The Messiah’s ministry sent shockwaves throughout Jerusalem. Jesus challenged the presumptions that people had about religion, God, morality, and relationships. One of the most unsettling subjects He regularly addressed with first-century listeners was their possessions and finances. It was a difficult topic for them—and one we still struggle with today.
Buckle up! Here are five unnerving things Jesus said about money.
1. Give to the one who asks of you.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42 NIV).
Why it is unsettling: There is no nuance in this directive. It might seem to be a hyperbolic statement—after all, how could we give to everyone who asks of us? But ultimately, Jesus’s words do not permit us the justifications we might use to excuse our own selfishness.
When we are faced with a need or a request for aid, as followers of Jesus, we know what the expectation is.
2. Don’t make a show of your giving.
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward” (Matthew 6:2 ESV).
Why it is unsettling: We all desire to have others think well of us. When we give our resources to those in need without fanfare, we’re really making two sacrifices: the financial sacrifice and the sacrifice of the subsequent praise or appreciation.
Jesus promises us a reward but gives us the choice to collect immediately from our peers or from Him in the future. It takes genuine faith to choose the latter.
3. Store up treasures in heaven.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves 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 ESV).
Why it is unsettling: This is simply a foreign way to think about our resources. Treasure laid up for us on earth represents security and safety. The idea of using our finances to facilitate God’s work and store up treasure in heaven is inspiring, but it still requires a leap of faith.
It is a profound truth that the way we use our riches has an effect on our hearts. If we store up money because we are worried about our security, we’ll never have enough. But if we practice giving more freely, we will grow in faith as we see the Lord continue to provide.
4. Worrying about money can strangle your faith.
“Hear then the parable of the sower: As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:18, 22 ESV).
Why it is unsettling: Throughout Christ’s ministry, He warned His disciples about wealth. In fact, He told them that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24). This is not because money is intrinsically bad; it’s because we can too easily place our trust in wealth rather than in the Lord.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes four responses to the gospel:
- Some people have the word snatched from them by the enemy before it can take root.
- Some receive the word but then lack the stamina of faith to endure difficulties.
- Some hear the word but their faith is choked out by the deceitfulness of wealth and worldly cares.
- Some hear the word of the gospel and respond wholeheartedly.
It is sobering to realize that the way we handle our finances could be a primary obstacle to our faith.
5. Wealth’s veneer of security can blind us to our real needs.
“For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17 ESV).
Why it is unsettling: Wealth has the potential to blind us to our genuine needs. When we have access to capital, many of life’s frustrations and concerns can be mitigated. This is not bad—unless it diminishes our awareness of our true reliance upon God’s provision for every good thing.
Jesus spoke these words to the church at Laodicea. It is significant to recognize that the deceitfulness of wealth does not apply only to individuals—it has corporate implications as well. Wealth made the Laodicean church completely oblivious to its glaring deficiencies.
Money is a tool; how will you use it?
There is no question that money can bring value to God’s Kingdom. Wealth can be an incredible asset in the hands of the faithful. But we also need to be cognizant of the dangers. If our trust and security are not found in God alone, we are vulnerable to wealth’s deceits.
God cares about how we use our money because God cares about our hearts.
