Counter-Cultural Finances

FaithFi: Faith & Finance | Aug 29, 2024

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Show Notes

1 John 2:15 contains a command and a warning for Christians:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

You have a choice—to be worldly or Kingdom-minded with your finances. But beware—God’s way is definitely counter-cultural.

What Does Your Money Say About Your Values?

In today’s world, many people are inclined to fit in, follow the crowd, and keep up with the Joneses. But as Christians, we are called to live by a different set of values—values that often stand in stark contrast to the norms of society. This counter-cultural way of thinking was exemplified by Jesus throughout His ministry and applies to every aspect of our lives, including how we handle money.

The critical question we must ask ourselves is this: Do our actions and attitudes around money reflect the world’s values or God’s? To explore this, let’s imagine a simple exercise. Picture a piece of paper divided down the middle. On one side, we list the world’s messages about money and possessions; on the other, we record what God’s Word says about these same issues. The differences are like night and day.

Worldly Messages vs. God’s Truth

Worldly Message: God is irrelevant, and nothing—including your financial decisions—truly matters.
God’s Truth: Our God is living, loving, and intimately involved in our lives (Matthew 16:16, 1 John 4:16). What we do, including how we manage our money, matters deeply (Ephesians 2:10).
Worldly Message: Keeping things brings blessing.
God’s Truth: Generosity brings true blessing (Proverbs 22:9, Acts 20:35).
Worldly Message: You’re on your own—do it yourself, with no accountability.
God’s Truth: The Creator is always with us, our best source of help (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 121:2).
Worldly Message: The goal of life is to accumulate more—more wealth, influence, and security.
God’s Truth: Earthly things will fade away, but knowing and loving God has eternal value (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Seek God first, and everything else will fall into place (Matthew 6:33).
Worldly Message: Wealth and success justify pride.
God’s Truth: Pride leads to destruction, while humility brings victory (Proverbs 16:18, 1 Peter 5:5).
Worldly Message: If someone wrongs you, it’s okay to seek revenge.
God’s Truth: We are called to repay evil with blessing, inheriting a blessing ourselves in the process (1 Peter 3:9).
Worldly Message: You can own things without consequence.
God’s Truth: Possessions often end up owning you. True freedom is found in knowing Christ (John 8:32).

The Clash of Worldviews

The divide between secular and Christian worldviews is vast, especially when it comes to money. One of the most significant clashes is over the love of money. The world might say it’s acceptable, even for Christians, to love money. But Jesus makes it clear that it’s impossible to serve both God and money simultaneously (Matthew 6:24).

As Christians, we’re meant to stand out because we serve a different Lord. James 4:4 reminds us that “friendship with the world is enmity with God.” But does this mean we should isolate ourselves from the world? Not at all.

Jesus showed us a different way to live—serving others, loving deeply, and challenging cultural norms about relationships and possessions. He was a revolutionary, not just in His time but for all time. As His followers, we’re called to do the same: replace greed with generosity, exchange disrespect for love, and be counter-cultural in how we give our time, care, and resources.

Your Financial Choices Matter

Your financial decisions are more than just personal—they’re a reflection of your heart and an example to others. When you handle money with honesty, faithfulness, and generosity, people notice, and the blessings that follow are evident.

The apostle Peter calls us “sojourners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) because this world is not our ultimate home. Yet, while we’re here, we have a mission: to love and serve others in a way that stands out, giving glory to God. In our financial choices and in all aspects of our lives, let’s choose to live differently, as Christ did.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I'm curious if there's a specific time frame when you should consider paying a financial advisor to manage your IRAs or if you should just let someone who isn't paying much attention to them look at them.
I have about $400,000 in CDs and money market accounts. Is there something better than CDs in which I should put my money? I know CDs are pretty safe, but I'm wondering if there are better options.
I'm 58, and I earn $98,000 a year. I'm currently renting, but it's costly. I want to buy a home but wonder if I'm too old. What do you think? I want to make a biblically sound decision.
My wife and I have roughly 300,000 sets up, and we are thinking about buying the property at the beach to enjoy life with what we saved up with our grandkids. I wonder if that's a good idea or investment because I know I can sell it anytime.
We have a revocable trust, enough property, and enough investments. We're thinking about moving to Illinois to a senior living facility. We wonder if Illinois will have any way of getting their hands on that money and that property.

Resources Mentioned:

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