Money: Righteousness and Faithfulness

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

—Matthew 6:24

The love of money as a root of all types of evil (1st Timothy 6:10).

Handling money righteously

Example: Paul’s attitude of honesty in collecting and taking gift to saints in Jerusalem (2nd Corinthians 18- 21; esp. verse 21: providing all things honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men).

Handling money faithfully

In addition to handling money faithfully, it is coming to a state of heart where the ownership or use of money is free from the insidious love of or trust in it. It includes

• avoiding the lust of the eyes or desire to have more and more of what money can get (1st John 2:16)
• avoiding placing even the subtlest confidence in money or our possessions (see the example of David in 2nd Samuel 24). Was there anything inherently wrong in David numbering the people? Why was God angry with him?

Our example of Jesus in having the right attitude towards money

• a radical detachment from money which was enough to trust God for His provisions even when one stole from Him (John 12:6)
• willingness to lend and give without any reward or recognition (Luke 6:35; Psalm 37:21)
• His use of money: bought what He needed, gave to the poor, saved (John 13:29)

Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven (Proverbs 23:4-5)