Does Spiritual Growth Mean Being Poor?

What exactly is the role of money in God’s plan for our spiritual growth? The Second Vatican Council warned us about the growing gap between our faith and our everyday lives. As disciples of Christ, we are called to sanctify every aspect of life for the authentic† development of human life and for the glory of God. We need to exercise the Cardinal Virtue of Temperance.

But it seems that our finances is one agonizing part of our life to give over to God. It just seems that money and God don’t have a lot to do with each other If we truly understood what money is, we might see things a bit differently. Money can actually be an integral part of our spiritual growth.

That’s why we need the Cardinal Virtue of Temperance even more. Temperance balances our physical desires so that we use them properly for authentic human good. Supernatural temperance can actually lead us to spiritual growth by teaching us . . .

• Money is a symbol of true riches — in Catholic social thought it is sometimes referred to as “secondary wealth.”
• Money symbolizes “primary” goods — the goods of Creation that God gives us as signs of his love.
• Money also symbolizes our own time, talent, and labor that goes into “perfecting” the goods of Creation for human usage and for authentic human development.
• Because all human beings are called by God to love him and to love each other, the proper use of our time, talent and labor is loving service to each other.
• Because created goods are a sign of God’s love, they too are best used in loving service toward each other.
• Therefore, money is a symbol of our ability to use our time, talent, labor and primary wealth to serve others in love!

So then why does Jesus tell warn us against great wealth?

The answer to that lies in human sinfulness. With money comes power, and fallen human beings are always tempted to use power for our own good instead of for the good of others. That is why self-denial and “evangelical poverty” are such virtues. They fight against our tendency toward selfishness.

Yet, money is an important part of human social life. We need money to take care of our families. And at its greatest good, money is power to spread God’s love to others.

So what are we called to do as men of God?

1. We are called to constant conversion against selfishness in all areas of our lives.
2. We are called to be good stewards of the treasures God gave us (including money) — this means getting out of debt, using our money in moral ways, etc.
3. We are called to enjoy the goods of Creation (which money can help us attain) as signs of God’s love for us!
4. Most of all, we are called to use our money and treasure to serve others in love.

So does God want you to be rich? He wants you first to be holy, to be good stewards of all of the gifts he has given to you (including your finances) and to use whatever financial resources you have to serve others in love. Then your finances will be a blessing and not a curse.