Everyone seems to have an opinion about topics pastors, teachers, and other Faith Leaders should and should not discuss from the pulpit, on social media, or even in small gatherings. Our job as Faith Leaders is to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word, and that will include covering subjects everyone doesn’t like. One of those subjects is money.
Everyone Needs Money
I understand why some preachers won’t teach about money. The Word has been tangled and contorted over the centuries when it comes to prosperity. The erroneous teaching has swung from one extreme to the other. For example, for hundreds of years, godly men and women who wanted to commit their lives to certain ministries had to take a vow of poverty.
The other extreme believes financial prosperity is synonymous with holiness. However, a person can be holy and still be poor. It is also very possible to be ungodly and poor and ungodly and rich.
Here’s the thing we must remember as Faith Leaders: everyone needs money. Since everyone needs money to house, feed, clothe, and care for themselves and their families, they also need information from God’s Word about money. Our job as Faith Leaders is to teach them; so, don’t be afraid to talk about money!
The Book of Proverbs
The Bible references money, gold, riches, wealth, and other related topics about 2,300 times! Did you know the Bible talks more about money than it does about prayer? It is a major Scriptural topic because everyone deals with it. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t like to have a little more money, and the book of Proverbs is full of wisdom about how to make more money, how to keep it and not lose it, and the proper attitude toward riches.
It describes a right way and a wrong way to increase wealth. So, the book of Proverbs is a good place to start to encourage people to increase their wealth God’s way!
Money is a Defense
You’re not timid to teach about wisdom, are you? Then you shouldn’t be afraid to teach about money! Ecclesiastes 7:12 puts those topics in the same category. It says, For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
So, money is not evil. Money is a defense against hunger because it buys food. It is a defense against the elements because it provides shelter. It is a defense against the devil who wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Money is a tool; it is neither good nor evil. It can be used for either. The love of money, however, is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) People can love money whether they have it or lack it; it’s a heart issue, not a bank balance issue!
Money Testifies
Ecclesiastes 10:19 says, money answereth all things. The word answereth means announces, testifies. This is another way to describe what Jesus said in Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
What you do with your money testifies or announces where your heart is. You can look at a person’s bank statements on December 31 of every year and tell you what is most important to them. Someone can say they love their church, but if they only gave a few dollars once every few months, you know their heart is not with their local church.
It’s Not Just About Money
I want to encourage Faith Leaders to talk about money because it’s not just about money. Money issues can break up families. Money is one of the biggest issues that causes divorce. Hundreds of couples have come into my office over the years on the brink of divorce because of money problems. Some were willing to work it out, but many didn’t. That is why Faith Leaders should be bold to teach what the Bible says about money. Don’t run away from the subject because you might be misquoted and called a “prosperity preacher.” People will misunderstand and misquote you regardless of what you preach, so just share the whole counsel of God’s Word, and give your followers wisdom and knowledge to have more than enough so they can be a blessing to others.