The Sneaking Idol of Financial Security
I have been going through a unique season in my life with many significant changes, most notably getting married back in December. Now that I share a bank account with my wife, I’m focusing on money and budgeting more than ever. Coincidentally, there’s been a lot of panic over the economy of the United States. I understand people are struggling to afford necessities, and it’s scary. I’m not a financial expert, so I won’t pretend to have a solution to the economic crises. But as a Christian, I am convinced that now is a very relevant time to discuss the sin of greed. More specifically, I want to dive into how greed can disguise itself as self-preservation.
Discussing greed as a sin is by no means a controversial take in Christianity. But in contemporary discussion, I’ve encountered a limitation to how some Christians have described greed, which I find deeply problematic. Just to give a side note, these discussions have been primarily in American Evangelical circles, so this is not to speak for all the Church.
When greed is brought up, I’ve seen the discussion largely be around the specifics of coveting money and storing it for yourself. I agree this represents greed. (Luke 12:13-21) The lesson goes like this, “Having money isn’t a problem, just make sure it’s not an idol!” Amen to that. But here’s my concern, Christ doesn’t stop there on how we are to use money. Greed isn’t just simply saying, “I want more money.”, it’s also saying, “This is my money, and I need it.”. It goes beyond how much we have or how much we donate, it’s about using what God has given you for His purposes, which includes helping others. Christians agree helping others is good, but when money is tight and the economy is in stress, it’s temping to see helping others as “leftovers”. This is, in my opinion, where greed disguised as self-preservation comes in.
Within the short time he’s been in office this year, President Trump has made some major decisions that will deeply affect the poor, both inside and outside America. While all people who suffer under these controversial decisions matter and should be cared for, it’s worth noting many are Christians, some even fleeing persecution. This should disturb the Church. However, I’ve seen Christians online justify it by pointing to the state of the economy, and that we need to do what we can to lower prices and get out of debt.
I don’t mean to be insensitive to the financial stresses of others, but in God’s eyes, the poor are never allowed to be sacrificed for the sake of “budget cuts”. Withholding aid to those in need only benefits the middle-upper class. This is the kind of self-preservation the Prophets and Apostles spoke against. (Ezekiel 22:27-29; James 2:1-7 ) If we care about the state of the economy, that must include the poor and the immigrant. Withholding food and aid to others is not considering the well-being of all Americans.
The Secular Myth of “Earning”
In 4th century Caesarea, the economy was suffering from droughts and famines. As a result, wealthier Christians were storing up resources for self-preservation while their less fortunate neighbors (including fellow Christians) suffered. During this crisis, Basil preached some of his most famous sermons, prophetically challenging those who bear Christ’s name to repent from greed:
“Did you not come forth naked from the womb, and will you not return naked to the earth? Where did you obtain your belongings? If you say that you acquired them by chance, then you deny the One who gave these things to you by God, then tell me, for what purpose did you receive them?
Is God unjust, when He distributes to us unequally the things that are necessary for life? Why then are you wealthy while another is poor? Why else, but so that you might receive the reward of benevolence and faithful stewardship, while the poor are honored for patient endurance in their struggles? But you, stuffing everything into the bottomless pockets of your greed, assume that you wrong no one; yet how many do you in fact dispossess?”
Similarly, Hermas is warned by an angel that any profit or wealth a Christian receives is done by God for the purpose of aiding others in need. (Shepherd of Hermas 50.8-9) The only profits we are able to bring into eternity are the treasures we store in heaven, so that is what our focus should be. (Matthew 6:19-21)
The reality is, that if we truly believe what the Scriptures say, we aren’t entitled to anything. Our very first breath came from the providence of our Creator. Any work we’ve done to receive payment was accomplished because God allowed it to. A million different kinds of accidents, health issues, natural disasters, or attacks could’ve prevented me from working my job throughout the week. If I believe I’ve solely earned my paycheck and I get to say what I do with it, I am insulting God’s provision over me. This isn’t to suggest we don’t use our money to put food on the table. We absolutely have a responsibility to take care of our families. But for many of us who claim Jesus as King, we can do more to aid those around us, even if takes us out of financial comfort.
Radical Trust in God
In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs us to store treasures in heaven, and warns us that we can’t serve God and mammon.
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
It’s natural to object that what Jesus is suggesting. Doesn’t this mentality neglect our responsibility to take care of our families? As if knowing this objection is already swirling in his listener’s heads, Jesus responds by saying not to worry about tomorrow, but simply seek God’s Kingdom one day at a time!
“Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?
So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Many Christians agree Jesus’ command to not worry is offensive but for different reasons. I’ve previously written that the passage is not about mental anxiety. The passage follows what Jesus just said regarding money and possessions. Jesus is saying we need to trust God to provide our needs. We need to stop trying to control our finances like the Gentiles and instead invest in the Kingdom.
The fact is, the orders and rhetoric of Trump’s administration have brought great harm to several (legal) immigrants, refugees, and the poor. This is completely unjust in God’s eyes. Yes, previous presidents have also made unjust orders that have harmed God’s people. I have criticism for both Conservative and Liberal leadership. I’m not trying to bash only one party. What disturbs me is that for almost ten years now I have consistently witnessed in the American Church a one-sided loyalty to both Trump and the Conservative party as a whole that brings compromise to what Scripture calls the Church to. This isn’t new, but what’s interesting to me is that with the economic state of the country, more Christians are now openly admitting that the ends must justify the means to lower prices and get out of debt.
Christians preach all the time about needing to have faith and trust in the Lord to provide. But the instructions by Jesus in Matthew 6 take it to a whole other level! This is a topic I struggle with, I certainly don’t have this figured out. But if we really believe the Gospel, we need to take what Jesus says seriously. It is important to provide for your family, but if our instinct for self-preservation entitles us to neglect the least of these, we need to acknowledge such instinct isn’t coming from the Holy Spirit.
Sharing>Donating
One of my first blogs looked at the story of Lazarus and the rich man. One of my main points was that Lazarus’ justice in Paradise was not receiving large sums of money, but being comforted by Abraham. My conviction was that while the rich man was greedy to withhold aid from Lazarus, he was also condemned for not coming alongside Lazarus. Beyond his lack of giving, the rich man was apathetic.
Generosity is good, and Jesus says to give to those who ask. (Matthew 5:42) But when we look at how the wealthier Christians used their resources in the early Church, we see a far deeper financial sacrifice beyond donations. Those in the Church who had money and power would share their homes, money, and food with those around them. They invested in their brothers and sisters.
I’ve heard several Christians quote Acts 2:42-47 as a template for revival. If we want to see the Holy Spirit bring revival, let’s do what the first Church did! That’s a great idea! There’s just one major problem, not everything in this passage is sought out.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
Many churches gladly preach to devote themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, prayer, and fellowship. Many desire for signs and wonders to come upon us. But giving up our possessions and property? Seeking equal ownership and preservation among the congregation? I’ve heard Christians dismiss this application today because it sounds too much like a hippie commune. With all due respect, such dismissal not only misrepresents the Scripture, but shows a lack of awareness. Too many of us are influenced by our Western culture and not Scripture.
Malcolm Foley describes the sharing of the early Church as living in solidarity:
“The Kingdom of God, as a true kingdom, has politics and an economy, yet both are characterized by solidarity. Solidarity more accurately encapsulates what Christ has done for us and who he has called us to be. Moreover, the solidarity we are called to results in uplift rather than dependence. A solidarity that results in dependence, along with a shallow view of generosity, maintains the status quo. By contrast, Christians and the community they are a part of bear witness to a new world.”
Conclusion
Put together, this kind of radical faith in God’s provision, along with a humble attitude of sharing and solidarity, has the potential to do two great things. It helps those in the Church community to carry one another’s burdens and lift each other up. It also helps the Church stand out from the world and draws people to Christ! Instead of fearing the loss of money, instead of joining sides in the culture war, people see Christ’s people responding boldly with love and integrity.
This sounds intimidating, but it’s crucial we do this together as the Church. We aren’t meant to do it alone or with just our immediate families. As Foley puts it:
“Some assume that the Christian cultural mandate is to embed oneself in the world and to weave the threads of Christian influence, individually, into the major sectors of secular life. But the Sermon on the Mount suggests a different approach. Addressing communities of faith, Jesus calls the people of God to be a light to the world and the salt of the earth collectively, bearing witness as communities to alternative ways of living and being in the world.”
Bibliography
Schroeder, C.P. (2009). St Basil the Great: On Social Justice. Crestwood, NY. St Vladimir’s Seminary Press.
Foley, M. (2025). The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church can Create a New Way Forward. Grand Rapids, MI. Brazos Press.
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.