It’s Up In The Air On Money

People view money in different ways. But since money will always play a key role in each individual’s life, how should it be viewed?  Is there a right perspective or view on money?  Webster’s dictionary defines money as “something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment” (Merriam-Webster).  In a nutshell money is utilitarian and is used to keep the economy running. It is used in almost every transaction.

Even though money is simply utilitarian most people, regardless of their religious background, view money as the end of all and be all. Most people define money as success and self worth (Crosson 4-6).  This is evident by the fact that many people work in places where they hate their jobs and yet they continue to do what they do not like to do or enjoy because they want to make more money. They feel that the amount of money that they have is a direct correlation to their success and self worth.  People are also willing to go to great lengths including: putting their reputations, businesses, and families on the line by lying and cheating in order to make more money.

Since most of society sees money as success and self worth, the question is: is there a Biblical perspective on money?  Is there a right way to view it?  Despite what we might believe, the Bible makes it very clear how an individual and society as a whole can be consumed by money, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money” (Luke 16:13). This verse makes it very clear that one either seeks God and His perspective on money or man and his perspective (success and self worth).   A society (or person) seeking to gain monetary wealth is not a society (or person) seeking after God. The Bible goes on to say that, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1Timothy 6:10). Money in itself is not evil, but once people begin to worship money and see it as a source of self worth and a measure of success is when money becomes their master.

Let’s look at the two perspectives of money that are worldly.  First of all, self worth is not measured by how much money we have, but unfortunately is a problem in most people’s thinking relative to self worth. If we believe that people’s view of us is related to our money, then of course we are going to worship money because that is where we get our image. Whereas if we realize that, “man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7), then we begin to understand that money is not a measure of our self worth. We then can begin to grasp that God sees us for who we are in Him versus what we have that money can buy.

The second perspective is that money is somehow related to being successful. Many associate success with money.  The more money we have the more successful we are.  Success according to God, though it has nothing to do with money, is focused on living a life for God and using money to further His kingdom. Many people ignore this and attempt to go about handling money in their own way. We must ask if the world is so wise and success is a result of money, then why are there so many wealthy athletes, actors, and rock stars who are just throwing their lives away?

If money is not a measure of self worth or success, then what is the purpose of money, other then to purchase goods and survive in this ever-growing economy? Ron Blue, in his book Master Your Money, states that God’s view on money can be characterized with three words: tool, test, and testimony (Blue 21). “He [Ron] says that money is a tool God uses to mold us to His image. It is a test of our faithfulness (Luke 16:11-13). And it is a vehicle that can enhance our individual testimonies; it provides opportunities for us to be salt and light to this world (Matthew 5:13-16)” (Crosson 12).

A tool is an object that is used to create or build another object. God can use money in many ways to, “mold us to His image” (12). In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul explains how he has learned to be content in every circumstance, whether he had a lot or nothing at all. This verse shows that one can be molded by God whether or not they are poor or they are rich. God can mold a poor person by helping him trust Him when he does not have money and He can mold a rich person by putting on his heart to be generous and use his money to give. In either circumstance it takes much faith to trust God with this area of money because it is what allows us to live and make it through our everyday lives.

  Money is also a test in many people’s lives. Not only does money help create, like a tool, but it can also shape an individual through different circumstances. Matthew 25: 14-30 talks about how God has entrusted each one of us with a different amount of blessings, and that as we prove trustworthy with those things then he will entrust us with more. We have a choice to make when it come to these gifts that God has given us. We can either use them to bring glory and recognition to ourselves or use them to bring glory, honor, and recognition to God. We can either build ourselves up here on earth or invest in eternity. When it is said like that, money seems much less important.

Ultimately money is a testimony that will allow us to make a difference in the world around us. By investing in things that bring glory to God, money can be a testimony. However, most Christians never consider what they would do with their money to be a testimony; they do not look any different than the world.  People are watching and noticing how we “Christians” handle our money. The question is: do we look any different?  When my dad speaks for groups, he always shares the story about the fact that if Christ were to return to earth and take back all of the Christians who did not have debt, the Rapture could have already occurred.  But why is this the case?  The answer is simple yet difficult to hear; most Christians do not handle their money any differently than the world.  They are in debt, spending more than they make, buying frivolous things that make them “acceptable” according in the world’s eyes rather then using their money to further God’s Kingdom. 

It is extremely easy to tell what is important to someone; one only needs to look at their calendar and their checkbook. Where we spend most of our time and money is what is closest to our hearts. That is why it is extremely important to be a good steward with what God has bestowed upon us, especially in the monetary area.  People are watching us and we need to be a good testimony, “so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). They key being everything needs to bring glory to God; including how we spend our money.

“As Christians, we are not called to be better than the world when it comes to our money, but rather we are called to be different form the world” (13). What sets us apart from the rest of the world? We need to see money differently, not as a measure of self worth or success, but as an opportunity to grow closer to God and further His Kingdom. “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Cor. 4:7). Everything we have is a gift from God that must be seen as a blessing and a gift. It is only if we can understand and grasp this important point that we will finally be able to use our money to glorify God.

Works Cited

Blue, Ronald W. Master Your Money. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1986.

Crosson, Russell D. Money and Your Marriage. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing Co, 1989.

Merriam-Webster. 2006. <http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/money>.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Nashville TN, 1984.