Does God Really Need Our Money?

The Cost of the Great Commission

In the end of Matthew, Jesus leaves his disciples with their final command, the Great Commission, which states “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” According to the Joshua Project, there are approximately 7,400 people groups out of 17,400 total that have not heard the gospel.

Take 30 seconds and consider silently how much money it might take God to complete the Great Commission by reaching all these people groups with the gospel. Millions? Billions? Trillions? Just consider the approximate order of magnitude.

Keep that estimate in your head for now. We’ll come back to that in a moment.

Next, lets divide up the following passages and read them aloud, one after another. (all ESV)

JOB 26:7-14

He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them. He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it his cloud. He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power, who can understand?”

1 CORINTHIANS 15:25-26

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Now think back to the question we considered earlier. In light of the power God has demonstrated throughout history, how much money would it take God to complete the Great Commission?

The fact is, God is going to accomplish what He intends to accomplish. And He doesn’t require a single dime (let alone anything else) to do it. So that leaves us with an important question.

God doesn’t need our money, but He knows that money is one of the most powerful contenders for our hearts. He carefully and thoughtfully crafted each of us. And He loves us more deeply and passionately than we will ever understand. When God calls us to loosen our tight-fisted grip on our money, it’s only because He wants us to experience a relationship with Him with the love and passion of a child looking up at their father or mother, whom they depend on for everything.

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