Biblical Emphasis on the Importance of
Financial Health in the Church
The Bible talks about money and possessions more than any other subject.0 When it comes to discipleship, placing one’s finances on the altar of dedication usually comes last. If one’s affections toward God begin to wane, it is usually the first thing a person takes off the altar. People often misquote 1 Timothy 6:10 by saying, “Money is the root of evil.” The passage actually states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (emphasis added). The Bible makes a major distinction between money and possessions themselves and the wrong handling and inappropriate attitude toward money and possessions.
Approximately 86 percent of a person’s total wealth is not cash; therefore, believers must develop a biblical perspective regarding the use of their money and possessions so as to glorify God through their resources. This section will address four basic concepts regarding money and possessions: (1) building a biblical understanding about money and possessions, (2) integrating biblical principles into daily life, (3) making wise investments, and (4) being a good steward through the creation of a will. Ultimately, God is the giver of all things, but believers should leave a lasting testimony that illustrates their love for God.
What the Bible Says About Money and Possessions
Many authors tackle the topic of biblical teaching regarding money. This is a robust subject since 2,350 verses in the Bible address the subject of money; this is twice as much as what is written about faith and prayer combined.0 One’s attitude about and management of money provides an image of one’s character. A person begins to squirm when confronted by personal issues pertaining to how he or she manages money—such as tithing, generosity, wealth, and possessions.
Jesus spoke freely about money and possessions, especially in the Synoptic Gospels. In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah and announces that the prophetic words of Isaiah were being fulfilled. Snodgrass clarifies the issue: “Jesus’ messianic mission is summarized as the proclamation of good news to the poor and that it carries allusions to Jubilee release.”0 Jesus frequently taught about money and possessions with an unambiguous focus on a person’s attitude and giving to less fortunate people. Both the Old and New Testaments instruct God’s people to be generous to the poor, orphans, widows, and aliens (Deut. 15:7-8; Psa. 41:1; Prov. 14:31; Matt. 19:21; Rom.15:26, James 1:27). Mariam Karnell summarizes God’s perspective: “God is one who cares for the poor and the defenseless, and he calls for the same behavior from his people.”0
Other biblical writers also focus on one’s attitude toward wealth and possessions. For instance, the book of Proverbs frequently addressees the importance of caring for people in need (Prov. 14:31; 17:5; 19:17; 21:13; 22:9; 28:27; 31:20). A number of verses in the book of James focuses on giving directions about the rich, poor, widow, and fatherless (James 1:9, 27; 2:1, 14; 3:13; 5:1). The Apostle Paul speaks about how important it is for Christians to use their money to support the poor and people in ministry (Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:4; Gal. 2:10). Paul Trebilco, in his book The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius, concludes that material possessions and wealth, in general, was a real issue in the early Christian community.0
Luke, in his Gospel and the book of Acts, mentions money or possessions in almost every chapter. In the parable of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-30), Jesus gives a lesson on how the wrong attitude toward money, and even greed itself, will keep a person out of God’s Kingdom. What a person does with money indicates his or her feelings about God. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give it to the poor. Upon hearing this, the man went away dejected. Jesus declared, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:24). This not only astounded the rich young ruler, but also His disciples. Randy C. Alcorn puts the issue into perspective by declaring that “greed isn’t a harmless pastime but a serious offence against God. Greed is money worship, a violation of the first commandment to have no other gods other than the one true God.”0 When a person places the love of money ahead of God, that attitude severs one’s relationship with the Lord.
Jesus wants His followers to understand the proper value of money. Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Jesus never despises the rich for being rich. Instead, He encourages everyone who has possessions to use them wisely in God’s Kingdom. God, on the other hand, always rebukes anyone who hoards. Snodgrass notes that God rebuked the people of Israel for “gathering more manna than they needed. In the elastic and liberal economy of God, six days of labor stretches to seven days of provision.”0 Malcolm Irwin insightfully states, “Jesus’ words directly contradict our society’s assumption that our identity is determined by our possessions.”0 In the parables, Jesus spoke harsh words to people who hoarded their talents—even to the extent that these people could not enter His kingdom (Matt. 25:26-30). In today’s culture, worshipping money is easy; however, it will keep a person far away from God and what He desires to do in a person’s life.
God requires that Christians use their resources wisely. Larry Burkett declares, “Poverty is not God’s norm, but neither is lavishness.”0 Giving should be both systematic and intelligent. Systematic giving means that the believer gives regularly to the work of God on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2). Followers of Christ should regularly support their local church so it can maintain an effective witness in the community. Giving should also be intelligent. Everything a person possesses comes as a gift from God and each person is accountable to God for tithing regularly from his or her income. Intelligent giving includes careful stewardship of everything one possesses. For instance, a person should know how an organization uses its funds because many charities consume a large percentage of their total income on administrative expenses while only a small portion of the funds actually support their selected cause. When a person gives intelligently, it can produce positive outcomes.
The Bible teaches that followers of Christ must recognize their financial responsibility to their own family. The Apostle Paul states that if a person does not support his or her own family, he or she is worse than an infidel (1 Tim. 5:8). A person’s own family may include wife, children, parents, and others who are closely related. The church does not carry the responsibility of supporting widows if she has a nephew who could provide the needed assistance (1 Tim. 5:4).
The Old and New Testament commands giving to the poor and less fortunate (Deut. 15:7-8; Ps. 41:1; Prov. 14:31; Matt. 19:21; Rom. 15:26; James 1:27). Arthur Simon insightfully addresses the value of accountability in giving:
The word from the Bible is both encouraging and alarming. It tells us that God’s bounty may indeed be received with thanksgiving, but with the blessing comes accountability. Part of that accountability is an obligation to share with great generosity so that those without basic necessities will also have a place at the table.0
Followers of Christ enjoy the privilege of asking the Holy Spirit to direct them as they give to individuals in need of financial assistance. As one’s sensitivity to God’s voice increases, one will become aware of people who could use assistance. Abraham J. Malherbe reassures believers as they learn to give to the needy: “By enjoying wealth in the way intended by God, believers lay up for themselves as treasure a firm foundation for a secure future.”0 The Bible teaches that when a person gives to the poor, he or she is actually lending to God (Prov. 19:17). God never runs out of ways to bless His children as they learn to give to the needy.
The Bible also teaches that believers experience joy in giving (1 Chron. 12:40;
2 Chron. 30:24-26; Acts 20:35) and that God loves to see people give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7). Nothing can replace the good feeling one enjoys when helping another person through giving. Even the secular world understands the joy in giving. Michael Norton, Harvard Business School professor who researches the psychology of happiness, says, “Spending on friends and loved ones offers longer-term bang for the buck. The reason? Such pursuits enhance the feelings of meaning and social connection that undergird happiness.”0 The Apostle Paul records the words of Jesus, which are not recorded in any other place in Scripture: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
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