The Christian’s Money

The way in which Christians managed their money was of critical importance to Jesus and the Apostles. Greed is frequently warned against. The antidote to greed, generosity, is frequently encouraged. The following scripture survey of money and giving provides an overview of what God expects from us and what we can expect, both good and bad, from God.

Who owns the money?

God owns all the money

Hag 2:8 NKJV  ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.

God owns the entire earth and its inhabitants

Psa 24:1 NKJV  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

God owns all creatures

Psa 50:10-12 NKJV  For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.  11  I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.  12  “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

God owns the heavens and the earth

Psa 89:11 NKJV  The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.

All that we own we have received

1Co 4:7 NKJV  For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Should Christians give money to others?

Luk 11:41 NKJV  But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

Who should Christians give to?

We should give to the poor

Deu 15:7-8 NKJV  “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,  8  but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

Luk 12:33 NKJV  Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

1Jn 3:17 NKJV  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

We should give to anyone who asks

Mat 5:42 NKJV  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

We should give to our enemies

Luk 6:30 NKJV  Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.

We should NOT give to people who are lazy

2Th 3:10 CEV  We also gave you the rule that if you don’t work, you don’t eat.

Pro 13:4 GNB  No matter how much a lazy person may want something, he will never get it. A hard worker will get everything he wants.

Pro 20:4 GNB  A farmer too lazy to plow his fields at the right time will have nothing to harvest.

Pro 24:30-34 GNB  I walked through the fields and vineyards of a lazy, stupid person.  31  They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down.  32  I looked at this, thought about it, and learned a lesson from it:  33  Go ahead and take your nap; go ahead and sleep. Fold your hands and rest awhile,  34  but while you are asleep, poverty will attack you like an armed robber.

Why should Christian’s give?

Give to orientate one’s heart toward God

Luk 12:34 NKJV  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Give for the sake of fairness

2Co 8:13-14 ESV  For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness  14  your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

Give to bless the Lord

Mat 25:34-40 NKJV  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  35  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  36  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’  37  “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  38  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  39  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  40  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.‘

Give to store up riches treasures in heaven

Mat 6:19-20 ESV  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

Give to protect our resources from thieves and corrosion

Luk 12:33 NKJV Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

Give to imitate Jesus

1Jn 3:16-17 ESV  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  17  But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

2Co 8:9 ESV  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Give to obey God

Isa 58:6-7 ESV  “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  7  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Give to prove our love is real

2Co 8:8 CEV  I am not ordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love is by comparing it with the concern that others have shown.

Give because that is what we would want others to do for us

Mat 7:12 ESV  “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Give because there are urgent needs

Tit 3:14 ESV  And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Give because we sometimes owe others

Rom 15:26-27 ESV  For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.  27  For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

How should we give

We should give willingly

2Co 9:5 ESV  So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

We should give cheerfully

2Co 9:7 ESV  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We should give generously when we are enriched

2Co 9:11 ESV  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

What happens when Christians give?

We receive rewards when we give

Pro 19:17 NKJV  He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

Pro 22:9 NKJV  He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Mat 10:42 NKJV  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Luk 6:38 NKJV  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Mat 10:42 ESV  And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Luk 14:13-14 ESV  But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,  14  and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

We inherit the kingdom when we give

Mat 25:34-36 ESV  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  35  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  36  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

We are reassured in God’s presence, know we have eternal life and belong to the truth when we give

1Jn 3:14-19 GW  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death.  … 17  Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer?  18  Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.  19  This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be reassured in his presence.

The Lord will bless, deliver and heal us when we give

Psa 41:1-3 NKJV  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.  2  The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.  3  The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.

Our kindness is remembered forever when we give

2Co 9:9 GNB  As the scripture says, “He gives generously to the needy; his kindness lasts forever.”

What happens when Christians don’t give?

We receive eternal punishment if we don’t  give

Mat 25:41-46 NKJV  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  42  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;  43  I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’  44  “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’  45  Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’  46  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Our faith is useless if we don’t give

Jas 2:15-17 ESV  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  16  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  17  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Why don’t people give?

People don’t give because they are anxious for the future

Mat 6:24-25 ESV  “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.  25  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Luk 12:21-22 ESV  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”  22  And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

People don’t give because they don’t trust God

Mat 6:28-30 ESV  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  29  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

People don’t give because of greed

Luk 12:15-19 ESV  And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  16  And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,  17  and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’  18  And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  19  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

People don’t give because they are choked by the pleasures of life

Luk 8:14 ESV  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

Compare with:
Php 4:16-17 ESV  Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.  17  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Tit 3:13-14 ESV  Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.  14  And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

People don’t give because they lack mercy

Luk 10:33-37 ESV  But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.  34  He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  35  And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’  36  Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”  37  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Do few rich people get to heaven?

It is difficult for a rich person to enter heaven

Mat 19:23 NKJV  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mar 10:23 NKJV  Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!“

Luk 18:24 ESV  Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

It is nearly impossible for the rich to get to heaven

Mat 19:24  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luk 18:25 ESV  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Those who desire to be rich destroy themselves

1Ti 6:9 NKJV  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

What does a lack of giving demonstrate?

Failing to give shows we lack God’s love

1Jn 3:17 NKJV  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Why can Christians give sacrificially?

They sacrifice because they trust their future to God

Luk 12:28-32 NKJV  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  29  “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  30  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  31  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.  32  “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

They sacrifice because they are content with food and clothing

1Ti 6:8 NKJV  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Pro 30:8-9 NKJV  Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me;  9  Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Php 4:11 ESV  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

How much should Christians give?

Give according to your means

2Co 8:3 ESV  For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

Give if you have this world’s goods

1Jn 3:17 ESV  But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Give until our Christian brothers’ needs are supplied

2Co 8:12-14 ESV  For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.  13  For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness  14  your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

Jas 2:15-16 ESV  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  16  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

How much should Christians keep?

Keep enough so that you are not burdened and don’t become a burden

2Co 8:12-14 ESV  For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.  13  For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness  14  your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

Keep enough so you are clothed and fed

Luk 3:10-11 ESV  And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?”  11  And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

1Ti 6:8 ESV  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Keep enough for your daily need

Luk 11:2-3 ESV  And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.  3  Give us each day our daily bread,

Pro 30:7-8 GNB  I ask you, God, to let me have two things before I die:  8  keep me from lying, and let me be neither rich nor poor. So give me only as much food as I need.

Keep enough to provide for your family

1Ti 5:8 GNB  But if any do not take care of their relatives, especially the members of their own family, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever.

Related verses

‘Having riches’ often leads to ‘trusting in riches’

Mar 10:23-24 NKJV  Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”  24  And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!