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In the world we live, money is both important and necessary. Unfortunately, sometimes money becomes too important and causes us to lose sight of those things that are truly important - living as Jesus would have us live. People work too much, spend too much and worry too much about money and material possessions to the detriment of our spiritual life. At BayMarin, we strive to be a community that not only understands what God says about money, but also lives that out in our lives. We desire to be generous with our time, talents and resources so that we might bless others as we have been blessed.
Jesus calls us to a better way of living and this goes beyond just giving our money. He calls us to be good stewards of the ways we spend our money, how we view money and how money impacts the relationships with those around us.
Many people have the impression that churches talk too much about money, an impression that true in far too many cases. We recognize that it is uncomfortable to talk about our finances in a public setting; however, Jesus talked about money as much as anything else. If we are to truly live as Jesus wants then we need to view money the way he does and to teach others what the Bible says about money.
The Bible speaks to the issue of money throughout. How we handle money and view money is vital in our pursuit of living in the Kingdom of God. Money and possessions can be a blessing or curse, depending on how they are handled, so here are a few verses from which we base our collective understanding of money and giving.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
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