CHRIST VERSUS CHRISTIANITY
What Did Jesus Say About Money? Did Jesus have much to say on the topic of finances? What was Jesus’ teaching on money and possessions? Were any of His teachings on money controversial?
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t’s been said that the most sensitive part of the human anatomy is . . . the wallet. Money can be a touchy topic. It’s been a major issue for as long as currency has been used for economic exchange. There may be big differences between people across historical eras and cultures, but three truths almost universally apply: we want more money, we want to spend it as we please, and we resent being taxed. It should be no surprise that Jesus Christ had things to say about money. Some of His teachings on money were controversial in His time—and still are today. So let’s explore three of Jesus’ most significant teachings about money.
1. Jesus taught that money shouldn’t be our driving motivation in life.
In the world of Christianity, there is a message that has become known as the prosperity gospel. It’s sometimes
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called the health and wealth gospel, and it’s popular among television evangelists. The basic message is that if you have faith in Jesus and do things pleasing to Him, He will bless you with personal success and wealth (which, of course, television preachers usually want a significant portion of). It’s essentially a Christian form of the Eastern idea of karma. But did Jesus make physical blessings a major thrust of His message? Did He lure people to follow Him by promising them abundant physical and financial success in this life? The truth is, He taught just the opposite. Jesus taught that following Him requires sacrifice. For instance, He said that one had to “deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” to be a disciple (Matthew 16:24). In this verse, taking up one’s “cross” is a symbol of sacrifice. Sometimes the sacrifice one must endure is losing family and friends (Luke 14:26). And sometimes that sacrifice may be money. During His ministry, Jesus encountered a wealthy young man
March/April 2021
