When I put the words “monk” and “finances” together, your first thought might be: “oxymoron.” Or, if you’re feeling fancy, “antonym.” That’s because our culture has largely lost the rich, colorful history of how monks actually thought about money.

If I asked you how monks handle finances, you might give me an answer like, “They hate money!” or “Aren’t they not allowed to have it?” Maybe you’d dig deeper and say, “Didn’t they all take Acts 2 way too literally and swear off possessions for life?”

So it’s no surprise we picture monastic life as financially barren and financially irrelevant, unless the lesson is, “sell everything and follow me into this cave.”

But here’s the surprise: the monk’s grasp of finances was often exceptional. In fact, it was so biblical, nuanced, and beautiful that any faithful steward should pause, scratch their head, and think, “I could learn something here.”

THREE MONK MONEY IDEAS

Here are three big-money ideas from the monks that are worth considering:

1 - Economic Sufficiency, Not Economic Security

A monk’s goal wasn’t to renounce money, but to renounce the love of money. They drew a sharp line between economic sufficiency (having enough to live and work without burdening others) and economic security (stockpiling enough to pretend you’re invulnerable).

Economic security was seen as a temptation: a delusion that you could insulate yourself from a life of dependency upon God’s promises. Economic sufficiency, by contrast, was a goal: it acknowledged their vulnerability, provided for present needs using their God-given hands and skills, and kept one from being a burden to others.

ECONOMIC SUFFICIENCY WAS A GOAL: IT ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR VULNERABILITY, PROVIDED FOR PRESENT NEEDS USING THEIR GOD-GIVEN HANDS AND SKILLS, AND KEPT ONE FROM BEING A BURDEN TO OTHERS.

2 - Enough to be Hospitable

In Wealth and Poverty in Early Church and Society by Susan Holman, researchers quoted an early church father, Evagrius, who described the perfect monk as one who accumulated only enough for himself and basic hospitality. Any surplus went straight to the poor.

To illustrate this point, Antony, the famous desert monk, gave away all his possessions and lived off villagers’ charity until he planted his own garden. Once he could feed himself, he expanded the garden to create a surplus, not for hoarding, but so he could have enough extra beyond his needs to welcome guests and feed them as well. For monks, the purpose of work and even accumulation was simple: hospitality.

3 An Economy of Excess

Monks had a practice: whatever was given to them, they consumed less than they received, saving the scraps. Collectively, these scraps piled up into plenty for others to enjoy. 

The result? Monastic tables were often full of bread in abundance. Their restraint created a culture of excess that fulfilled Paul’s promise that “the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little” (2 Corinthians 8:15, NIV).

FOR MONKS, THE PURPOSE OF WORK AND EVEN ACCUMULATION WAS SIMPLE: HOSPITALITY.

THREE WORDS FOR GIVING

Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 8–9 resonates beautifully with these three monk money ideas. Paul used the word χάρις (charis)—usually translated as grace—to describe giving (Paul asks us to excel in the grace of giving (charis); 2 Corinthians 8:7). But he also used two other words: 

⁛ κοινωνία (koinonia)—giving as fellowship (sharing in others’ needs).  ⁛ εὐλογία (eulogia)—giving as blessing or benefit (generous abundance, not reluctance).

Here’s how they connect:

Monk Idea 1: Economic Sufficiency

• Charis—Money is a gift of grace.
• We live by God’s grace, which is always sufficient. Better to trust God’s grace and provision than to worry about our needs. God’s grace reminds us not to chase false assurances in money.

Monk Idea 2: Enough to be Hospitable

• Koinonia—Money is to be enjoyed in fellowship.
• Work to cover your needs, to support your family, and to be able to give generously to others who lack.

Monk Idea 3: An Economy of Excess

• Eulogia—Money is a blessing to be shared.
• Stretch resources, create margin, and turn the extra into an abundance for both you and others.

For the monks, financial resources were not characterized by fear or greed. It was an expression of love for Jesus by experiencing grace, by sharing through fellowship, and by cultivating a bountiful economy of excess.

1 Holman, S. R. (Ed.). (2008). Wealth and poverty in early church and society. Baker Academic.

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