Christ Is Enough
6 min read
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
—Mark 12:41-44
This would fall into the category of one of the hardest teachings of Jesus. But should it be?
I have never seen anything written with regard to the “theology of money.” Which is interesting, because the Bible does talk a good deal about money and wealth—especially in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Gospel of Luke.
Most of the things that I hear preachers or scholars say about money are the obvious things. Money doesn’t buy you happiness, and it certainly can’t buy your salvation. Tithe. Give generously and cheerfully. Give according to your means. All good messages.
Nobody needs a guilt trip for needing money to survive. But the “theology of money” starts to take shape when we ask the question, “In the kingdom of God, how much wealth is enough?”
There’s a Proverb that goes:
“8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
— Proverbs 30
It’s telling that the need for truth is related to our sense of being “rich” or “poor.” The point about our relationship to money is not how much we have. That focus demonstrates that money is king of our lives. The point about our relationship to money is to trust in God and to live in obedience to His will. That focus demonstrates that Jesus is King of our lives.
I remember a long time ago, I would get so frustrated that people would not sign up for Bible studies. One time, a sister said that we should have a Bible study about how to manage our finances, and she was so excited about the idea. And frankly, her enthusiasm about how to manage her finances made me even more frustrated.
My perspective now is different. Her attitude was not immature. It was not leaning into our idolatry of wealth. God Himself has given us simple, practical guidance with regard to our finances, which is to tithe.
And we might wonder, why ten-percent? Why not one-percent or five-percent? Or why not fifteen- or twenty- or thirty-percent?
The Bible doesn’t really say way. But in my own experience as a middle-class wage earner (sometimes higher, sometimes lower), giving ten-percent off the top takes sacrifice, but I am still able to enjoy the abundance of God’s blessings.
Scripture makes it clear that it is not a sin to be wealthy. It is not a sin to be wise about managing our finances. It is not a sin to seek profit. But the question is, where is it really that we place our own sense of self-worth—in our wealth or in Christ?
Father, Let me not be prideful in matters of tithing. The faith of this poor widow puts me to shame. But let me not wallow in guilt and shame, either. Help me to truly trust in You as she did. Help me to find my wealth in knowing You and being found in You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.