Money, Money, Money

Whether it’s at work, in the pub, over the dining table or when you’re trying to get to sleep at night, it’s almost certain that there will be times in your life – and it’s quite likely too many times – when you worry about money.  Occasionally people are confronted with how to deal with a surfeit of the stuff; more likely it’s all about a real or perceived shortage.

The Bible quotation most often trotted out when money is the subject is from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7).  A strong second is another from Paul, “money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, KJV).  Money apart, these two verses have something else in common: they are rarely quoted in full, and therefore are rarely understood properly.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul’s emphasis is on teaching people to be interested in the right things in life; not to indulge in controversies, exploit frictions between people, or envy what others might have.  So long as people have food and clothing, he urges them to be content and avoid foolish and harmful desires, “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Tim. 6:10, NIV [my italics]).  In saying this, Paul was merely echoing Jesus’ own teaching, for in the sayings that Matthew records, known collectively as ‘the sermon on the mount’, we find instruction about not putting our faith in the sort of things that can be stolen from us or destroyed, but to aim for other ‘treasures’ for, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21).

When it comes to donations to national charities or sponsoring local fund-raising efforts, the term ‘cheerful giver’ often invites a begrudged scrabbling around for a coin or two which are then handed over with a forced grin, or a false bonhomie uttered through gritted teeth.  The essential emotion here is reluctance, born of the donation being unplanned.

A preacher once spoke about going to a fairground in his teens.  Money was short and, before leaving home, he totted up his funds and decided how much he could afford to spend at the fair.  He took that amount with him and no more.  ‘When I got there,’ he said, ‘I didn’t have to worry whether I could afford this ride or that, or whether I should have a go on the coconut shy.  I just spent and spent until my money ran out, and had a really good time.’

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about a collection for people in Jerusalem, which had been announced earlier and plans for it made.  He was anxious that when the time came for it to be handed over, it should not be a matter of last minute panic, but should be already prepared.  “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for ...” (the first part of 2 Cor. 9:7).

What was good for the Corinthians of the first century is good for us in the twenty-first.  We need to decide at the start of the week/month/year just how much (perhaps a tithe or tenth) we can/ought to give to God and then put it aside, or at least make plans for it to be ready when called for.  Then, when there’s a special appeal, we don’t have to ponder what to give.  It simply falls into our regular search for good causes, including the church, to which to apply the already dedicated funds.  We can then freely spend whatever we like on ourselves without feeling at all guilty.