Jesus’ Terrible Financial AdviceНамуна

What Would It Look like to Follow Jesus’ Financial Advice?

I have one rule of theology: “If my theology disagrees with God, one of us is wrong, and it is not Him.” So when I set out to write a book about God’s perspective on money, I read the Bible, highlighted every passage I could find on wealth, and typed it into a Word document. I found over 1,300 passages on wealth—112 pages, single spaced, 12-point font. God is anything but silent on the topic.

With Jesus’ teachings on money staring me in the face, I couldn’t avoid the obvious question.

Did He really mean it? And what would it look like if I did what He said?

If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. … Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:40, 42).  

If that sounds like terrible financial advice to you on so many levels, you are not alone. Obviously, Jesus didn’t grow up in America. We love to sue people! It’s our national pastime.

What could Jesus have in mind by giving us that kind of advice? Can we give to the wrong person? Can we give too much? Can we give irresponsibly? What about people who have dependents? Should they give to everyone who asks? What about my children? And my wife? It’s one thing if I ruin my life, but what about theirs?

What would it look like if we took Jesus’ advice to the extreme?   

With Jesus’ words crashing around inside my head, I turned to the cross and saw something I’d never seen before. In the order He taught it (Luke 6:27-36), He took His teachings to the fullest on the cross (Luke 22:63–23:49). “Turn the other cheek”? Jesus was beaten within an inch of His life by the three ruling parties of his day. “Let them take your cloak”? The soldiers cast dice for His underwear.  You can’t go any further than that. And “Forgive them, just as your Father in heaven has forgiven you”?  Some of Jesus’ last words were, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” At the cross, Jesus took His teachings to their fullest extent. 

What would it look like if we followed Jesus’ terrible financial advice? In a worst case scenario, we just might end up looking like Him!