The Power of Mammon
“No one 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 (NIV)
I’ve been noticing a trend within areas of the church where the teaching of grace is accompanied by a teaching of money. To live in God’s grace, as the teaching suggests, is to be given much money. It seems to be a throwback to the 80s excess days of spiritual high rollers, who proved their level of faith by the suits they wore.
I for one have never really understood this focus, and the teaching has never sat right with me. Let us be clear, I believe in God’s grace, and every morning I teach the kids about it, but money, or at least a specific prayer for it, seems… off.
As I teach the kids, I have to be diligent in doing my best to ensure that what I teach is correct, that it makes them grow, and pushes them along their journey with God. For me to teach any old thing is unacceptable. I would sooner teach a boring, but truthful lesson, than an exciting, but false one. Yawns I can abide, but not false teaching.
So, being the OCD sufferer that I am, I can not rest until I find out whether I am right, or whether I am wrong (or somewhere in between). I mean, to be right means that I find that my instincts have been right all along, but to be wrong means that I can pray to God to give me a boat load of cash! So I’m not seeking vindication, but truth.
The first reason I question this teaching is because it focuses on a tool, and not the outcome. Hear me out, money is a very useful tool, but that is all it is. If it becomes more than a tool, then it becomes too much. One can use their vast wealth to build into the Kingdom of God or to help others (and let me say, there have been many who have done a great job of this, e.g. Bill Gates, Warren Buffet). But then, if that is all I am after, shouldn’t I be praying that the KoG comes (see The Lord’s prayer, Luke 11:2-4)? My focus should be on the outcome, and not the means, should it not?
But perhaps I am wrong there. If we look at the Kingdom as being like a literal building, I might be able to understand somebody praying for the tools necessary to perform that task. But then, is it accurate to represent the Kingdom as being like a building? What is the Kingdom? When Jesus came, he came proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was at hand, and yet He lived a life of modesty, sometimes going hungry, but never mentioning a desire for more money. The Kingdom is God’s reign, and He doesn’t need money to rule.
To be fair though, without money I would not be where I am. I have enough money, perhaps more than enough for now, but I have never prayed that God would bless me with money, only that He would take care of my needs. And to that end, I have been blessed abundantly.
“If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained… then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.”
Job 31:24-25,28 (NIV)
Furthermore, how can we begin to understand what Christ taught when we do not understand why He taught? Remember the Beatitudes? Blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the poor, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness? How was a rich man to respond when they heard that? Especially when it came to the woes! (See Luke 6:20-26). How can we truly help the poor (help them, not condescend them), if we do not know what it is like to go without? More than that. How can we say we truly need God when we don’t need what He offers?
In fairness, people who talk to me about money believe that if they were to be blessed with much of it, then it would be for the purpose of being good stewards. Not to spend on themselves, but to help others. Kudos to them. But such a high level of temptation. Such a large burden. I do not wish that upon myself!
Talking from my human point of view, I would love a vault full of money that could rival that of Uncle Scrooge. But talking from my spiritual side, I do not know if I would be able to handle it, and do not wish that kind of temptation (“Deliver me from temptation.”) Let’s be realistic here. I am, in truth, a selfish man. I think of myself quite a lot. If I had $5,000 on me right now to do what ever I wanted with, I would probably buy a new motorbike. I’d probably even argue how I need it for ministry. I’d try to convince myself, and I’d probably succeed. But what good would it do me to gain the whole world, but forfeit my soul? (Luke 9:25)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”1 Tim 6:10-12 (ESV)
Perhaps the actual possession of wealth isn’t a bad thing. I’m not trying to argue one way or the other for that. But to pray for more? I cannot say yes to that, as it would simply be excess. Instead, I pray that God watches over me, that He protects me, that He takes care of my needs, and He does so. I pray too that God’s will be done, that His Kingdom come, that the work He does with me is fruitful, and it is. Why then do I need to pray for money? Is it sick?
I can’t see it any other way. If you focus your prayer on money, you will never have enough. But if you pray to be looked after, you will never be alone.
“The faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
Prov 28:20 (NIV)
