Money - Part 3

Jesus on money

Jesus was always outspoken when it came to money. Nobody could challenge Him or surprise Him. Jesus said where your treasure is there your heart will be also. God wants to be your treasure!

Matthew 6:19-21

"19 "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. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ESV

This speaks directly to so many people today. Do you know someone who lives to accumulate stuff or money? Jesus tells us that this is not what life is about!

Matthew 6:24-34

"24 "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? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 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? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ESV

Jesus speaks to a culture where people live from hand to mouth. Food, clothing and worrying about tomorrow. If Jesus where speaking to us today He might have used different examples. Maybe something like, "do not worry about trying to impress people with your fancy car or house." Jesus wants us to trust Him with our financial life and well being. 

Luke 12:23 "There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body." MSG

We need to focus on the spiritual aspects of our lives and not be consumed by worrying about outer adornments. 

Luke 6:36-38

“36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."” GNB

Ask, seek, knock

Matthew 7:7-11

"Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. 8 For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks a loaf, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a snake? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him?" MKJV

Jesus ministry was not limited by finances. When they had 5000 + people to feed, He didn't phone heaven and complain to God. He gave thanks for what God had given Him and then He multiplied it!

Matthew 14:15-21

"15 That evening his disciples came to him and said, "It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves." 16 "They don't have to leave," answered Jesus. "You yourselves give them something to eat!" 17 "All we have here are five loaves and two fish," they replied. 18 "Then bring them here to me," Jesus said. 19 He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over. 21 The number of men who ate was about five thousand, not counting the women and children." GNB

Jesus position on taxes

Matthew 22:15-22

"15 The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong. 16 They sent some of their followers and some of Herod's followers to say to him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. 17 Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?" 18 Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said, "Why are you trying to test me? You show-offs! 19 Let me see one of the coins used for paying taxes." They brought him a silver coin, 20 and he asked, "Whose picture and name are on it?" 21 "The Emperor's," they answered. Then Jesus told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God." 22 His answer surprised them so much that they walked away." CEV

Luke 16:10-11

"10 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?" ESV

I hope that you are enjoying this series on finances. More to follow soon.