Money, Power, and Spirituality

Money, Power, and Spirituality

A Sacred Triangle or a Minefield?

Let’s be real. Money fascinates. Power attracts. Spirituality elevates. And yet, as soon as we put them in the same sentence, something grinds. It’s as if the soul instinctively grows suspicious. Why? Because religious history is littered with falls that began with a purse too heavy and authority poorly digested. But let’s ask an honest, almost naive question: 👉 Are money and power incompatible with spiritual life… or is it our heart that is?

1. Money: Neutral Tool or Disguised Idol?

The Bible is surprisingly clear: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." It does not say money, but the love of money. Money, in itself, does not speak. But it reveals. It amplifies. It highlights what is already there.

• In a wise hand, it becomes service.

• In an empty heart, it becomes master.

Jesus does not demonize money. He simply warns: you cannot serve two masters. The real question is not: ➡️ How much do you have? But rather: ➡️ Who truly possesses you?

2. Power: A Calling or a Slow Poison?

Power is not primarily political. It is relational, spiritual, and sometimes even invisible. A spiritual leader has power:

• Over consciences,

• Over decisions,

• Over life trajectories.

And that is where the danger begins. Power reveals three types of hearts:

1. Those who serve with fear and trembling.

2. Those who control under the guise of "vision."

3. Those who confuse authority with domination.

Jesus flips conventional logic: "Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." In the Kingdom, authentic power kneels. If it does not know how to lower itself, it will eventually crush others.

3. Spirituality: Escaping the World or Transforming it?

Some spiritualities flee money and power as impure temptations. Others embrace them without discernment. Both extremes are dangerous. True biblical spirituality is neither:

• A detached asceticism disconnected from reality,

• Nor a disguised "success theology."

It seeks something else: inner alignment. A healthy spirituality always asks:

• Why do I want more?

• For whom do I want more?

• At what point does "blessing" become a "distraction"?

Spiritual maturity is not measured by what we possess, but by what we are capable of losing without losing ourselves.

4. When Money, Power, and Faith Align

Yes, it is possible. But it is rare and demanding. When they are aligned:

• Money becomes a resource, not an identity.

• Power becomes a responsibility, not intoxication.

• Spirituality becomes a compass, not a window dressing.

The most striking biblical figures—Joseph, Daniel, Esther—had power, influence, and sometimes wealth. But above all, they had clear loyalty. They knew to whom they belonged before they knew what they led.

Conclusion (Intentional discomfort)

Money is not dirty. Power is not demonic. But the human heart is capable of sacralizing everything… except God. True spirituality does not consist in rejecting money or power, but in refusing to let them become silent gods. The final question is not theological; it is personal: If God withdrew my money or influence today, would there still be anything solid left in me? That is where true faith begins.

Published: December 18, 2025.