The Christian and Money Part II
by Christopher Hendrix
Karl Marx sought to create an economically egalitarian society. He wanted to steal from the rich and give that money to the poor. He sought to redistribute wealth in society and force those with more to give to those in the lower classes. He thought true joy would come from a nation that would equalize wealth. His thought experiment came full force in the wake of communism. Communism produced destruction and death. We look back to the Soviet Union and see thousands upon thousands of lives slaughtered in the name of equity. We look presently to China and see the oppressiveness of a communist regime. Communism certainly creates a culture of death.
Listen to Pastor Chris teach on 2 Corinthians 8:8-15.
Sadly, some of these principles live in our American culture. Redistribution of wealth, welfare, and governmental programs exist that aim to take money from the rich and give it to those in a lower class. However, many who receive government money refuse to take responsibility for their own lives and don’t work, grow accustomed to dependence upon the government, and become lazy. The government acts not on Christian principles but on Marxist principles that may sound good, loving, and kind but, in the end, contain a poison that destroys the dignity of humanity.
Even worse, Christians take cues from what they see through the government and apply them to the church. Whether through helping the poor, caring for refugees, or giving to third-world nations, we do these things without thought or biblical wisdom. We think the simple act of letting money go out of our hands and into someone else’s is Christ-honoring. However, giving our money is not that simple.
Paul addresses the use of money in Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 8–15, and we can learn much from Paul’s principles he acts upon. First, Christians ought to be compassionate with their money. Giving is a demonstration of the love of Christ within us. Giving is purposed in firstly visibly showing the Gospel to those around us. Verse 9 clearly points to the basis and foundation of giving. It is the work of Christ. He humbled himself by coming to the earth and laying aside the glory and riches of heaven to take on flesh. The Incarnation demonstrates how God is a giving God. Not only that, but the crucifixion displays the extremely generous nature of God. He freely gave the most important thing in existence, Himself. Christians are now rich because we are in Christ. We have his riches. We have his righteousness. Our giving must reflect the Gospel and point to the ultimate giver, Christ Jesus our Lord.
Second, Christians ought to commit to giving and fulfilling their obligations. When actual needs exist among fellow Christians, we should be the first to step up. The church, not the government or other institutions, should be the primary source of support for those in need. This commitment to one another, rooted in biblical principles, strengthens the church and reflects the love and compassion of Christ.
Finally, Christians ought to give in such a way as to equip and bring up one another, not hamper or create dependency. The expectation Paul has is that as the church at Corinth gives to the church at Jerusalem, eventually, the Jerusalem church will be in a position to give and help the church at Corinth. This means that the funds going to the church will alleviate some immediate needs, but also be used in such a way as to help the church out of poverty. So much so that eventually, they can give back. Our use of money ought to go towards helping with immediate needs, such as disaster relief, famines that have destroyed crops, and many other desperate situations. But our giving doesn’t stop there. It ought to also be done to invest in helping Christians come out of poverty, help them start businesses, and help them create jobs. We create dependency if we give to people who receive handouts and do not create something. In these situations, we act under Marxist principles instead of biblical principles.
So then, as Christians, we give, but not mindlessly. Giving without wisdom or thought is lazy and might show selfish desires. Giving involves bearing with one another and doing the hard work of helping one another out of poverty. It involves caring and generosity to alleviate needs, commitment, and dedication to helping fellow brothers and sisters out of desperation. This takes more love and work, but if Christ gave it all, He is the source of strength. He is the one who transforms our desires from selfish to selfless. He is the one who teaches us how to use our money.