What Is The Godly, Proper Use Of Money?
DID CHRIST TELL US TO MAKE FRIENDS THROUGH USE OF UNRIGHTEOUS MONEY ?
Jesus while referring to the parable of the unjust steward which he had just given to them, certainly gave that impression. He used this money managers worldly wisdom and shrewdness to say that worldly people are smarter than believers.
Luke 16:8-9 NKJV 8 "So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. 9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
Christ is saying clearly that worldly people are more shrewd than the children of God. We can learn something from them. The unjust steward made friends for his future survival. We believers Jesus is saying, we can make the best friend for our ultimate future survival. We should support with our resources God's work on this planet now to make friends in heaven. We are not recommending the prosperity gospel which boils down God as a slot machine. You give money to their ministry and God will then give even more money back to you. The true worship of the true God is much more complex than this self serving message. What is Jesus's real goal? It is our hearts; He loves us and wants to help us learn to return that love.
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus condemns using money for greedy purposes. One should use money wisely but not love it in a selfish greedy fashion.
1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The pursuit of wealth itself can bring sorrows to people who are undermined thereby. Some become spoiled and others ruthless in their pursuit of wealth. Cruel, selfish behavior is detrimental to anyone so caught up in such a covetous character. Here are some helpful principles of how to handle money and why western Christian nations have been more prosperous than others.
SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR PROSPEROUS SOCIETIES AND FAMILIES
- IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY. No one will be able to accumulate any material goods if they know it can be easily stolen from them. The commandment against stealing assumes the society must have private property. Therefore God's Laws protect private property and it must be a good and beneficial thing. God says do not steal.
- ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC FREEDOM. Greater prosperity will exist if people are free to trade goods and services without undue regulations and price controls by government.
- ENCOURAGE STABLE FAMILIES. A society should encourage strong families and other institutions that mediate between the individual and the state. Strong families take care of each other. Couples that marry and have children within that institution are far less likely to end up in poverty. Strong extended families in the past would keep their members from becoming homeless. Uncles and aunts would take care of the family members that would otherwise be homeless. Now this principle is dying, as are families.1 Timothy 5:8 NKJV 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.4. ENCOURAGE BELIEF IN CHRISTAIN MORES. Belief in the future and universal truth is an incentive to prosperity. Belief in the Bible is a tonic to any society. Belief that progress, not utopia, is possible in this life and a willingness to save and delay immediate gratification is helpful. The beliefs in willingness to risk, respect for rights and property of others and thrift is valuable and vital. Saving is smart.5. ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING OF WEALTH. A society that teaches people the basics of wealth creation is essential. Using knowledge to produce more efficiently is invaluable to a society. People need to know that free trade can be win, win. Some risk is unavoidable and success does not have to come at the expense of others. The pursuit of legal self interest and profits are great motivators for productivity.6. ENCOURAGE THE USE OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. It is better to use and develop ones' advantage over use of governmental artificial protection. Developing efficiencies in production is the best way to lasting prosperity.7. ENCOURAGE HARD WORK. God wants servants who do not procrastinate and are not lazy.Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom In the grave where you are going.CAN BELIEVERS BENEFIT OR CHARGE INTEREST ON LOANS?God instructed His people not to charge interest to other Israelites in need. He did not want them too demanding regarding collateral either in dealing with needy. God wants us to show love to those in need.Exodus 22:25 NKJV 25 "If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.Even today in poorer neighborhoods, loan companies tend to charge exorbitant interest rates which only help keep the needy in poverty. If someone has money problems today they will likely have them in future and do not need the extra burden of interest payments especially excessively high interest. It is wise for believers to avoid excess debt or we could fall into the same trap. God's restrictions on charging interest on loans involves loaning to the needy. The vast majority of bank loans are not to the needy but, to fellow business men. The banking industry which developed primarily in the west has led to sophisticated financial system. These systems are necessary for an advanced, prosperous economy. The barter system is not going to work in an advanced prosperous economy. Currency as we know it came out of the banking systems. Capital is accumulated in the banking system and has led to our advanced, prosperous economies. It takes capital to create strong new businesses. America being the most advanced prosperous economy because it has the greatest amounts of freedom and natural resources in the world.1 Peter 4:9-10 NKJV 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.Whatever gifts God has given us should be used to help others. If one has the gift of building things and making money, he should use it to benefit others and God's work. A greedy love of money can be damaging while capital can be used to lift many out of poverty. Some in the past, who made money, would forego ostentatious displays of wealth to reinvest their capital for the future. One such man was Sam Walton. He could have lived a very luxurious life after building three highly successful stores. But he choose to reinvest his capital. Further, a prosperous society can help the poor much more than a overall poor society. God told Israel not to glean the corners of their fields or pick up every little bit leftover after a harvest line. Why? This is a way to take care of the needy and yet give them something useful to do as well.Leviticus 23:22 NKJV 22 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.'"A society that has a prosperous harvest will have a lot more bounty for the poor to receive. Prosperity of some is better for the needy than poverty for all. You cannot redistribute what has not been produced. When socialism reduces the incentives to be productive, it diminishes productivity. All suffer. The profit system rewards productivity and strong productivity is good for the poor as well as the prosperous. Capitalism is not synonymous with greed. We should all avoid greed and an excessive desire for money. A good Christian should learn to be content regardless of the levels of prosperity we are given.Philippians 4:11-12 NKJV 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.A believer must learn how to handle plenty as well as poverty and remain focused on the spiritual. Do not let an abundance of material goods spoil us or poverty depress us.CONCLUSIONA true worshiper of Christ must learn to use his money wisely. Do not abuse others by not paying them fairly.James 5:4-5 NKJV 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.Believers treat others fairly with their money and do not covet or envy others for being more fortunate than they. We do not get obsessed with becoming wealthy. Although we use our money wisely, we learn to be content and appreciate the most important things God and family.1 Timothy 6:9 NKJV 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.We must use our financial resources and talents to deepen our love for God. Use money to treasure God in our hearts. God wants us, not our money. Money is simply a vehicle for our learning to love God more. We should use our funds to take care of our families as well as support God's work and help the needy. Save a little bit if possible so we can help ourselves if the need arises.
