“The way to a man's heart is through his stomach” is a dead maxim that should be buried out back somewhere, because it is a surface concept. I'll admit that the taste of pumpkin pie sends warm fuzzies to my heart, but the saying “the way to a man's heart is through his wallet” hits closer to home with most of us men. I wonder how many believers (men and women included) have grappled with their Family of God identity, and rest secure in Christ alone? Identity can be mistakenly defined or felt based upon our career or upon an inventory of our “stuff”, and idols begin to take over where Christ should be Lord and King.
That brings us to the question “What shall I do with money?” For a great functional resource and a convicting read, Randy Alcorn's Money, Possessions, and Eternity serves as a kind of Biblical textbook regarding God's desire for us in how we handle money. In what order of priority do you suppose the world places the four activities below? Give to others. Save wisely. Acquire possessions. Live thankfully. A plain look at the message of most advertisements puts “acquire possessions” first on the list, the implied message being that because I don't have this “good thing” in the advertisement, I am missing out and should acquire this “good thing” in order to live well. So a worldly priority list may look something like this: 1. Acquire possessions; 2. If you want it, buy it.; 3. Save wisely; 4. Give to others; 5. Live thankfully.
In the counter-cultural, upside-down kingdom of God, we are called to recognize that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Tim. 6:6) Our order of priority in handling money and possessions, as we live out our faith, is more like this: 1. God owns it all; 2. Live lives of thankfulness; 3. Give to others; 4. Save wisely; 5. Buy what we need, and seek God's face before we purchase “wants” that are not needs.; 6. Do not spend money on something we cannot afford. In a socio-economic environment that expects and almost demands more and more from the government, where does the church fit in with our money and our possessions? For one thing, Paul's command to the Thessalonians is relevant and applicable today for believers capable of working. “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” I Thessalonians 3:10. So we encourage people to be productive members of society, earning a living. But in that productivity, do not allow the baseness of capitalistic greed to entice you away from a life of simplicity and giving and sincere devotion to the Person and Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. All that I have comes from God and belongs to God, so I need to treat my stuff in the light of eternity.
That brings us to the question “What shall I do with money?” For a great functional resource and a convicting read, Randy Alcorn's Money, Possessions, and Eternity serves as a kind of Biblical textbook regarding God's desire for us in how we handle money. In what order of priority do you suppose the world places the four activities below? Give to others. Save wisely. Acquire possessions. Live thankfully. A plain look at the message of most advertisements puts “acquire possessions” first on the list, the implied message being that because I don't have this “good thing” in the advertisement, I am missing out and should acquire this “good thing” in order to live well. So a worldly priority list may look something like this: 1. Acquire possessions; 2. If you want it, buy it.; 3. Save wisely; 4. Give to others; 5. Live thankfully.
In the counter-cultural, upside-down kingdom of God, we are called to recognize that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Tim. 6:6) Our order of priority in handling money and possessions, as we live out our faith, is more like this: 1. God owns it all; 2. Live lives of thankfulness; 3. Give to others; 4. Save wisely; 5. Buy what we need, and seek God's face before we purchase “wants” that are not needs.; 6. Do not spend money on something we cannot afford. In a socio-economic environment that expects and almost demands more and more from the government, where does the church fit in with our money and our possessions? For one thing, Paul's command to the Thessalonians is relevant and applicable today for believers capable of working. “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” I Thessalonians 3:10. So we encourage people to be productive members of society, earning a living. But in that productivity, do not allow the baseness of capitalistic greed to entice you away from a life of simplicity and giving and sincere devotion to the Person and Word of the Lord Jesus Christ. All that I have comes from God and belongs to God, so I need to treat my stuff in the light of eternity.
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