Can Christians Have Money?
26 Dec
I’ve been wrestling for sometime with the question of whether or not Christians should have excess money. Of course we give our 10% to “God” (church or charity) but the beauty is that’s a sliding scale. It hurts you alot when your poor but the wealthier you get the easier it is to stomach. If you making 10 million/yr. then you still get to keep 9 million! What I’m wrestling with is whether it’s morally defensible to keep 9 million or 9 thousand for yourself. How do we justify having thousands in the bank while others go without?
Let’s say you have a friend across the street who’s starving to death. If you had an extra dollar wouldn’t you give it to him? This is basic kindergarten stuff right? Now let’s say that person is a homeless aids orphan in South Africa. Would you still give the money?
To live happily I need less than I think. A small home for my wife and family. Heat in the winter. A few hundred dollars worth of groceries each month. Gas for my car. Clothes, coffee, books, running shoes, and the occasional meal at Cafe Brazil! Let’s say that comes out to $30,000/year in expenses. Should I give the rest away? What about retirement, kids college funds, braces, vacations, and icecream? The items that aren’t essential but sort of feel that way. Are those things wrong of me to indulge in? Can I justify socking away $500,000 over my life time for when I get old, while others go without? What does God require of me?
A few years ago I realized that I grew up in one of the most prosperous towns in the world. I was rich. Of course, now days I bring in a salary that most people would consider modest. However, compared to most of the world I’m rolling in money. At what point do I say, “Okay, my family and I have enough. Everything else is given away.” Something in my conscious is screaming that I have to make that decision but I keep holding off because I don’t want to sacrifice too much. I’m afraid that I’ll look back and regret not giving more to my kid’s college funds, retirement, etc. That I’ll regret not being “wise” with my money. Doesn’t proverbs say something about an ant storing up for winter being a good thing? Where is the line between being a wise ant and being the fool that Jesus chastises in the story of the man who built bigger and bigger barns instead of giving away what he didn’t need.
To sum it up I guess I’m wondering how much money a Christian keep for himself and his family. God help me.
Hey Brett, it’s been a while since I’ve checked out your blog! This entry definitely caught my attention though because I’ve been struggling with the same question. I don’t make anywhere near $30,000 a year of course, but I do usually have more income than most other missionaries I know. Because I am a “gringo” in Latin America, I am automatically considered a super rich person, so almost every time I go out someone asks me for money. The only verse that goes through my head every day when people come up to me and ask for something, is Matthew 5:42 which says, “Give to him who asks of you, and you shall not turn away from him who would borrow from you.” My problem is that I always ask, “How much do I have to give?” because of my family and so on. Just today a lady came up to me and said she needed 300 Quetzales (The money here in Guatemala, it’s worth about $40) so her daughter could have her appendix removed. I know I have to give because Jesus said to, but how much is the problem for me. I could give a few cents, or I could give everything I have and maybe pay for the whole operation.
Whether or not a Christian should be rich, my personal theology is that a Christian can be rich, but he shouldn’t use the money all on himself. John Wesley was a millionaire by todays standards, but he gave it all away. Billy Graham could have been a millionaire, but he chose to live a modest life and give the massive amount of money he had for the Gospel. St. Francis of Assisi was also very wealthy and gave it all up for God. Then of course there is the biggest example, Jesus, who was the wealthiest of all in heaven, and he gave it all up to come here and give everything to us. He did have nice clothes probably, and he probably did have a nice donkey and all that, but those were tools he used for God’s sake. I have a nice watch, it’s not because I went for the most expensive thing I could find, it’s because I need a watch that isn’t going to break on me when I’m preaching or out running around. I own one house in Panama, and am renting another in Costa Rica, not because I want a bunch of houses, but because I travel back and forth and use them for other missionaries or whoever to stay in when I’m not there. So yeah, I think a Christian can be rich, but God will certainly make us give account for every penny we spend and why we spent it. The Bible says we will give account for every word we speak, I’m sure it will be the same with our money as well.
Alan, thanks for sharing your perspective man! I agree with your closing though about God asking us to give an account of each penny spent. Also, I agree that it’s good practice to buy quality things that you need. It’s figuring out the line between the wants and needs that’s tripping me up. Thanks again!
Brett, i’ve been struggling with this for a while as well. As you know, I like expensive stuff, it’s stupid really. I am willing to spend a more money if it means getting exactly what I, my wife, family or friends really want. But honestly what do i need a new couch, or a new TV for? In my head I say “well, we host a lot of people a lot of the time, so it’s ok to spend more money on a big tv, a nice couch, a ps3? But is it really ok?
I do feel that MIndie ( my wife) and I have been really good at giving financially and meeting needs when they come up, but I know we are called to living sacrificially and I am just not sure where that line is.
And I need to figure something out, b/c with my business partner (carldorvil.com) I am pretty sure that money isn’t going to be an issue any time soon
at least I pray that’s God plan.
Hey Brett, long time no talk.
There are two books floating about, and the author of each one is writing against the other. I forget the men’s names, but I do remember the book titles. The first book is called, “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger”. The second is, “Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt-Manipulators.”
I intend to read both of them (as if I don’t have a big enough to-do list) because, like you, the issue of money has me completely flabbergasted. If the titles intrigue you, maybe you could track one down, time permitting.
Hey Josh, Its cool that you’re thinking this stuff through. I’m glad to have someone to journey with as we wrestle through this
stuff. Maybe we flip a coin to see who takes a vow of poverty and who becomes rich. That way the poor guy always has a rich friend to bail him out.
Kyle, thanks for the book suggestions. I’ve definately heard of the first one but not the second. I’ll try to get my hands on both! Are you still in Chicago? Where are you with school?
Finishing up my last semester in Chicago. Then I’ll be doing an internship here in Houston.
Okay, so I have every intention of being as wealthy as I can be. I agree that one should be generous (and I am talking more the the 10%) when one has the means, however, I don’t think you should feel bad for putting money away towards, retirement, college/car funds for our children or even vacations. I know the bible says to not worry about tomorrow, but does that mean we shouldn’t be responsible with the things we are given (to include money). Doesn’t the bible also say to be good stewards?
Now I am going to touch on the South Africa comment… …why am I going to send more money to a country… …and a continent that has received more money then any other and they still have the same problems they have had for ages. Corrupt government who doesn’t properly funnel the money to those who need it.
(insert Rabbit trail) I am not also one who likes to give some homeless guy some money, more then likely he is giong to shoot it into his/her arm or drink it down so why bother. How about we ask what he needs and buy him that meal, or coat, or even that hotel/motel room for the night.
Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, why give money to another country when there are many who need a hand up here?
Finally, I dont’ think there is anything with creating wealth for yourself so long as you remember at the end of the day that it isn’t yours, so if God calls you to build a house for someone do it! if he ask you to get your neighbor some groceries, do that!
Just my thoughts
Thanks for sharing Brandon. I agree that God calls us to be good stewards, I’m just wondering if that’s a more radical call than we realize. As for South Africa I’m not really following your logic there. I’m not talking about giving the government money. I’m talking about making a donation directly to organizations like Ten Thousand Homes (tenthousandhomes.org). While I think it’s great to be patriotic about the U.S.A. the reality for any Christian (biblically speaking) is that we’re all brothers and sisters – correct? So whether it’s South Africa, Mexico, or the U.S. we’re called to be kingdom citizens first.
There are lots of different angles to look at this. I don’t have much time so I’ll make this brief.
Being under Christ, we’re under a new covenant, and free of the standard of the tithe. But if God gave those before Christ the standard of the tithe, how much more would he expect from us rather than the same or less?
I see the 10% as a beginning, almost like training wheels, that taught me to begin giving away what God has blessed me with. Since then, a couple key passages come to mind.
I love Paul’s point he makes in 2 Corinthians Ch 8-9
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%208-9&version=NIV
but more precisely 2 Cor 9.11-15:
“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
I have been made rich to be generous on every occasion. And God wants us to be a cheerful giver. The truth is that we can always sacrifice more for God. Now, is me sacrificing more for other people close to God’s heart?
This passage doesn’t feel like Paul is trying to kick us in the face and guilt us into anything, rather, he’s encouraging us of what God will do through us and for us when we give generously. I love this.