Money talk is such a sensitive conversation in both Christian and non-Christian circles. In this era of prosperity preaching, many have been led to wonder about the legitimacy of the Gospel. While money can be used to transform communities or nations for good, the love of it lies at the foundation of every evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Money addresses many personal needs, including our dreams, fears, and even our insecurities. Because money is so crucial, how we handle it will reflect the true state of our hearts and what really matters to us.
The Christian manual for life addresses this subject extensively. Jesus taught that whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10). Financial integrity is a subject of biblical interest. Faithfulness with money is a demonstration not only of our character but also of our spiritual maturity. Many people, including Christians, have failed in this test, and we shall seek to understand why in this article!
Everything Belongs to God?
Many have believed the false narrative that the money and wealth we possess belong to us. The Bible clearly addresses this belief, noting that the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord (Psalm 24:1). David appreciated this when they were distributing materials for the temple. He told the Lord that everything comes from him and that they gave God back what came from his hands (1 Chronicles 29:14). When we miss this truth in Scripture, we forget that all we have has been entrusted to us by God and that we are expected to be good stewards of it. We are only managers of what belongs to God, and he shall come back to pay each person according to what they did with the treasure left under their care (Matthew 25:14-30). Appreciating that what we have belongs to someone else elicits a humble attitude in us in the manner we handle what has been given to us.
Love of Money
One of the devil’s schemes is to lure us into a trap of adequate money. The more money we receive, the more we want it. We have politicians kill for it, employers abuse their subjects to gain more, and immorality even in the workplace has increased due to money. This was why Paul reminded Timothy that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Money itself is not evil, but the love of it; otherwise, how could we survive without an income? In fact, Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, instructs them to make it their ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind their own business, and to work with their hands so that they gain respect from unbelievers and not to become a financial burden on anyone (1 Thessalonians 4:11). When wealth becomes our sole focus, it begins to compete with God for our loyalty. It harbors evils such as dishonesty, corruption, neglect of biblical stewardship, and many other vices, including killing (James 4:1-3).
Fear and lack of Trust in God
It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who hoard money out of fear of tomorrow. Jesus rebuked the attitude of a rich farmer, an attitude that reflects the heart of many today. He was so self-centered, as evidenced by how he handled the great harvest. He thought of building bigger barns, storing all his grain instead of considering the needy, and relaxing as he enjoyed his property for all his years alone (Luke 12:16-21). The man assumed he was in control of his own life and had many years to live, but unfortunately, that would be his last night. God is our provider, and he is aware of everything we need for this life. He has called us not to be anxious about any detail concerning our lives (Matthew 6:25-34). We have a duty to trust him and focus on what matters the most, which is his kingdom and righteousness.
Lack of Financial Discipline
Very few people actually have financial literacy. Most start learning about finance after receiving their first salary. Because of this gap, we have a lot of impulsive buying, unnecessary debt, and a lack of future savings. The Bible encourages proper planning; otherwise, poverty becomes one’s portion (Proverbs 25:1). Without proper planning, even good intentions can be sabotaged. God has given us the Spirit of self-control; hence, we are to manage our appetites to serve the greater good of the community and God’s purpose. While a disciplined person saves and plans, indisciplined fellows consume everything they have (Proverbs 21:20). Discipline makes one faithful with the little they have (Luke 16:10). A person without discipline is like a city broken into and without walls, hence leaving one vulnerable to life’s many issues (Proverbs 25:28).
Cultural Pressure
Imagine living in a world where everyone shows what they have and brags about it. A world where you must drive to find a lady to marry, where men are jobless, or where a lady who desires marriage must be financially established, or else miss out on life’s joys. On social media, everyone is portrayed to be doing well, even when they are struggling to make ends meet. It is essentially a fake-it-until-you-make-it society. This pressure today is pushing people to buy more, travel more, and display more for others to see, sometimes at the cost of taking on more debt. Today, success is defined by what you can see, yet the Bible calls us to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). Contentment with godliness is great gain.
Lack of Eternal Perspective
Many times, we are unfaithful because we only think about our gains here on earth. Where your treasure rests is where your heart is also (Matthew 6:19-21). Eternal investment focuses on doing God’s will and investing in his purpose. When we fix our eyes on an eternal perspective, our priorities shift. Failure to think of eternity affects our generosity (1 Timothy 6:17-29), leads to a self-centered use of our resources (Luke 12:16-21), shifts our trust from God to money (Proverbs 11:28), and ignorance towards eternal accountability (2 Corinthians 5:10). We must live remembering that many people have gone and left their material things behind.
The greatest challenge with money is in people’s hearts. Lack of faithfulness with money stems from deeper spiritual issues, such as ignorance and a lack of trust in God. God has called us to appreciate that everything belongs to him. To grow in financial faithfulness, we need to cultivate a life of contentment, practice financial discipline, and seek divine guidance at all times.