What’s the big deal with money? – Part III

The Least of These

Let’s play word association… What’s the first word that comes to mind when someone says, financial stewardship? What about, using money for Kingdom purposes? It’s likely that depending upon the context, these words may evoke anger, frustration, apathy or joy. Most often, when I’ve heard the words money and kingdom in the same paragraph from the pulpit, someone is asking (or telling) me to give to a ministry. Sometimes it comes with promises of financial breakthrough and supernatural multiplication of assets. Generally, when I’ve heard the words financial stewardship, there has been an emphasis on making wise decisions, eliminating debt and creating a financial legacy. Any way we look at it, money (and more precisely, how we use money) is very important. So let’s step away from the
“prosperity gospel” as well as the “please give me money so my ministry can buy more stuff” folks for a moment – after all, the Bible is very clear on these subjects.

Money is a tool. In an ideal situation, money is working for you and you are using it to make the world around you better. This is where things get a little dicey because we often don’t think about how we use that tool except when it’s time to pay tithes or give a “special offering.” Let me ask you a few questions…

Do you change the channel every time you see a commercial with clearly malnourished children living in huts, surrounded by flies, filth and decay? Do you avert your eyes when you see someone begging for food or money? Sometimes it’s because you don’t feel you have the resources to help. Other times you’re worried that the money will go to private jets (in the case of relief organizations) or drugs (in the case of homeless persons in your city). But did you know that even some of the most poor persons in the United States (below the poverty line) are rich by global standards? No, I’m not telling you to give away all your money and material possessions and feel bad about having wealth. To the contrary, I’m suggesting that we eliminate debt and make more so we can give more and help more. Crazy,
right?

• 1 John 3:16-18 – “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

This is very straightforward but likely problematic for some readers. Clearly, we have a mandate to not withhold earthly goods (financial and material resources that can be used to benefit and improve the lives of others). This is where I see many Christians question the identity of their brethren, wonder about how those resources will be used, etc. and use those thoughts (or the analysis paralysis that ensues) as an excuse to do nothing.

The Old-Testament is full of directives and thoughts on caring for others

• Proverbs 23:14 “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.”

However, if you want to see these principles put plainly and to see their impact, just look to the Lord’s words in the book of Matthew.

• Matthew 25:31-46 – “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

Our next steps are clear. However, as with all things, you have a choice to make here. I wholeheartedly encourage and exhort you to change how you look at finances, how you look at the poor and move to make an impact.

Footnotes

1 http://www.compasseuropartners.eu/resources/2350-verses-on-money/