Spiritual Issues of Money
Stewardship, contentment, faith, and wisdom are what you’ll hear about in Jesus’s teachings about money. Perhaps you have heard that Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic. When I did a word scan for money in the Bible Gateway app; I got several references. I do believe that Jesus spoke in terms of social class, economic status, spiritual wealth and poverty interchangeably.
Many times people link being poor with being more spiritual. Out of that misconception comes the idea that living in poverty doing what you want to do is more noble than making money doing what you want to do. Somehow money is considered evil. Just to get the biblical statement straight - money is not the root of all evil. It is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6.10).
Stewardship many times is shunted to the topic of November’s sermons: the church service before Thanksgiving; or at the end of the church’s fiscal year. One of the things that non-practicing Christians avoid is the tithe - 10% of what you earn each month before bills. Giving comes out of an understanding that we manage everything (are stewards of) we have been given by God, including time, talents, resources and money. This honors God as the source and owner of all things in heaven and on earth. Handling money this way is a form of worship. Tithing does change your perspective on how much you really need to have.
Contentment has followed tithing for me. When I used to see giving as a privilege, it was much easier to share. Although the fear of not having enough has been a lifetime struggle, that fear has diminished on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most, from a 10 to a 3.
Operating out of the idea that there is only so much in the pie does limit God’s intervention. He does own the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps 50.10). I have learned to not to make decisions based on how much money I have. It is much better to seek guidance from the Lord instead; especially on big decisions. This usually involves talking to trusted people in your life and taking a cue from circumstances, i.e. opportunities that come along.
God prefers a cheerful giver who acts out of faith, trust and love. Someone who is compelled to give is like someone driven by OCD to wash their hands. First, I know that my Father is the giver of all good gifts and He is generous; He accepts what I give and uses it for his purposes. Many times during tax season; I have looked at how much has gone in and gone out of my accounts and wonder - where did that all come from? He is the Provider and He will not act outside of his name and character.
In James 1 it says that if any of you lack wisdom, you can ask God for wisdom and he will give it generously, without reproach. You will hear in sermons that giving to the local church takes precedence. Giving does not circumvent being aware of the needy, especially someone in your own family. Jesus rebuked the leaders who tithed but did not take care of their parents. You have been given common sense and it is clear that paying bills takes priority.
So in prayer and searching the teachings on money in Scripture as a whole, you will get a broader understanding of how to handle money. Wisdom, faith, contentment and stewardship are all possible when money is used as a tool. God gives out money and other resources in various amounts. Jesus taught in Luke’s parable of the sower that regardless of how much you have, the rewards are for those who use God’s gifts motivated by love for God, to invest for the benefit of His kingdom. This is a life centered on Jesus Christ and for the redemption of all creation.
