“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” – Jesus, Mark 4, 18-19
Most pastors don’t like to talk about money.
There are many reasons why this is true. Here are a few:
- We are seeker sensitive; we don’t want to offend.
- Our budget is fine! We don’t need to talk about money!
- I struggle with money, so I can’t teach on it.
- I went to seminary; I am not good at math.
- Money is meat; my people need milk.
- I remember Jim and Tammy Faye Baker. I have baggage.
- My people will think I want a raise.
For these reasons and many others, talking about money is hard. Teaching about money makes us uncomfortable. It can be difficult to confront our own shortcomings and call our people to account. This is especially hard to do when we directly benefit from the financial obedience of the people we lead.
But what if our money teachings weren’t about finances at all? What if we saw money not as a means to a ministry end, but as a primary method of discipling people into a radical level of spiritual maturity? Would that change the way we approach our congregations on what is often a delicate subject?
Teaching about money – earning it, stewarding it, giving it – is discipleship.
Jesus didn’t raise money, but he talked about money and discipleship. A lot. Consider a stewardship interpretation of The Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:
The first and second soils represent people who are unresponsive to the word of God. Third soil people – the plants choked by thorns – are easy to spot. And we know that we want fourth soil people in our churches – people who produce a harvest of righteousness.
But take a closer look at the thorns that stop third soil people from growing into fourth soil Christians: the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and desires for other things. These are all money issues. According to this parable, the difference between mature and marginal believers is money: what we believe about it, how we think about it, interact with it, and obsess over it.
When we fail to teach on money, we settle for third soil believers. And our money talks can’t start and stop with tithing. Jesus didn’t mention giving once in this parable! We must teach the full counsel of God on this topic, including diligence in earning, giving, generosity, and contentment.
Our view and use of money are inextricably linked to our spiritual progress. Jesus consistently taught that the love of money can derail our lives. We can’t grow mature followers of Christ without teaching about money, directly and frequently. If we fail to do so because it makes us uncomfortable, well shame on us.
Yes, teaching on money is hard. But money is discipleship. And discipleship is the mission of the church.
