What did Jesus say about money, generosity, and greed? In my last two posts, I looked at Jesus' teaching in his Sermon on the Mount. Today I'll wrap up the discussion by looking at the fear behind our greed and selfishness.

The Fear Behind Our Selfishness

Jesus showed us how generosity is an easy way to align our hearts with the heart of God, while greed is an invitation for darkness to fill our hearts. But Jesus offered one more insight regarding money in his famous Sermon on the Mount.

I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:25,26

Jesus addressed a big reason why we store up treasures on earth (that is, keep our money to ourselves). It’s not just greed, it’s also fear. Jesus said, Do not worry, and he used the word “worry” five more times in chapter six of Matthew. We hold onto our money because we live in fear of running out and not having enough to provide for our needs and wants.

How I Learned To Be Selfish

My dad grew up during the Great Depression, which was in the 1920’s and 30’s when the economy crashed and there were very few jobs. That experience was so traumatic to my dad that he always lived in fear of going broke and he was very careful how he managed his money. He was never generous in helping the needy because he didn’t think he could risk it.

Sadly, his view of money was passed down to me. I’ve had to fight a natural tendency to hold onto my money, even when I have plenty. Thankfully, Jesus’ words have helped me to get God’s perspective on money and loosen my grip.

The fear my dad had, and I struggle with, is exactly what Jesus is talking about here: our fear of letting go of money. But Jesus challenged our fear by asking: If God takes care of the needs of birds, don't you think he'll take care of your needs too?

God Meets our Need, Not our Greed

Jesus continued to challenge his followers:

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Matthew 6:27-30

One of the problems we have with generosity, especially in the United States, isn't the fear of our basic needs not being met, but the fear of our desire for luxuries not being met. Of course, we don't think of having a car, or a closet full of clothes, or a refrigerator full of food, a luxury. In our mind, those are basic needs. Necessities.

But look at what Jesus said here: he's talking about food and clothing. He's talking about survival. That's all most people hoped for then.

To grasp what Jesus was saying here...and it might be very uncomfortable...we have to accept a lower standard of living. Jesus promised to satisfy our need, not our greed. But honestly, how many of us in the USA would be content just knowing that we had the basics covered: one meal a day, one set of clothes, and a roof over our head?

The Key to Generosity

Finding contentment with the basics is the key to generosity. If we can accept a lower standard of living, then we are free to be generous with the "excess." We see anything beyond the basic necessities as being available for others in need.

Can We Be Generous?

As I write these words, I question how many American Christians can ever be truly generous...myself included. We tend to give out of our abundance. In other words, if our basics are covered, we have a solid savings and retirement accounts, and we have the luxuries and entertainment we desire, then we give. We want to feed the hungry without giving up our latte.

Our culture has warped our view of money and possessions. We have a long way to go to live out Jesus' teaching. The best solution to our fear of not having enough might be to live in an impoverished country for a season. There, they are happy to have a loaf of bread each day and one clean dress or pair of pants hanging on a wire in a shack. That kind of experience might give us the perspective that we need to be the people Jesus called us to be. It might also help us to experience the joy that only comes from living a generous life.

If you want to grow in generosity, continually push yourself to give. The human tendency is to hang on to what you have. But the Spirit of God will always be moving you to trust God to give to those in need.

The Fear Behind Your Selfishness

The Fear Behind Our Selfishness

How I Learned To Be Selfish

God Meets our Need, Not our Greed

The Key to Generosity

Can We Be Generous?

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