The best things in life are free
But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Now give me money
That's what I want – The Beatles 1963
But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Now give me money
That's what I want – The Beatles 1963
Ecclesiastes 10:19
A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.
Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I'll buy me a football team – Pink Floyd 1972
Get a good job with more pay and you're okay
Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I'll buy me a football team – Pink Floyd 1972
1 Timothy 6:10
New International Version (NIV)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Because we live in such an affluent society, the moral question of handling money is a good and relevant topic. There are many teachings, laws and stories in both old and new testaments on money, riches and wealth, poverty, generosity, honesty and greed.
One that gets a lot of attention is the story of the rich young ruler who approached Jesus about what one must do to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The young man said he had kept the commandments since he was a boy. So Jesus told him he lacked one thing. Jesus instructed the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give to the poor and follow Jesus. The young man couldn’t do it. He walked away from Jesus sad. And Jesus comments “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 19:23)
Note that riches do not make it impossible, but difficult for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God. In the disciple’s minds, riches were a sign of God’s blessing and approval. If it’s easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, then who can be saved? (Mt 19:25)
Jesus states plainly, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26)
When discussing dollars we need to remember that money is not evil. The love of money is evil.
Money can bring pleasures, comfort, luxury, fine things, respect, admiration and the ability to build business or other works. But money also attracts thieves, greed, self-indulgence, arrogance, and can be used for evil as easy as it can be used for good. One can give it all away to the poor. There will still be poor. One can spend it all on “loose living” and become impoverished themselves. (Lk 15:13) One can invest and double their money. One can bury money in the ground and do nothing with it. (Mt 25:16,18)
TRADITION
John Wesley died a pauper. He gave away everything. He only cut his hair once a year to save the expense for service to others. John Wesley would have sided with Judas Iscariot on the complaint,
“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Mt 26:9
Wesley taught the following about money:
make all you can
save all you can
give all you can.
For more on Wesley read his sermon “The Use of Money”
There’s also an excellent blog posting here.
From this blog the author writes of Wesley in his early years as a professor at Oxford University.
“While at Oxford, an incident changed his perspective on money. He had just finished paying for some pictures for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was a cold winter day, and he noticed that she had nothing to protect her except a thin linen gown. He reached into his pocket to give her some money to buy a coat but found he had too little left. Immediately, the thought struck him that the Lord was not pleased with the way he had spent his money. He asked himself, Will thy Master say, “Well done, good and faithful steward?” Thou hast adorned thy walls with the money which might have screened this poor creature from the cold! O justice! O mercy! Are not these pictures the blood of this poor maid?
What Wesley Did
Perhaps as a result of this incident, in 1731, Wesley began to limit his expenses so that he would have more money to give to the poor. He records that one year his income was 30 pounds and his living expenses 28 pounds, so he had 2 pounds to give away. The next year his income doubled, but he still managed to live on 28 pounds, so he had 32 pounds to give to the poor. In the third year, his income jumped to 90 pounds. Instead of letting his expenses rise with his income, he kept them to 28 pounds and gave away 62 pounds. In the fourth year, he received 120 pounds. As before, his expenses were 28 pounds, so his giving rose to 92 pounds.
What Wesley Did
Perhaps as a result of this incident, in 1731, Wesley began to limit his expenses so that he would have more money to give to the poor. He records that one year his income was 30 pounds and his living expenses 28 pounds, so he had 2 pounds to give away. The next year his income doubled, but he still managed to live on 28 pounds, so he had 32 pounds to give to the poor. In the third year, his income jumped to 90 pounds. Instead of letting his expenses rise with his income, he kept them to 28 pounds and gave away 62 pounds. In the fourth year, he received 120 pounds. As before, his expenses were 28 pounds, so his giving rose to 92 pounds.
What should rise is not the Christian’s standard of living,
but the standard of giving.
Consumers have a certain level of power as shapers of the marketplace. Expenditures drive manufacturing production demands. Our response to advertising drives marketing strategies, techniques and budgets. Our buying habits affect workers, both domestic and foreign.
According to the United Methodist Social Principles on The Economic Community Paragraph 163 part D and E…
· D. Consumption
Consumers should exercise their economic power to encourage the manufacture of goods that are necessary and beneficial to humanity while avoiding the desecration of the environment in either production or consumption. Consumers should avoid purchasing products made in conditions where workers are being exploited because of their age, gender, or economic status.
And while the limited options available to consumers make this extremely difficult to accomplish, buying “Fair Trade Certified” products is one sure way consumers can use their purchasing power to make a contribution to the common good. The International Standards of Fair Trade are based on ensuring livable wages for small farmers and their families, working with democratically run farming cooperatives, buying direct so that the benefits and profits from trade actually reach the farmers and their communities, providing vitally important advance credit, and encouraging ecologically sustainable farming practices. Consumers should not only seek out companies whose product lines reflect a strong commitment to these standards, but should also encourage expanded corporate participation in the Fair Trade market.
Consumers should evaluate their consumption of goods and services in the light of the need for enhanced quality of life rather than unlimited production of material goods. We call upon consumers, including local congregations and Church-related institutions, to organize to achieve these goals and to express dissatisfaction with harmful economic, social, or ecological practices through such appropriate methods as boycott, letter writing, corporate resolution, and advertisement.
And while the limited options available to consumers make this extremely difficult to accomplish, buying “Fair Trade Certified” products is one sure way consumers can use their purchasing power to make a contribution to the common good. The International Standards of Fair Trade are based on ensuring livable wages for small farmers and their families, working with democratically run farming cooperatives, buying direct so that the benefits and profits from trade actually reach the farmers and their communities, providing vitally important advance credit, and encouraging ecologically sustainable farming practices. Consumers should not only seek out companies whose product lines reflect a strong commitment to these standards, but should also encourage expanded corporate participation in the Fair Trade market.
Consumers should evaluate their consumption of goods and services in the light of the need for enhanced quality of life rather than unlimited production of material goods. We call upon consumers, including local congregations and Church-related institutions, to organize to achieve these goals and to express dissatisfaction with harmful economic, social, or ecological practices through such appropriate methods as boycott, letter writing, corporate resolution, and advertisement.
· E. Poverty
In spite of general affluence in the industrialized nations, the majority of persons in the world live in poverty. In order to provide basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, and other necessities, ways must be found to share more equitably the resources of the world. Increasing technology, when accompanied by exploitative economic practices, impoverishes many persons and makes poverty self-perpetuating. Poverty due to natural catastrophes and environmental changes is growing and needs attention and support. Conflicts and war impoverish the population on all sides, and an important way to support the poor will be to work for peaceful solutions.
As a church, we are called to support the poor and challenge the rich. To begin to alleviate poverty, we support such policies as: adequate income maintenance, quality education, decent housing, job training, meaningful employment opportunities, adequate medical and hospital care, humanization and radical revisions of welfare programs, work for peace in conflict areas and efforts to protect creation’s integrity. Since low wages are often a cause of poverty, employers should pay their employees a wage that does not require them to depend upon government subsidies such as food stamps or welfare for their livelihood.
Because we recognize that the long-term reduction of poverty must move beyond services to and employment for the poor, which can be taken away, we emphasize measures that build and maintain the wealth of poor people, including asset-building strategies such as individual development savings accounts, micro-enterprise development programs, programs enabling home ownership, and financial management training and counseling. We call upon churches to develop these and other ministries that promote asset-building among the poor. We are especially mindful of the Global South, where investment and micro-enterprise are especially needed. We urge support for policies that will encourage equitable economic growth in the Global South and around the world, providing a just opportunity for all.
Poverty most often has systemic causes, and therefore we do not hold poor people morally responsible for their economic state.
As a church, we are called to support the poor and challenge the rich. To begin to alleviate poverty, we support such policies as: adequate income maintenance, quality education, decent housing, job training, meaningful employment opportunities, adequate medical and hospital care, humanization and radical revisions of welfare programs, work for peace in conflict areas and efforts to protect creation’s integrity. Since low wages are often a cause of poverty, employers should pay their employees a wage that does not require them to depend upon government subsidies such as food stamps or welfare for their livelihood.
Because we recognize that the long-term reduction of poverty must move beyond services to and employment for the poor, which can be taken away, we emphasize measures that build and maintain the wealth of poor people, including asset-building strategies such as individual development savings accounts, micro-enterprise development programs, programs enabling home ownership, and financial management training and counseling. We call upon churches to develop these and other ministries that promote asset-building among the poor. We are especially mindful of the Global South, where investment and micro-enterprise are especially needed. We urge support for policies that will encourage equitable economic growth in the Global South and around the world, providing a just opportunity for all.
Poverty most often has systemic causes, and therefore we do not hold poor people morally responsible for their economic state.
So according to the United Methodist tradition, a fiscally responsible Christian makes purchase decisions thinking of the need of those without the basic necessities. We buy with and awareness of the work environments of those who labor to provide us goods and services.
SCRIPTURE
What are the attitudes about Money taught in scripture?
The Law of Moses called for the Israelite to live open-handedly toward their neighbor and the foreigner.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.
Leviticus 19:34
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
Exodus 22:25
“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.
“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.
The apostle James taught the true religion was to care for widows and orphans and remain unstained by the world. (Jms 1:27) Charity has always been a hallmark of Christian and Jewish faith as well as many others religious traditions. It is morally good to lift the burdens of the poor.
Some wisdom teachings include
Proverbs 24:27
Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterwards, build your house. (Application: Build secure income first before spending on mortgage, cars, credit cards.)
Exodus 21:35Complete your outdoor work, and prepare your field; afterwards, build your house. (Application: Build secure income first before spending on mortgage, cars, credit cards.)
“If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. (Application: Respect your neighbor’s property and be responsible for any damages you may cause)
Proverbs 13:11
Dishonest money dwindles away,
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
King Solomon needs no commentary. His wisdom about wealth speaks for itself.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-15
10 Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
that they can carry in their hands.
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
that they can carry in their hands.
The Prophet Elisha turned down money offered for God’s healing of Naaman the Syrian General. He illustrates that some things are meant to be free, not for sale. How can one profit in good conscience for something God does freely?
But Elisha said … Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?
Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.”
Money is taxed by Israel’s kings to build the temple and remodel it. Money is taxed per law of Moses, a Redemption Price paid for all first born to go into temple treasury for the work of the temple. (Ex 30:16, Nm 3:47-49; 2Kg 12:4-7)
And the prophet Isaiah points out that money is spent on that which doesn’t satisfy our deepest need.
Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
The New Testament teaches quite a bit about money. The appropriate relationship with money is to recognize that all possessions belong to God. The early church practiced a sort of communal living in which all possessions where shared with the Christian community and redistributed to those who had need. (Ac 4:32-35)
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
James 5:1-6
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Jesus discovered that the temple had become a marketplace for selling animals for sacrifice. It had become a lucrative business. Even more lucrative was exchanging money from foreign currency to the temple shekel. Transactions fees applied. This business practice exhibited the greed which angered Jesus.
Matthew 21:12-13
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
John the Baptizer called to the crowds coming to him for a baptism of repentance, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Show that you truly are changed by treating others with love and generosity, not with greed. (Lk 3:8, 11-14)
Not only is greed a problem, but money can be used for evil purposes. Priests pay Roman Soldiers to spread lies that disciples stole Jesus’ body from the grave. They paid “blood money” Judas to betray Jesus. (Mt 28:11-13, 27:5-7; Mk 14:11)
Heavenly riches in the New Testament are more than earthly silver and gold. Peter healed a lame man in the power of Jesus’ name saying, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Ac 3:2-6) The heavenly gift of life through Christ brings peace that passes understanding, inexpressible joy, healing, wholeness and contentment.
2 Corinthians 8:9
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.
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.
Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
Philippians 4:19
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
A discipline of giving
The heart behind giving is what pleases God. Jesus commended the widow who gave a copper penny. It was all she had. Do we give God the leftovers or do we give in the spirit of sacrifice? (Mk 12:43-44)
1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Sometimes God calls ministers and missionaries to trust Him and the goodness of His people by going into ministry without the money prepared ahead of time. (Mk 6:8)
The New Testament teaches to “be satisfied” with what you have.
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
There is no shortage of warnings to the Rich.
Luke 8:14
The seed (The Gospel) that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
The seed (The Gospel) that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Luke 12:14b-21
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 16: 9, 11
Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
LK 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
The overall New Testament message on money is this: God is offering eternal life through Jesus Christ which far outshines all the glittering prizes of this current life.
God is faithful to provide richly for His obedient. We are to have enough faith to let go of grubbing for money. Instead we are to strive for the Kingdom of heaven. When we realize that the kingdom is upon us in Christ, that all our needs are met in Him, we are content to let go of worldly wealth and simply be. Because we are richly blessed with heavenly incorruptible treasures that we enjoy in our souls, we can live generously toward others.
Mt 6:31-34
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
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