In a world where financial anxiety keeps us awake at 3 AM doing “anxious math,” we need to remember God’s story about money. This isn’t just about budgets and bank accounts—it’s about discipleship and the narratives that shape our hearts.
Why Jesus Talked So Much About Money
Jesus spoke frequently about money, not because he was obsessed with finances, but because how we handle money reveals our spiritual condition. The way we approach money is never just about math—it’s about discipleship. Our money story is fundamentally a spiritual story.
What Are the Stories We Carry About Money?
We all carry narratives about money that were formed by family scripts, cultural assumptions, and church experiences. These stories quietly steer our giving, saving, spending, and fears. Many of us in the church carry memories of offerings used to control, budgets used to shame, and appeals drenched in anxiety.
The Power of Remembering
We are forgetful people who need to be reminded of truth repeatedly. Just as Jesus gave us communion and said “do this in remembrance of me,” some truths about God’s provision need to be told again and again until love has time to sink into us.
Two Biblical Money Stories That Change Everything
The Upper Room: Grace at the Table
In Luke 22, we see a stark contrast. At the beginning of the chapter, religious leaders use money to fuel corruption, enlisting Judas with silver to betray Jesus. But by the end, Jesus gathers his friends—including Judas—and shares bread and cup with them all.
This scene shows us Jesus’ new economy: a table where there is enough for everyone, even the betrayers. No one earns their seat. Grace is never rationed. The feast is given, not earned or bought.
Manna in the Wilderness: Learning God’s Economy of Enough
In Exodus 16, the Israelites stumble into the desert carrying Pharaoh’s slavery and scarcity mindset. God responds to their fear with bread from heaven—enough for each day, not more and not less.
The command was simple: take what you need, trust God for tomorrow, and keep the Sabbath so no one has to hoard. God moved his people from an economy of scarcity to an economy of enough.
What Does God’s Economy Look Like?
God’s economy operates on different principles than the world’s:
* Enough over excess: There will be enough for today when we stop hoarding
* Sabbath over striving: Rest protects us and others from our grasping tendencies
* Sharing over storing: Provision is meant to be shared provision
* Grace over earning: No one earns their place at God’s table
How Do We Experience Manna Moments Today?
Manna moments are times when provision shows up just when we need it, when community becomes our safety net. These moments remind us that God is still in the business of providing enough.
Look for these moments in your life:
* Unexpected help when finances were tight
* Community support during difficult times
* Resources appearing just when needed
* Opportunities to be generous when you thought you couldn’t afford it
Practical Ways to Remember God’s Story This Week
Practice Remembering Prayer
At each meal, pray simply: “Tell us again, Lord,” and add what you need to hear:
* Tell us of the manna
* Tell us of the table
* Tell us of your love
* Tell us that there is enough
Choose One Sabbath Practice
Resist hoarding by choosing one small Sabbath practice:
* Don’t buy anything for 24 hours
* Pause comparison shopping and scrolling
* Share something you have in surplus
* Give away items you haven’t used in a year
Share Your Money Story
Tell someone your money story over coffee or a walk. Share one formative memory about money and one manna moment. This honesty is how God rewrites our story about money.
Life Application
This week, commit to examining the money stories that have shaped you. Start by naming your first memory of money and how it still shows up in your life today. Then identify your first memory of money in the church and what messages you absorbed.
Most importantly, begin looking for manna moments—times when God’s provision showed up just when you needed it. These moments remind us that we serve a God of enough, not scarcity.
Questions for Reflection:
* What money story from your past still influences your decisions today?
* Where have you experienced God’s provision in unexpected ways?
* How might God be calling you to create manna moments for others?
* What would change in your life if you truly believed there is enough?
Remember: your worth is not your net worth in Christ. In God’s story, enough is abundance, and provision is meant to be shared. Let this truth sink deep into your heart this week.
