How do we reconcile our desire – to prosper, succeed, and live abundantly with Jesus’ sobering words: “You cannot serve both God and money"? One seems to call us upward into purpose; the other warns of a snare that can quietly enslave the heart.
The church has often responded in extremes – either demonizing wealth entirely or spiritualizing the pursuit of it. But is either response truly rooted in the heart of God?
Can We Approach Wealth with Confidence?
We’ve heard the phrase, “It’s ok to have it as long as it doesn’t have you.” While that sounds wise, its applications can be elusive. How do you know when wealth has you? How do you discern whether your motives are pure - or subtly hijacked by ambition and self-interest?
The heart is “deceitful above all things." That means it's highly skilled at justifying, minimizing, and masking what is really driving us. Deep down, we want to believe we're in control, that we've mastered our desires – but are we being honest with ourselves?
Is Rejection the Only Safe Option?
For some, rejecting wealth altogether seems like the “safe” and righteous path. If you don’t touch it, you can’t be controlled by it. But does that truly honor God’s call to stewardship, influence, and dominion? Or is there a more mature, Spirit-led way to engage the concept of wealth?
"Purity is best demonstrated in generosity."
When the Pharisees were appalled when Jesus didn't wash before the meal, Jesus responded with something far more profound: “It isn’t what is on the outside that defiles, but rather what is on the inside.”
They were obsessed with outer appearances yet blind to the corruption within. Jesus wasn't merely challenging their behavior – He was confronting their motives. The way to purify what’s inside is to give from it. Generosity becomes the tool that both reveals and refines our motives.
In other words, genuine generosity purifies our motives. Jesus was connecting our inner righteousness (purity) with outward acts, such as generosity.
Generosity as a Purification
Genuine generosity and covetousness are mutually exclusive. You can’t embrace both. When we give sacrificially – when the gift costs us something – it purifies our motivations and desires. It becomes the evidence that mammon doesn’t have us in its grip.
David embodied this when he said, “I will not offer to the Lord that which costs me nothing.” He understood the principles of sacrificial worship: without cost, it is sentiment, not surrender. The price is what makes it valuable and reveals the heart behind it.
That “pinch” – that moment when giving stretches your comfort or challenges your priorities – is not a red flag. It’s a faith indicator. It's where trust is tested and where transformation happens.
The Trap of Manipulative Generosity
Some giving may appear generous – but underneath, it's just a strategy. When the ulterior motive is self-gain – positioning for favor, influence, or personal advancement - then it’s not generosity at all. It’s manipulation wearing a spiritual mask.
God isn’t moved by the gift; He is moved by the motive.
Generosity as Kingdom Empowerment
The generosity that comes with a price and requires faith becomes empowerment. It positions us for the increase – not just in resources but in influence, authority, and anointing.
Generosity reveals alignment. It demonstrates our hearts are in sync with God’s purposes and priorities. It confirms that we can handle blessings without being consumed by them.
This kind of giving ignites the Kingdom movement. It causes blessings to flow through us, not just to us. And it positions us to boldly ask God for more – not out of greed, but because we are ready to multiply what He gives.
The Generous Life
Generosity should be a defining mark of the Kingdom believer. It should resonate in our choices, priorities, and relationships. Not because we’re trying to earn God’s favor – but because we already have it.
A generous life creates confident expectation. It emboldens our prayers. It expands our territory.
Luke 11:41 The Living Bible
Randy Gladden
