By Founding Pastor Rick Duncan
Today, I did a quick read through the Gospel of Luke and noted that many, many verses deal with the topics of money, possessions, and wealth. Over and over, this Gospel challenges the wealthy to invest in eternal riches. And Luke encourages the poor to anticipate comforts and reward in heaven.
Clearly, a spirituality that does not impact the wallet, the pocketbook, and the bank account is a defective discipleship. A non-generous Christian is an oxymoron. A life changed by Jesus will be a life with changed financial priorities.
Has Jesus really impacted your relationship to your money? Is He Lord of all… including your finances?
Read the following verses and evaluate your life on a scale of 1-10, 10 being high.
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Verses on Money, Possessions, and Wealth in Luke
The Lord especially has a heart for the poor.
He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. Luke 1:52-53
Repentance produces generous living.
And the crowds asked [John the Baptist], “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:10-14
The mission of Jesus is especially focused on the last, the least, and the lost.
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” Luke 4:18
One day, the Lord will bless the poor and the hungry.
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Luke 6:20-21
One day, the wicked rich will experience judgment.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Luke 6:24-25
A sign that one is in the Kingdom is generosity.
Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. Luke 6:30
Generosity is rewarded generously.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38
A sign that your heart is soft is a resistance to the love of riches.
And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Luke 8:14
Denial of self is the sign of a soul that is saved.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23-25
Caring for the broken with one’s finances is commanded by Jesus.
And the next day [the Good Samaritan] took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” – Luke 10:35-37
We must be on guard against greed.
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15
When we seek God’s kingdom first, the Father meets our needs.
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12:29-31
De-accumulating and giving to the needy are ways we lay up treasure.
Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:33-34
The Lord is pleased when we show hospitality to those who cannot repay.
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:13-14
True discipleship means one has essentially deeded everything he owns to God.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33
When we invest money in God’s work, He gives us true riches.
If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? Luke 16:11
We must choose whether we will serve God or money.
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Luke 16:13
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Where did you score highest? Lowest? What are 3 changes you need make to be more faithful disciple of Jesus with regard to your money, possessions, and wealth?
