Complaining About Money

There is very little that is more unchristian and more antithetical to the overarching teachings of Christ and the entire New Testament than a professing believer who complains about money. And in the west, many believers do not complain about not having food, clothing, or shelter. They complain about not having enough of all those things. It is unseemly and reduces the path of discipleship to a level consistent with those who do not believe. In short, everyone desires more money.

If you listen you will hear believers criticize President Obama and call him a “socialist”. And what they mean by that is that because of his policies they will lose more of their own money. Some of the same believers who loudly reject the health and wealth gospel are demonstrating the very same principles taught by the prosperity teachers who believe that God wants to financially prosper all His followers. Instead of trusting an all knowing Shepherd for their needs they trust in the chariots of political persuasions and the economic principles of fallen men.

Matt.6:28-34 - And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What do these words mean? Nothing? How adept we are in manipulating the very teachings of Christ in order to blend in and even cooperate nicely with what we desire. Does that mean that everyone should be poor? No, but it does mean that in whatever state you find yourself should also find you dwelling in contentment. And yet believers by the millions complain and castigate the government (when it is one that they do not support) as if the government is our source.

I Tim.6:6-11 - But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

And yet, in the very face of such teaching, the average western believer has succumbed to the hedonistic culture and seeks the same things as does the unbeliever, and complains just as loudly when even the smallest dent is put into his financial portfolio. We cannot serve money and God. But we have constructed a religious system that flows away from Christ and His teachings despite using and abusing His name clumsily attached to our ecclesiastical practices. It takes great spiritual hubris to proclaim that we believe the Bible while we overtly practice and desire things that are completely against the entire theme of that same Book.

But while the lifestyles of believers in the west move unremarkable within a culture of hedonism and religious diversity, it is in politics that this hedonism becomes most observable. Unabashedly and without any shame, believers will champion economic systems that they believe will financially benefit them. And either directly or by implication, they paint Almighty God as a capitalist who favors America. This of course is unbecoming of God’s church and is an horrific caricature of the Person of Jesus Christ.

This fallen culture and its lost inhabitants have gotten the impression that believers in Jesus are opinionated moralists who love capitalism and also believe that America belongs to the evangelical church. They see little humility or redemption, but they hear their sins loudly identified and very little about Jesus Himself. It is most unfortunate, and if you tune your ears to the Spirit you may well understand the depth of God’s heart, broken over His rebellious people.

What cannot satisfy, and what cannot fulfill, are the things believers complain and murmur about. My youngest son’s teacher at a Christian school would complain that because of the wretched economy he and his wife were forced to eat at Chili’s rather than the Outback. And he drove a Mercedes Benz! Would it not still be an unchristlike spectacle if believers complained when they had just barely enough to eat? Of course. But to listen to believers bellyache when they enjoy an abundance is the height of rebellion against God and manifests a profound state of unbelief in their Creator and Redeemer.

Let us rejoice in plenty and in famine. Let us be grateful in excess and in lack. Let us walk in praise when we are nourished and when we suffer. Let us be content in whatever state our God has chosen for us, and let us magnify the Lord always regardless of our earthly situation. Our lives are bound in heaven and our eternity is settled forever! What more could we ask for? Refrain your lips from complaining about anything, and refuse to get caught up with anything that goes against the nature of our Risen Christ!

Watch and pray.