Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

New Wineskins

Home
Evangelical
Why “Your” Money Isn’t Your Money

Why “Your” Money Isn’t Your Money

Last updated on: October 24, 2012 at 9:00 am by Josh Daffern

Why “Your” Money Isn’t Your Money 2012-10-24T09:00:23-06:00 Josh Daffern

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Big Idea: God owns everything. I’m his money manager.

In the spring of 1994, I held a small piece of paper that would forever change the way I lived. I had just started my first real job, where I was a food service technician (i.e. waiter) at an upscale retirement home. Never changed a bed pan. Just needed to say that. The piece of paper I held was my first paycheck. I had busted my tail for two weeks at $4.50 an hour (whoop whoop) and had received something like $164 for my first paycheck. It was a mythical moment. I’d never before held that much money before.

What made it special was that it was “my” money. I earned it. It was mine. No more freeloading off my dad (okay, I’d waive that rule for a few more years). I was in the big house. I was making it rain. $164 was so much money, I didn’t know how I would spend it all. Guess what? I figured out a way. I actually figured out a way to spend it all before my next paycheck.

My relationship with money began. It’s a relationship that defines all of us. What’s funny is that we love what money does for us, but we hate what it does to us. We love the food, the comforts, the toys that money can buy. But we hate what it does to us. We hate the fights that it causes with those closest to us. We hate how money seems to draw out the worst in us. We hate how we start controlling our money, but before too long, it seems to control us.

Back in February at Mt Vernon Church, we walked through a series called Going Green. Since money’s the elephant in the room, I figured we might as well attack it head on and see what God teaches us about it. The first truth to learn about “your” money is this: God owns everything. I’m his money manager. The truth is, “our” money isn’t really “our” money. It’s God’s. He just lets us play with it for awhile. Don’t believe me? Ask Him.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1

“I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:7-8

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Since “our” money is actually God’s money, that changes everything about how we should handle it. Let me ask it this way: if a financial service treated your money the way you’re treating God’s money, would you fire yourself?

What else does the Bible say about money? A lot, actually. Come back next Wednesday to read part two.

QUESTION: Has there ever been a moment when you realized that “your” money wasn’t really your money?

Uncategorized

Bible

Biblical Truth

but does anyone ever read these tags?)

pulled pork (not really

retirement home

wealth

Previous Post

October 23, 2012

Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job, by Jon Acuff

Next Post

October 25, 2012 Synchronized Ushering

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Family Matters Ministry in the Trenches Morning Brew MTVpastor New Wineskins Top Menu Truth from Life Uncategorized Watch Sermons

Select a Month June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible contains the story of Balaam’s talking donkey?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Judges Numbers 1 Samuel Exodus