How do I handle money

Two little?  Too much?  Not enough? 

How do I handle money?

How do we cope in a society that is highly affluent compared to the majority of the world, yet seeks security in what we have and own?  Should Christians have pensions?  Or savings?  Have a mortgage?  If so how much is too much? What does it mean to be a good steward of our money? How much should I give away?

The Bible and Money

The Bible has a lot to say about money and resources.

In the Old Testament, especially Proverbs the wise and right use of resources is often referenced.  Something about money appears in almost all the New Testament letters, is a major theme in Revelation, and has significant chunks of teaching in 2 Corinthians 8&9 and 1 Timothy 6. 

Jesus and Money

Perhaps most revealing, Jesus talked more about money and processions than any other single topic.  11 of 39 parables are about money, and in Luke’s gospel one of every seven verses has Jesus teaching on money. 

Matthew 6v21: might be Jesus’ summary of all this is "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

In other words, what your money goes after is a signal of what your heart goes after. What our hands do with our money shows what our hearts are doing with God.  And what Jesus ultimately wants is our heart. 

Richard Halverson, former chaplain to the US Senate has said; ‘Jesus Christ said more about money than about any other single thing because...Money is an exact index to a man's true character. All through Scripture there is an intimate correlation between the development of a person's character and how they handle money.’

Four biblical-principles on how we handle money:

Wisely: We are to manage the resources entrusted to us in such a way that God is shown as a good provider and people, from those under our direct care outwards are looked after.  Wise use of money is using it for others’ benefit.

The Bible is clear that all we have is delegated or lent to us by God.  It is his money and his house and his car.  It is all his – whether he has lent us lots or a little.  He has entrusted its good use to our care.  We are to manage it well.  The truism of Proverbs 21:5 says: ‘The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.’

This wise and right use of our resources shows God as the good provider, and begins with those under our care and works out from there toward those in need.  ‘Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.’  (1Timothy 5:18)

So decisions about our pensions and savings and giving and purchases and size and use of home are driven by a desire to show God’s provision is plentiful as we steward the portion he has given us well to serve and provide for others.  He has given to us expecting us to give it away.

Generously: We are to give away the resources we have (whether many or few) with a self-sacrificing generosity that reflects Jesus’ generosity and advances his kingdom work.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing...  (2 Corinthians 8:1-4)

Their generosity was not because they were wealthy.  They were in ‘extreme poverty’.  It was driven by a desire to show what Jesus was and is like: generous so it hurts. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (8:9)

They wanted to ‘excel in the grace of giving’ (8:7)  It was driven by a desire to see God’s kingdom advance, ‘overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God…[because of] your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.’  (9:12-13)

Generous like Jesus was generous is the principle.  It’s not about a percentage we calculate (for example a ‘10% tithe’).  The Bible doesn’t point to a particular number.  Rather it points to a person to emulate – give like Jesus gave: generously.  That means for those of us with tight finances generous might be 2% or 6% or less of our income.  But for those of us comfortable or wealthy it might mean 25%, 40% or greater we can give cheerfully give away.

Discretely: We are to give as discretely as possible hoping God not us will be thanked and admired.

In Matthew 6:4 Jesus urges that our ‘giving may be in secret.’  It stops us being praised and admired and honoured instead of God, whose resources they are anyway.  Be discrete with how you give so God is praised and not you.

Joyfully: We are to show by our approach to whatever money we have or don’t have we treasure Jesus more.

In 1 Timothy 6 there are four categories of people who in different ways demonstrate the same thing: that they treasure Christ more than money.

Paul has already commanded the church to care well, including financially, for its leaders (1 Timothy 5:17-19).  In 1 Timothy 6:3-5 Paul rebukes the money-hungry pastor who is using their position and influence as ‘a means to financial gain.’  It fails to show we value Jesus more.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 it’s those who might say ‘I’ve just enough to get by’.  They are living close to the edge.  They have ‘food and clothing’ (8) and not much else.  He praises that their ability to say ‘we will be content with that’ shows they value Jesus more than money and possessions.  What a witness!

In 1 Timothy 6:9-16 it’s those, rich or poor, who say ‘I want more’.  I am not content.  They ‘want to get rich’ (9), ‘love money’ and are ‘eager for money’ (10).  It causes all sorts of problems for them.  They ‘fall into temptation’, entertain ‘many harmful and foolish desires’, they are 'plunged into ruin’ (9) and ultimately ‘pierce themselves with many griefs’ (10).  Having money is not a problem (some of simply have jobs or inheritances that make it unavoidable) but loving money ruins us.  Instead we need to show we treasure Christ more.  We need to ‘flee from all this’ and ‘pursue good’ (11).  Realise ‘taking hold of true life' (12) is about making the public ‘good confession’ that Jesus means more than money.

The last category is the ‘I have plenty’ in 1 Timothy 6:17-19.  They are rich.  By refusing to place their hope in money but showing instead their confidence in God by ‘doing good…being generous…and willing to share’ they powerfully signal the greater value of Jesus, as well as making a significant impact for his kingdom.

How we use our money, the little or lots we have, shows how much we value Jesus.

Your money

Are there ways you could be wiser with how you manage your money?  How much is used wisely and how much is wasted foolishly?

Where could you be generous this week with £5, £50, £100 or £1000, and how could you do it discretely so God is even more praised?  Should you be reviewing how generous you are able to be?

What does your attitude to money, desire for it and use of it, reveal about your heart?  Where does your use of money locate your heart in relation to Jesus?

Note: this is a lightly edited version of a post from 11th July 2013.