Pay Day Loans and Piety

There are ‘means’ and there are ‘ends’ and confusing the two can get you in trouble. Becoming ‘God’s people on the land’ meant that they had to get this basic social calculus right. The Bible is a profoundly relational book. And as one person said, “total love of God is the only adequate basis for the demanding social program laid out in Deuteronomy’s pastoral strategy.” (1) Moses is unfailingly clear that caring for people and caring for the land go hand in hand. God requires nothing less from us as he did from them.

Lessons from the Widow’s Mite

Money can be a hot topic, and Jesus was bold to address it. In this story, we see wealthy individuals donating large financial gifts at the Temple. While their generosity likely impressed onlookers and religious leaders, Jesus challenged his disciples to a different mentality.

“They’re giving from their surplus,” he said.

Ultimate Safety

The towers we are most familiar with are office buildings that soar much higher than any biblical writer could have imagined – and are not, as we have seen to our sorrow, strongholds of safety.

But dotted here and there along the St. Lawrence River and the eastern seaboard of Canada and the United States are a handful of squat, round military towers made of stone.

Has Your Life Started Yet?

Do you know anyone whose life hasn’t started yet? Maybe they justify their atrocious spending habits on the fact they’re young. Or put in a half-hearted attempt at work because they’re underemployed. But they say that once they’re older, married, a parent, have more time, or have landed a “real” job, then they’re really going to get their financial life in order.

In Luke 16, Jesus says two important things about how we manage the things that we have.

Grace Should Be Free

A few years ago a list contrasted CEO compensation for non-profits versus for-profit companies. When asked about the difference, the CEO of one non-profit ministry replied, “You couldn’t pay me enough to do this job!” Some aspects of ministry spring from calling and compulsion, and can’t be quantified into dollars.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul outlines his ministry philosophy.

Read More money, rights, compensation, grace

Bucking the Trend

“Give up trying so hard to get rich.” Today the advice of this ancient wise man is simply quaint. What do you mean, give up? I haven’t even gotten started! My credit card is maxed out. My student loan is still nagging. Or is it that I am trying to save for a down payment? Everywhere there are hands out asking for my money. So I need to keep earning a living wage.

The Most Valuable Thing

What do we value the most? Answers will vary from one person to another, but sometimes our good words do not match our actions. Are we willing to take a possibly uncomfortable test? Let us take a look around our homes. What do we most noticeably spend our money on? It will tell us what we really value. If there are three expensive cars in the garage, that fact communicates.

Read More wisdom, security, values, money

Power and Accountability

Read Reflect The rising generation known as “millennials” is very attuned to and concerned about power – power as it is exercised in gender relations, in religion and perhaps most of all, the dynamic relationship of power and money. These who began adulthood somewhere around the turn of the century are aware that as they […]

Read More righteousness, money, authority, power

Escaping the Inevitable

Read Reflect The theme of this passage is quite straightforward: Money cannot rescue you from death. And neither can land, or possessions, or influence, or “human glory.” As the psalmist says, “we each will go down to our ancestors;” all of us will one day find ourselves in a grave. The only thing that can […]

A ‘Rhetorical Tap Dance’

While making money is an unapologetic obsession for many and the need for it is universal, giving and receiving money can be hugely sensitive. Despite the warmth of his relationship with the Philippians, Paul leaves this tricky subject until his conclusion.

His comments are a lesson not only in godly attitude to finance but also in pastoral diplomacy and care.