“What is it for?”

lived on 28 pounds, and gave 92 pounds away! We would all say that what he did was admirable and self-giving, but few, if any of us, would want to do that ourselves. So, why would he do that? And what can we learn from it?

First, Wesley said that he gave his money away “least it take root in my heart.” He was referring to the passage in which Paul (referring to Jesus’ own teaching on money) says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”(I Timothy 6:10). Wesley understood that much more was at stake. Money can cause pride, avarice, control, manipulation, and resentment. Wesley figured that he wanted to give enough of it away so he would not fall into those things that trap and hobble the soul. Here are a couple questions that might help us self-evaluate: How much is enough? How much does it take for me to start feeling self-satisfied, self-centered, self-secure, prideful, or superior to others? How much should I give away to make sure the ‘love of money does not take root’ in my life?

Second, Wesley gave what he could because he put people first. He wrote, “‘If I would die with more than 6 pounds, I’d consider myself a robber.” He did not want to rob God nor to rob people of the good that he could do for them. Wesley gave to the poor, helped pay off the debts of prisoners so they could be freed, published medical pamphlets to help the infirmed, and even started free pharmacies. He understood that money is but a tool meant to be used for another good. We tend to ask the wrong question about our lives. Many ask “What do you have to show for it?” when we should be asking “WHO do we have to show for it.” With increased income, it is okay to have an increased standard of living, but we should also have an increased standard of giving. The great thing is that giving a tithe (10%) makes sure that both increase when you earn more.   

Everything we have is a tool – all our stuff, all our money, our homes, all that we have. To keep it from tempting us away from the godly character Jesus wants to form in us, we must give it away. We also must remember that is a tool in the hands of Christians to do God’s good in people’s lives. The question is both what are we using it for and who are we using it for?  

Forward in Faith,

Jonathan