Many Christians today are spiritual in many things, but not their finances. Scripture is full of instruction and theology about money and possessions, yet many believers have never studied or turned over their “finances” to God.
There are macro and micro concepts about money and possessions throughout the whole Bible. Jewish people have a history of thriving financially throughout history because as a culture and God’s chosen people who were given the Old Testament books, they have generally followed many of God’s precepts for building and managing wealth. I believe it to be a “gift” God has given His people throughout the diasporic history of the Jews…even with their historical tendency to turn from God’s ways over the past 5000 years. God doesn’t necessarily take away our blessings and gifts just because we become disobedient or fall away from faith. Yet, disobedience to His principles always bears a cost in this cause and effect world God created.
One of the great mysteries in life for me has been how God blesses some families and individuals greatly while others never seem to be able to make ends meet no matter how much money runs through their fingers or how hard they work. Perhaps it is part of that truth where the rain, or in this case blessings, fall on the just and unjust alike. From there life is about how you handle adversity or blessings from a spiritual standpoint.
Back in the 1980s for a few years, I was a licensed securities and insurance broker. The most intense tests I ever took were to demonstrate the knowledge required to get those securities licenses. The number of regulations governments put on money and investing were mind-boggling. My problem was that much of what I learned turned me off on the traditional systems and manipulations of our economic systems by politicos and bankers to where it is almost impossible for the little guy to win in these systems. Most people do not know enough to risk their money on stocks, bonds, and other institutional contracts. Fiat money itself has little understanding by the average citizen. When we invest in things outside of our control, we are basically trusting powers and third parties to manage the value of our holdings of whom we know little or nothing. It seems ironic to me how many people will trust a mysterious economic system they know little about, but have little or no trust in the God of the universe. But that is a whole other subject, isn’t it?
The macros of good economics are laid out throughout the scriptures. First, we are to trust and follow God’s ways even when it comes to money and investing. Money and blessings are fundamentally not “ours”…they are gifts from God. In some cases, they are given to us forever while in other cases like Job of the Bible they can be taken away for a time or even forever due to circumstances we have no control over. In all circumstances, we are to be thankful for what we have and trust God for what we don’t.
Additionally, God has not promised to make us wealthy in this world…contrary to many modern-day “prophets” who misuse scripture to pull us in other directions than the truth. Whatever He has given us is about stewardship over those things. It is quite clear Biblically that we are not to determine our value or worth based on what we own. We also aren’t to be controlled by what we own. When our possessions and portfolios start snuffing out every other thing or person in our lives, especially spiritual things, we are treading down an empty and dangerous path.
I know a number of people in my life whose day-to-day demeanor and spiritual joy go up and down based on the DOW index and their portfolio summary. When your spirit is linked to your wealth or lack of it, you will never be satisfied or at peace.
As Paul exclaimed in Phillipians 4:11-13, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Christians live IN the world but are not to be OF the world. We are to influence the world, not be influenced BY it. As the scripture clearly states, “you cannot serve both God and mammon (money)”. Jesus also said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Does this mean money and possessions are evil? NO! But the love of money and the pride of life that so easily comes with those things ARE evil and will lead many to fall away from the faith. Why do you need faith if you have all the money you could ever need? You don’t need to count on God for enough to eat, a roof over your head, or the simple pleasures in life. You can buy it all, right?
In this six-plus decades of life, I have noticed that some of the most miserable people I have known were some of the richest, while some of the happiest have been the poorest. Many of the poor have found joy in daily trusting, working, and creating what they need and place more value on their families and relationships that join them in those endeavors. Meanwhile, a majority of the wealthy have no time or interest in people apart from those who share their economic status or who don’t threaten their “things”. Some wealthy people see others as “leeches” and take pride in how thrifty and ungiving they are…not to be taken in by the “rabble” of this world who have nothing. When we are possessed by our possessions, we have become worldly.
There are so many parables and principles on this subject we don’t have time or space to go into, but just a couple to end this missive.
The parable of the talents comes to mind.
The parable of the talents is told in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. Before leaving on a trip, the master gives three servants varying amounts of gold which he instructs them to invest or put to work on his behalf. When he returns after a time, he reviews what they have done with HIS gift. The servant given the least has made the most of what he was given. The second servant basically doubled the investment while the servant given the most buried the money in fear of losing it. Whom do you think the master rewards the most? The same principle can be found in the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
There is nothing wrong with investing and accumulating wealth. The question is what is our motivation for that? Is it self gratification and glorification, or is it to present back to God for His will and control what we have gained?
I think it is clear that we are to manage and invest money according to God’s terms and directives. We are to be generous and not horde what we have been given out of fear. Even if we lose money in some way, God is able to restore it multiple times as He did in the case of Job. It is according to our faith and hard work that we are able to overcome economic need or difficulties.
God has put into the structure of mankind principles of maintaining and building wealth. He does it through families and trusted circles of loyal, likeminded people. He wants us to trust and depend on each other as givers from the bounty He has given us to help each other out. While some religious people would say 10% is Gods and the rest is mine, it is clear that the call to discipleship means we put it ALL on the line in obedience and faith in God.
We don’t foolishly spend or give money away without merit or accountability. To whom much is given, much is required…RESPONSIBILITY. Yet, I don’t think that means we are to fret or worry about finances. Whatever gifts we have are to be shared for the sake of others. Don’t be the hoarder who fears losing what they have. We need to invest in people, invest in truth, and share one another’s burdens. If we all obeyed this truth, there would be no need for governmental socialism or secular financial structures. Families would take care of each other. Communities would take care of each other. Everyone would have sufficient means to live and glorify God through family and community.
It is not too late to do this folks. It is never too late to return to God’s principles of managing possessions. We simply need to do less consuming, and more investing…and not just investing for more money, but investing in people and projects that lead to more Godly educations and replication of these principles in future generations.
So the summary point is, don’t invest or hoard out of fear or for self gratification. Investing and managing of finance is a form of worshipping God. It is a challenge of multiplying the “talents” He has given us. We are to work hard while the sun shines and offers us opportunity to do so. There will come a time of accounting for what we have or have not done with what God gave us. Be wise and hopeful in what you invest in and don’t hoard or stay dormant out of fear of losing. There is a time to save, a time to invest, and a time to spend or give away.
I leave you with the wisest words from Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.
I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.
Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?
All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him–for this is his lot.
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God.
He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.