{"id":4936,"date":"2017-09-23T19:26:09","date_gmt":"2017-09-24T00:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/?p=4936"},"modified":"2017-09-23T19:26:09","modified_gmt":"2017-09-24T00:26:09","slug":"gods-attitude-toward-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/2017\/09\/23\/gods-attitude-toward-money\/","title":{"rendered":"God’s Attitude Toward Money"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Jim Palmer
\n 
\nLast month, we examined the topic \u201cMoney: Servant or Master?\u201d We explored what role money plays in our lives. We considered, \u201cDoes money serve my purposes (and God\u2019s) or am I serving the almighty dollar in the form of either excessive debt or continually striving for more and more?\u201d The question reminds me of a quote by the famous British statesman, Edmund Burke, who once said:
\n\u201cIf we command our wealth, we shall be rich and free. If our wealth command us, we are poor indeed.\u201d
\nAs a basis for our consideration this month, remember what we concluded last month:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. money is simply an amoral medium of exchange.<\/li>\n
  2. money is a blessing from God; money is important; money can be of tremendous benefit or harm to its possessors.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This month, let\u2019s spend some time thinking about money against the backdrop of this question: \u201cWhat is God\u2019s attitude toward money, wealth, and riches?\u201d Is it safe to say that there is much confusion on this topic? When one has lots of money, he would consider himself to be \u2018blessed\u2019. Yet, oftentimes those with lots of money are considered greedy by others. Some say, \u2018money is the root of all evil.\u2019 But, the reality is that money affords humans food, clothing and shelter, so how is that possibly true? Throughout history, some religious leaders would even claim that to be godly, one must live in a state of poverty (going so far as to equate godliness with poverty). Of course, these same leaders would then pass around a collection plate asking their followers to give all that \u2018evil\u2019 to them so good might overcome it. Needless to say, the messages are mixed at best, and probably extremely misleading! So exactly what is God\u2019s attitude toward money? A careful examination of what the Bible teaches helps reduce confusion and provides a blueprint for how we should view money.
    \n\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
    \nThought #1<\/em><\/strong>
    \nGod wants mankind, the crown of His creation (Psalm 8:3-8), to prosper. He is the very One who \u201cgives us richly all things to enjoy\u201d (1 Timothy 6:17). God has given each of us the abilities and opportunities whereby we might prosper and flourish (Deuteronomy 8:18). He has given us the tools and the instructions whereby we might live an abundant life here and in the hereafter (John 10:10). Psalm 8 goes on to teach us that God has put ALL things under our feet \u2013 that is, God has provided for our every need. Certainly, there are guiding principles that teach the correlations between sowing and reaping (2 Corinthians 9:6), giving and receiving in return (Luke 6:38), and scattering abroad yet increasing more (Proverbs 11:24) \u2013 which we will investigate in later issues. But the point for today is quite simply \u2013 blessings, yes, all good things (including monetary and material blessings) come from God (James 1:17). In fact, it is safe to say: \u201cGod wants us to prosper.\u201d
    \nThought #2<\/em><\/strong>
    \nGod would have us know that material blessings are \u201cnot all there is to life\u201d (Proverbs 13:7). Let\u2019s face it. We should all recognize this fact. Think about the one who has lost his or her health and if they\u2019d want more money or more health. Consider whether the one who lost his or her child would prefer a larger bank balance or their child back. Ask the one who lost everything of sentimental value (pictures, notes written by spouse and children, various keepsakes) if the insurance check takes away the pain. Jesus, while resisting the devil\u2019s temptation to turn stones into bread, quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3: \u201cSo He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.\u201d To paraphrase, human beings are not only to be about the temporal \u2013 we are to be about more than just food or anything else that perishes with using. At the same time, one should not discount the value of the temporal blessing. Consider if you had been part of the group \u00a0wandering around the wilderness with nothing to eat. Surely you would have recognized the value manna had at the time. Manna was nothing more than a temporary blessing (its value faded over time \u2013 read Exodus 16), but it came from God and was to be used to serve a purpose. Likewise, money is a temporal blessing from God that has value when used correctly by its possessor. When we lose the proper perspective on money, riches, and wealth, we also cheat ourselves out of the truly valuable and abundant life God wants for us. Can we remember, in this age of unbridled desire for money, that we must \u201ctake heed and beware of covetousness, for one\u2019s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses\u201d (Luke 12:15). Or, at least remember Solomon, who tasted everything life had to give\u2014 but realized that the whole of man was not a part of those material goods (The book of Ecclesiastes).
    \nThought #3<\/em><\/strong>
    \nGod stresses over and over that though He wants mankind to prosper and all blessings come from Him, there<\/em><\/strong> are distinct dangers associated with<\/em><\/strong> money. <\/em><\/strong>\u00a0As society has changed through
    \nthe years, money has become more and more a symbol of status, power, prestige, and security. Three distinct dangers God would have us beware of include:
    \n <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The danger of the love<\/em><\/strong> of money (1 Timothy 6:9-10). As mentioned earlier, oftentimes this verse is misquoted. Nevertheless, the danger is evident: The love of money and the desire to become rich can be overwhelming. If this root of evil is allowed to grow in the heart of man, this can, and will, cause money\u2019s pursuers to fall into many temptations and snares, many foolish and harmful lusts, and many will end up straying from the faith because of greed. Is it any wonder one cannot serve God and Mammon?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The danger of covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Like the rich fool who was said to have prospered in Luke 12:16-21, so too there is danger for us. Apparently, as this man\u2019s estate grew, so did his unquenchable desire to store up more and more \u2013 for self (verse 21). He was like the one, who, according to Ecclesiastes 5:10-16, loves silver but then can\u2019t be satisfied with silver, who, loves abundance, but just can\u2019t get \u2018enough\u2019. Covetousness will destroy one\u2019s relationship with God (Exodus 20:3) in as much as \u201criches can be kept for their owner to his hurt\u201d (Ecclesiastes 5:13).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. The danger of misplaced trust in riches and wealth. In Matthew 19 we read of Jesus\u2019 interaction with one we\u2019ve come to know as the \u2018rich young ruler\u2019. In and of itself, the description of this man is not bad: there is no wrong in being rich, young, or a ruler. No, despite Jesus\u2019 admonition to the crowd that indeed \u201cit is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven\u201d (Matthew 19:23) the key as to why is actually found in a parallel account of the encounter. In Mark 10:24 we learn: \u201cHow hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom.\u201d Riches can be deceitful (Matthew 13:22) and they can, in effect, trick one into placing trust in their security as a god rather than trusting in the One true God.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

           
          \nIn summary, as we ponder God\u2019s thoughts on money, riches, and wealth, and try to make His thoughts our thoughts, remember that God wants us to prosper \u201cas much as our soul prospers\u201d (3 John 3). He gives all good things into our hands that we might use them to the benefit of ourselves, our families, and the less fortunate. As Leroy Brownlow once wrote, \u201cUnless God\u2019s people make and save finances they will never have enough to give to His causes throughout the world.\u201d When we use God\u2019s blessings wisely, we can \u2013 and should \u2013 enjoy them abundantly, keeping in mind the brevity of life and assigning an appropriate value to the blessing. As we navigate through and around the dangers money can present and faithfully serve as stewards of His bountiful blessings, we can live a \u00a0life of prosperity and give God the glory. For the Christian, financial success is possible!
          \n 
          \nGod\u2019s Word on Money:<\/strong>
          \n 
          \nBeware the dangers of it:<\/em>
          \nProverbs 23:4-5
          \nProverbs 28:20
          \nEcclesiastes 5:10, 13
          \n1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19
          \nMark 4:19
          \nBe generous with it:<\/em>
          \nLuke 6:38
          \n2 Corinthians 9:6-8
          \nGalatians 6:7-10
          \n1 John 3:16-18
          \nProverbs 28:27
          \n1 Timothy 6:17-19
          \nBenefit from wise use of it:<\/em>
          \nGenesis 13:2, 24:1, 26:12-14
          \nEcclesiastes 5:18-19
          \n1 Timothy 6:17-19
          \nProverbs 28:20
          \n2 Corinthians 9:8, 10,12-13
          \n 
          \n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          By Jim Palmer   Last month, we examined the topic \u201cMoney: Servant or Master?\u201d We explored what role money plays in our lives. We considered, \u201cDoes money serve my purposes (and God\u2019s) or am I serving the almighty dollar in the form of either excessive debt or continually striving for more and more?\u201d The question […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[898,908,954,955,736,957,907,909,879],"class_list":["post-4936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-think-excerpts","tag-898","tag-faith-and-finance","tag-february","tag-february-2006","tag-generosity","tag-greed","tag-jim-palmer","tag-money","tag-prosperity","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nGod's Attitude Toward Money - Focus Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tampaseo.expert\/focus\/2017\/09\/23\/gods-attitude-toward-money\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"God's Attitude Toward Money - Focus Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Jim Palmer   Last month, we examined the topic \u201cMoney: Servant or Master?\u201d We explored what role money plays in our lives. 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