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I read the following statements on a Christian leader’s blog recently, “We were created to work and money is like air; we need it to breathe. We need money to survive.” Do you believe that? Most Americans do. But the fact is it is a terrible analogy and especially from a Christian. The idea is so American culture, but so unbiblical.
Money isn’t anything like air. I can live a very long life and experience all the really important qualities of life without money, but I can only live a few minutes without air. In God’s economy of sovereign abundance He has made all the most important things for the abundant life the easiest to obtain and most freely available.
Air is first on the list, followed by water, food and shelter. Money never appears on God’s list of important things. Money is utilitarian at best, not essential. God is our source. He is sovereign and He can and will provide all we need to do all He wants - with or without money. Money is never the limiting factor in doing what is most important to Him.
I know that this sounds like radical thinking but it really isn’t, in fact it is eminently logical and Biblically provable. Let’s take a couple of simple examples.
Perhaps the most obvious is God’s total and sovereign sustenance of the nation of Israel in the desert for 40 years. He didn’t use money or any other medium of barter or exchange to care for them. He just supernaturally provided all they really needed to live. He doesn’t need money to care for us either.
When Peter asked Jesus how they they would pay the temple tax Jesus told him to go catch a fish. The money for the tax was to be in its mouth. I call that fish God’s bank.
Did you ever notice that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray He told them to prays “Give us this day our daily bread” not, “Give us the money to buy our bread?” Money was used while Jesus was here. He knew about it. He knew all about it.
How about this; there is no mention of money in the garden of Eden. It wasn’t needed. It’s not mentioned in any description or discussion of the New Jerusalem either. Adam and Eve worked, but not for wages, they tended the garden as stewards and God provided all they needed to do all He asked.
Here’s a really radical thought about money; it is an alternative to trust in God provided by Satan as part of an alternative worldview that he has been promoting since he appeared to Eve as a snake. What he did then, and all he really does now, is offer plausible sounding but false alternatives to trust in what God has said to man. It is true that the world system that has developed and is the result of the first sin of disobedience does need money, and also that as He does with all things, God does use money, but He doesn’t need it. Neither do His children although they may use it too. God uses everything but He doesn’t need anything.
What we need is faith… Faith to trust God and to take Him at His word…First, faith that He loves us so much that He sent His Son to take the punishment that we deserve for our sins… faith to accept that gift.
Next, faith that His written Word is true, all of it. In it He promises over, and over, and over again to provide all we need to do all He asks and to take responsibility for it. Think about it friends! If God can’t or won’t do this He isn’t God at all and our faith is a joke!
If God has a unique plan for each of our lives, which He says he does in His Word. (Ephesians 2:10)
And, If He will judge our performance within that plan, which He says He will. (II Corinthians 5:10)
And if there will be consequences, both reward and loss, based on that judgement, and He says there will be. (I Corinthians 3:11-15)
Then how can He judge us unless we have the ability to do what we are being given to do? Is the God of the Universe just? Is He?
Yes! He is just! And that’s how I know – I WILL ALWAYS HAVE ALL I NEED TO DO ALL GOD WANTS. If you trust Him you will too!
Take it to the bank!
There is a hooker though, it’s the phrase that says “to do all HE wants.”
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Buck Jacobs, Chairman and Founder of The C12 Group, LLC - Christian CEO and mentor. Buck has an extensive background in successful organizational development based on the principles found in scripture. The motto of the C12 group is "Building great companies for a greater purpose." 
Buck: Thanks for sharing. Some things we consider essential, are absent or given little regard in the Bible. It is hard in all our affluence to have the Lord’s priorities, but we keep trying and seeking. Blessings, Will
I agree completely with your assessment about money but think it is an interesting tool that God created for our convenience.
I have a theory about the Creation / Garden story and market economies. The precious commodities mentioned in the Creation narrative (Gen 2:11-12), the jewels, gold and gum resin (for making aromatic incense) were the exchange commodities, currency as it were, of the ancient world.
The cooperation anticipated as early as the story of Cain and Abel, one a grain farmer, the other a herdsman, I think, should be thought of as the division of labor only modernity has begun to seriously study as a primary means to increasing wealth and the way to overcoming poverty.
I believe markets were created by God, not as a means to self-aggrandizement but as a means to promote abundant life (self-sustenance) and the mutual support (shalom) of our communities.
Some commentators even consider that the story of Peter and the coin in the fish’s mouth was a way that Jesus explained that means for meeting our economic obligations were provided by the work-based economy of God (Adam as farmer and steward) and the fact that Peter’s fishing business had a sustainable level of profitability.
All that said, this is why, to me, the work that you are doing with The C12 Group is so important in God’s mission today. God does not need money but He certainly uses it and the market economy to provide us with many blessings, especially the opportunities to bless others.
And amen to “all HE wants.” May His perfect will be done.