Money – blessing or curse?

Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ” (NKJV)

Money, as a resource for supplying necessities, is one of the main apples of discord in a family. Poverty, scarcity of money brings often tensions to a family causing one spouse to end up in depression and on the edge of tolerance. On the other hand, life shows that often there is no good communication between spouses even when they have everything material they need. Why? Is the reason really money itself? Does our happiness depend on the amount of money we own?

The Bible tells us not to worry about the things we eat, drink or wear, where to live etc. Why?

Lets look at some scriptures concerning these questions:
Luke 12:15 “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.’”
1 Timothy 6:9 “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.”
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (NKJV)

So the problem lies in the heart of man, whether there is faith in God’s rich and giving love or if there is unbelief, denial of God, lust, greed, love for money, worrying, accusation, certainty in oneself, pride, arrogance, no obedience …

There are two kinds of “money diseases”:
1. A wish to have money, collect and save it, to hold on to it …
2. A wish to have things, spend wildly, get things …

1. A wish to have money, collect and save it, to hold on to it …

1 Timothy 6:10 “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.” (NKJV)

Ecclesiastes 5:9 “Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!”

Luke 12:16-21 is a story about a rich man who collected money for the years ahead so he could then rest, eat, drink and be happy. Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?’”

This story reflects human justifications: you never know what the future holds. Is it not wise to save and worry about tomorrow? But the Bible says: “So don’t worry about tomorrow …” Matthew 6:34.

In reality tomorrow does not depend on how much we own but on how well we know and trust God. God sees saving money as greed. It means to have more than we need ourselves at the moment. This lifestyle is based on money as an idol.

A man who acts like that is

• Avaricious and selfish;
• Counting on his perishable wealth not on God;
• Taking pride in how much he owns;
• Careless about his family’s needs (money is saved on something’s account);
• Not thinking eternally (what will happen to him after death);
• Serving idols (money is his god);
• Sinning before God (he is not obedient to Him, is not a giver but a saver).

Example: Acts 5:1-11 the case of Ananias and Sapphira.
On one hand worries about possessions and anxiety for managing, on the other hand being afraid of failing before the church and Christ, took to lying and ended up with their premature death.

2. A wish to have things, spend wildly, get things …

Deeper causes of this mentality are lust, envy, greed, pride, a wish to be somebody or to look like somebody through the things one owns.

1 Timothy 6:8 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ” (NKJV)

In several scriptures in the Bible God has told us to be content with the things we have. Why?

• It is right before God for a person not to concentrate on himself but on how to serve god, how to grow in the likeness of Christ and to serve your neighbour as yourself (it also means a wife serves her husband and vice versa). A man’s life cannot depend on things. God is calling us to commit all our time, talents and means to serve Him and carry on His will.
• Everything we have belongs to God and everything He has belongs to us. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross and we do not have to suffer in dearth. We can lean on and believe in God’s grace and supply. Jesus died that those who believe in Him would have life and have plenty of it.
  2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (NKJV)
• God does not want us to become lovers of money and things. Lust will never be satisfied. A person who concentrates on getting new stuff will never be satisfied either. Desire to have things is addicting and in the end it will make you a slave as any other sin does. Being content with what you have one is free from the desire to get more.

Principles that help to receive God’s best in money matters:

1. Consensus

Matthew 12:25 “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (NKJV)
The Bible treats a married man and his wife as one body. A body cannot contradict and fight itself. A husband and a wife have to find consensus about money matters. God looks for the fruit of our hearts – love, peace, … Money matters themselves cannot be more important than good relationship between the spouses.

Some suggestions:

• Communicate your needs and desires to your spouse clearly;
• Create a common month budget;
• Agree to the priorities of spending money;
• Time bigger purchases;
• Avoid extra purchases (sweets, clothes etc) that could sink your budget without letting your spouse know about it;
• Take time to pray together about money matters Matthew 18:19-20,
• Place God’s will first.

2. Everything is common in the marriage

In the marriage expressions like mine; I do what I want to; that’s none of your business; I know etc end. The incomes of the family, irrespective of who earn them, are for common use.
In marriage the debts are common, too. If a wife earns more that her husband then at that time it is the way God wants to supply them.

3. Christian spouses are good housekeepers of God’s property

A Christian has given his live under God’s control, therefore He should have the control over all we possess: money, house, car, our talents, skills.
It does not mean we have to pray before every move or need. It is important our first priority would always be: how to please God.
A husband and his wife are just good housekeepers of God’s property. Things they possess are temporarily given to them to take care of and use as is pleasing to God.
In return we do not have to worry about managing and can believe that God has foreseen our needs and will give as what we need if we ask Him to.
Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in what in what is least in faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. ” (NKJV)

4. A husband is the leader, a wife is the aid

husband’s responsibility is to lovingly take care that the family should not worry about managing. A husband has to decide what to do when his family needs food, clothing, etc. A husband takes the problem before God and seeks His wisdom. It is first his responsibility to find the right way to act. It does not mean that it is only a husband’s work to struggle for family’s incomes.
God’s way is serving and love. A man takes care of his family as his own body Ephesians 5:28-29, because he loves his family and wishes the best for it. A woman loves her husband and aids him, it means to be submissive, encouraging, help him, acknowledge him and to show him favour.

• Most men spend most of their time thinking about money and when things do not work out they pour their anger out on their wives.
• Men often think their value depends on their ability to make money. Is it true?

5. Live in giving

2 Corinthians 2:6 “Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”
Proverbs 11:24-25 “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

6. Be obedient to God in everything

Wealth is the blessing of obedience Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Acting in God’s will brings financial blessing with it. Obedience today grants your managing tomorrow. The Bible teaches us to pay taxes and to bring tenth of your income to God’s house – church.

7. Avoid borrowing and debts

Borrowing makes you depend on the lender.

8. Collect yourself fortune in heaven

1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present age, … Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (NKJV)
Luke 12:33 “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves with money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.” (NKJV)
Read Mark 10:9-30 in addition.

Finally

God’s forgiveness, grace and love have no limits. Gold and silver belong to Him Haggai 2:8. Be generous and giving. Do not worry about tomorrow, cast your problems on God, He will take care of all. Do not ever give up even if you failed.

How much time in your family is spent on work to get all the things you need, and how much time do you spend on being together, giving others and doing good deeds? Think how to bring with your life more glory to God, how to live the way that when you one day stand in heaven before Jesus, He could smile to you and say, “Nice work, you good and faithful servant!”

Peeter Lõhmus

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