Is money spiritual?
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 (full)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (partial)
A full 10% of verses in the Gospels are about money and 16 of Jesus’s 38 parables address money and possessions.
God wants our hearts, not our money. Your spouse, children, home, and occupation are all his resources. Your credit card, bank account, and stocks are in the same category as the Milky Way, nuclear energy, and the Amazon—all his (Psalm 24:1).
There are over 2,300 verses in the Bible on money but only 500 on prayer and fewer on faith.
Whether we recognize it or not, how we manage money affects our spiritual progress. If money is your master, God cannot be (Matthew 6:24).
From God’s perspective, our money is an eternal resource. Today’s verse says to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. As the saying goes, “You can’t take it with you.” But you can send it ahead. We can use money to store up treasures in heaven. The key is generosity.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). God provides us resources to manage, not consume, not only because others need assistance, but because giving and generosity are what’s best for us. We miss so many blessings because we value money more.
The Bible talks about the tithe as the first 10% and offerings are above the tithe. Yes, giving, whether it’s tithing, offerings, or other generous acts, is often an act of sacrifice. But the truth is, we can’t outgive God (Proverbs 3:9-10; Luke 6:38).
Consider Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” The context is whether Paul had adequate or inadequate financial support, he successfully fulfilled God’s calling.
God has called us to be generous and content, and He’s promised to bless us for doing so.
