Money, Politics and Religion - Jason Brown

Money, Politics and Religion - Jason Brown

On Sunday morning we learned about Jesus’ answer to a political and economic question: Should we pay taxes to Caesar?  I guess since the question was posed to Jesus, we could legitimately throw religion into the mix.  Yikes! The Bermuda Triangle of conversation: money, politics and religion

As Bill mentioned yesterday, Jesus knows about the stuff that’s a big deal to us.  (Incidentally, thank goodness we follow a Savior who has a clue about our daily lives and has the courage to address the stuff we spend a lot of time thinking about).  While we may be hesitant to speak openly about this important stuff (I know I am), Jesus isn’t.  Honestly, I don’t know how long Jesus would last in the pulpit on Sunday mornings.  I suspect I would weary quickly of his persistence in speaking about stuff that deeply challenges my way of life. 

By my count, the use, misuse, lack of or abundance of money is spoken of at least 32 times in Luke – in parables, in straightforward teaching, in stories of people Jesus met along the way.   This means the only thing Jesus spoke about more in Luke is the Kingdom of God (which, interestingly enough, was primarily a political topic).   

So, here’s the question we need to blog about this week.  Why did Jesus speak so often about money? Try not to post sermons – just share honestly from your own heart.

(Confession: I’m slightly worried that since the blog is about money, it won’t generate many responses.  Prove me wrong.)

9 comments (Add your own)

1. Greg Wallace Dolmage wrote:
Jesus talks about it because "I" think it is important. It seems like Jesus could not personally care less about money. He has no need for it, but he knows that I, Greg Wallace Dolmage, love money. I think it will make me safer and more secure. I believe it will buy happiness, or at least the enough toys to distract me from knowing if I am truly happy or not. I am sure that I will have a greater impact if I have more. The list sadly could go on and on. So, Jesus must remind me, over and over, "No. Money is not your salvation. Money is not your source of joy. I AM!"

Mon, May 5, 2008 @ 1:09 PM

2. Benjamin Immink wrote:
Because our time thinking about money surpasses our time in prayer.

Tue, May 6, 2008 @ 6:52 AM

3. Alecia Streelman wrote:
Jesus' priorities are always the same as his Father's priorities and God's number one command is "no other gods before me." So when Jesus sees anything taking first place over God he's compelled to speak up and set us straight. Since he said it over and over again, I have to assume that he saw money issues as a pervasive problem. I guess the disciples and others who listened to Jesus weren't any quicker to grasp the message and make significant changes than we are. I'm grateful that he's a patient teacher who persists through my stubborn selfishness.

Tue, May 6, 2008 @ 9:36 AM

4. Steve Price wrote:
I think Jesus spoke so much about money because of our tendancy to allow it to bend our will, control our hearts, and blind our sight. Luke 16:13 spoke about how you can't worship two masters, money being one of them. I think he (Jesus) wants us to remember that money is only currency; a worthless thing in heaven. You should only worship the true master, God.

Thu, May 8, 2008 @ 4:16 PM

5. Robert Manns wrote:
Sin was the first thing that hindered our realtionship with GOD. Money does the same thing. My dad used to tell me, "A man who is rich might say, 'Why do I need God, I am rich, infact GOD needs me'" Jesus want us to know our heavenly father. Without GOD in our lives we are empty and we will never understand the great love or realtionship GOD wants with us to have with him.

Sat, May 10, 2008 @ 6:04 AM

6. ken dingle wrote:
Good stuff! I have nothing profound to say, except I agree with what has been shared. What a joy you all are. I thank our Lord for you. May the peace of Jesus be in your heart. A slave to Jesus,Ken D

Sun, May 11, 2008 @ 6:26 AM

7. S. S-A wrote:
Because I think giving of our money is a sign of our faith. We say we believe in God. We believe the Bible is His word. The bible tells us to tithe and to give. I think this takes an act of faith in Him.

Sun, May 11, 2008 @ 7:46 PM

8. Almita wrote:
Coming from a background where money seemed always to be in short supply, the lack of it always governed our family decisions concerning even our needs. The danger in this kind of a circumstance was always that we would see 'more money' as the source of everything that we needed. Whereas more money would certainly have helped, that was not the source of our needs. We learned that our dear Savior - Jesus Christ - was that source. And He was always faithful and still is. Praise Him!

Wed, May 14, 2008 @ 8:04 AM

9. JEFF HOGAN wrote:
I THINK JESUS KNEW HOW IMPORTANT MONEY WAS TO PEOPLE, AND HE KNEW THAT HE COULD USE SOMEONES WALLET TO GET TO THEIR HEART. IF WE CAN GIVE CONTROL OF OUR MONEY OVER TO JESUS, MORE OF OUR HEART WILL SOON FOLLOW. JESUS' ULTIMATE GOAL IS ALWAYS ABOUT OUR HEART AND RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. JESUS USE MONEY (WHICH WE TEND TO THINK ABOUT A LOT) AS A PATH TO OUR INSIDES. IF WE ARE READING GODS WORD, AND JESUS TALKS A LOT ABOUT MONEY. WE WILL BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT JESUS' WORDS AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT MONEY. IT IS A GREAT TIE IN FOR JESUS. HOPEFULLY AS WE GROW IN GOD'S GRACE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE MONEY MORE AS A GIFT FROM GOD AND AN OPPURTUNITY TO BLESS OTHERS.

Wed, May 14, 2008 @ 7:44 PM

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