Money Is A Trust Issue (Part 1)

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Here in Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, we talk about money matters because we believe that our money matters to God. And when it comes to money, we have to avoid two extremes. (Dr. Steve Hobson, my leadership professor at the International Graduate School of Leadership, helped shaped my thinking on this.) I learned that we are to pursue neither poverty nor prosperity but stewardship. 

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The first extreme is what we call poverty mentality. It is to think that money is a necessary evil, that to be spiritual, a person must take a vow of poverty. The second extreme is prosperity mentality. It is to think that having a lot of money is a proof that you are spiritual, that it is God’s will for each one of us to be rich. Instead of these two extremes, adhere to a stewardship mentality. We must remember, “money is a training ground and trust from God.” [1] The problem with both poverty and prosperity mentalities is that they have some truth in them or half-truths. But a half-truth is a whole lie. The stewardship mentality gives us a balanced, biblical view of money. (To make it alliterated, my pastor-friend, Pastor Erwin Amador, suggested this: “Provision Theology [Stewardship] not Poverty nor Prosperity Theology.”) 

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For a person with poverty mentality, possessions are a necessary evil. We have no choice but to use it. But, for him, it is a sin to have more money. Only spiritual blessings are true blessings. Suffering is our lot in life. In this mentality, money is the root of all evil. But the Bible does not say that. What it actually says is that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” (1 Timothy 6:10a. Emphasis added.) On the other hand, for a person with prosperity mentality, it is our right to be blessed. Now, I believe God does bless us. He blesses us not only spiritually but also even financially.  But the problem is that this mentality limits God’s blessings to financial blessings only. It focuses on what we can get from God, not on what we can give to Him. There is no room for suffering in this selfish, man-centered mentality. But stewardship mentality regards money as a responsibility.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,w and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:10-11, NIV)

Note the words “very little”. Verse 10 parallels verse 11. Now, note the words “worldly wealth.” That’s how the Bible views money. It’s not just a little thing. It’s a “very little” thing. Yet, God measures our faithfulness through the way we handle our money. If we are not faithful in it, we are considered dishonest. 

Indeed, money is a trust issue.

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Money Matters #1

Review the differences between a poverty mentality and a prosperity mentality. On which side do you tend to lean to? Why do you think so? In what ways do that mentality manifest in your life? Pray that God would give you a stewardship mentality.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for entrusting us with the resources that we have. We recognize that all we have is Yours. Help us to be good stewards of Your blessings. 

NOTE: This is Day One of the devotional guide (Volume 1, Issue 4) of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, for the message last Sunday, March 22, on “Unleash Your Family Finances!” by bestselling authors, Bro. Vic and Sis. Avelynn Garcia of Unleash International.

[1] Dr. Steve Hobson, “Finances—Not Just About Money” (Servant-Steward Leadership class notes, sessions 9-10, IGSL).