Loving God with what we have
Our resources can have a positive impact
Everyday Stewardship
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We’ve all heard the phrase, “Money is the root of all evil.” Yet, this isn’t a faithful rendering of 1 Timothy 6:10. The NRSV translation says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”
History – and our own lived experience – show how easily wealth can draw us into greed, jealousy, fear and selfishness. For me, Jesus distills the problem and the solution in two teachings:
1. “You cannot serve both God and money,” (Matthew 6:24). Therefore…
2. Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself – for in this, the whole law is fulfilled (as explored in Matthew 22:26- 40; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:14; and Romans 13:9-10).
Anything that replaces love for God and neighbor – whether the pursuit of wealth or anything else – distorts reality and leads us astray.
This is a challenge for those of us who live in the most affluent nation in history. Most cannot simply step away from money and its influence. We are both privileged and burdened by our affluence and the responsibility that comes with it.
For Everence, the question becomes: How do we walk with integrity, stewarding our money – and ultimately, how do we love God and neighbor with our money? How we invest, for example, can promote justice, advocate for human rights, and develop underserved communities. It can also do the opposite. Everence would be honored to walk alongside you in discovering how generosity, stewardship, and faithful financial practices can bless others and bring positive change in the world.
History – and our own lived experience – show how easily wealth can draw us into greed, jealousy, fear and selfishness. For me, Jesus distills the problem and the solution in two teachings:
1. “You cannot serve both God and money,” (Matthew 6:24). Therefore…
2. Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself – for in this, the whole law is fulfilled (as explored in Matthew 22:26- 40; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27; Galatians 5:14; and Romans 13:9-10).
Anything that replaces love for God and neighbor – whether the pursuit of wealth or anything else – distorts reality and leads us astray.
This is a challenge for those of us who live in the most affluent nation in history. Most cannot simply step away from money and its influence. We are both privileged and burdened by our affluence and the responsibility that comes with it.
For Everence, the question becomes: How do we walk with integrity, stewarding our money – and ultimately, how do we love God and neighbor with our money? How we invest, for example, can promote justice, advocate for human rights, and develop underserved communities. It can also do the opposite. Everence would be honored to walk alongside you in discovering how generosity, stewardship, and faithful financial practices can bless others and bring positive change in the world.