Money, Money, Money
17 01 2007
This Sunday we are starting a series about money in church. So often when we preach about money in church (at least when we church leaders do it) we talk about giving. Clearly there if we are going to speak about money, giving is part of the story, but Jesus seems to have much more to say.
So we are looking at wealth, poverty, debt, saving, consumerism, environmental use of money, giving, faith & finances. But this week, I am kicking off the series, starting by talking about our attitude to money: Who is in charge? Does money work for us or do we work for money? It seems to me to be a fundamental question that Jesus poses:
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
[Matt 6:24 - NLT]
Who is it going to be? God or money? And Jesus gets to the point once again. He is pretty much saying: if you want to know how much you love Jesus, then look at our bank statements. How much of our spending is influenced by Jesus and His Kingdom, and how much by other influences? It is a tangible record of our commitment to Him.
So if you were going to be speaking on this subject, what would you want to say?
Rupert, didn’t realise you were out there in the world of blogging, cool to read your stuff. One thought on money is “living generously” not very deep but a thought!
Yup - been lurking on your blog for a while, but have finally started my own! Thanks for the thought … generosity is probably my big word (along with kindness) … not that i always live it out! I long to see a church that is known for its generosity and kindness, in word and deed. So thanks … that will have to be in there somewhere.
thoughts… still on my personal/private kick so i think mostly money is a social taboo in society, we don’t often talk about it…
i also think money is a good baromenter for our faith, how we use it says a lot about our spirituality, either healthy or in need of light/work
Can’t wait to here some preaching on this subject! No mention of investing in your quick summary of topics, here’s hoping you will cover that as well. I guess you could see it on a spectrum of risk between saving -> investing -> gambling.
Christians often seem to have weird ideas when it comes to money and finances, often something like if all they do is obey something like the rules below God is happy with their financial stewardship.
RELIGIOUS FINANCIAL RULES
1) Never gamble
2) Tithe exactly 10% (it doesn’t matter if you moan about it, 9.9% counts for jack but 10.0% pushes you into that automatic prosperity). Actually, its so bad to tithe less than 10%, we’d better tithe over 10%, just to make sure.
3) Get a crappy job and work for someone else. Running your own company is clearly not compatible with being a Christian…if you have time to run your own company, why not be a missionary or something? And isn’t money evil anyway?
4) Don’t ever become wealthy. Wealth is evil and Jesus was always poor. Emulate his simply lifestyle. Money is not the answer to anything. Oh wait a minute, I forgot Eccl 10:19. But that mentions enjoying wine, so it can’t be from God…
5) If you do happy to acquire money, give it all away. That way you are blessing others. Do not invest it so that you can give even more away, God does not need compound interest.
6) God accomplishes his kingdom by his Spirit, not by our money. So why even bother about it? There’s no point in saving and investing to resource God’s Kingdom.
7) Debt is demonic. Don’t ever get into debt. This includes credit cards, debit cards, loans from friends, mortgages, student loans, etc.
——
I love how you’ve flagged up generosity as one of the keys…I think that must lie at the root of any theology of money. As God generously gave Christ to us, so we respond with generosity to all. (Now, is that something like what Paul was saying in 2 Cor 8:9 ?)
Thanks Paul … yes, i think that is right … it is our money after all!! And aren’t we free to do what we want with it.
Cheers Alastair … i am not sure i see the church teaching all of those things, but there is lots of truth in what you are saying! Helpful comments as we start the series though, and will try to bring something in about investing too …
Hey Rupert, you did realise my “RELIGIOUS FINANCIAL RULES” were satire, right? In other words, this is the kind of stuff I here on this topic, all of which, in my opinion, is nonsense! And yes, I have personally heard each point either explicitly, or implied, by Christians I have met in person or heard preach.
Yes i did realise they were said tongue in cheek. However, I think some are very close to the bone, and seem to be what some Christians believe. Others, i haven’t really come across … do people now really think that using a credit card is wrong??!?!? Maybe i am just not moving in the right circles?!?
On a similar note, I was at the gym on Monday and was watching some program on C4 about New Labour and gambling. Seems that our current government has a love affair with gambling at the moment. At one point some commentator mentioned an ugly trinity of Gambling, Prostitution and Drugs and how all three were never far apart. It also talked about internet gaming, and how it appears this is set to take off in Britain (its banned in the USA). Internet gaming in particular looks worrying, as it hard to see how they can enforce controls to restrict gambling from children or problem gamblers.
Of course, folks may wonder why I am so concerned about this since my satirical list of religious financial rules had avoid gambling as number one. I’m not sure I have a ready answer, but I can state the following:
- I very much enjoy a friendly game of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker with friends or family, and in no way whatsoever think for a minute that I am sinning or being unwise.
- I’ve been to Las Vegas and gambled a little in the casinos, primarily the slot machines. It was fun, and no different from spending money on any other form of entertainment. I think I made a slight profit.
- There isn’t much difference between horse betting, casino gambling, stock market speculation, investing in the stock market, owning a pension, saving money in a bank, or stashing tenners under your mattress. From one extreme to the other, it involves money and the element of risk. Is the trader that looks after your pension fund in the same category as a casino punter? Both may be taking high risks in an attempt to make a profit.
I suppose there are differences, and I suppose one of the problems with gaming is the addictive element. Its clear that people can become compulsive gamblers, whether in casinos or even in stock market speculation. Compulsion can eventually lead to clinical addiction. And I suppose that is when the problems really start.
So even while I am not averse to a good game of cards, and I am probably classed as a higher risk investor when it comes to my finances, I am in no way addicted to gambling or financial speculation, which is perhaps the dividing line. But New Labours willingness to throw the doors open to gambling and internet gaming really worries me.
So that’s what I would say on gambling!
How about the following as an exercise that people can use in response to your sermons, perhaps in cell groups?
http://www.givingingrace.org/interaction/moneyauto.html
or try http://www.gbod.org/stewardship/article.asp?id=11618 for more info on Money Autobiographies
Thanks to Paul for the first link to givingingrace (the second didn’t work for me?), I really appreciated the more relational ideas it opened up for me to put alongside my tendency to a more mechanistic approach.
But perhaps someone start a new thread for time spent on the internet? I started writing a reply to your mail to me, Rupert; all I wanted to do was say when I was free to meet next month. Then I followed the blog address - didn’t know you had one. Then I tried to understand the new word in the CCE vocabulary (missional), followed up the stuff on this thread about money autobiographies, and finally ended up on Paul’s blog. Controlling money is easy (for me). It’s my time budget which is in the red again …
Ah, if only banks would offer us a “loan of time” rather than money…
Paul - thanks for those links. The second did work for me Neil, and was the one that i found most helpful! I think it would be a great idea to suggest that folks do this in cells, or on thier own. Thanks for posting.
I wish i could go to the bank and just get more time too! I think i often borrow time (generally by not getting enough sleep) and end up paying for it!!!!