The Disciple and Money: A Lesson in Stewardship
“Money is a tool, a test, and a testimony.”
I once heard a preacher say that the Bible has more to say about money than about heaven and hell combined. One online study tool states that there are over 2,000 verses concerning money, twice that of faith and prayer. Nearly 15% of everything Jesus spoke about was related to money and possessions. When it came to Jesus’ parables, 16 out of his 38 dealt with the topic of money. The only subject Jesus taught more about than money was the Kingdom of God.1
The wisdom passages in both the Old and New Testaments cover multiple lessons about money, including the blessings of wise stewardship (contentment and the ability to give), and the twin curses of greed and covetousness.
The careful and benevolent use of money has resulted in great joy and peace to many children of God. Conversely, a reckless handling of financial resources has brought many others to painful ends filled with shame and remorse. Who could forget the story of the prodigal son? (Luke 15). So, what should the serious disciple of Christ know and practically apply when it comes to money?
My dad, a pastor for over sixty years, once said, “Money is a tool, a test, and a testimony.” He was born into extreme poverty and though he worked hard all his life, he never made, or accumulated, much money. Yet, we never lacked for real needs and never went without. His life was never controlled by money and his generosity was obvious to all. His simple alliteration will be our outline for this brief article.
MONEY IS A TOOL
Contrary to what many are taught, the Bible does not say that money is evil. What Paul actually wrote to his protege, Timothy, was, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10 KJV). Money is a neutral, dispassionate thing. It is simply a utensil for conducting commerce. But implicit in Paul’s warning is the capacity for money to exceed its boundaries and become a thing of which we are passionate and which, through misapplication, may control and harm us.
God knows we have a need for everyday things—things we acquire with money. Neither the money, nor, in most cases, the things it acquires are evil. Yet, they are subject to decay, obsolescence, and theft (Matthew 6:19-24). Everything we have, including the ability to earn money and possessions, comes from God Himself (Proverbs 10:22; Ecclesiastes 5:19) and we would do well to remember to wWhom we are stewards. A steward is one who is responsible for the possessions of another. We are stewards of our lives, our time, our talents, our spiritual gifts, and our financial resources.
Good, wise stewardship is the primary principle the Bible teaches about money. For example, a wise person saves for the future (Proverbs 21:20), which requires discipline and forward vision. Money actually grows by good stewardship (no, not on trees), allowing money to multiply (Proverbs 13:11).The proper acquisition of money comes from hard and steady work (Proverbs 14:23; 21:5). Money is simply a tool, but even a hammer improperly used, can cause much damage.
MONEY IS A TEST
“Money … is the root of all kinds of evil … “
1 Timothy 6:10
How we approach money—what we think of it, whether we simply use it or covet it, whether we control it or it controls us—demonstrates clearly that money is a test. It tests our character. And our character about money, like every other attribute of the disciple, must be cultivated through spiritual discipline.
Dallas Willard, in his classic book The Spirit of the Disciplines, describes frugality as a discipline of abstinence. I used to think the frugal person was a bit covetous and miserly—rather Scrooge-like. But Dallas’ definition helped me see it as the means of passing the test of money. “In frugality we abstain from using money or goods at our disposal in ways that merely gratify our desires or our hunger for status, glamor, or luxury.” 2
Many of the verses, parables, and lessons the Bible gives us about money, describe the inspection of our inner character that money reveals. Do we really believe it is more blessed to give that to receive (Acts 20:35)? If we do, then we would have to faithfully save and then release some of our money.
How do we become the kinds of people who never boast in riches (Jeremiah 9:23-24); who routinely and cheerfully financially support those who teach the Word (Galatians 6:6); who have learned the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:10-13); who give excellently (2 Corinthians 8:7)?
How do we avoid being the greedy man/woman (Proverbs 15:27) and put to death greed and all its cousins (Colossians 3:5; Luke 12:15)?
How do we come to consistently serve the master of life and not be mastered by money (Matthew 6:24)?
How do we become the person who is more interested in contributing than collecting or consuming?
How do we give more than a check to satisfy our conscience?
How do we give ourselves and our ability to earn money to God and His kingdom?
The answer is fully trusting in the daily, moment-by-moment presence of God in our lives, as we live in his present kingdom and draw upon his infinite resources. It requires coming to believe and know that God values us, knows our circumstances, and promises to provide everything we truly need according to his riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
Above all, it requires seeing ourselves as stewards (think manager) of another person’s resources. We truly are managers of financial wealth, including its potential, and will one day give an account to our master for how we used it. Remember, the word “talent” in the New Testament most often referred to money, not just ability (Matthew 25:14-30).
The frugal (wise) use of money is a service to God and humanity. When we are disciplined with money, we are “… free from the concern and involvement with a multitude of desires that would make it impossible for us "to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God’ (Micah 6:8). It makes it possible for us to concentrate upon that one thing needful, the good part Mary chose. (Luke 10:42)” 3
Money is first a tool, neutral and pregnant with potential. Then, money becomes a test; a test of our character. We are responsible to control and properly use it. But money is always a testimony.
MONEY IS A TESTIMONY
How we control or are controlled by money speaks loudly to those who would examine our lives. Money exacerbates and illuminates our outer priorities and our inner character.
We think well of the person who freely gives (even in their poverty) and poorly of the one who refuses to see the needs of others. We instinctively know the motivations of the greedy and covetous person—their attitudes and actions reveal their heart to us.
Yes we often judge others on the observable surface. A person living in a good neighborhood, driving a nice car, with a nice job, and good family must be a good person, successful, and to be admired. Yet, another living in a humble setting taking public transportation must be somehow inferior. Sadly, this thinking can be found in the church today. The Jones’ go to your church and we can easily get caught trying to “keep up” with them.
Jesus taught that God honors the widow’s two mites far greater than the rich man’s treasure. It wasn’t the amount of money that mattered, it was the heart of the giver. The widow gave out of her poverty, trusting God for all her needs. The rich person, giving out of their wealth, trusted in money and missed the real blessing of giving.
And don’t forget, John wrote, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). When we love God and love people, then we are freed from the love of money.
Prescriptions for Financial Stewardship
Dr. Richard Swenson, in his bestselling book, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, provides 16 prescriptions for developing margin (the space between our load and our limits) in our finances. I don’t have time to elaborate, so I will simply list them here. 4
Travel in the Right Direction. Settling the issue of lordship is a mandatory first step. The economic road is not and has never been the road Jesus called us to travel.
Break Its Back. Money is very powerful. We must understand this and, with God’s help, confront it. How? By giving it away.
Counter Culture. Overcome the influence of culture. The world is not a benign force, it is a dictator. We must wrestle control from culture and set our orientation in the opposite direction.
Live Within Your Harvest. This is more than a strategy, this is a conviction, the kind where you drive a stake and declare it so. Contentment and simplicity are invaluable friends in this effort.
Discipline Desires and Redefine Needs. We must distinguish between needs and desires and be honest before God. Our true needs are few and basic: we need God, love, relationships with fellow human beings, meaningful work, food, clothing, and shelter.
Decrease Spending. Of the three ways to increase financial margin—decrease spending, increase income, or increase savings—the best is to simply reduce our spending.
Increase Income. Often obtained by increasing hours worked. Increasing more work hours to increase financial margin, has a significantly negative effect on our time margin.
Increase Savings. In the final analysis, the issue is not savings, but hoarding. Moderate savings is probably acceptable to God and a good component of financial margin. Hoarding, however, is never acceptable.
Make a Budget. Simple. Necessary. Critical.
Discard Credit Cards. If you are prone to impulse buying, cut up your credit cards.
Don’t Mortgage the Future. The smaller percentage you spend on mortgage and other associated housing costs, the larger your financial margin.
Resist Impulses. If you want financial margin, don’t buy on impulse.
Share, Lend, Borrow. We need to develop a new depreciation of things and a new appreciation of people.
Emphasize Usefulness Over Fashion. You have permission to not follow fashion.
Fast. It is healthy to periodically separate from the things of the world and do without.
Kingdom First. Jesus was distinctly unambiguous when teaching about priorities: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Money Our Servant
Money is a tool, a test, and a testimony. We might think of a few more to add to the alliteration. Money can be a terror, a tyrant, a teacher, and money is temporary.
If we want to be good and faithful servants who enter into the joy of the master, then we must be faithful over a little before we are set over much (Matthew 25:21). This is what is required of us as stewards to be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). The disciple of Christ must become a faithful steward of financial resources. Only then can they serve the one true master of life.
(1) envoyfinancial.com article: Bible Verses About Money and Stewardship. Link: https:// www.envoyfinancial.com/participantresources/bible-verses-about-money-and-stewardship
(2) Dallas Willard, “The Spirit of the Disciplines - Understanding How God Changes Lives”, (HarperCollins, 1995), p.168
(3) Dallas Willard, “The Spirit of the Disciplines - Understanding How God Changes Lives”, (HarperCollins, 1995), p.169
(4) Richard A. Swenson, M.D., “Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives”, (Navpress, 1992), p.173-182
*All scripture quotes are taken from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.
