God and Our Money

How are we as Christians to know if we’re obeying God with our finances?

Let me ask you a little question here. Now this is just for you not for anybody else. Just for you.

How much money in this last 12 months did you spend on the poor? How much time did you spend trying to find some poor to spend it on? How much of your money did you spend on furthering the Gospel? How much did you put in to the work of the Gospel? How much did you spend on cars? How much on clothes? How much on land? How much on houses? How much on entertainment? And how much have you hoarded up?

If you’re honest, you’ve got your answer. If you’re not honest, it doesn’t make any difference anyway. And know this: God is going to hold you accountable in the day of judgment.

When Jesus came and gave the final declaration to the church, there were two churches he singles out. He said to one: “You sacrificed everything in this world for the kingdom of God’s sake, so you are rich.” And to the other He said, “Oh you said we were rich and increased with goods, ‘We’ve got a lot of things and the good life, there’s really not much we need.’” And Jesus said, “Oh, is that what you think? My dear friend, if you could see yourself the way I see you - a naked, wretched, poor beggar in life - you’d get excited about trying to dress yourself in the white raiment and the gold that doesn’t perish.”

Rev. D. Earl Cripe, Ph.D. (1934-2011)