I’m about to say something that might offend a few of you.

I don’t like Chick-fil-A sauce.

I know. The chicken is incredible. Chick-fil-A is “Christian chicken.” But the sauce? I’m just not a fan. I can eat it, sure, but if I have a choice, I’m going with Polynesian sauce every single time. In fact, I’m convinced Adam and Eve dipped their food in Polynesian sauce in the Garden before the fall. It’s that good.

Why bring this up? Because I want to talk to you about the secret sauce of wealth building. And for me, it’s not Chick-fil-A sauce. It’s Polynesian sauce, the ingredients that, mixed together over time, lead to healthy, God-honoring wealth building.

Wealth Building Through a Biblical Lens

Before we dive into the ingredients, we need to set the foundation. Wealth building without a biblical perspective is dangerous. It can easily turn into greed, pride, or misplaced hope.

The Bible helps us reframe the entire conversation. In the Bible, here’s what we find:

First, God owns it all.

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Every dollar in your bank account ultimately belongs to Him. You’re not the owner; you’re the manager. That one truth changes how we view money. Wealth is not about building our little kingdoms. It’s about stewarding God’s resources for His kingdom.

Second, wealth has a greater purpose. 

1 Timothy 6:17 reminds us not to put our hope in wealth but in God, who provides. Then Paul says we are to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” That’s our calling. Wealth is not meant to be hoarded or idolized. It’s meant to care for your family (1 Timothy 5:8), fund kingdom work (2 Corinthians 9:11), and help those in need.

So, when we talk about wealth building, understand this: wealth is a tool. Not the goal. Not the hope. Just a tool. 

The Polynesian Sauce of Wealth Building

So how do you build wealth wisely? Over the years, I’ve studied, read books like The Millionaire Next Door, and walked with families on their financial journeys. And I’ve noticed five consistent ingredients. Mix them together, and you have what I call the Polynesian sauce of wealth building.

Ingredient #1: Spend less than you earn.

This sounds simple, but it is a powerful practice. If you spend everything you bring in, you’ll never build wealth. Proverbs 21:20 says, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” That’s paycheck-to-paycheck living, spending it all with nothing left over.

Margin is the key. Margin is the gap between what you earn and what you spend. The larger your margin, the more freedom you have to save, invest, and give. Without margin, wealth building is impossible. With margin, you create space to prepare for the future and be generous in the present.

Ingredient #2: Cultivate contentment. 

Contentment is critical. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12–13, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” He wrote those words from prison.

Contentment isn’t about settling. It’s about freedom. It’s freedom from chasing the next big thing. It’s freedom from the endless comparison game. And it’s freedom to focus on what actually matters.

When you cultivate contentment, you find it much easier to live below your means. And when you live below your means, you’re able to build wealth steadily and generously.

Ingredient #3: Buy assets and reduce liabilities. 

Wealth building comes down to this: assets minus liabilities. Assets are things that add to your net worth, like investments, retirement accounts, or even a paid-off home. Liabilities are things that drain your net worth, like credit card debt, car loans, or other forms of consumer debt. 

Want to build wealth? Grow your assets. Shrink your liabilities. 

Ingredient #4: Save and invest consistently.

Wealth is not built in a day. It’s built day by day. Month by month. Year by year.

Proverbs 13:11 says, “Whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” That’s the secret. Not one big break. Not a lottery win. Just consistency.

Most millionaires in America didn’t inherit their money. Studies show they built it slowly, through years of steady saving and investing. They set aside a portion of their income every month, especially in retirement accounts like a 401(k) or 403(b). They let compound interest do its work.

I like to say it this way: A little bit of money + a lot of time = a lot of money. Time and discipline are your best friends when it comes to wealth building.

Ingredient #5: Live with purpose and generosity.

This is the most important ingredient. If you build wealth but miss this, you’ll end up empty.

1 Timothy 6:18 says, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” Wealth has a greater purpose than just making your life more comfortable. It’s meant to be used for God’s glory and the good of others.

Generosity brings joy. Generosity fuels kingdom impact. And generosity is the antidote to greed.

So, as you build wealth, don’t forget this final ingredient. Without it, your Polynesian sauce recipe is incomplete.

There you have it—the Polynesian sauce of wealth building. Five ingredients:

1. Spend less than you earn.
2. Cultivate contentment.
3. Buy assets and reduce liabilities.
4. Save and invest consistently.
5. Live with purpose and generosity.

Wealth is not the goal. It’s a tool. A tool God can use through you to live and give more generously.

So go ahead, grab the Polynesian sauce. Apply these ingredients. And build wealth the right way, with your eyes on eternity.