Money – Lights in the Darkness

I had another blog entry to post, but I encountered some things this past weekend to which I felt called to write about instead.

I come again in love with gentle instruction, correction, and encouragement based on what I’ve learned and experienced. Grace and peace to you, friends.

Money. Boy, what a topic. You cannot be alive and not deal with the subject of money. Recently I sat in on a sermon (not within my regular local church family, but as a visitor elsewhere) about this topic. Additionally, I frequently encounter the topics of gambling, lottery, and other quick-win earnings. With the two heavily influencing my day this past weekend, I felt called to broach the subject.

If you’ve read my story before (here), then you know I’ve had a little history with money—in abundance and in scarcity. Like Paul, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Philippians 4:11b-12). I’ve learned the necessity of putting money in its proper place and that the love of it is truly the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

The sermon approached the subject of financial freedom. While there is truth in everything, not everything is true, and I experienced that here first-hand. So, I want to pull out a few truths of money management. And, yes, this is a subject that Christians should be concerned about, because money can cause a great deal of stress, depression, greed…well…sin. I also want, however, to pull out a few lies we need to heed and guard against.

The TRUTHS about money we need to know:

We are stewards (another word for managers), and everything we have belongs to God. Just like our body is not our own, everything we possess belongs to Him and we are to care for it as such a precious gift. To break it down, think of the workplace. God is the boss, we are the managers, and we must handle everything according to His direction, because He is the Owner. Stewardship is crucial in how we represent Christ as ambassadors and how we live faithfully. Stewardship is an umbrella term for how we manage our daily life, our work ethic, money, and more.
We must be wise about spending. Seek His counsel through prayer, and be frugal. Do not be extravagant. The parable of the prodigal son offers insight about God’s view of living recklessly.
We must avoid playing the “credit” game. As Pa used to say on Little House on the Prairie, “Cash on the barrel.” If you cannot pay for it in cash, then wait, save up, then purchase with cash. Dave Ramsey has some great money management tips concerning spending, saving, and credit.
We must work hard for what we have. Scripture addresses working hard, earning our own living (Proverbs 6:6-11/ 12:27/ 13:4/ 14:23). As stewards knowing we must work to earn, we should know fast, “easy” money isn’t wise. “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little (some translations say by hard work or labor) will increase it” (Proverbs 13:11). Therefore, trying the get-rich-quick schemes of gambling, lottery, and the like are imprudent and can become sinful (most people gamble with the motive of loving money and wanting it in quick, easy abundance, and it concerns vanity—1 Timothy 6:6-10 and Ecclesiastes 5:10). “’No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money’” (Matthew 6:24). Other Scripture to consider: Proverbs 15:27 , Proverbs 28:20, and Proverbs 23:4

The LIE about money of which we need to be warned:

God will return your finances and multiply them when you use them to help others and His church.

OK, let’s start unpacking this lie here. The Parable of the Talents(Matthew 25: 14-30)—a good example of faithfulness and stewardship—is often misinterpreted in regards to finances. While a “talent” is currency, the parable doesn’t mean that if we take care of our money, God will give us more. Those who desire to see this parable as such teeter on the line of the prosperity gospel. The prosperity gospel offers the false teaching that God’s blessings are those of being prosperous both in health and finances. That if we tithe that ten percent or more, He will give it back and even multiply what’s been given. God’s blessings, however, are not financial or even physical, but spiritual. They are not according to the here and now, but the eternal.

The ESV makes these notes about Matthew 25—“The master’s identical statements of praise to both servants show that what was important was not the total amount earned but faithfulness in utilizing their gifts and potential. Faithful stewardship in this life will result in being given greater responsibility and stewardship in the life to come. The third servant’s actions result from his apparent misperception of his mater, which manifests itself in laziness and bad stewardship…Using one’s God-given abilities wisely and productively is a vital aspect of discipleship and will be rewarded with additional opportunities to serve God faithfully and fruitfully.” This sermon from Jesus (using a few parables including: the homeowner and the thief, the good and wicked servants, the ten virgins, and the talents) is addressing faithful servanthood in the end of the age, warning of false prophets and exhorting to be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man. Only the faithful will be blessed (eternally, receiving God’s inheritance).

Matthew 24:44

“’Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’”

See, when Scripture is put into proper context, read in whole, it takes on a different, true meaning—rather than just cherry-picking one verse or passage. If we look at the parable of the talents alone, yes, we are going to think it revolves around money and financial blessing, but when placed in proper context with sound exegesis, we see that it has nothing to do with earthly, material blessing.

With all this aside and in mind now, I want to tell you what I encountered personally.

Years ago, I began to buy into false teachings from “preachers” such as Joel Osteen. I remember hearing Joel preach that if prayers weren’t being answered, then I needed to have faith and shift my focus to others. Once I began praying for others and their needs, instead of just my own, God would then answer my prayers, giving me what I wanted. The same was said about money. If I started using my money on others and giving to the church, God would “bless” me abundantly (John 10:10 taken way out of context). I would receive back what I gave and then some! As long as it was used for God and others, it would increase, because God would allow me more, and who can out-give God, right??

WAIT. A. MINUTE

Is this something you’ve heard before or believe? Friends, I learned truth, and I want you to as well. What you just read is the prosperity gospel in a nutshell. Those standing at the pulpit will twist Scripture—taken out of context, such as the parable of the talents, John 10:10, Galatians 6:7, and Matthew 6:33 to name just a few—to justify the prosperity gospel lie.

Let me reiterate, God’s blessings ARE NOT material, financial, or for the here and now. His blessings ARE NOT your best life now! Please understand, His blessings are spiritual and eternal. “Physical blessings promised under the Old Covenant (Deuteronomy 29:9) give way to spiritual blessings under the New Covenant (Ephesians 1:3)” (Got Questions).

Hebrews 13:5-6

“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.” ‘So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”’”

In fact, Jesus tells a rich young man, “’If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19: 21-22). Then He tells His disciples, “’Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God’” (Matthew 19:23-24). When we look at this along with others such as Acts 2:45 (“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”) and what Paul said in Philippians 4, we see that material, earthly possessions, wealth, and prosperity are worthless, but when we store up our possessions in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20), focusing on the eternal (Philippians 3:18-20/ Colossians 3:1-11), we can find contentment (Philippians 4:11).

Additionally, when we have the mindset that God gives us what we want, that puts us in His place. That makes Him our servant, not the other way around. We are not God! He is sovereign and omnipotent. We should pray according to His will, not ours. We should live in obedience according to His will, not ours. Prosperity gospel, word of faith, law of attraction, anything like these associated with New Age are false teachings we need to be guarded from. Test the spirits, friends! (1 John 4:1) Yes, He will meet our needs according to *His* will. But, like the saying goes, “He meets our needs, not our greeds” (or something like that).

Matthew 16:24-28

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’”

“Crucifixion is a shocking metaphor for discipleship. A disciple must deny himself (die to self-will), take up his cross (embrace God’s will, no matter the cost), and follow Christ…The person who rejects God’s will and instead pursues his own will for his life ultimately loses eternally every earthly good he is trying to protect. Acquiring all of the money, pleasure, and power of this world brings no lasting benefit if one forfeits his soul to spiritual death and separation from God” (ESV Study Notes).