there is the ultimate burden of accountability. In biblical teaching, wealth is seen as a stewardship entrusted by God, for which individuals must ultimately give an account. Abram’s wealth increased his responsibility to use his resources in a manner that was faithful to God’s purposes and commandments.

How to Prevent Wealth from Becoming a Burden

As we can see, excessive wealth can become a burden. So, what should we do? How can we be sure that this wealth will not be a burden? The answer is found in the same chapter of Genesis 13. We read in Genesis 13:5-7:

⁵ Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. ⁶ Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. ⁷ And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.

As you can see, the wealth of both Abram and Lot caused strife. Instead of uniting them, the wealth separated them. So, what was Abram’s solution? We read:

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” Genesis 13:8-9

Now, here’s the answer to the question I posed earlier. How can you prevent your wealth from becoming a burden? The answer is generosity. Abram is older than Lot. If you think about it, 

Abram has all the reasons to choose first, yet, out of His generosity, he let Lot make the first choice. In effect, Abram was also acting out of faith and trust in God. For Abraham, the land isn’t worth fighting for if you have God by your side. He knew that whatever he might end up with, God could bless. Abraham knew that it wasn’t about the possession but rather about God’s favor and grace. Not only that, but Abraham put more importance on family relationships and peace over wealth.

So, here are two ways for you to prevent wealth from becoming a burden:

1. Generosity:

Like Abram, we should give freely and generously, not grudgingly or out of obligation. Our offerings should reflect a heart that prioritizes God and others over material wealth.

2. Faith:

Giving with faith means trusting that God will provide for our needs. Just as Abram trusted God to bless him regardless of the land he received, we should trust that God will take care of us when we give generously.

Let Your Wealth Become a Blessing

I hope we learned important lessons about giving. Yes, wealth can be a burden especially when we acquire it against the will, plan, and purpose of God. Wealth can also be a burden when we put more importance on wealth than our relationship with God. To help us prevent wealth from becoming a burden, we must be generous and faithful to God. May we remember these lessons as we give our offerings this afternoon.

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