Fall Theological Focus:

Money and Mission

Written by Reverend J. Philip Letizia, Ph.D.

  We are wrapping up this Fall’s Theological Focus on Generosity and Stewardship. Over the last six weeks we have looked at how because we belong to God and our lives are not our own, we can be free and generous with our resources. We do this for the sake of Jesus’ kingdom and agenda in the world- to give both to the mission of His Church and to others in need. 

  Today, we conclude by exploring how our money and giving can be used for the furthering of Jesus’ mission in the world. We began this journey by looking at the words of Jesus when he said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt. 6) Jesus knew that our sinful hearts are easily given to other treasures and that these treasures can steer our lives in various directions. Money has the potential to set the patterns and desires of our hearts more than anything else. Why? Because money is often the key that opens the door to access our desires. We use our money and wealth to achieve our desires. Whether our desires are to be accepted by others, or to achieve status in the world, or to secure the idols we long for. 

  The issue we are often negligent to see, is that our desires, procured by money and wealth, can often work towards our destruction. Money can lead to the gratification of our desires, even if they harm us or go against God’s desires. The Apostle Paul speaks directly to this possibility in his letter to Timothy:

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:9-11)

  If treasure and money have the potential to carry our desires away from God, and away from generosity towards His mission and others, how can we then guard against these possibilities? One way is to commit to giving regularly. Both to the work of God’s mission through His Church, and to others. Committed, regular giving, can work against money leading our desires to chase after our idols. A second way takes a step beyond regular giving, and towards sacrificial giving. This is giving that goes above and beyond. At times we will be faced with the opportunity to give more than what is expected, more than what is reasonable, and take a step in sacrificial faith. This kind of generosity can also help stave off the idols of our hearts. 

  Finally, perhaps the most important element to consider when evaluating how God is leading us to be generous, is the gospel itself. The gospel motivates the Christian to give himself or herself away. This is true of our money as well. The gospel gives us new motivations for evaluating the way we use our money and resources. We can ask ourselves, “Although I know the grace of God in my life, have I forgotten it in this area of my life?” Or we can ask, “Have I spent time reflecting on the fact that Christ became poor for my sake?” Lastly, we could ask, “Am I more focused on becoming rich in wealth? Or, rich in God?” These are “gospel-motivated” questions that lead us to consider how our giving, generosity and stewardship should be directed towards God’s kingdom and agenda, and not ourselves. 

  These six weeks have stretched us to reflect on our own resources, as well as our motivations for being generous towards God and others. Like every other area of the Christian life, this is a subject in which we need God’s grace to grow in. Our prayer is that we all would continue to grow in this area of Christian discipleship, trusting that the Lord will always provide and protect us as we participate in his work in the world. 

Phil Letizia

Associate Pastor

Park Road Presbyterian Church