It was a bright spring day in the neighborhood. I was 10 years old and building bike ramps in the street with my friends. We would find discarded wood, large rocks, or a willing volunteer to help prop the wood up long enough to get our bikes to basically fall off the end of the ramp. On that North Carolina road, we had little to worry about except for passing cars and the occasional scraped knee. Like many other kids my age at that time, the last thing on my mind was tax rates and withholdings. Money was something my parents dealt with, not me.
35 years later, I find myself a “responsible adult”, which means that Amy won’t let me build bike ramps on the road and the government won’t let me ignore my taxes. Of course, the more appropriate way of saying that is – the Lord has given me the important responsibility of stewarding my body and resources for His purposes. While this responsibility can admittedly be weighty, it can also be life-giving.
It’s not mine
I’m not sure about you, but I don’t really enjoy passing along money to the government. In fact, when I think about taxes, I can often feel a sense of frustration because “my money” is being taken and used in ways that I don’t always approve of. “My money”, which I could have used to pay bills or improve the house, is now lost in a bureaucratic system that doesn’t always keep track of things very well. While that may be the case, there is something insidious about that way of thinking and it’s the simple truth that it isn’t “my money” at all – it ultimately belongs to God.
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.” Psalm 24:1
There is nothing on earth that does not belong to God. He is the creator and sustainer of our very existence, therefore all that we have is under His control.This is true and yet He gives these good gifts (James 1:17) to His creation in order that we may steward them for His glory.
This includes “my”…
- paycheck
- car
- house
- spouse
- kids
- government 😉
Like a vineyard entrusted to tenants (Luke 20:9-16), the master of the house may provide supplies for those caring for it but it does not truly belong to them. Likewise, there are countless things given by God to us so that we are to steward for His purposes. This is a foundational truth that helps us rightly understand how we are to care for what we have. It is the Lord who directs the use, not us. This includes, but is not limited to, the taxes we pay.
Stewarding our taxes
In Matthew 22, Jesus is confronted by some disciples of the Pharisees that seek to trap him. They come asking whether it’s lawful to pay taxes to Caesar in hopes that his answer will enrage either the Jews or the Romans. Jesus gives an answer to that loaded question by simply stating, “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt 22:21). This answer caused the crowd to marvel at the wisdom of Jesus.
This statement of Jesus is much more than a reminder to file your 1040. Remember the truth in Psalm 24:1, it all belongs to the Lord. This not only includes the money you are giving but also the one who is receiving it. We can then turn our Bibles to Romans 13 to see that “there is no authority except from God.” Not only is my money a provision from God but also the government who I am paying is established by God. The Lord will hold accountable those who receive my tax money, but my role is to honor Christ in the right stewardship of my tax bill.
In other words, as a good steward I am commanded to use the money I have received from the Lord to pay the government that has been established by the Lord as an act of obedience to the Lord.
In that very specific scenario we see that the money we hold in our hands is an opportunity to glorify God by way of stewardship. We use it to care for needs, our families (read 1 Tim 5:8 😲), our government, and also our local body of believers (oh no, he went there).
A difficult but necessary topic
The topic of money is hard because our money (and the way we spend it) often reflects our priorities, passions, and even idols in a way that cannot be denied. I believe this is one of the reasons Jesus spoke on money so often. He knew that money was a key indicator of where our hearts were, thus the reason he said “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). We can draw a direct line between what we spend money on and what is important to us. Therefore, Christian discipleship should include conversations about money and giving if we desire to grow in maturity and wisdom.
That said, it’s also hard to talk about money in the church because so many false teachers and corrupt leaders have abused both teachings about money and also the use of it – but the perversion of truth by some does not negate the truth itself. In other words, we cannot dismiss conversations about money and generosity because evil men have abused it. This would cede ground to the enemy and rob the church of a profound means of growth and joy.
So how should we talk about money? We should talk about it like we do any other area of Christian growth.
Not my will, but yours, be done
When writing about the dangers of sexual immorality and the command to pursue purity the apostle Paul writes, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). While the context of this verse is personal purity, I believe the principle is true for all areas of life – you have been bought with a price, therefore prioritize God’s glory over your own. This is not legalism but rather the right response to the person who has been forgiven (see Rom 12:1). In fact, is this not what Jesus Himself demonstrated before His crucifixion?
In the Garden of Gethsemane the Son of Man sweated drops of blood as He considered the weight of wrath that was about to fall upon Him, yet in that moment He declares to the Father “not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). His life was willfully submitted to the Father, so that God would be glorified for all eternity.
I believe most followers of Christ understand this truth and desire to demonstrate it in their lives. We seek to apply this principle when it comes to our pursuit of holiness, marital relationships, parenting dynamics, and work life – but I wonder how often we consider it when looking at our bank statement. Do we look at our paycheck and say “not my will, but yours, be done?” Do we see ourselves as stewards of God’s gracious gifts or as owners of what is mine?
It’s not about money
If God owns all things and could speak a million dollars into existence without breaking a sweat, why do we need to give generously? Here’s a hint, it’s not about the money itself.
“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others” 2 Corinthians 9:11–13
Did you notice the highlighted result of the church’s generosity in that passage? While Paul mentioned the needs of the saints being met, the primary goal behind the giving was the glory of God. It’s true that God could have made money fall from the sky, but there’s something far more miraculous happening when people who were once gripped by the love of money willingly give it away. This demonstrates the power of God to transform the hearts of men and women through the gospel. It encourages the church, as it did in Acts 4, when there is a generosity that does not see money as “mine” but as God’s.
In short, love for God naturally leads the people of God to use the money of God for the purposes of God.
What now?
Just as each of us are in varying seasons of our life with Christ, there will be a variety of responses to this article.
- Some may be offended that money was spoken about and could be tempted to assign sinful motives to what has been written.
- Some may have never connected the use of money to Christian discipleship, which may cause some self examination and study.
- Some in the church may know this truth, feel conviction over their lack of generosity but are unsure of what to do next.
To my dear brothers and sisters who may be in that last camp, let me encourage you with a few words.
First, remember that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). You have been made right with God by grace through faith in Christ’s sacrifice not the money you give to the church. Secondly, godly conviction is a good thing because it means the Lord is at work in your heart. Do not resist that work, but humbly consider what the Lord is wanting to teach you. Finally, seek the scriptures and godly counsel for how to respond to that conviction and then take a step forward.
The Christian walk is a daily battle with our fleshly desires. The key is to continue moving forward alongside other believers. Remember that even if it’s a small step of faith it’s still progress.
In closing, let’s remember Paul’s instruction that “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
God is not looking for a percentage but a posture of humility, thanksgiving and faith. Like Jesus, who was submitted before the Father in the garden, so should we be.
In the end, I believe that we can only be authentic, cheerful givers if we have first looked upon the cross of Christ to realize all that we have received in Him. It’s in that moment that our affections for Jesus and His people spill over into the way we live, the way we talk, and the way we spend the money He has given.
I pray that the Lord would make us a people who are so captivated by Jesus that we become even more generous in love, service, and money – so that Christ may be glorified in our midst.