Worries About Money

Of all the things we humans tend to get anxious about, money is towards the top of the list. A quick Google search reveals that things pertaining to finances are mentioned more than 2,000 times in the Bible. When we think about all the things that money might represent (e.g., security, status, comfort, etc.), it makes sense why God addresses this topic so frequently. Another quick Google search shows that the most frequent command in Scripture is for God’s children to not be afraid. Usually the things that money represents (that we are often worried we will lose) and God’s invitation to not be afraid are linked. We’ll look at just one verse (Luke 12:32) that beautifully illustrates this.

Two Disclaimers:

1. Often our fears related to money are strongly connected to our unwise stewardship of it. This is not always true – individuals who manage their money very wisely may still struggle with anxiety regarding an economic downturn or the possibility of being laid off from their job. But it is nevertheless true that there is a tight relationship between the stewardship of our resources and the level of anxiety that we expose ourselves to. To the degree that we do not have and follow a budget, that we make impulsive purchases, that we view credit cards like a free lunch, and that we have not saved at all for retirement, to that degree we have set ourselves up as a prime target for anxiety.

2. To the degree that you have nurtured habits that grow into a belief that you need money for happiness or security, to that degree the (potential) scarcity of money will worry you. This can be so subtle, so faint, that we often don’t even realize it. But the habit of looking at the bank account, retirement account, or stock market on a daily basis – hoping for that dopamine hit of seeing the numbers tick up or at least remain stable – slowly becomes ingrained in us. I know of one individual who recognized this occasional check-in had started to become a trend, which then became a daily habit. As a result, he scaled this back to a monthly look at his finances. This allowed him to “know the state of his flocks” (Prov. 27:23), while practically weaning himself off a dependence on money for his joy.

Now, Luke 12:32 is situated in the midst of Jesus teaching his disciples about God’s loving provision for them. He reminds them that God cares for the birds and the lilies, and that God cares for people far more. God knows their needs. Then in verse 32, Jesus summarizes by saying, “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (NLT)

Five Points from Luke 12:32 (These points are adapted from John Piper, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/surviving-financial-panics)

1. God is your Shepherd. Jesus calls the disciples “little flock.” They are sheep. And sheep have a shepherd who provides for them and protects them from danger. This should evoke imagery from Psalm 23. “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams…Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” (23:1-4, NLT) Don’t confuse “needs” with “wants.” God defines what we truly need, but he promises to give it. And he promises to be with us. He knows what we need, as we need it, when we need it. He both protects and comforts. See John 10:11-16 as well, where Jesus refers to himself as the “good shepherd,” who lays down his life for his sheep.

2. God is your Father. Even a decent human father strives to be happy rather than irritable and impatient with his children; to love his children in spite of their sins and shortcomings; to love them prior to and apart from their accomplishments; to demonstrate visible affection for them; to be attentive to their needs and desires; and to gladly give his best for them. A good father draws near when his kids are afraid. And God is better than any earthly father. He cares for you.

3. God is your King. Notice that Jesus is piling image upon image to increase the force of why we do not need to be afraid about money. God is our Shepherd, he is our Father, and he is our King. “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” The only Person who can do that is the King himself. A king is sovereign, exercising power and might and protection for his subjects. This King does it perfectly, and he does it for you and for me.

4. God is generous. He is not stingy. “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” He’s not selling it. He’s not leasing it. It’s not transactional. He’s giving it. He’s not holding back. He offers himself and the joy of eternity with him.

5. God is happy to do this. Not in the Chick-fil-A “it’s my pleasure” kind of way (we love you, Chick-fil-A, but we all know that it’s not always your pleasure). God is really happy to give himself and his Kingdom to us. While it’s true that God is immeasurably happy in himself (and therefore is not dependent on us for his happiness), it’s also true that somehow his happiness is attached to and expressed in his being generous to us. It delights him to share himself with us. He is being himself as he does this.

Conclusion

It is not easy to fight fear when it comes to financial worry. It’s a battle. But part of how we fight our fear and practically turn our hope to God is by meditating on these truths of who God is and who God is for us. Isn’t this one verse loaded and packed with ammunition for this very struggle?! May we gain courage and trust in God by preaching these wonderful promises to ourselves.