Think about this: money itself has little or no value. The material from which physical currency is made is not worth much. Bank notes don’t make good fire­lighters (children, please don’t test this out at home!) and melted-down coins fetch very little at the scrap metal dealers. The electronic signals which change your bank balance when you use an EFTPOS machine have no intrinsic value. Money matters not for what it is, but because of what it represents: material wealth.

The Development of Money⤒🔗

As mankind exercised dominion over the resource-rich earth which God created, trading became necessary as one person or family grouping produced goods and/or services which others wanted or needed. Abel became a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Jubal was a musician, whereas Tubal-Cain forged implements of bronze and iron. Solomon needed building materials for the temple, which Hiram of Tyre provided in return for large annual payments of wheat and oil (1 Kings 5:11).

Cattle were popular ‘mediums of exchange’ in early barter systems because they were both valuable and somewhat mobile. As the use of precious metals (such as silver, gold and copper) became more widespread, they were used in sales and purchases. When Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah with 400 shekels of silver (Genesis 23:16), the value was represented by the weight of the metal, according to a standard measure. As trading in goods and services developed, coins were minted, the earliest known examples dating back to 650BC. Gold drachmas and silver minas were given by the returned exiles from Babylon to fund the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 2:69). The Roman denarius, displaying the image and inscription of Caesar was common currency in the 1^st century AD when Christ taught about financial responsibility (Matt 22:19-21).

The Importance of Money←⤒🔗

The Lord Jesus spoke on the subject of money more than on any other topic, indicating just how much money matters. Our attitude to money is important because the love of money, which is the root of all sorts of evil, brings ruin to many (1 Tim 6:9-10). Financial concerns are spiritual concerns because in giving life, God has made mankind body as well as soul. We have physical needs which are met through food, shelter, clothing, education and many other resources; all of which cost currency. Money matters whether you are a widow struggling to provide for your children, unemployed, in debt, financially comfortable, young and upwardly mobile, or staggeringly wealthy. Money matters because no matter how little or how much you have there is an ever-present spiritual danger of covetousness; that is “desiring stuff too much or desiring too much stuff”. Greed can grip the ultra-rich, the abject poor and everybody else in between.

Material prosperity is a blessing given by God (think of Abram, Isaac, Solomon, Job). Not only does all wealth originally come from God, He also retains owner­ship. All that we ‘possess’ is actually and entirely what we have been given stew­ardship over by God. Like the servants in the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14­ 30), we have been entrusted with the Master’s possessions for a limited time only. We come into this world at con­ception with nothing and we leave this earth with exactly the same zero balance of material assets (Job 1:21).

During the housing boom of the last decade, commentators referred to the “wealth effect”. People tend to feel good about themselves when their assets are increasing in value. Having money (or even just thinking that you do) can produce a deceptive illusion of security, freedom, pleasure and satisfaction.

Christ exposed the illusion of money as personal security when he told the parable of the man blessed with pro­ductive land who built bigger barns, but was not rich towards God (Luke 12:16­ 21). If the human heart allows money to become the master and not the slave, then freedom is lost, not gained. Living the myth of having security in finances is foolishness.

Possessing money enables the pursuit of pleasure by indulging in the things which cash can buy. The wealthy may build fine houses, groom great gardens, drink vintage wines, eat choice foods and purchase prostitutes. Some rich people even figure out the futility of their prof­itless path, finally finding out that they have been chasing after the wind (Eccl 2:1-11). Many die in their spiritual poverty, having made poor exchanges with their wealth in this life.

The pursuit of wealth is addictive, like a drug. The motivation for the chase is the self-deceiving heart’s claim that “if I just had this much more, then I would have enough and be satisfied”. However, this goal is ever receding, because no matter how much money we have, if we are looking for satisfaction in wealth, we will always be frustrated and always want more. The barn is never quite big enough.

A Big Problem←⤒🔗

There are many complex factors which have contributed to the current global financial crisis, yet the whole trouble can be traced to a single cause. Men, women and children are sinners. All sin is idola­try; that is putting someone or something in the highest position in life; the first place which only God has the right to occupy. Greed, the desire for more, is idolatry (Col 3:5) and is rooted in dis­satisfaction with present circumstances. World populations have been fed lies: “You need more”, “You need different things from the things you already have”, “You need the stuff everybody else wants/has”, “You deserve it”. Such untruth fuels discontent, which feeds greed, which has led many to borrow money in order to fund unaffordable, unsustainable, debt-ridden lifestyles. Foolish and harmful desires have plunged many in this world into financial ruin (1 Tim 6:9). A world debt crisis was predictable.

The Only Solution←⤒🔗

The biblical antidote to greed is godliness accompanied by contentment (1 Tim 6:6). Money is to be accumulated through honest hard work (e.g. Prov 6:6-11; 14:23; 2 Thess 3:10), performed heartily in the service of Christ (Col 3:23), to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). Once money has been earned through labour, it is to be responsibly used for the support of oneself and one’s dependent family in order that physical needs are met (1 Thess 4:11-12). Money is to be rendered to whom it is due; used to pay taxes (Rom 13:6; Matt 22:21a), freely given in tithes and offerings in worship to the Lord (Mal 3:8; Matt 22:21b), dis­tributed generously within the household of faith (2 Cor 8-9) and also outside the covenant community (Gal 6:10). Money is to be given away cheerfully in service to others (2 Cor 9:6-7).

Some Practical Advice←⤒🔗

In giving some personal advice, as the head of a household and as a past busi­ness owner, I echo the words of the Apostle Paul “But to the rest I say, not the Lord” (1 Cor 7:12).

Be self-controlled with your finances (Prov 25:28); keep your expenses lower than your income (Prov 24:27). Consider this basic financial regime as a guide: Give generously from your gross income to the church, the support of word and deed gospel workers and those in need (the actual amounts being between you and the Lord), with the remainder live and save from 80% or less of your after-tax income, leaving 10% for emergencies. Aim to save so that you have 6 months of living expenses available in case of job loss or injury. When desire takes over from self-control, the tendency is to purchase unwisely on impulse. So think biblically before you buy. Be generous, be hospitable, budget wisely and seek godly advice, as and when required. Seek to grow in your calling to be a good steward of the Lord’s resources.

It is not necessarily a sin to be in debt, but be very careful. When you take on debt, you automatically give up a certain degree of freedom. Debt may limit your ability to serve the Lord, for example not being able to give freely or to work on the mission field. It is generally unwise to take on other people’s debt (Prov 11:15; 22:26). If you have a credit card, pay it off each month and never take a cash advance (the interest charges are exorbitant). If you can’t control your use of the card, cut it up. Substitute with a debit card if needed.

When buying a car, don’t make your first question “How big is the engine?” or “Does it have a cool paint job?” or “How big is the sound system?” but rather “Will owning this vehicle bring glory to God?” It’s interesting to note that many millionaires buy cars at least 2-3 years old. They know the wisdom of letting someone else pay the bulk of the depreciation on a new vehicle.

Before you purchase a house first ask yourself “How will owning this property help me to serve the Lord more effective­ly?” If you buy a house with a mortgage, aim to pay it off early. Borrow less than the bank will allow you to. Commercial financial institutions are concerned about their own security and profitability rather than your spiritual wellbeing. Generally aim to start with a smaller, cheaper, older house and work your way up to a newer dwelling, if and when the Lord provides you with the financial means to do so.

As business-owners, only go into debt for equipment which will either appreciate or produce a rate of return through increased production which is greater than inflation. Why pay interest for an item which is dropping in value and costs you money to own? Leasing equipment may be a wiser option. Only enter into debt having prayerfully considered the alternatives and sought godly advice from a multitude of godly counsellors. Christian business mentors willing to offer a confidential ear and wise advice are invaluable.

Christ Matters←⤒🔗

Oil tycoon J. Paul Getty is reported to have said “The best things in life ... are things”. He was very wealthy, but more importantly, very wrong. The truth is that Christ Himself is the very best that we can have in this life and for the life to come. He is our righteousness by faith and the sole source of unfathomable riches (Eph 3:8). He is of infinite value (Col 1:16). It is worth suffering the loss of all things, counting them as rubbish that we may gain Him (Phil 3:8). There is no currency with God apart from Christ. Without the riches of Christ imputed to us, we are utterly bankrupt, dead in our sins, burdened with a debt which we cannot pay. It is only because Christ gave His wealth for us that we have an­ything of lasting value. Money matters, but Christ matters so much more.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich2 Corinthians 8:9