by Father Matthew Attia
The Lord loves a cheerful giver not a person driven by ulterior motives in his/her offerings .
The common definition is that money is a medium of exchange. It is principal function is to regulate our economy and society, our private and public lives. Money it is said is the only language that is understood by every human being. The children, youth, parents, pensioners, businessmen all want to multiply their wealth and minimize their expenses.
1. The Christian Meaning of Money
The Lord Jesus Christ laid down the significant teaching in relation to money thus “No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).
Recognising how dangerous and destructive money can be the Lord noted that as Christians money should never be our master. This ethos was reiterated by the apostle of the gentiles; The love of money is root of all evil (1 Timothy).
2. Richness
Is it impossible or perhaps hard for those who are rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:24).
The difficulty is not in riches and wealth rather it is obsession and manipulation of money which makes one lose the Kingdom. Many saints were rich and having conquered the world which is full of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life (1 John 2:15). Abraham was rich and left all to follow the Lord; Job had lost all his wealth and full of content said “Naked I came from my mothers womb and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave and the4 Lord has taken away blessed be the name of the Lord”. (Job 1:21).
Hence St Anthony sold his 300 acres of land; St Maximous and St Domatous left the palace in Rome; St Paula relinquished his interest in the family estate to his brother Peter; St Arsanous left the palace of Emperor Theoudosious; St Demayana left the wealth of her palace. All these rich saints abandoned their material wealth in order to embrace the richness of Christ and ensure money and wealth are placed under their feet.
Others however, whilst rich lived by the biblical commandment “Honour the Lord with your possession (proverbs 3:9). Such a shining example was Ibrahim Elgawhery who spent is money on the constructions of churches in Egypt in 18 th century.
3. The Wise Use of Mone
From the Mosaic Law there was a call to use money wisely and prudently. We are required to offer 1/10 – (10%) of all we obtain whether wages, salaries, goods etc. to the Lord. Moreover, we are obliged to offer to the Lord the first fruits of all our increases (proverbs 3:9). Of particular to Christians must be the welfare of the poor and needy. Christ the Lord set out example by ensuring that the box for the poor and needy. Christ the Lord set the example by ensuring that the box for the poor be kept by his disciples in order to render to the needy the necessary assistance required. If we use money wisely and wise give to the Lord and to the poor what do we benefit? Solomon said your barns would be filled (proverbs 3:10). The affluent yet humble King, David, foretold of the benefits of giving thus:
Blessed is he who considers the poor (because):
(a) The Lord will deliver him in time of travel.
(b) The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive.
(c) He will be blessed on earth.
(d) You will not deliver to the will of his enemies.
(e) The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness.
(f) You will sustain him on his sick bed. (Psalm 41:1-3).
Great saints have devoted their loves to the service of the needy like St Abraam the Bishop of Fayoum who channeled the funds of his diocese for the needy in preference to any material acquisitions for his diocese.
No doubt that all who give to the Lord and to the Churches, the Monasteries, to the poor, needy receive in numeral gifts and blessings from the Lord. Christ however has stipulated that we should not do our charitable deeds in a conspicuous manner to receive glory for men. When you do a charitable deed don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3).
The Lord loves a cheerful giver not a person driven by ulterior motives in his/her offerings. If for example a person makes offerings to churches and charitable organisations only for the sake of obtaining tax deductions then such the offering may not be acceptable in the eyes of the Lord as intention is to obtain benefits. In giving we are assured that God will meet all our needs according to his glorious Aches in Christ Jesus.
4. The Foolish Use of Money
Time like money, unwisely spent is lost for ever. Some persons engage in gambling and destroy themselves and their families. Gambling which some argue quite facetiously is Australia’s popular religion. Billions of dollars are wasted on such games as racing, poker machines, lotteries, football, soccer pools, scratches and the list goes on. So destructive is gambling that it breeds vices such as greed couples with selfishness and the abandoning of faith in order to cling to luck and chances.
Money laundering is another example of foolish usage of money whereby it is redirected or channeled in a deceitful and destructive manner. Theft, tax evasions, tax avoidance are further examples of dishonesty and foolish use of money. The consequences of such acts are clear: “You shall not steal for example is an unambitious commandment crucial for the welfare of any society. The apostles where particularly concerned when people stole church funds like Ananis Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).
Currently, the drug industry is governed by very affluent people who are responsible for the destruction of the lives of many youth. Family breakup is caused by manipulation of money by one spouse. The imprudent use of money drives people to cheat others and to capitalise on the weakness and errors of others to gain financial mileage. However, such roads all lead to destruction.
5. Where is your Treasure
For where your treasure is Christ where your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). Our decisions and actions our loyalties, values and attitudes are governed by where our treasure is. A rich youth asked the Lord what shall I do to inherit the eternal life (Luke 18:18). When Christ confronted him with what he lacks, which is to sell all give to the poor you have treasure in heaven.
However, the rich youth became sorrowful for he was rich – was absorbed and obsessed with his riches (Luke 18: Col 23). Another striking illustration is the rich fool who stored many crops and goods and began to take ease, eat, drink, and be merry (Luke 18:20). That same night however he lost his soul and the Lord warns. “He who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God loses both here and in heaven. (Luke 12:21).
6. The Biblical Reasons
It is quite clear that no person can live without money. Not even the monks or nuns. For this reason, the Lord advised the first monk in the work, St Anthony that he must along with prayer, worship and bible study make straw baskets that he may sell them to survive. Everywhere we go, people attract us to money; how to make money. Business persons are enticed into minimising their costs and maximizing their profits, persons approaching retirement age are advised about superannuation packages, pensioners are advise how to utilize concessions; companies are attracted towards minimizing their taxes and enhancing investment opportunities; young people in the work force are enticed into negative gearing their properties and the list goes on. At the end of the day the most ethical Christian principle of money is found in the following words:
“For all things come from you and of your own we give you” (Chronicles 29:14).
If we abide by the above, our lives on earth will be prosperous and our guarantees for a peaceful, joyful heavenly life is equally assured.
Last modified: March 17, 2021
