Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog where the ideas are as brilliant as the jokes are stupid.
In Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, I wrote a lot about money. In fact, some of what I said about money and possessions were among the most controversial statements in the book.
Money tells a particular story, and there’s a spirit behind it. This is all unfolded in the book. The volume also provides practical experiments on how we can free ourselves from the spirit of Mammon.
Jesus had a ton to say about money and wealth, most of which singes the ears of people in the West, especially in the USA – home of the materialistic and lukewarm.
Beyond what I said in the book and on the Insurgence podcast, here are four additional aspects regarding my philosophy of money.
I write this to provoke you to think about money in perhaps some fresh ways.
Note that this is an addendum to what I’ve already said about the subject in the book and the podcast (which is a good bit).
Here it is. I hope it helps:
1) Money exists to be spent.
Obviously, that doesn’t mean we ought to spend it like water on stupid things. But it’s designed to be spent.
If you save it, it ought to be saved toward the goal of spending it on something specific.
Jesus was quite clear about the dangers of storing/hoarding.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~ Matthew 6:19-21
So money is for spending. This may appear to be basic – duh – but I’ve known many people who “stored up for themselves” tons of cash in their savings accounts, with no aim for spending it.
2) Money solves problems.
Money can free your time so you can focus on what really matters – like growing in and advancing the kingdom of God. It does the same when you give it to others.
A few examples: paying someone to mow your lawn, clean your house, hiring them to do necessary tasks that you aren’t equipped to do and/or that drain you.
Unless you enjoy doing these things, spending money on them (if you have it) can free up countless hours to concentrate on your life’s mission in God’s kingdom. It also benefits those who need work.
On the flip side, there are a bundle of problems that money cannot solve. If you come into extra money or you already have it, you’ll discover this.
3) You get what you pay for.
This means that if something is free, people virtually always take it for granted. Plus, it’s usually not valuable. (That’s why if you’re accustomed to buying cheap shoes, you’ll end up spending more in the long run because you’ll have to continue replacing them.)
If something is valuable, it typically will cost you something. And usually, the more it costs, the more valuable it is.
But this works out for your benefit because when you have skin in the game, you end up making use of whatever you’ve purchased.
That’s why all those books people gave you are still collecting dust on your bookshelf. (Except for my books, people always read my books! Ahem.)
By the way, those of you who are tempted to moan and groan, “Frank, you’re wrong. The gospel is free, and it’s valuable!,” holster your weapons. You’re not telling us anything we don’t know. I’m not talking about the gospel, Biff.
4) There are several simple things you can do to increase your income.
One is to be diligent at finding meaningful work and faithful at that work.
Another is to be a good steward of the money you earn (opposed to wasting it).
And the last is counterintuitive which is giving what you can to those in need and to the needs of God’s kingdom.
Ah, but the question of why you want to increase your income is one to prayerfully consider.
Remember, this is my addendum on money. The rest is in Insurgence and in many episodes on the Insurgence podcast.
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This is so good!
Good article, Frank. I’m fascinated by this: of all the spiritual entities outside of Satan, the only one Jesus ever mentions is Mammon. I am of the belief that Mammon is an actual spirit being, and that he was focused on destroying the embryonic church. What stood in his way was primarily Peter, who confronted Mammon at the Temple (silver and gold have I not…) with Simon Magus (you cannot purchase the Holy Spirit with money) and by confronting Ananias and Sapphira.
Had Peter not confronted and sent Mammon packing, we wouldn’t today be able to know true Christianity. We wouldn’t have the example necessary today to be able to separate it from a successful worldly cult. That example was crucial, and an overlooked key to Peter’s ministry.
Interested in your comments on my thinking here. Is Mammon an actual entity, and not a “worldview” and…well, what if Peter had said, “you know, this Holy Spirit thing is a good way to make a little money, a ride back to Jerusalem if nothing else. A worker is worth his wages, after all.”
Rick, I actually discuss this in “Insurgence.” Along with the other two main false gods that compete with Christ.
You left off one important issue. 1 Timothy 6:17,18 implies that if we have more money than we need, that we should use it to bless others rather than spending it n ourselves, thus converting it to REAL treasure.
Frank didn’t leave that out, he already covered that point in his book Insurgence. He mentioned twice in the article that he wasn’t going to repeat what he wrote there or on the podcast about this topic.
“Note that this is an addendum to what I’ve already said about the subject in the book and the podcast (which is a good bit).”
“Remember, this is my addendum on money. The rest is in Insurgence and in many episodes on the Insurgence podcast.”
Thanks Ashley. I had a feeling that a few readers would miss this. Even though I stated it in the beginning and repeated it at the end.
You make some interesting points on this difficult topic, Frank.
In light of Jesus’ teaching that NO ONE can serve (i.e. work for—which is what it means to serve) God AND money, (Lk. 16:13-14) one wonders what the religion that claims His name would look like if we contemplated this teaching much more deeply to the point where we even begin to practice it’s profoundly radical implications, socially, economically & otherwise.
If there will be no buying, selling or even working for money in (the kingdom of) heaven, one imagines that God’s will being done “ON EARTH, as it is in heaven” would look almost nothing like it currently does in our antichrist pay-to-exist $y$tem.
You should listen to the episode on You Cannot Serve Two Masters on the Insurgence podcast. It’s amazing. They talk about this, great stuff.
Thx. Tom. Yea, that episode was quite controversial.
Great wisdom here! Love the humor too.
One of your points reminds me of what John Ruskin said: “The bitterness of poor quality lasts long after the sweetness of low price is gone.”
Loving the new book and “Insurgence” is one of my all time favorites. The podcast is blowing my mind!
How timely – thank you! Echoed what I feel the Lord has been saying to me only this week. God bless.
Brilliant! I’m always inspired by your writings. Keep it up!
Thank you for sharing this post on money. It is never an easy subject matter to discuss but necessary. Thank you for what you have stated here and I look forward to reading your book “Insurgence.”
Hello Frank,
Thank you for this good word. Please keep it up! I’m always inspired by the things our Heavenly Father says through you.