“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
Money is a funny thing. No matter how much we have, we never seem to have quite enough. We convince ourselves that we don’t seek more of it, but if we’re honest we know that’s not the truth. Just a bit more, then we’d be happy. Just a bit more, then we could take it easy, relax and spend some time with the family. Then, just a bit more comes, but, well, you know, inflation and all. So we work to get a bit higher, go a bit further. We’ll quit a job where we are happy to accept a new job for more money – even if it means more stress and more hours.
We live in one of the wealthiest societies on the planet, yet so often we feel like we just don’t have quite enough to get by. The truth is, we also live in a success- and wealth-addicted society. If we don’t have it, we’re doing everything we can to get it so we don’t have to restrict our buying habits. Everywhere we turn we are marketed to buy more, buy more, buy more. What we have is never enough. And we’re buying into it – literally. Remember the old bumper sticker, “He who dies with the most toys wins?” That still seems to be the theme of our day.
But what is that drive for money – for possessions – doing to our spiritual lives? What is it doing to our family lives? We argue that we are working hard to support our families, but are we being honest with ourselves and each other?
Does the Bible Condemn Wealth?
Let’s face it, we know the Bible is not exactly brimming with teachings about how to make more money. In fact, it is challenging to find a positive verse in the Bible about making more money. Yet, we do find plenty to warn us of the evils of placing too much emphasis on our wealth and our possessions. We also can find ample teachings about the true source of peace and riches in our lives – and wealth didn’t make the list.
But what the Bible does not do is condemn wealth. What the Bible condemns is the love of money, in other words, putting money first and foremost in our lives and making our faith secondary. And Jesus certainly offered his own advice in that area.
Certainly, we all know about the lessons on tithing, or giving 10% of our income back to the Lord. There is a great deal of discussion about whether that Old Testament specific still applies, so let’s set that aside for now. However we cut it, the Bible loves a cheerful and generous giver. But does the Bible have anything else to say about how we ought to be managing our money? How we ought to view wealth? Ecclesiastes 5:10 says “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”
Well, Jesus certainly had more to add.
The Rich Man and the Poor Man
Our society also seems incredibly obsessed not just with wealth, but with celebrity. Have you ever thought about the millions of dollars we pay to our celebrities and athletes? Yet, has their wealth brought them joy? Has money delivered them from the trials of life? It would seem the contrary is true. Despite our pervasive viewpoint of wealth, money is not the source of all happiness.
“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’” (Luke 12:15).
What advantages do the poor have? Many. They have no overly exaggerated sense of their own importance. The poor know the difference between necessities and luxuries. How many of us can say that?
Above all else? The poor have hearts that are wide open to the good news of the gospel. For the most part, they don’t have that ever-present temptation that so dominates much of society, that driving force of earning more, getting somewhere faster. The poor recognize their dependence on God – and on each other.
Jesus himself commended the heart of a poor widow:
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:41-44).
This is not to say that being poor is a Biblical requirement or that wealth is a sin. But we must remember that everything we have is a gift from God – and with that gift comes responsibility. We are to guard against placing too much emphasis on the pursuit and retention of money. Money isn’t the root of all evil – but rather, the love of money that is the source of all kinds of evil because of the enormous temptations that it brings.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10).
What Jesus Taught about Money
Indeed, Jesus had much to teach about how we are to deal with the matter of money – and all were cautionary tales.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught that among the four groups upon which the seeds of the gospel were sown, there was one that heard the word but let the cares of the world and the distractions and deceitfulness of wealth and riches choke the word. Because of this, it proved unfruitful.
“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).
At one point, Jesus is approached by a rich young man who ran up to him and asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Perhaps the man was looking for some praise for his life from Jesus – but was soon to be disappointed:
“You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:19-22)
It would seem that Jesus was not teaching the young man to tithe – but rather to give away everything he had. “All that you have.” It is more clear though, that Jesus knew this young man’s love of his wealth, and that love came before his love or desire to please God.
And then Jesus issued a stern warning:
“And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23).
In other words – how easy it is for those who have wealth to fall in love with that wealth and find it more important than our love for God. Money becomes an idol.
This was not the only time that Jesus suggested that his disciples give away all of their possessions:
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:32-34).
How Are We Expected to Manage Our Money?
Like so many other things, the Bible offers an incredibly rich tapestry of lessons on money. It teaches that money is not evil, but rather a tool to be used with the potential for good, but also for evil.
What does the Bible teach about how money is to be managed? Carefully. Cautiously.
God Is the True Owner
Whatever we have, God is the source. While we may have worked hard for what we have, that does not diminish that God is the source.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
We Must Be Good Stewards
We are no more than caretakers of our finances, accountable to God for how we use them.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48b).
Invest What We Have Wisely
We have been entrusted with a treasure that belongs to our Father. As in the parable of the talents (gold) we must take care to invest wisely.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21).
We Are to Be Content with What We Have
No matter how much or how little we have, we are to choose contentment over greed.
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).
We Are to Avoid Debt
We are to avoid debt, particularly excessive debt that will impact our ability to be generous, or which will enslave us.
“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).
“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:7-8).
Be Generous and Giving
We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That means sharing what we have been given with those in need ought to be a core value for every Christian.
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15-17).
Be on Our Guard
Let money not become an idol in our lives.
“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’” (Luke 12:15).
We Are to Honor God
In all we do, honor God. In all we do, live for his glory and not our own.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God’” (Luke 12:20-21).
Nowhere in the Bible is hard work condemned. On the contrary, we are encouraged to work hard and implored to take care of our families. But we must be careful to use our gifts – our time, our talents and our treasures – to honor God and to help others.
There is no greater commandment than these.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).
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Grandchamp is an author and speaker. His book, “In Pursuit of Truth, A Journey Begins,” is an easy-to-read narrative that offers answers to the most common questions new believers and non-believers have about Jesus Christ (Amazon.) Greg speaks on living out our faith in our daily lives – and on creating true disciples of Christ.
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.