Jesus told his disciples not to carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals (Luke 10:4), to 'sell your possessions and give to the poor' (Luke 12:33), and that 'you cannot serve both God and money' (Luke 16:13). Yet many Christians have significant assets and enjoy comfortable lifestyles, while other disciples struggle financially. How do we live in the tension of our financial dreams and the kingdom of God?
Jesus told his disciples not to carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals, to 'sell your possessions and give to the poor,' and that 'you cannot serve both God and money.' Yet many Christians have significant assets and enjoy comfortable lifestyles, while other disciples struggle financially. How do we live in the tension of our financial dreams and the kingdom of God?
To find freedom from false guilt and frustrated bitterness so that we might live with conviction, stewardship, and generosity.
When I served as a campus minister at Harvard, I joined a nearby church. It was filled with a mix of students, new transplants, and established professionals. So, some members were drowning in graduate school debt, while others lived in million-dollar homes.
I rented a subsidized, single room in a shared staff house owned by my ministry, bought groceries in bulk, and once called my hospital's billing department to plead for a discount. But I attended Bible study in a nice home owned by a successful biomedical researcher. Week after week, I wondered what it meant that we called each other brothers in Christ yet lived in dramatically different financial circumstances.
In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul tells us, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." If we claim to follow our Savior, who abandoned the infinite wealth of heaven for the destitution of the cross, how can we justify owning more than the clothes on our backs and food for the day?
At the same time, Jesus was buried in a tomb built for Joseph of Arimathea, a member of Jerusalem's upper crust. He leveraged his wealth to honor Jesus in his death.
So, is it possible to be both wealthy and faithful to Jesus?
Consider how the Bible presents Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, and Solomon—all became wealthy, and the Bible presents this as God's blessing.
Yet even as God provided abundantly for them, their lives also illustrate the perils of great wealth. Abraham's wealth led to conflict with Lot. David's growing entitlement set the scene for his sin with Bathsheba. Solomon's wives led him to worship their idols.
The Bible rejects the idea that wealth is a sign of God's blessing or that poverty reveals his curse. Instead, it invites us to love our neighbor, faithfully steward God's resources, oppose economic oppression, act justly, and be generous to those in need.
When economic inequality is so obvious, where is God's justice? Do Christians believe in loving their neighbor? I struggled not to feel angry, jealous, or even bitter, as I saw the disparities.
John Wesley founded Methodism and taught, "Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can." He set a modest, fixed budget for his annual expenses, then gave away the rest of his income.
The Bible honestly portrays the lives of both the rich and the poor. It never romanticizes poverty nor glamorizes wealth.
As Agur prays in Proverbs 30:8-9:
"Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, 'Who is the LORD?' or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God."
Instead of identifying ourselves as wealthy or poor, we call ourselves disciples. Whatever is entrusted to us is received as a gift and stewarded for God's kingdom.
The 18th-century hymn "Take My Life and Let It Be" by Frances Ridley Havergal beautifully expresses a consecration of our entire selves to God:
"Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose."
Our world divides us by tax brackets and zip codes. Only when we joyfully, wholeheartedly surrender to Jesus will we enable each other to practice both radical generosity and radical dependence.
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part... For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich... It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality.
Why does Paul praise the Macedonian churches?
What are the various ways that Paul uses the term 'riches' in this passage?
How does this passage challenge our individualistic approach to possessions?
How has the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ transformed your finances?
God, I confess that money reveals my deepest anxieties, fears, and insecurities. Forgive me for attempting to find my comfort, security, and joy in my possessions. Forgive me for my envy, greed, jealousy, and pride. Please meet my daily needs, and free me to live with joyful generosity to others.
How do money and faith go together or stay in separate compartments in your life?
When you think about the Bible's teaching on money, what emotions do you experience?
Have you ever experienced Christian fellowship that resembled the early church?
What are the barriers for us to practice what we believe about money?
If you came to Jesus during his earthly ministry and asked to follow him, what do you think he might ask you to give up?
How does Jesus' example and teachings comfort you? Scare you? Confuse you?
What resources can help you develop a wise, generous, and Biblical approach to your finances?
Review your financial statements from the past month. What do they reveal about your faith in God?
What is one way you can demonstrate generosity this week?
Who is one trustworthy friend you could talk to about your finances?
Who is one friend from a different economic situation that you could spend time with?
In your Life Plan, write down one principle from this lesson that you want to govern your financial life going forward.
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