Greed vs. Biblical Stewardship

What does the word greedy mean? According to the Bible, it refers to anyone who refuses to follow the Bible’s stewardship commands. First I will briefly show the usual case of greed and then I will present the biblical alternative to it.

For a closer look at the spiritual roots of greed and it’s pervasiveness in the American church, you can read a long page referred to as the Prosperity Gospel. That document will link you back to this one at the appropriate time.

The bible makes many stern warnings about desiring and obtaining riches, or wealth. This runs counter to our materialistic world system.

Greed

Worldly?

Some people have the idea that goes like this: “I can spend my money however I want because I am under grace”. Is this saving grace?

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (NIV)

The grace of God is the opposite of this false-grace.

“It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..” (Titus 2:11-14)

This false grace of promotes greed (a type of wickedness)—disobedience to God’s stewardship commands. True grace leads us to obey God’s material stewardship commands.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."[ 13:5 Deut. 31:6]
(Whole Chapter: Hebrews 13 In context: Hebrews 13:4-6)

Before we examine the dozens of other stewardship commands, which would demand a radical change in lifestyle to most American Christians, I want to briefly clarify a common underlying misconception associated with greediness.

God is not your little buddy

Heb 7:26

26 Such a high priest meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (NIV)

I Jn 2:1-6

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:

6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (NIV)

Are you holy, blameless, pure, and set apart from sinners? Or are you just a normal worldly person who happens also to go to church and do some Christian things too?

Political Prosperity

To be of the World is to be anti-Christ

Luke 16:9-14

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

13 "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."

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. (NIV)

Is God American?

Any modern American Christian writings on prosperity will probably tell you that God wants to prosper his servants. There is no doubt about this. In fact, I will not even include those scriptures, since you will see them everywhere else. The real questions are:

What does this blessing look like? Does it stay with the recipient, or is it given away yet again?
Who are his servants? They are His faithful stewards who are not greedy.
What does He want them to do with the money they come into? Stewardship will be discussed later on below.

Last weekend I heard a preacher brag about his twenty-something year-old son who was a “struggling minister” that the “Lord had blessed with a Lexus”. About half of this preacher’s pulpit time was spent with high-pressure tactics to get money. He even said something about giving all you had (to him), if I remember correctly. He also boasted of his daughter’s excessive wealth. I did not give him a penny. He could get money from his kids if they were as Godly as he claimed. Let’s look at the scriptures to find out exactly who “blesses” his followers with high-dollar unnecessary consumer items.

Phil 2:3-8

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! (NIV)

Another excuse for greed and wealth hoarding that I’ve heard from American Christians is the idea that “God blessed this country”. I have not figured out how that is a logical excuse, but it seems to work for them. However, the Bible exposes both assumptions upon which this idea is based as false:

1. That we as Christians should even view ourselves primarily as Americans:

Gal 3:28

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

2. That this national difference among Christians excuses Americans from our biblical mandate give for the purposes of achieving material equality amongst ourselves (as believers) internationally. This idea is also false. Here is an example of this trans-national giving:

Rom 15:26

26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. (NIV)

Acts 11:27-30

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)

29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.

30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. (NIV)

2 Cor 8:1-8

1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

7 But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-- see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. (NIV)

The Greek Christians did this for the purposes of achieving material equality amongst believers internationally:

2 Cor 8:12-15

12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,

15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

“there will be equality”

Equality between whom? Americans? Or Christians? Yes, Christians--material equality within the body of Christ, regardless of geographic separation. The traveling apostle would bring equalizing gifts between distant enclaves of believers (2 Cor 8:19). As the message spread, the apostle was simply carrying out the pattern described below.

Acts 2:40-47

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

Is it any wonder that there is a lack of miraculous signs and true salvation in today’s church? Acts chapter 2 verse 40 tells us, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved”. Jesus warned us that we will not be trusted with such “true riches” if we are not obedient to his stewardship commands.

Luke 16:10-13

10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

13 "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." (NIV)

Don’t expect any true spiritual riches from God until you follow his stewardship commands. Paul wrote that many of the Corinthians were sick and dying because they failed to “estimate the body aright” 1Co 11:29 (WNT). He was writing about the situation of poor Christians going hungry, while others had plenty, as this document shows.

Acts 4:31-37

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),

37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. (NIV)

We should strive to have no needy persons in the body of Christ. Needs are expected, but by continually refusing to help a truly needy brother or sister in Christ, we deny the faith.

I Jn 3:14-18

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (NIV)

Matt 25:40-43

40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (NIV)

Who is my needy brother?

What is needy? The Bible helps believers define the term “needy” with many scriptures and principles that keep us from enabling lazy, selfish, or greedy people by giving them God’s money or resources.

Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
(Whole Chapter: Galatians 6 In context: Galatians 6:9-11)

True believers are not lazy, selfish, or greedy.

Christian prisoners

There were many brothers and sisters with many urgent needs in the New Testament. For instance, Jesus’ cousin John and many apostles were imprisoned for preaching repentance from sin and self and following Jesus. Looking after such imprisoned brothers is a command. They might have starved back then if you did not. Today, groups such as Voice of the Martyrs (http://www.persecution.com) perform this service for imprisoned preachers.

Heb 10:32-36

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.

33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.

34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (NIV)

Hebrews 13:3
[Col 4:18] Remember [Matt 25:36; Heb 10:34] the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
(Whole Chapter: Hebrews 13 In context: Hebrews 13:2-4)

Looking after guilty criminals has nothing to do with these passages above.

1 Pet 4:15-16

15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (NIV)

Widows

In order to receive charity in the New Testament church, many qualifications had to be met. The first of which was being a true Christian brother or sister. How can you really know who your Christian brother is and who is not? Click here to find out. Some guidelines for giving to the needy brothers and sisters are outlined here.

1 Timothy 5

³Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

1 Tim 5:3-16

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.

8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,

10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.

12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge.

13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.

15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. (NIV)

Debt

Men, read verse 8 above and search your heart. Are you a faithful steward of your money? This passage does not give you much leeway in case you commit to more than you can afford. This is how most people enter into debt, which can damn your soul. I would not even count on my job to be there tomorrow; when I am thinking about what I can afford—and I do not even have a family to support yet. The only loan I have ever taken out was for college-because my parents could never afford to give me money (not that they should have). I paid no more than $2,000 cash for each of the 3 cars I have owned at different times. I usually sell them for almost as much as I paid for them. They always work great. The world system, Babylon, tells you to spend all your money on yourself—usually before you even earn it. God says the opposite.

James 4:13-17

13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (NIV)

We should not work to pay for things we don’t need, but we should instead work to financially help our brothers who are truly in need.

Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
(Whole Chapter: Ephesians 4 In context: Ephesians 4:27-29

Accruing debt in order to acquire unnecessary consumer items is the exact opposite of following this command. True faith in God’s promise of prosperity is accompanied by the action of following God’s stewardship commands.

James 2:14-18

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (NIV)

God, in His equal love for all of his children on the planet, prefers that we follow the “sell everything” model presented here and by Jesus below. If we serve an international God and have international capacity to our non-political ministry, what is our excuse? Hoarding wealth in America because we are a “blessed” country is just a religious type of greed.

Greed is idolatry

The John 11:47-53 passage repeated below is an example of how we crucify Christ afresh (Heb 6:6) when we serve our idols more than Him.

John 11:47-53

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.

48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all!

50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. (NIV)

That same spirit of greed that motivated the Sanhedrin to kill Christ motivates us today to not follow the Bible’s stewardship commands. They were more concerned with their “place” and their “nation” than they were with Jesus.

Idolaters will not inherit the Kingdom of God, but the Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8).

What are your idols? They may not be money or power, as with the Jewish rulers.

Col 3:5

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (NIV)

Eph 5:5-7

5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-- such a man is an idolater-- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

7 Therefore do not be partners with them. (NIV)

Gal 5:19-24

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (NIV)

Rev 21:8

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (NIV)

When you’re greed prevents you from obeying God’s stewardship commands, then you are a greedy idolater, on your way to the lake of fire: Unless you repent by instead following Christ’s commands:

Biblical stewardship

Is it hard to know what greedy is, exactly? When your material possessions are more important to you than following Christ’s commands regarding them, then you are greedy. Let’s look at some more of Christ’s commands and see if you are willing to follow them or if you are greedy and hell-bound.

sell your possessions and give to the poor

You may have been wondering how God was planning on funding his equalization of His wealth among His people described above—especially considering that when most Americans get saved, they have no money because they spent it before they ever earned it. Therefore, if they have wealth, many times it is not in the form of a liquid asset that can be easily transferred to a place of need. Well, don’t worry. God has a solution:

Matt 19:21-30

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (NIV)

Many say that Yeshua’s command to “sell your possessions and give to the poor” is only for that particular young man (and not for us), because that young man supposedly “had a problem” with that area. Who doesn’t have a “problem in that area”? Watch Jesus make the same demand of crowd, and warn them all to be on “..guard against all kinds of greed”.

Luke 12:13-34

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"

15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.

17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)

In light of verse 33 above, was this command to sell your possessions only for the rich young ruler? What about this command that he also issued to a large crowd:

Luke 14

³³In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Now that I have presented 2 or 3 witnesses to testify that this command is binding on all believers, here is an example of this command in action:

Luke 19:5-27

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

12 He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.

13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'

14 "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

15 "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'

17 "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'

18 "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'

19 "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'

20 "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.

21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'

22 "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?

23 Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

24 "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'

25 "'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'

26 "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-- bring them here and kill them in front of me.'" (NIV)

Jesus assured this man of his salvation. He rarely assured people of their salvation—much unlike today’s preachers. However, obeying His “sell everything and give to the poor” condition seemed to be enough to convince Christ of this man’s newfound salvation. Yes, Zacchaeus only gave half of his possessions to the poor. However, he had to have money to pay out in restitution for his previous sin of collecting more than he was “required to”.

Luke 3
¹⁰"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.
¹¹John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
¹²Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
¹³"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told
¹⁴them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."

tithing

Luke 11:38-42

38 But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.

39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?

41 But give what is inside to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

42 "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. (NIV)

The Pharisees, like most Christians today, tithed. They also gave alms to the poor. Most Christians today pay other sedentary Christians to be clergy for them, locally. There is no biblical (New Testament) mandate for or against this optional practice. However, when Christians think that this type of giving replaces (or is equal to) the types of giving that ARE commanded in scripture, they make a deadly error. Giving 10% of your life to Christ will not save you. Tithing is a good start, however:

Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 5 In context: Matthew 5:19-21)

Old Testament Greed?

The passages above, Acts 2:40-47, and Acts 4:31-37 are a continuation of Christ’s “sell everything” teaching. The believers had “everything in common 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…” However, this message of selfless charity was not new to Christ either:

Psalms

(119:35) Direct me in the path of your commands,

for there I find delight.

(119:36) Turn my heart toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

(119:37) Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my life according to your word.

I decided that an extensive look at stewardship in the Old Testament is outside the scope of this document for now. People tend to pick and choose which parts of the Old Testament still apply today anyway. I’m not surprised that they tend to keep the parts that they like:

God’s promise of material prosperity to those who obey him.
Tithing—or a mutation of it (except they tithe to sedentary clergy).
The law of sowing and reaping – for example, a clergy member might claim, “If you sow into my ministry, God will pay you back 3 times what you put in!”

For now, I’ll have to let someone else debunk the “proof” scriptures they use to support these doctrines. However, it should be obvious that God never advocated greed – in the old or new testament.

Christian Greed?

…money always follows righteousness?

That’s what Benny Hinn claims (see prosperity gospel). So do many others. Let’s see if it was God’s will for the New Testament writers to be rich.

2 Cor 9:9-13

9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. (NIV)

Notice the context of God’s promise of riches. He was writing to thank believers for following the biblical stewardship principle of sending equalizing international gifts through the traveling apostles. They were recipients of God’s promise to give the faithful steward more. Since they had been faithful in little, he could trust them to be faithful with much.

Matt 25:14-46

14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.

17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.

18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (NIV)

If the promise “You will be made rich in every way” in 2 Cor. 9:11 was for everyone, at all times, then I suppose Paul was “outside of God’s will” here below:

1 Cor 4:8-16

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings-- and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!

9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.

10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.

15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (NIV)

Matt 8:19-20

19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (NIV)

Apparently, Christ and His followers endured long-term periods of homelessness. I guess they were not “blessed” by the God of this world.

Poor, but generous

This may seem shocking, because in the US, we tend to associate homelessness with poor moral decisions and financial mismanagement. However, humble living appeared to be a lifestyle choice concomitant with the biblical stewardship pattern of sacrificial giving.

John 12:6

6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. (NIV)

Yes, it appears that Jesus had a money bag. Perhaps the money was given out of it to the poor. This would only make sense, because Christ would be practicing what He preached. However, it is not expressly stated by the scripture, as far as I know. He was traveling a lot to do the “work of the Lord”: Preaching the Full Gospel; Preaching, healing, and driving out demons. Therefore, He may not have been able to work to meet His own needs. It would have been believers’ responsibility to provide for Him.

1 Corinthians 15

⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

What does it mean to give yourself fully? It means that you will do whatever it takes for the work of the Lord. That could mean traveling to provide for traveling apostles needs:

Matthew 27:55
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 27 In context: Matthew 27:54-56)

Mark 15:41
In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 15 In context: Mark 15:40-42)

Or it could mean giving them money for the journey, as described in 1 Corinthians 9.

1 Tim 6:17-19

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

What about us rich folks?

So, if we find ourselves in a rich position, our first priority is Christ and His body, not ourselves. We should provide for the needs of Christ and His Body: First for our own household, and then for Christ’s household. When we provide much better for our own than we do for Christ’s own, we must examine our heart:

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."^[g]

48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Luke 12

51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Many rich people take care of themselves first, in an extravagant or luxurious way, and then think about how they might donate the extra, since they are Christians. They need to be a Christian first and a rich person second. Anything else is greed, which is idolatry.

2 Cor 8:1-8

1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

Anything other than “first to the Lord” is idolatry. Most greedy Christians would concede to this point. But what does “first to the Lord” mean? Does it mean selling your possessions and giving to the Christian needy? Yes, it means that and every other scriptural command above. It means obeying all of God’s stewardship commands listed above.

I am rich. I know this because I own a car. If you have access to this website, there is a good chance that you are also rich. This is what Jesus commanded a rich young man (as well as a crowd):

Matt 19:21-30

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."