In God We Trust
Prior to Jesus, Pharisees were living a good life, making money while the marginalized people were starving. When Jesus came, he appealed to the marginalized community and upset the balance between the rich and the poor.
Like wise today, although our currency and The Pledge of Allegiance include God, as a nation the church is becoming more and more separated from the state. Like Jesus during the times of Pharisee, Christianity is viewed as upsetting the current social trends. It’s is thus up to us to continue preaching word of the gospel. To be good disciples of Jesus, to keep His name and teachings alive no matter the potential social or financial backlash that we may fear.
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Consider the following. There are over 2,000 verses in the Bible on money. Of the 38 parables or stories that Jesus told, 16 of them around about finances. If you total Jesus word count in the gospels, the 4 records of his life in the New Testament, 25% of Jesus words deal with stewardship or being a wise manager of what you have been entrusted with. 1 in 10 verses in the gospels deals with money. So clearly this was an important subject to Jesus, and it is obviously an important subject to us.
Source:
https://www.jerichoridge.com/sermon/in-god-we-trust-faith-finances/
Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus pushes back and says “whoa… let’s define our terms here a bit, my friend. If we are going to talk about who is GOOD meaning who is perfect, the only one who fits that description is the one who has kept God’s perfect commandments perfectly. You are going to have to demonstrate that you have lived your life under God’s rule and by God’s rules.”
Jesus is also not saying that earning or investing or spending money is bad wrong and evil. The Scriptures say that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil things, not money itself. After all, we all need money in order to live!
Jesus is pointing out that meaningful relationships, whether with God or with other human beings, are not simply about keeping a set of rules, but they are about how your heart is oriented.
And this man’s heart is oriented not ultimately toward eternal life but toward his possessions. Jesus asks him to exercise faith – to believe that God’s provision for him will continue to be enough, both in this life and the life to come – but he cannot get past his attachment to the things of this world. And Jesus says in Matthew 6:23 ““Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
The man failed to realize the truth that your self worth is not determined by your net worth.
Luke 6:35-36
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Micah 7:18-20
Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.
You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea.
You will give truth to Jacob
And mercy to Abraham,
Which You have sworn to our fathers
From days of old.