What The Bible Says About Money

Randy Alcorn is a noted author on Christian stewardship whose emphasis on giving as an act of faith (rather than a financial obligation to keep the church running) has provided us with an outlook on giving that is scripture-centered. His book The Treasure Principle, offers us many interesting facts regarding God's perspective on giving and our relationship to Him. His research provides us with the following insights:

Throughout the entire Bible there are roughly 2,350 verses concerning money. This is roughly twice as many as faith and prayer combined. Fifteen percent of everything Jesus said related to money and possessions. He spoke about money and possessions more than heaven and hell combined. The only subject Jesus spoke of more often is the Kingdom of God. Why? Because the Scriptures make clear there is a fundamental connection between a person's spiritual life and his attitudes and actions concerning money and possessions. Often we divorce the two -- Christ sees them as essentially related to one another.

Another valuable resource is Generous People by Eugene Grimm. Dr. Grimm writes:

Money was just as important in Jesus' day. If we were to strike the comments of Jesus about money, we would reduce his teachings by more than one-third. Sixteen of Jesus' approximately 38 parables dealt with money. One of every seven verses in the first three Gospels in some way deals with money. In fact, Jesus spoke about money more than about any other single subject, except the kingdom of God itself. Perhaps this was because Jesus understood how money itself can become a god. His assertions, "You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24) and, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"(Matthew 6:21) indicate his awareness of the preemptive role played by money in the lives of people.

Lastly, and most importantly, look at Scripture itself. Read the words of Jesus addressing directly the following topics related to our money and possessions and how they affect our relationship with God and each other:

Money and Possessions
God's Lordship and Ownership
Human Prosperity and Poverty
Contentment
Tithing
Generosity
Funding the Great Commission
Revival and Reformation
Eternal Reward

Money and Possessions

• The Rich Fool — Luke 12:16-21
• The Shrewd Manager — Luke 16:1-8
• The Talents/The Minas — Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11 -27

God’s Lordship and Ownership

• The Cost of Discipleship — Luke 14:28 -33
• The Faithful and Wise Servant — Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48
• The Great Banquet — Luke 14:16 -24
• The Master and His Servant — Luke 17:7-10
• The Shepherd and His Flock — John 10:1-18
• The Tenants — Matthew 21:33 -44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:9-18
• The Thief — Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 12:39-40
• The Two Sons — Matthew 21:28 -32
• The Unfruitful Fig Tree — Luke 13:6-9
• The Unmerciful Servant — Matthew 18:23 -35
• The Watchful Servants — Mark 13:34-37; Luke 12:35-40
• The Wedding Banquet — Matthew 22:2-14

Human Prosperity and Poverty

• The Lost Sheep — Matthew 18:12 -14; Luke 15:4-7
• The Rich Man and Lazarus — Luke 16:19 -31

Contentment

• The Workers in the Vineyard — Matthew 20:1-16

Tithing

• New Cloth on an Old Garment — Matthew 9:16 ; Mark 2:21 ; Luke 5:36
• New Wine in Old Wineskins — Matthew 9:17 ; Mark 2:22 ; Luke 5:37 -38
• The Pharisee and the Tax Collector — Luke 18:9-14

Generosity

• The Friend in Need — Luke 11:5-8
• The Good Samaritan — Luke 10:30 -37
• The Moneylender — Luke 7:41 -43
• The Owner of a House — Matthew 13:52
• The Prodigal Son — Luke 15:11 -32
• The Son’s Request — Matthew 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13

Funding the Great Commission

• The Growing Seed — Mark 4:26 -29
• The Kernel of Wheat — John 12:24
• The Mustard Seed — Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
• The Yeast — Matthew 13:33 ; Luke 13:20 -21

Revival and Reformation

• The Discarded Salt — Matthew 5:13 ; Mark 9:50 ; Luke 14:34 -35
• The Fig Tree — Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-31
• The Lamp under a Bowl — Matthew 5:14-16; Mark 4:21-22; Luke 8:16 , 11:33 -36
• The Lost Coin — Luke 15:8-10

Eternal Reward

• The Hidden Treasure — Matthew 13:44
• The Lowest Seat at the Feast — Luke 14:7-14
• The Sheep and Goats — Matthew 25:31-46
• The Valuable Pearl — Matthew 13:45-46
• The Wise and Foolish Builders — Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49

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Alcorn, Randy, Money, Possessions and Eternity, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL, 2003, pages 3-4

Sermon Notes by Randy Alcorn, The Practice of Tithing as the Minimum Standard of Christian Giving: http://www.epm.org/articles/tithing.html

Grimm, Eugene, Generous People, Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, 1992, p. 19