Podcast Episode Details

Counter-Cultural Finances

Episode 465

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 Fi

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Published on 1 year, 4 months ago