Whether it was Roman-era coinage or it is today's
dollars and cents - no matter the currency - Jesus had plenty to say about
money. Affirmatively ...
- Jesus
taught that a legitimate use of money is to support the Lord's work
through the religious institutions the Lord established (Matthew 23:23; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 8:1-3). In the Old Testament, it
was the tabernacle and the temple; in Jesus' day, it was Herod's temple;
in ours, it is the local church. The LORD's command to bring the tithes
and offerings was not predicated on how holy the priests were (Malachi 2 and 3; Mark 11:15-18)
or, in our day, whether or not we like the pastor. It was predicated on
obedience and surrender to his Lordship over all we are and have. God
knows how to deal with disobedient priests (1 Samuel 2:12-36; 3:13;
4:11-18).
- Jesus
taught that we ought to pay our taxes (Matthew 17:24-27; 22:17-22).
Caesar was the emperor of an oppressive regime; but his followers, then
and now, were called to show deference to the ruling authorities in
matters that do not violate our Christian calling to be his witnesses
(compare Acts 4:18-19 and Romans 13:1-8).
- Jesus
taught that we should use our financial resources to help the poor and
needy through benevolence (Luke 10:29-37; 18:18-25;
compare James 2:15-17)
and missions/ministry support (Luke 8:1-3; 10:1-9).
- Jesus
taught that we should use our material possessions to meet essential
family needs (Matthew 7:7-12; Mark 7:9-13;
compare 1 Timothy 5:8 and 2
Thessalonians 3:7-10).
- Jesus
taught that we should exercise careful money management and exercise
shrewd wisdom prior to making any purchase (Luke 14:28-30).
- Jesus
taught, particularly through his frequent illustrations of stewards (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke
16:1-13) and farming (Matthew 13:8, 23; John
4:34-38), that it is appropriate, and even expected by the
Lord, to invest our resources for long-term gain and/or financial
security.
- Jesus
taught that we should not depend upon our resources, but upon God, as the
source of our supply, trusting him to meet our essential family needs (Matthew 6:9-13, 19-34; Luke
12:22-34).
- Jesus
taught that, since we are merely stewards, we should invest ourselves into
the lives of others, not hoard our resources to ourselves (Matthew 25:34-40; Luke
6:30-38; 10:25-37; 12:15-21).
- Jesus taught that we should not use the power of money to lord it over others, either through arrogance or coercive manipulation (Matthew 18:23-34; Luke 7:40-43; 20:9-16).
"All Scripture is God-breathed," the
apostle Paul wrote to his young co-laborer Timothy, "and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
When anchored in Jesus' teaching, our money can be
all that God's intends for our part in advancing his Kingdom, in ministering to
the needs of others, and in providing for our needs according to the resources
he has allowed us to receive.
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