Some time ago I posted this article, thoughout it might be worth posting again just as I've been giving some thought to God, my heart and money
Is money good or bad? What is a Christians attitude to money to be? What are our needs? How are we called to radical discipleship in the area of our bank balances and possessions? The Bible teaches more frequently about money than it does about sex and yet we rarely see that reflected in preaching programmes or home groups, perhaps because we have picked up societies reticence to talk about it. So what does the Bible have to say about money?
God and money
In the beginning God made the world and everything in it and it is declared seven times to be ‘good’ (Genesis 1). God then gives what he has made to his stewards –Adam and Eve. They are to care for God’s creation, though it remains God’s. It is given to them to enjoy and is a good gift from a loving father to his obedient children.
In 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 we see that King David recognises this principle(11), he is amazed at the wealth God has provided which the people have been able to bring to contribute to the building of the temple. He recognises “Everything we have comes from you, and we have only given you what comes from your hand”. There is amazement at God’s provision, joy at being able to give and recognition that they are only giving back part of what God has given to them.
This idea carries over to the New Testament in 1 Tim 4:4 Paul is arguing against the prohibitions of false teachers who “forbid people to marry, and order them to abstain from certain foods...” He then emphasizes twice that “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving!” It seems to be an echo of what God taught Peter on the rooftop in Joppa.
But Paul adds that the believer is to give thanks to God for what they have. Again a reminder that everything we have is given to us by God – it’s his and we are given it to invest for his glory. Even what we work hard for is God’s; God has given us the talents and skills to get the job we have as well as the job itself.
We need to hear carefully what the Bible is saying here. God makes the material world and it is good, it is designed for humans to enjoy and money and possessions are part of that. But there is also in its very set up a helpful corrective God is the creator and he does not give up ownership of what he give but makes us stewards of what he has given us. It means that if everything we have is God’s given to us to invest then a lack of generosity isn’t excusable as ‘Oh so and so is just tight’, it is actually robbing God (Mal3:8).
Sin and Money
Having said that possession and material things are created and given by God for our good and for us to enjoy in thankfulness in Genesis 3 we see that along with all of creation money and possessions are affected by fall. They are now part of the world which is under the curse and is dislocated in terms of relationship with God and how we view it.
That is why the tenth Commandment is “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” One consequence of the fall is that instead of enjoying material things we are in danger of becoming enslaved by them. They are now a rival to God and his place in our affections.
The dangers of money enslaving us are emphasized in the parables that Jesus tells. Warnings are also found in Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:3 where believers are told to put greed to death, and that there is not to be even a hint of it in the church.
We need to be aware that as Christians greed is a very real danger for us. In fact so blind are we to greed that it would probably be wise to work on the assumption that we have a greed problem rather than that we do not. This problem is exacerbated by the world we live in, a world where we are bombarded with advertising trying to create desires and wants. Making greed seem like need!
It is helpful to actually sit and think; ‘What are my needs?’ on a basic level we need food, water, clothing, shelter, warmth, friendship. It is telling to then compare that list with adverts we see on the side of buses, on poster boards, and on line or on screen, which tell us we need so much more!
Credit enhances that, credit seeks to make the need manufactured by advertising easy to fulfil. Feel like you need a new car, sofa, computer… here have the money to buy one. But of course you pay for that money later, and end up overpaying for what you actually did not need. It is not wise stewardship on any level, and leads people into debt.
Post fall possession and money and our attitudes to it are warped and distorted by sin. Greed is a very real danger; we can all too easily forget it is a gift of our creator and worship the created rather than God.
The Gospel and Money
The Sermon on Mount is teaching for believers (5:1-2), it is extended teaching about the values of the kingdom. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says that being in the kingdom, knowing God by grace liberates the believer from worry and anxiety. We’re freed from keeping up with the Joneses, from earning security and status for ourselves because we are given security in Christ, and relationship with God as our Father.
In 1 Timothy 5:8 Paul clearly teaches that we are to provide for our families, he says that not to do so makes us worse than an unbeliever. We trust God to provide and recognise his provision is found in the position in which he has put us. In Chapter 6:6-10 Paul exhorts Timothy to be godly, reminding him that he is saved for contentment, that the believer lives with the awareness that we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. That realisation should free us from the hoarding mentality. In contrast Paul calls him to be content with food and clothing (8).
Such contentment is radically COUNTER CULTURAL, especially as we live in a world which bombards us with advertising whose very aim is to make us discontent, to make us want something which we do not have, to make us feel like we need it and must have it. Yet Paul calls Timothy to be content with food and clothing as part of radical discipleship. Are we content? At root the issue is to recognise what my real needs are. Do I need sky TV? – no, do I need a 60” Plasma? – no. None of those things is wrong to possess in and of themselves but they are not needs. Not to have them does not mean God is not meeting my needs. We can and must learn to be content without them. ( Can you tell that as someone who loves technology I'm preaching to myself here!)
In 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 Paul calls on the Corinthians to give to alleviate the needs of fellow believer’s elsewhere. His instructions are telling, he does not demand a set figure of them he does not set a total and send them a big wooden thermometer with gradations up the side and a tin of paint to mark their progress. As he exhorts them to give and give generously it is grace that calls them to give. God has been generous to them and to us and they and we mirror the love and generosity shown to us supremely in Jesus Christ.
Having been made God’s children by his grace and mercy we adopt the fathers values. This means that we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and love our neighbours as ourselves. This love will inevitably impact what we do with our money. See a need meet a need. Tellingly it is lack of love for God shown in lack of love for others that leads Amos and other prophets to make known God’s stinging rebuke to the people of Israel for their failure to provide for the poor and willingness to trample the weak.
As Gospel people we mirror gospel attitudes, God held nothing back from me therefore I hold nothing back from him.
The question is how can we live like this?
In Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of The Shrewd Manager. This man knows he is going to lose his job so he radically cuts the debts of those who are debtors to his master (v3-4). The shock in the passage is the way this man is treated by his soon to be former boss. His master commends him (v8). We need to recognise what it is he is commended for, he is not commended for dishonesty, he is not commended for being righteous but he is commended for “dealing shrewdly”. In other words this man sees the future and acts accordingly.
The call (v9) is to see the future and act now in light of it. It means that we are to use what God gives us with an eye on eternity. What we do with what God gives us reveals where heart and hopes really lay. And (v13) makes it clear that we either serve God OR Money. The impossible application of that is to say that I am the one exception who can serve both God and money, but we would never make that impossible application would we.
How can we live as the gospel calls us to with our money and possessions, recognising God has given them to us but that they are ours to steward for God’s glory and in the light of grace? We recognise that we are to live now in the light of eternity.
Implications
So having looked at what the Bible has to say about money we need to work out what this means for us. The first thing is straight forward but is foundational to everything that follows. Everything we have is God's given to us to use for his glory. This means that being wealthy is not wrong, but that it also isn’t a sign of being right with God. And the inverse is true, being poor is not wrong neither is it a sign of not being right with God.
Secondly; what we do with what God gives us is what matters, we are to be those who use wealth now with a view to eternity. This means that no matter what economic sphere we move in we will stand out among our neighbours. This Christian millionaire uses his or her money differently, as does the Christian struggling on benefits or a low income. In the early church we see that this love is worked out by alleviating the poverty of others, helping out when there is a need we can meet.
Should we tithe?In Luke 11:42 Jesus doesn’t say it’s wrong to tithe, as he deals with the Pharisees he approves of their tithing but calls them to additionally meet needs of justice and love that they come across. What Jesus attacks is not their giving of tithes but their failure to love others and seek justice as well as giving tithes.
If God gives us everything giving back 10% is actually economically a good deal. If on the other hand we regard it ours then it is more difficult. The Bible consistently tells us that giving is a privilege and we need to learn to view it as such. Giving tithes is not a rigid rule, nowhere is that expectation set out in the New Testament, but it is not condemned either. For some of us maybe it would be a good starting point to help us think about what we value and whether we are living for now or in the light of eternity. Though for some it would be impossible for many of us we are in a position to give much more.
One denomination worked out if each of its members lost their jobs and became unemployed and then each gave 10% of the benefits they received the churches giving would go up by £1 per head on average.
Fourthly the Bible would warn us about greed, that the love of money is a real danger in our society should come as no surprise to us. We need to learn to adjust our thinking to need not greed. It is also helpful to look at what our needs are, we are so moulded by our culture that often what we need is the result of advertising and assumptions based on the lives of those we live alongside rather than on Biblical principles. We need to evaluate our needs in the light of the Bible.
The way to stay free of it is to give money away. The Bible would encourage us to be generous with what God has given us to invest for him. We can do this if we live with an eye on the future. 1 Timothy would teach is that in our giving we need to ensure that we do not to become a burden on others, that we are providing for our families health and safety, and that can continue to do good by exercising hospitality and the like.
For many of us in the West the biggest challenge comes in the area of assessing our need and thinking beyond the Pharisees, to go beyond tithe if we can. What drives us is not the calculator but the cross where God gave his all for us.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Resurrection Reckoning
We were thinking this morning about the implications of the resurrection, as we saw Jesus prove and stress his physical resurrection from the dead proving beyond doubt that he was the Messiah and the risen Saviour. Here are some of those implications fleshed out a bit more:
1. Death is defeated. We live in a society which is afraid of death, that hides it away, that doesn't speak of it that views it as the ultimate injustice. But Jesus resurrection proves that he has defeated death itself and sin.
2. Death doesn't end our hopes. We know that death is not the end so we are not terrified of death itself. We don't live aware of the clock ticking in the background. It means we can face death differently, we can face terminal illness differently and we can grieve distinctively - without hope as opposed to without it.
3. Living differently now. The world adopts the mantra Paul describes 'We eat and and drink because tomorrow we die'. The world pursues experience, relationships, anything it can get its hands on now because death means we won't be able to enjoy to have those things. So we must cram everything into now, everything else must serve the ultimate aim of enjoying those things while I can. But Jesus resurrection changes that for the disciple. Death is not the end just the means of ushering us into our Father's presence, and one day we will enjoy the new physical creation perfected and perfectly in relationship with God. All the things the world strives so desperately to cram in now we will have all eternity to experience perfectly.
That liberates us from pursuing those things so single mindedly now. In liberates us to build the kingdom now rather than pursuing these things the world says we must have or experience before we die. That has to effect how we spend our money, how we give our time and our effort. It liberates us to be lavish in kingdom living now. We no longer spend our money to have the things the world says we must have, our spending goals reflect our kingdom perspective. The same goes for our time and effort.
4. The physical world is good. Sometimes we can give the impression that the spiritual is good and the physical bad the physical resurrection utterly repudiates this, Jesus is resurrected physically, his body can be touched and felt and can eat - yet it is transformed so that it is fitted to be in God's presence. Our future is a physically resurrected body. In Gen 1 the world God makes reflects his glory and is physical, the future when God recreates is physical and Jesus resurrection is physical. the physical world is not sinful because it is physical, it is sinful because of sin. We are to live joyfully for God's glory physically, actively, redeeming the time God has given us and mediating his rule and gospel now as we make Jesus known.
1. Death is defeated. We live in a society which is afraid of death, that hides it away, that doesn't speak of it that views it as the ultimate injustice. But Jesus resurrection proves that he has defeated death itself and sin.
2. Death doesn't end our hopes. We know that death is not the end so we are not terrified of death itself. We don't live aware of the clock ticking in the background. It means we can face death differently, we can face terminal illness differently and we can grieve distinctively - without hope as opposed to without it.
3. Living differently now. The world adopts the mantra Paul describes 'We eat and and drink because tomorrow we die'. The world pursues experience, relationships, anything it can get its hands on now because death means we won't be able to enjoy to have those things. So we must cram everything into now, everything else must serve the ultimate aim of enjoying those things while I can. But Jesus resurrection changes that for the disciple. Death is not the end just the means of ushering us into our Father's presence, and one day we will enjoy the new physical creation perfected and perfectly in relationship with God. All the things the world strives so desperately to cram in now we will have all eternity to experience perfectly.
That liberates us from pursuing those things so single mindedly now. In liberates us to build the kingdom now rather than pursuing these things the world says we must have or experience before we die. That has to effect how we spend our money, how we give our time and our effort. It liberates us to be lavish in kingdom living now. We no longer spend our money to have the things the world says we must have, our spending goals reflect our kingdom perspective. The same goes for our time and effort.
4. The physical world is good. Sometimes we can give the impression that the spiritual is good and the physical bad the physical resurrection utterly repudiates this, Jesus is resurrected physically, his body can be touched and felt and can eat - yet it is transformed so that it is fitted to be in God's presence. Our future is a physically resurrected body. In Gen 1 the world God makes reflects his glory and is physical, the future when God recreates is physical and Jesus resurrection is physical. the physical world is not sinful because it is physical, it is sinful because of sin. We are to live joyfully for God's glory physically, actively, redeeming the time God has given us and mediating his rule and gospel now as we make Jesus known.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Global perspective on wealth
On Sunday we are in Luke 12 looking at what not to live for - money.
Visited this website: http://www.globalrichlist.com/ Its a great antidote for our feeling poor or moaning about what we earn because it puts our salary in relation to the rest of the world's income. It is crude and doesn't take into account outgoings, inflation etc... but it is quite sobering and helpful if used well.
Visited this website: http://www.globalrichlist.com/ Its a great antidote for our feeling poor or moaning about what we earn because it puts our salary in relation to the rest of the world's income. It is crude and doesn't take into account outgoings, inflation etc... but it is quite sobering and helpful if used well.
Friday, 11 December 2009
The challenges of Acts
We've been working through Acts 1-6 in home groups this term and last night we were on to the final two threats to the early church. The first in chapter 4 was external persecution before in chapters 5 and 6 we see internal corruption and distraction.
Though we were relatively few in number last night it was an interesting discussion. Seeing Barnabas as a model of New Testament sacrificial giving and discussing the whole issue of money reminded me of something that has come out of this series really strongly. The early church do what they do so well because they do community so well, they are in and out of each others homes regularly they function as a family. My hunch is that is on a totally different level to where most of us function as church where we have friends but wouldn't consider one another family.
But if Acts is the 'norm' for church life then we need to recapture this community. Interestingly at the same time various other things I have been reading or preaching on have reflected on nature of the gospel as a community call rather than a individual call. I am saved by faith in Christ but I am also called into the family of faith. It changes who I am because it calls me to be part of the family of Christ.
We have been advocating small groups and accountability partnerships for a while now as a means of building relationships and beating the gospel into one another's lives. Fascinatingly it seems as if money is the thing we find it hardest to be transparent and accountable with.
I was reminded of my need to continually go back to Calvary and the empty tomb to see there what my real treasure is and what is really of value. It is God's values that we his family are to reflect - people not possessions.
Though we were relatively few in number last night it was an interesting discussion. Seeing Barnabas as a model of New Testament sacrificial giving and discussing the whole issue of money reminded me of something that has come out of this series really strongly. The early church do what they do so well because they do community so well, they are in and out of each others homes regularly they function as a family. My hunch is that is on a totally different level to where most of us function as church where we have friends but wouldn't consider one another family.
But if Acts is the 'norm' for church life then we need to recapture this community. Interestingly at the same time various other things I have been reading or preaching on have reflected on nature of the gospel as a community call rather than a individual call. I am saved by faith in Christ but I am also called into the family of faith. It changes who I am because it calls me to be part of the family of Christ.
We have been advocating small groups and accountability partnerships for a while now as a means of building relationships and beating the gospel into one another's lives. Fascinatingly it seems as if money is the thing we find it hardest to be transparent and accountable with.
I was reminded of my need to continually go back to Calvary and the empty tomb to see there what my real treasure is and what is really of value. It is God's values that we his family are to reflect - people not possessions.
Monday, 20 July 2009
The Lie that things = Happiness
In a global survey, people were asked to describe their level of happiness on a scale of 1 to 7. 1 was "not at all satisfied with my life" and 7 meant "completely satisfied." The average score for the American multimillionaires who filled in the questionnaire was 5.8. The average for the homeless in Calcutta, India was 2.9. However, those who were just above the 'homeless' band, the slum dwellers in Calcutta scored 4.6. Additionally the Greenland natives, the Inuit and from Kenya the Masai who herd cattle, scored around 5.8.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
The sin in all of us - greed?
The British media is in a continued and sustained feeding frenzy over the MP's expenses scandal. It is undoubtedly a scandal. And the irony has not been lost on many people that these MP's now repaying thousands and standing down at the next election are the very same ones who decried the large pension Sir Fred was and continues to draw at a time of banking crisis. That those who cried immoral and outrageous have now been shown to be outrageous and immoral.
But I can't help if there is another irony, their greed is there for all to see, but is ours just better hidden? If subjected to that level of scrutiny how would we fair? These MP's claim it is within the rules, it is permissible, the rules were wrong. But it is another example of sin and its effects. It highlights the nature of greed, and greed is something we all need to beware of.
In Ephesians 5 Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
But I can't help if there is another irony, their greed is there for all to see, but is ours just better hidden? If subjected to that level of scrutiny how would we fair? These MP's claim it is within the rules, it is permissible, the rules were wrong. But it is another example of sin and its effects. It highlights the nature of greed, and greed is something we all need to beware of.
In Ephesians 5 Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
Monday, 16 February 2009
The Christian and Money - Part 4
Implications
So having looked at what the Bible has to say about money we need to work out what this means for us. The first thing is straight forward but is foundational to everything that follows. Everything we have is Gods given to us to use for his glory. This means that being wealthy is not wrong, but that it also isn’t a sign of being right with God. And the inverse is true, being poor is not wrong neither is it a sign of not being right with God.
Secondly; what we do with what God gives us is what matters, we are to be those who use wealth with a view to eternity. This means that no matter what economic sphere we move in we will stand out among our neighbours. This Christian millionaire uses his or her money differently, as does the Christian struggling on benefits or a low income. In the early church we see that this love is worked out by alleviating the poverty of others, helping out when there is a need we can meet.
Should we tithe? In Luke 11:42 Jesus doesn’t say it’s wrong to tithe, as he deals with the Pharisees he approves of there tithing but calls them to additionally meet needs of justice and love that they come across. What Jesus attacks is not their giving of tithes but their failure to love others and seek justice as well as giving tithes.
If God gives us everything giving back 10% is actually economically a good deal. If on the other hand we regard it ours then it is more difficult. The Bible consistently tells us that giving is a privilege and we need to learn to view it as such. Giving tithes is not a rigid rule, nowhere is that expectation set out in the New Testament, but it is not condemned either. For some of us maybe it would be a good starting point to help us think about what we value and whether we are living for now or in the light of eternity. Though for some it would be impossible for many of us we are in a position to give much more.
One denomination worked out if each of its members lost their jobs and became unemployed and then each gave 10% of the benefits they received the churches giving would go up by £1 per head on average.
Fourthly the Bible would warn us about greed, that the love of money is a real danger in our society should come as no surprise to us. We need to learn to adjust our thinking to need not greed. It is also helpful to look at what our needs our, we are so moulded by our culture that often what we need is the result of advertising and assumptions based on the lives of those we live alongside rather than on Biblical principles. We need to evaluate our needs in the light of the Bible.
The way to stay free of it is to give money away. The Bible would encourage us to be generous with what God has given us to invest for him. We can do this if we live with an eye on the future. 1 Timothy would teach is that in our giving we need to ensure that we do not to become a burden on others, that we are providing for our families health and safety, and that can continue to do good by exercising hospitality and the like.
For many of us in the West the biggest challenge come sin the area of assessing our need and thinking beyond the Pharisees, to go beyond tithe if we can. What drives us is not the calculator but the cross where God gave his all for us.
So having looked at what the Bible has to say about money we need to work out what this means for us. The first thing is straight forward but is foundational to everything that follows. Everything we have is Gods given to us to use for his glory. This means that being wealthy is not wrong, but that it also isn’t a sign of being right with God. And the inverse is true, being poor is not wrong neither is it a sign of not being right with God.
Secondly; what we do with what God gives us is what matters, we are to be those who use wealth with a view to eternity. This means that no matter what economic sphere we move in we will stand out among our neighbours. This Christian millionaire uses his or her money differently, as does the Christian struggling on benefits or a low income. In the early church we see that this love is worked out by alleviating the poverty of others, helping out when there is a need we can meet.
Should we tithe? In Luke 11:42 Jesus doesn’t say it’s wrong to tithe, as he deals with the Pharisees he approves of there tithing but calls them to additionally meet needs of justice and love that they come across. What Jesus attacks is not their giving of tithes but their failure to love others and seek justice as well as giving tithes.
If God gives us everything giving back 10% is actually economically a good deal. If on the other hand we regard it ours then it is more difficult. The Bible consistently tells us that giving is a privilege and we need to learn to view it as such. Giving tithes is not a rigid rule, nowhere is that expectation set out in the New Testament, but it is not condemned either. For some of us maybe it would be a good starting point to help us think about what we value and whether we are living for now or in the light of eternity. Though for some it would be impossible for many of us we are in a position to give much more.
One denomination worked out if each of its members lost their jobs and became unemployed and then each gave 10% of the benefits they received the churches giving would go up by £1 per head on average.
Fourthly the Bible would warn us about greed, that the love of money is a real danger in our society should come as no surprise to us. We need to learn to adjust our thinking to need not greed. It is also helpful to look at what our needs our, we are so moulded by our culture that often what we need is the result of advertising and assumptions based on the lives of those we live alongside rather than on Biblical principles. We need to evaluate our needs in the light of the Bible.
The way to stay free of it is to give money away. The Bible would encourage us to be generous with what God has given us to invest for him. We can do this if we live with an eye on the future. 1 Timothy would teach is that in our giving we need to ensure that we do not to become a burden on others, that we are providing for our families health and safety, and that can continue to do good by exercising hospitality and the like.
For many of us in the West the biggest challenge come sin the area of assessing our need and thinking beyond the Pharisees, to go beyond tithe if we can. What drives us is not the calculator but the cross where God gave his all for us.
The Christian and Money - Part 3
The Gospel and Money
The Sermon on Mount is teaching for believers, it is extended teaching about the values of the kingdom. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says that being in the kingdom, knowing God by grace liberates the believer from worry and anxiety. We’re freed from keeping up with the Joneses, from earning security and status for ourselves because we are given security in Christ, and relationship with God as our Father.
In 1 Timothy 5:8 Paul clearly teaches that we are to provide for our families, he says that not to do so makes us worse than an unbeliever. We trust God to provide and recognise his provision is found in the position in which he has put us. In Chapter 6:6-10 Paul exhorts Timothy to be godly, reminding him that he is saved for contentment, that the believer lives with the awareness that we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. That realisation should free us from the hoarding mentality. In contrast Paul calls him to be content with food and clothing (8).
Such Contentment is radically COUNTER CULTURAL, especially as we live in a world which bombards us with advertising whose very aim is to make us discontent, to make us want something which we do not have, to make us feel like we need it and must have it. Yet Paul calls Timothy to be content with food and clothing as part of radical discipleship. Are we content? At root the issue is to recognise what my real needs are. Do I need sky TV? – no, do I need a 60” Plasma? – no. None of those things is wrong to possess in and of themselves but they are not needs. Not to have them does not mean God is not meeting my needs. We can and must learn to be content without them.
In 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 Paul calls on the Corinthians to give to alleviate the needs of fellow believer’s elsewhere. His instructions are telling, he does not demand a set figure of them he does not set a total and send them a big wooden thermometer with gradations up the side and a tin of paint to mark their progress. As he exhorts them to give and give generously it is grace that calls them to give. God has been generous to them and to us and they and we mirror the love and generosity shown to us supremely in Jesus Christ.
Having been made God’s children by his grace and mercy we adopt the fathers values. This means that we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and love our neighbours as ourselves. This love will inevitably impact what we do with our money. See a need meet a need. Tellingly it is lack of love for God shown in lack of love for others that leads Amos and other prophets to make known God’s stinging rebuke to the people of Israel for their failure to provide for the poor and willingness to trample the weak.
As Gospel people we mirror gospel attitudes, God held nothing back from me therefore I hold nothing back from him.
The question is how can we live like this?
In Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of The Shrewd Manager. This man knows he is going to lose his job so he radically cuts the debts of those who are debtors to his master (v3-4). The shock in the passage is the way this man is treated by his soon to be former boss. His master commends him (v8). We need to recognise what it is he is commended for, he is not commended for dishonesty, he is not commended for being righteous but he is commended for “dealing shrewdly”. In other words this man sees the future and acts accordingly.
The call (v9) is to see the future and act now in light of it. It means that we are to use what God gives us with an eye on eternity. What we do with what God gives us reveals where our heart and hopes really lay. And (v13) makes it clear that we either serve God OR Money. The impossible application of that is to say that I am the one exception who can serve both God and money, but we would never make that impossible application would we.
How can we live as the gospel calls us to do with our money and possessions, recognising God has given them to us but that they are ours to steward for God’s glory and in the light of grace? We recognise that we are to live now in the light of eternity.
The Sermon on Mount is teaching for believers, it is extended teaching about the values of the kingdom. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says that being in the kingdom, knowing God by grace liberates the believer from worry and anxiety. We’re freed from keeping up with the Joneses, from earning security and status for ourselves because we are given security in Christ, and relationship with God as our Father.
In 1 Timothy 5:8 Paul clearly teaches that we are to provide for our families, he says that not to do so makes us worse than an unbeliever. We trust God to provide and recognise his provision is found in the position in which he has put us. In Chapter 6:6-10 Paul exhorts Timothy to be godly, reminding him that he is saved for contentment, that the believer lives with the awareness that we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. That realisation should free us from the hoarding mentality. In contrast Paul calls him to be content with food and clothing (8).
Such Contentment is radically COUNTER CULTURAL, especially as we live in a world which bombards us with advertising whose very aim is to make us discontent, to make us want something which we do not have, to make us feel like we need it and must have it. Yet Paul calls Timothy to be content with food and clothing as part of radical discipleship. Are we content? At root the issue is to recognise what my real needs are. Do I need sky TV? – no, do I need a 60” Plasma? – no. None of those things is wrong to possess in and of themselves but they are not needs. Not to have them does not mean God is not meeting my needs. We can and must learn to be content without them.
In 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 Paul calls on the Corinthians to give to alleviate the needs of fellow believer’s elsewhere. His instructions are telling, he does not demand a set figure of them he does not set a total and send them a big wooden thermometer with gradations up the side and a tin of paint to mark their progress. As he exhorts them to give and give generously it is grace that calls them to give. God has been generous to them and to us and they and we mirror the love and generosity shown to us supremely in Jesus Christ.
Having been made God’s children by his grace and mercy we adopt the fathers values. This means that we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and love our neighbours as ourselves. This love will inevitably impact what we do with our money. See a need meet a need. Tellingly it is lack of love for God shown in lack of love for others that leads Amos and other prophets to make known God’s stinging rebuke to the people of Israel for their failure to provide for the poor and willingness to trample the weak.
As Gospel people we mirror gospel attitudes, God held nothing back from me therefore I hold nothing back from him.
The question is how can we live like this?
In Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of The Shrewd Manager. This man knows he is going to lose his job so he radically cuts the debts of those who are debtors to his master (v3-4). The shock in the passage is the way this man is treated by his soon to be former boss. His master commends him (v8). We need to recognise what it is he is commended for, he is not commended for dishonesty, he is not commended for being righteous but he is commended for “dealing shrewdly”. In other words this man sees the future and acts accordingly.
The call (v9) is to see the future and act now in light of it. It means that we are to use what God gives us with an eye on eternity. What we do with what God gives us reveals where our heart and hopes really lay. And (v13) makes it clear that we either serve God OR Money. The impossible application of that is to say that I am the one exception who can serve both God and money, but we would never make that impossible application would we.
How can we live as the gospel calls us to do with our money and possessions, recognising God has given them to us but that they are ours to steward for God’s glory and in the light of grace? We recognise that we are to live now in the light of eternity.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
The Christian and Money Part 2
Sin and Money
Having said that possession and material things are created and given by God for our good and for us to enjoy in thankfulness in Genesis 3 we see that along with all of creation money and possessions are affected by fall. They are now part of the world which is under the curse and is dislocated in terms of relationship with God and how we view it.
That is why the tenth Commandment is “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” One consequence of the fall is that instead of enjoying material things we are in danger of becoming enslaved by them. They are now a rival to God and his place in our affections.
The dangers of money enslaving us are emphasized in the parables that Jesus tells. Warnings are also found in Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:3 where believers are told to put greed to death, and that there is not to be even a hint of it in the church.
We need to be aware that as Christians greed is a very real danger for us. In fact so blind are we to greed that it would probably be wise to work on the assumption that we have a greed problem rather than that we do not. This problem is exacerbated by the world we live in, a world where we are bombarded with advertising trying to create desires and wants. Making greed seem like need!
It is helpful to actually sit and think; ‘What are my needs?’ on a basic level we need food, water, clothing, shelter, warmth, friendship. It is telling to then compare that list with adverts we see on the side of buses, on poster boards, and on line or on screen, which tell us we need so much more!
Credit enhances that, credit seeks to make the need manufactured by advertising easy to fulfil. Feel like you need a new car, sofa, computer… here have the money to buy one. But of course you pay for that money later, and end up overpaying for what you actually did not need. It is not wise stewardship on any level, and leads people into debt.
Post fall possession and money and our attitudes to it are warped and distorted by sin. Greed is a very real danger; we can all too easily forget it is a gift of our creator and worship the created rather than God.
Having said that possession and material things are created and given by God for our good and for us to enjoy in thankfulness in Genesis 3 we see that along with all of creation money and possessions are affected by fall. They are now part of the world which is under the curse and is dislocated in terms of relationship with God and how we view it.
That is why the tenth Commandment is “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” One consequence of the fall is that instead of enjoying material things we are in danger of becoming enslaved by them. They are now a rival to God and his place in our affections.
The dangers of money enslaving us are emphasized in the parables that Jesus tells. Warnings are also found in Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:3 where believers are told to put greed to death, and that there is not to be even a hint of it in the church.
We need to be aware that as Christians greed is a very real danger for us. In fact so blind are we to greed that it would probably be wise to work on the assumption that we have a greed problem rather than that we do not. This problem is exacerbated by the world we live in, a world where we are bombarded with advertising trying to create desires and wants. Making greed seem like need!
It is helpful to actually sit and think; ‘What are my needs?’ on a basic level we need food, water, clothing, shelter, warmth, friendship. It is telling to then compare that list with adverts we see on the side of buses, on poster boards, and on line or on screen, which tell us we need so much more!
Credit enhances that, credit seeks to make the need manufactured by advertising easy to fulfil. Feel like you need a new car, sofa, computer… here have the money to buy one. But of course you pay for that money later, and end up overpaying for what you actually did not need. It is not wise stewardship on any level, and leads people into debt.
Post fall possession and money and our attitudes to it are warped and distorted by sin. Greed is a very real danger; we can all too easily forget it is a gift of our creator and worship the created rather than God.
The Christian and Money Part 1
Is money good or bad? What is a Christian attitude to money to be? What are our needs? How are we called to radical discipleship in the area of our bank balances and possessions? The Bible teaches more frequently about money than it does about sex and yet we rarely see that reflected in preaching programmes or home groups. So what does the Bible have to say about money?
God and money
In the beginning God made the world and everything in it and it is declared seven times to be ‘good’ (Genesis 1). God then gives what he has made to his stewards –Adam and Eve. They are to care for God’s creation, though it remains God’s. It is given to them to enjoy and is a good gift from a loving father to his obedient children.
In 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 we see that King David recognises this principle(11), he is amazed at the wealth God has provided which the people have been able to bring to contribute to the building of the temple. He recognises “Everything we have comes from you, and we have only given you what comes from your hand”. There is amazement at God’s provision, joy at being able to give and recognition that they are only giving back part of what God has given to them.
This idea carries over to the New Testament in 1 Tim 4:4 Paul is arguing against the prohibitions of false teachers who “forbid people to marry, and order them to abstain from certain foods...” He then emphasizes twice that “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving!” It seems to be an echo of what God taught Peter on the rooftop in Joppa.
But Paul adds that the believer is to give thanks to God for what they have. Again a reminder that everything we have is given to us by God – it’s his and we are given it to invest for his glory. Even what we work hard for is God’s; God has given us the talents and skills to get the job we have as well as the job itself.
We need to hear carefully what the Bible is saying here. God makes the material world and it is good, it is designed for humans to enjoy and money and possessions are part of that. But there is also in its very set up a helpful corrective God is the creator and he does not give up ownership of what he give but makes us stewards of what he has given us. It means that if everything we have is God’s given to us to invest then a lack of generosity isn’t excusable as ‘Oh so and so is just tight’, it is actually robbing God (Mal3:8).
God and money
In the beginning God made the world and everything in it and it is declared seven times to be ‘good’ (Genesis 1). God then gives what he has made to his stewards –Adam and Eve. They are to care for God’s creation, though it remains God’s. It is given to them to enjoy and is a good gift from a loving father to his obedient children.
In 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 we see that King David recognises this principle(11), he is amazed at the wealth God has provided which the people have been able to bring to contribute to the building of the temple. He recognises “Everything we have comes from you, and we have only given you what comes from your hand”. There is amazement at God’s provision, joy at being able to give and recognition that they are only giving back part of what God has given to them.
This idea carries over to the New Testament in 1 Tim 4:4 Paul is arguing against the prohibitions of false teachers who “forbid people to marry, and order them to abstain from certain foods...” He then emphasizes twice that “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving!” It seems to be an echo of what God taught Peter on the rooftop in Joppa.
But Paul adds that the believer is to give thanks to God for what they have. Again a reminder that everything we have is given to us by God – it’s his and we are given it to invest for his glory. Even what we work hard for is God’s; God has given us the talents and skills to get the job we have as well as the job itself.
We need to hear carefully what the Bible is saying here. God makes the material world and it is good, it is designed for humans to enjoy and money and possessions are part of that. But there is also in its very set up a helpful corrective God is the creator and he does not give up ownership of what he give but makes us stewards of what he has given us. It means that if everything we have is God’s given to us to invest then a lack of generosity isn’t excusable as ‘Oh so and so is just tight’, it is actually robbing God (Mal3:8).
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Need v Greed
In preparing the study for tonight I am aware that looking at our money and our use of it raises loads of questions. Here's a few:
- Should Christians tithe?
- Should we borrow money(credit) to buy goods?
- Is it wrong to be wealthy?
- You say God provided for everyone and we should trust him but what about Christians in Ethiopia and place where they are starving?
- So how should we respond to poverty?
- Do we respond to every need we see?
Tithing means giving 10%, it is an Old Testament norm, and many argue that it is not binding on the New Testament believers. I think that is right but I have also been interested to read Luke 11:37f where Jesus speaks woes against the Pharisees. Jesus point is that it is their legalism that is wrong not their tithing, (42) Jesus specifically says they should tithe but they should also respond to the needs for justice and God's love. In other words tithing is not enough! Surely the call is for greater generosity than tithing. We aren't meant to sit down with the calculator and our wage slip and work out 10% we are meant to look at God's gift and love at the cross and allow that to change our hearts so we give. Though I think the idea of tithing may be a helpful discussion point when we begin thinking about how much we give so we can then go beyond it. Though we must also bear in mind the directives about providing for our family, so in some cases 10% may be too much in others way to little.
As for Christians using credit or Hire Purchase to buy goods. The big question here is do you want it because of need or greed. Most of things bought on Credit are electrical appliances, furniture etc... Do we need them or have we given in to advertising creating a desire for them. Often applying that test removes the need to buy the object in the first place. But what about where there is a need, say someones car breaks and they don't have the £1000 to fix it. Old Testament practice was to lend money within the covenant community without charging interest, this may be something we should look at in our churches.
It is not wrong to be wealthy, Old Testament patriarchs were wealthy, and in the New Testament there are wealthy people in the church. What is striking about these people is that they are generous, they give away their wealth for God's glory, they do not view it as theirs but as God given for their stewardship for his glory. To amend spiderman with great God given wealth comes great responsibility.
What about those Christians in parts of the world who do not have enough? At root behind this question is the bigger question can I trust God? The answer is yes. Did you know that it is predicted that obese children will soon outnumber malnourished children in the world. That bald statistic alone shows that God has provided for them. It is just that he has given what they need into our stewardship and we aren't very good stewards.
So how should we respond to poverty? We must pray, we must also recognise that discipleship calls for us to radically alter our view of need and how we use the money God has given us. Churches need to start using the wealth God has given them to alleviate poverty. It is certainly something that we see the early church doing. Just think how many people could be fed or housed or helped if for every £1 we spent renovating a church building a £1 went to alleviating a need. Of course we need to do more than just that, we need to actually love people, build relationships with them, invite them into the church community
Should we respond to every need we see? I think actually a bigger problem is that we don't see needs, we live in isolated worlds where very often we are not aware of the needs of those we sit next to in church let alone those we live amongst. We should be looking to respond to needs we see but we need to think through how we respond. Friendship may actually be a greater need than money, help accessing benefits may be more loving than and gift card for the supermarket. A budgeting course may be more beneficial and more loving than a cheque.
Monday, 9 February 2009
The Christian and Money
Thinking through the Christian and Money for tomorrow evening, three questions which really got me thinking are below.
- What are the good things about money?
- What are the bad things?
- What are our needs?
It is quite telling to list what our needs our, especially to then let someone else look at them.
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Money and the Gospel
If you click on this link there ia a sermon on The Gospel and Money by Tim Keller: http://download.redeemer.com/rpcsermons/vision2005/Gospel_and_Your_Wealth_-_11-06-05.mp3
It is helpful reminding us that everything we have is given by God, but that it also remains God's given to us for us to invest for him.
It is helpful reminding us that everything we have is given by God, but that it also remains God's given to us for us to invest for him.
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
The current crisis
One of the striking things about the front pages in the last few weeks is that they have revealed to us our expectations of normality. Normality is getting wealthier, normality is having more expendable income, normality is not feeling squeezed, normality is wealth, comfort and ease.
It has made me aware that I make the same assumption that wealth is good, that comfort is normal. Then tucked away in the middle pages of the paper are the stories of starvation in Africa, or an article on street children in Mexico, or a snippet on Christians being burnt out of their homes in Orissa. And I find myself as I view the world with biblical eyes alarmed at the way we have become cossetted and subtly soft in Britain.
Just maybe this is a good chance for us to ask ourselves what really makes us happy? Am I an exile or am I too content and need a little bit of unsettling? And to pray Father teach me your way and your priorities, to think your thoughts after you.
It has made me aware that I make the same assumption that wealth is good, that comfort is normal. Then tucked away in the middle pages of the paper are the stories of starvation in Africa, or an article on street children in Mexico, or a snippet on Christians being burnt out of their homes in Orissa. And I find myself as I view the world with biblical eyes alarmed at the way we have become cossetted and subtly soft in Britain.
Just maybe this is a good chance for us to ask ourselves what really makes us happy? Am I an exile or am I too content and need a little bit of unsettling? And to pray Father teach me your way and your priorities, to think your thoughts after you.
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