Renee was a stay-at-home mom with three little girls. She loved her girls and considered them her biggest blessing.
She enjoyed being home with them, but getting by on a single income was difficult in the area where she lived.
So, Renee decided to look for ways to make more money while continuing to raise her children.
When she mentioned to some Christian friends that she was searching for these opportunities, they humiliated her for wanting more money.
One even accused her of not trusting God, while another questioned the sincerity of her faith. It sounds like her Christian friends were doing a lot of judging.
Is It Against Christianity to Want More Money?
Many Christians have a lot of problems when it comes to money. God knew we would need help with money because there are more scriptures about money than anything else!
That’s because, over the centuries, the concept of money has been twisted by those who don’t understand what God’s Word says, or they are wolves in sheep’s clothing trying to lead others astray.
You can see a lot of this on TV today. It is unbelievable what some wolves will ask for and what some people will believe.
The first and most important thing to understand about money is that it’s not evil.
Some Christians believe that “money is the root of all evil.” This stems from an incorrect understanding of 1 Tim 6.10.”
Here’s how the verse is written from the King James Version (KJV)…
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Tim 6.10.”
From the text, it’s clear that the love of money risks leading us astray in our faith when we love money more than we love people and more than we love God, and we begin to step into spiritual quicksand.
What Is the Real Meaning of Money?
Money is like time in many ways. It has no actual worth other than what we give it.
For instance, let’s say you have an extra hour today. You could spend that hour with your child at the park and think it was a good use of your time.
Or you could spend that hour waiting in line at the DMV and find out when you get to the front that you must return another day. You will think that hour was a waste of time.
No matter what, it was an hour. But how much that hour was worth depended on your situation and what it did for you.
It’s the same deal with money. Paul may place a low value on money, preferring to work a job where he’s happy (even if he’s not paid well). He might choose to stay in a small house and drive an older car, perfectly content to live this way for the rest of his life.
However, Doug may place a much higher value on money. He might choose a job based on how much he’ll earn or how much he can make in the coming years. He might decide to live in a larger house or own two cars instead of one.
None of these decisions makes one better than the other. It’s simply a matter of value.
If you and your friend value serving God and loving others more than how much you make (or don’t make), you’re both on the right track.
Tithing?
It is hard to talk about money and Christianity without getting to tithing. Some Christians give a part of their weekly income to the church without thinking twice.
Others have trouble with this idea and wonder if God cares if they give or not. Understanding the concept better can help to know why tithing was first demanded in the Bible.
God wanted His people to take a part of their crops and give them back to Him.
Here’s more insight…
(28) “At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” (Deut 14.28-29.”
The tithe was to support those who worked in the church (the Levites) and those who were financially poor (foreigners, orphans, and widows).
Most Christians don’t farm the land anymore. Instead, Christians most likely have a job and get paid every week.
Setting aside a small amount to give to the church is a great way to show God you care.
But it’s not really about the amount you give to God. It’s about the heart or spirit behind your giving.
This is why Paul urged the Corinthians to prepare their generous gifts with the right attitude.
He said…
(6) “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (7) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians in 9:6-7)
The wolves often use this verse to increase giving.
Give It All Away?
Mary started an online business a few years ago. Her mission was to supply eyeglasses for kids in need.
Because she’s so excited about her goal, Mary only takes ten percent of her profits and invests them back into her business. The remaining ninety percent goes directly to the families she helps.
Some Christians feel called to start a ministry or a business, but never make any money from it.
It can be rewarding and fun if you are meant to do this. If you are, God can keep you going and give you strength.
But if you’re doing it out of misplaced guilt or a desire to be seen in a certain way, you’ll likely resent this new venture.
You may wonder why things are complicated and struggle to get your new effort going.
There’s nothing wrong with starting a business or company, just as there’s nothing wrong with buying a house.
The important thing is that you view all your resources as gifts from God that you will use to serve Him.
Do You Judge People for Their Wealth?
After encountering a rich young ruler, Jesus had strong words about those with considerable wealth.
Here is what he had to say,
(24) “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! (25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10.24-25.”
It sounds like Jesus is condemning wealth. But the passage surrounding this verse is clear that that’s not the point.
Jesus once again denounces the love of money. The rich young ruler wanted to serve God.
But the man turned and walked away when Jesus told him he had to give up everything to follow him. He put his love for money ahead of his love for Christ.
While it’s tempting to shake our heads and say we wouldn’t make the same decision, the truth is it’s easy to.
Think about it, we can do it daily—by focusing on work and money to the exclusion of spending time with God, loving our families, and joyfully taking part in our communities.
Stewardship: What is it?
Christians focus on stewardship. The idea is that you don’t truly “own” anything you have – not your house, car, time, money, or talents.
Instead, stewardship is about viewing these items as generous gifts from God. In Acts, here is what Luke wrote.
(24) “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” (Acts 17.24-25”
God gave you everything you have, and you only have it temporarily. God wants you to use everything he has given you because you are his beloved child.
He wants you to honor him with your house, car, time, money, skills, and everything else.
Stewardship isn’t just about money.
It doesn’t matter how much you put in the plate on Sunday mornings or if you give to a charity that feeds the hungry or helps the homeless.
Stewardship is all about living with your hands open. But the cool thing about living this way is that when your hands are open, you can bless others and receive blessings you would have missed otherwise.
That’s what happened with Eva. When she shared a few extra slices of pizza with a homeless vet on the street, she watched in awe as he also blessed someone else with extra food.
Seeing the homeless man give away what little he had humbled Eva and made her determined to become more generous in her own life. She found it challenging to give where she’d previously seen it easy.
Eva realized that God would always provide for her by providing for others.
“I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Ps 37.25“
How does stewardship look?
It’s great to talk about being a good steward, and it’s fun to think of everything you have as a gift from God. But sometimes, it’s hard to go from having a warm, fuzzy feeling to doing something about it.
Stewardship is a big deal, a way of behaving, and an attitude. It’s about letting the Holy Spirit lead. Try this the next time you pray.
Say, “God, you’ve given me so much, and I’d like to be a blessing to someone else. I am your steward, and everything I have is Yours. Please show me whom I can bless this week and how I can give to them.”
These are the kinds of prayers that God delights to answer! He loves sending someone in need to a willing heart.
Sometimes, God will put someone on your mind right away.
For example, He might prompt you to remember that the widow down the street needs her gutters cleaned out, or the single dad at your child’s school could use some extra groceries this month.
God may also challenge you in a new way by using a resource you usually hold close.
For example, you might be an introvert who prefers spending nights at home with your family. God might prompt you to open your home one night a week for a Bible study for teenagers in your church.
What If I’m Scared?
It’s normal to be nervous when you think about following God’s leading with the resources He’s entrusted to you.
You’re afraid that if you help a neighbor once, they’ll always ask you to do it. I have had this thought before.
You might worry that if you buy groceries for a family in your neighborhood, you won’t have enough for your own family.
But know that God can keep you going when you move. God’s love is endless, so are his gifts. Go ahead. God will bless you if you do it.
Here is an interesting verse about God’s great resources.
(10) “For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Ps 50.10.”
Pause and meditate on that truth for a moment—God owns everything already! He doesn’t need your resources. Instead, He’s inviting you to partner with Him in work He’s already doing.
Is it a journey?
God is like a mother who invites her child into the kitchen when she’s cooking and lets him “help” her. He pulls you close and asks you to join him in the experience.
Yes, you may sometimes make a mess. You might help someone, but you might not do it quite right. Or you’ll feel awkward when you clean out the widow’s gutters or bring food to a single dad.
But the point isn’t how you feel or don’t feel. It’s about showing up with open hands and telling God, “Here I am—send me!”
What do you think about God and Money? Was this post helpful? Go ahead and leave your comments below.