Money in the New Testament

God did not create money

God did not create money and Jesus response to the Pharisees in Matt 22 is very telling.

God created sex, power and food in the Garden of Eden but not money. Money is a man-made construct and not of God. It is inherently Babylonian and Jesus treats it as “not God’s”.

16. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.17. “Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?19. “Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.20. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”21. They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:16-21

Jesus and Evangelism budget

1. After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.2. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.3. “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.4. “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.5. “But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’6. “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.7. “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.8. “Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.9. “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’10. “But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,11. ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’

Luke 10:1-11

God vs Mammon (treasure)

Jesus counsel re money is very different to modern secular (or church for that matter) wisdom.

The evidence that you love Mammon is simply that you "worry" about tomorrow's provision.

24. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

25. “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?26. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27. “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?28. “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;29. “and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30. “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32. “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:24-34

Paul’s Example

Despite having “authority” to claim financial support for ministry he chose to work two jobs and preach for free. He clearly says that he did this an example

3. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

Acts 18:3

7. Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?8. Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?9. For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?10. Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.11. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?12. If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.13. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?14. Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.15. But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

1 Corinthians 9:7-15

6. But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.7. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;8. nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,9. not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.10. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

Tithes for Christians?

The Damage Tithing creates

New Testament Giving Total Change of Paradigm

It cannot be overemphasized that the key to life for a Christian is an understanding what it means to be “in Christ”. Most of the church has not been taught that. Some who think they understand that truth are unknowingly negating it with other teachings and practices. Tithing is one of those practices that distracts people's attention and keeps them from the fullness of life in Christ.

The New Testament has much to say about giving and is not based on tithing at all. Those other teachings are often overlooked because tithing has been adopted as the foundational truth on the subject. In many cases the whole spirit of giving has been distorted and what is being taught is much different than what we see in the lives of Jesus and the apostles. This is because the modern institutional churches function like businesses and needs to tax members to ensure steady corporate income. This is supposedly to do good, but in reality it violates the very nature of the gospel and of salvation.

Higher financial commitment

The New Covenant has a higher financial commitment than the tithe, but it's based on a completely different paradigm and doesn't flow into central "church coffers". Tithing is never mentioned as an instruction to New Covenant believers—not as a law, a principle, or a voluntary practice. The apostles exhorted believers to give financially, but it had nothing to do with tithing. When they instructed believers to assist the poor, the widows, and the fatherless and to support the ministers of the gospel, they never quoted scriptures about tithing.

Paul wrote more on the subject of financial giving than the other writers of New Testament epistles. When he instructed believers about their obligations to give financially he quoted Old Testament scriptures to support his teaching, but not the ones about tithing. There is no basis to say the New Testament church considered tithing to be the pattern for financial stewardship. There is no scriptural evidence to say the apostles considered tithing to be an eternal principle for all ages or the key to financial blessing for Christians.

The church does not need tithing to finance the work of God on earth. New Covenant giving is based on a better process. The born-again Christian is one with Christ and owned by him. His new nature is to live for Christ with all of his heart, mind, soul, strength, and money.

The following list includes some of the scriptural exhortations and perspectives related to giving in the New Testament. These can be applied to financial giving in the church today. Many of these are often overlooked because of the preoccupation with using the Old Covenant principle of tithing to motivate people.

1. To give glory to God. 2 Corinthians 9:13.

2. To express the nature of God. Matthew 5:42, 45; Luke 6:35; 2 Corinthians 9:9.

3. You have freely received. Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 9:15.

4. The workman is worthy of his hire. Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:4–14; 2 Corinthians 11:8.

5. It's a family responsibility. Matthew 15:3–6; Mark 7:9–13; 1 Timothy 5:8–16.

6. To show compassion. Matthew 15:32, 18:27; Mark 8:2.

7. To have treasure in heaven. Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33, 14:12–14, 18:22.

8. Do it as unto the Lord. Matthew 25:40,45; Luke 8:3, 19:31; Colossians 3:23.

9. To follow the example of Jesus. Mark 8:34–35; Luke 9:23–24; Ephesians 5:2.

10. To obey the Lord. Luke 6:30; 2 Corinthians 9:12–13.

11. It shall be given unto you. Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6–11; Galatians 6:7–9; Ephesians 6:8; Philippians 4:10–19.

12. To keep a pure heart. Luke 11:41; 1 Timothy 6:10.

13. To be a good steward. Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 12:42–48, 16:9–13, 19: 12–26; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:9–10.

14. To promote God's kingdom. Luke 18:29; Philippians 1:3–5; 2 Corinthians 8:1–5, 11:7–9.

15. To show love for the brethren and all men. Acts 11:29; 2 Corinthians 8:8, 24; 1 John 3:16–18, 4:11; 3 John 5–6.

16. To support the weak. Acts 20:35; Galatians 6:2; 1 Timothy 5:16; James 1:27, 2:15–16.

17. It's more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35.

18. It's an obligation to those who minister to you. Romans 15:25–27; 1 Corinthians 9:11; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17–18; 2 Timothy 2:6.

19. It's a response to the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 16:1–3; 2 Corinthians 8:1–9.

20. To minister to the other members of the body. 2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:1; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 4:28.

21. For a future reciprocation. 2 Corinthians 8:14–15.

22. As you purpose in your heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7.

23. It's a good work that we were created for. Ephesians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:17–18; Titus 3:8, 14; Hebrews 13:16; James 2:14–26.

24. To bear fruit. John 15:1–16; Romans 15:28; Philippians 4:17; Colossians 1:10.

25. To keep our trust in God. Mark 10:23–25; Philippians 4:19; 1 Timothy 6:17.

26. To enter into the true life. 1 Timothy 6:19.