Published by Jesus’ Teaching About Money that Comfort Me
I am quite surprised that among my biggest tags in Triond is ‘money’. I ask myself whether I love money. The Bible said that loving money is the root of evil, so I need to concern about this. As I meditate, money indeed is very important in my life and I do treat is as an important matter. I do not need to deny that. Then I am surprised again and find it interesting that Jesus indeed taught more about money than anything else. There are many Jesus parables about money. He warns a lot about money. Managing money well and our attitude toward money are very important. It will influence our happiness in this world.
Something ‘fairness’, a word that has tight relation with money is annoying. Among Jesus’ parables about money, the parable that touch my heart and comfort me most is the parable of the complaining workers. This parable in Matthew 20:1-16 plunge me into my condition in the office. We must aware that this parable indeed teaches Christians about the attitude of heart with which a Christian should serve Jesus. However, it suits my condition in office. My office recruited employees including me with certain rate of pay. However as times goes by, my old colleagues and I realize that my office pay the newcomers several folds that what we receive and there is no fair adjustment for old employees who have contributed a lot to the company.
With the parable of the complaining workers, Jesus warns me about three things: the danger of competitive spirit, the danger of commercial spirit and the danger of complaining spirit.
Indeed, it is very tiring for me to live in competition. I studied industrial engineering and I always try to balance cost and reward, the equity principle – pay equal to work done. However, I learn from Jesus that His kingdom economics is very different. If I work for wage, I will get wage, no more and no less. So I prefer to live as God’s child, I depend upon my Father’s generosity. It has no limit. As I live day by day, with living cost at least 3 folds from my salary per month, I experience the lesson of what Jesus taught me; to seek the Kingdom of God first, so everything will be added to me.
If I ask fairness in my office and I envy my colleagues who earn money more than what I get, I am unable to receive my own salary with joy. I try to avoid this condition; I avoid putting myself in comparison and competition.
Last thing, I try to not complain. Indeed, I murmured and complained in the past but the condition was worse. Therefore, I try to forget it and focus to do the right things that lead me to happiness such us work well and wisely.
By releasing myself from commercial, competitive and complaining world as Jesus suggested, I am free now. Thank Jesus for your teaching.
Great thought provoking piece. Well composed!Thanks and I clicked “liked it”.
Excellent. I’m glad to find someone who can put the use of money in its proper place. There is no question about the fact that having enough money to meet our needs is good for our protection; but is it necessary to make it the main focus of our lives? You have addressed and answered that question extremely well.
Monica.
I think too many times money or rate of pay get equated with personal worth. Ti is definitely not that.
Thank you for a very thought-provoking article.
God wants us to be responsible with our finances, and He surely knows we need money. Great post, Eunice.
very well said, though provoking as well…
Thank you that gave me much to think about. Nicely written.
Sometimes it is necessary to up the offer to get people to join the company but many companies forget about existing employees.
Nicely written.
additional info: the concept of fairness is not ever mentioned in the bible
I am a very competitive person who has made some money – but I have learned that the teaching of Jesus is not that it is evil to make money but evil to love it. There are only three things to do with money (other than burn it for heat), spend it, save it or give it away…
I beleieve the teaching of Jesus leads us to balance that. We save some to care for ourselves and others. We spend some for our own needs and some of our desires. But we always must balance that with giving some away. The church likes to paint that as giving to the church. I do. But a lot of what I give goes to people and organizations that care for people.
Well written :0