What Jesus Taught On Money
Jesus had more to say on money than almost any other topic. Yet 2000 years later, Christians have trouble agreeing on exactly what he did say. The reason is that he rarely gave practical advice. He more often spoke in general terms.
Luke 12 offers a good summary of Jesus’ attitude toward money. He avoided comments on specific economic systems and, as in Luke 12:13-15, he refuses to get involved in personal disputes about finances. For him, money is primarily a spiritual force.
Take, for instance, this account in Luke 12:13-15:
“Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
One pastor boils down money issues into three questions:
- How did you get it? (Did it involve injustice, cheating, oppression of the poor etc.?)
- What are you doing with it? (Are you just holding on to it, exploiting others, or wasting it on needless luxuries?)
- What is it doing to you?
Although Jesus speaks to all three of these issues, he concentrates on the last one. As he explains it, money operates much like idolatry. It can catch hold and dominate a person’s life, diverting attention away from God.
The parable he spoke immediately following the above encounter with the aggrieved brother proves the point. Jesus challenges people to break free of money’s power- even if it means giving it all away.
Luke 12 contains a lot of what Jesus taught about money and possessions, both directly and indirectly. He does not condemn all possessions, acknowledging that our heavenly Father knows that we need food, shelter, clothes etc…, but he strongly warns against putting faith in money to secure the future.
As his story of the rich farmer whose grounds yielded a bumper harvest (v. 16-21) shows, money will ultimately fail to solve life’s biggest problems.
Jesus urges his listeners to seek treasure in the Kingdom of God, for such treasure can benefit them in this life and the next one too. (v.33-34)
“Do not worry,” he says. Rather, trust God to provide your basic needs. To emphasize this point, he brings up the example of king Solomon, the richest man in the Old Testament. (v.27)
Now, to most nationalistic Jews, Solomon is a hero, but Jesus sees him in a different light: Solomon’s wealth has long since vanished- and even in his prime he was no more impressive than the common lilies or wildflower.
Better to trust in the God who lavishes care on the whole earth than to spend your life worrying about money and possessions. Matthew’s parallel account of this teaching in the Sermon On the Mount best encapsulates this last point.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
This statement encapsulates Jesus’ teaching about money, and everyone who has followed it have ended up fulfilled in all areas of life. Why won’t you also?
Dr. James Aremu-Cole
@Mastermind