BIBLE ADVICE ON MONEY
Many people want to get rich. How can they get the best advice on money? They might first consider the Bible advice on money.
THE BIBLE CAUTIONS PEOPLE ABOUT THE LOVE OF MONEY
The Bible tells us Jesus Christ loves people enough to die for them (John 3:16); and he wants us to love him with all our heart (Matthew 22:37). But the scriptures warns people that the love of money may cause some to compromise their love for the Lord. Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthews 6:24). This principle may be seen demonstrated in the love of some Bible characters:
A WOMAN WITH VERY EXPENSIVE PERFUME. “While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:6-13).
JUDAS. “Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over” (Matthew 26:14-16 NIV).
A RICH YOUNG RULER. “ Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, [b]“Why do you call Me good? [c]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [d]from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthews 19:16-22 NKJV).
HOW THE LOVE OF MONEY MAY CAUSE SOME PEOPLE TODAY TO COMPROMISE THEIR LOVE FOR THE LORD
- Like Judas betrayed Jesus, some people may cheat those close to them.
- Like the rich young ruler, some are not willing to part with their money to help the poor, as the Lord may ask.
- The Lord said some “have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me” (Malachi 3:8)
- As seen on mass media, and done on the down low, some cheat and scam to get ahead of others and for other selfish reasons.
In Seeking to become rich one may forget about their soul and lose it (Luke 12:16-21).
THE BIBLE ADVISES US ON HOW TO AVOID OR BE SET FREE FROM THE LOVE OF MONEY.
- Like the woman with expensive perfume, you can choose to love the Lord more than money.
- Remember “that though [Jesus Christ] was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
- “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
- “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves [and scammers] break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
- Believe the Bible: “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth…So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NLT).
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” and all other things you need and desire shall be given to you (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4), in accordance with God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). And “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
