In response to "Putting money in its place"
Back in November, I said I was going to respond to an article on the Kentucky Post by Kevin Eigelbach, called Putting money in its place. Well, it tooks some time, but I finally have a bit of time to write a proper response to Kevin's bit (thanks to an ankle sprain at my volleyball game last night). So, here we go.
"It's because I wonder what's Christian about financial planning...Remember that Jesus advised his followers to sell what they had, give the money to the poor and follow him." Kevin, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Jesus commands us to love one another as we love ourselves. To those who place things such as money, he commands to give that up, and follow him. "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24. Nowhere in scripture does God say that his followers have to be poor.
Kevin points out that God "...told people not to worry about what they were going to eat or wear, but instead spend their time thinking on God's kingdom," and I agree. It is not, however, a command to sit idly by and do nothing in regards to work or making a living. Actually, man was given the "earth and everything in it" to take care of and maintain. In essence, we were commanded to work the land. Yes, God will provide what we need, but we have to do our part as well. This idea is comparable to that of prayer. We don't pray to make God aware of our needs, but, when we are operating within God's will, we share our needs to God. He knows what we need, but, many times, we don't. It is for our benefit, not God's.
Kevin continues his argument that to trust in God for our provisions precludes any planning on our part. He couldn't be more wrong. Did you know that money and handling money is found in scripture 800 times. 800 times! That's more than any other topic. Maybe, God has something to tell us about how we are to handle God's provision, money. Let's take a look.
In Proverbs 6:6-8 God says to "Go to the ant, o sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest." Do as the ant does and store up provisions to nourish your family in troubled times. Save.
In Proverbs 22:7, God says that "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." We are commanded not to borrow.
In Proverbs 21:10, God says that "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." Again, we are told to save.
In Proverbs 21:5, God says that "The plan of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty." This one is quite obvious, plan. It doesn't say to be poor.
Alright, one more. In Luke 14:28-30, God points out "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it, (29) lest, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’." You can't build a house without plans.
"It makes me think that when we die, God's going to give us a test on how well we used what he gave us." Well Kevin, I hate to break it to you, but that is the case. One day, we will all stand before God and be held accountable for everything that we were given and how we handled that responsibility. To some it's a frightening thought. Many dismiss it. We'll see.
"It all makes me feel that our problem is we have too much, not too little...I don't often hear people say this in church, however. Church people seem just as driven to earn more and acquire more things as everyone else." I don't know if I'd define it as driven more so than being obedient with God's provisions. To him that much is given, much is required. God will only bless those who are obedient.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!" Malachi 3:10
"It's because I wonder what's Christian about financial planning...Remember that Jesus advised his followers to sell what they had, give the money to the poor and follow him." Kevin, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Jesus commands us to love one another as we love ourselves. To those who place things such as money, he commands to give that up, and follow him. "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24. Nowhere in scripture does God say that his followers have to be poor.
Kevin points out that God "...told people not to worry about what they were going to eat or wear, but instead spend their time thinking on God's kingdom," and I agree. It is not, however, a command to sit idly by and do nothing in regards to work or making a living. Actually, man was given the "earth and everything in it" to take care of and maintain. In essence, we were commanded to work the land. Yes, God will provide what we need, but we have to do our part as well. This idea is comparable to that of prayer. We don't pray to make God aware of our needs, but, when we are operating within God's will, we share our needs to God. He knows what we need, but, many times, we don't. It is for our benefit, not God's.
Kevin continues his argument that to trust in God for our provisions precludes any planning on our part. He couldn't be more wrong. Did you know that money and handling money is found in scripture 800 times. 800 times! That's more than any other topic. Maybe, God has something to tell us about how we are to handle God's provision, money. Let's take a look.
In Proverbs 6:6-8 God says to "Go to the ant, o sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest." Do as the ant does and store up provisions to nourish your family in troubled times. Save.
In Proverbs 22:7, God says that "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." We are commanded not to borrow.
In Proverbs 21:10, God says that "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." Again, we are told to save.
In Proverbs 21:5, God says that "The plan of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty." This one is quite obvious, plan. It doesn't say to be poor.
Alright, one more. In Luke 14:28-30, God points out "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it, (29) lest, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’." You can't build a house without plans.
"It makes me think that when we die, God's going to give us a test on how well we used what he gave us." Well Kevin, I hate to break it to you, but that is the case. One day, we will all stand before God and be held accountable for everything that we were given and how we handled that responsibility. To some it's a frightening thought. Many dismiss it. We'll see.
"It all makes me feel that our problem is we have too much, not too little...I don't often hear people say this in church, however. Church people seem just as driven to earn more and acquire more things as everyone else." I don't know if I'd define it as driven more so than being obedient with God's provisions. To him that much is given, much is required. God will only bless those who are obedient.
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!" Malachi 3:10
posted by Emma at 2:36 PM
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