Jesus was not a Financial Adviser

Over the next few weeks I hope to write a few articles on lessons I have been learning about who Christ is and what his earthly ministry was like.  With the great economic crisis going on around us my thoughts have been drawn to biblical principles and philosophies dealing with our money.  So I will begin there.

Most approaches to finance, even those of leading Christian financial gurus, are not the full biblical perspective on finance, nor do they match Christ’s.  It is not that what they say is all wrong or has not biblical basis, or even that it will not help, but rather that it leaves one too focused, and often wrongly focused, on money and finance.  Some of them may be great help for individuals in certain areas of finance, such as getting one out of debt, or learning to use a budget.  However, we must be careful to then go back to scripture and incorporate a holistic biblical approach.  Christ did not come to earth teaching the American dream, nor did he live it.  Christ did not own a home, make great earthly investments, have wonderful strategies to help with taxes, or have 2 months salary set aside (I am not suggesting we be unwise in these areas).  Money was not what he lived for or gave himself to be greatly concerned about.  He lived dependent, not self reliant.  Chiefly, he was dependent upon his Father in heaven, but secondarily he was dependent upon his followers.

The reason even many Christian financial advisers do not give the whole picture is because Jesus approach to money does not market well:  Your money is not yours, 10% is to be given to God.  Don’t give God the 10% at the end, but your first fruits.  The other 90% is still God’s, but he wants you to use it.  Don’t use it to lay up treasures here on earth, use it to be generous, to bring God glory!  The amazing thing is, the more you know of Christ, the more you will desire to live this way as a response to grace.

Tim Keller calls a true biblical view of economics and finance one that demonstrates “unreasonable and unaccountable generosity.”    His sermon “Grace and Money” may be the best sermon I have ever heard on a biblical view of finance.  Please listen to it carefully.  It very well may be life altering for many, even those that have thought they have been following “biblical” financial advice.   It is a timely message in light of our financial crisis.  If we can but learn to look at money this way, our Christian response will be a light to the world during this time.