Why are churches so focused on money when Jesus warned against greed?

1. Context of Financial Focus in Churches

Over the centuries, various Christian congregations have developed practices surrounding financial contributions for the purpose of sustaining ministry, benevolence efforts, and mission work. This financial focus often raises concerns and questions about the relationship between money and faith. While there is no single reason for why some churches emphasize money, understanding biblical teaching, historical precedents, and contemporary contexts can shed light on the issue.

2. Scriptural Foundations on Money and Stewardship

Scripture emphasizes that believers are stewards of resources entrusted to them. In the Old Testament, the Israelites practiced tithing (Leviticus 27:30–32), and these offerings supported the Levites, the priesthood, and community needs. The principle extended into the New Testament, where generosity was encouraged for meeting the needs of fellow believers (Acts 2:44–45).

Jesus taught, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42). The early church’s actions mirrored those words: “All the believers were together and had everything in common” (Acts 2:44). This collective sharing indicates that gathering and distributing resources for ministry and support has strong biblical precedent.

3. Jesus’s Warnings About Greed

While Scripture underscores stewardship and giving, it also sternly cautions against greed. Jesus declared, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). His teaching consistently elevated devotion to God above material gain.

Jesus’s parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16–21) demonstrates the dangers of hoarding wealth without seeking God’s purpose. The apostle Paul also noted that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). These warnings shape Christian understanding: money itself is not evil, but an unhealthy obsession with it can lead to spiritual harm.

4. The Tension Between Giving and Greed

On one hand, churches rely on financial gifts to fund practical needs, such as facilities, community outreach, discipleship programs, evangelistic endeavors, and missions. On the other hand, church leaders must remain vigilant so that appeals for giving never overshadow or contradict biblical warnings about greed.

Historical and archaeological findings—from records indicating the collection of offerings in the synagogues of ancient Israel to early Christian writings like the Didache—affirm that local faith communities have long participated in organized giving. The Dead Sea Scrolls’ references to communal resources and the care for community members highlight how crucial financial contributions were for maintaining religious communities. These historical examples demonstrate that gathering funds to support shared ministry is a longstanding tradition, yet it must be guided by biblical principles.

5. Contemporary Practices and Potential Abuses

Churches today use various means to collect financial support, often involving online donations, charitable apps, and promotional materials. While these methods can be helpful tools, they can appear to contradict the spirit of Jesus’s warnings if the emphasis on monetary giving becomes disproportionate or manipulative.

Some congregations have attracted attention for practices that appear to excessively spotlight wealth or suggest that material prosperity is a guaranteed mark of divine favor. Scholarly and ethical concerns are raised when churches promise immediate financial returns or pressure members into giving beyond their means. These abuses underscore the importance of accountability, transparency, and adherence to Scripture’s directives on generosity and contentment.

6. Biblical Principles for Balanced Giving

A balanced view of financial stewardship requires aligning belief and practice with Jesus’s teaching:

• Generosity from the Heart: “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

• Accountability and Transparency: The apostle Paul detailed how church leaders were to handle financial gifts responsibly (1 Corinthians 16:1–4). Clear handling of resources prevents suspicion of greed and promotes trust.

• Faithful Provision for Ministry: Scripture repeatedly shows that tithes and offerings were meant to support the spiritual needs of the community, ministers, and those in hardship (Numbers 18:21–24, 1 Timothy 5:17–18).

• Trust Over Anxiety: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Excessive fixation on money is a sign of misplaced trust.

7. Proper Perspectives on Wealth and God’s Kingdom

Believers are encouraged to view wealth in light of eternity. The shortness of life compared to the plans of God invites a humble approach to money. Historical and geological indicators, such as the rapid formation of certain rock layers or the preserved accounts from early Christian martyrs, consistently point to moments in history where believers looked beyond earthly treasures to eternal realities.

Christ’s resurrection—substantiated through eyewitness testimony (1 Corinthians 15:3–8) and early historical writings—reinforces that the kingdom of God outlasts all material wealth. Individuals and congregations that recognize the resurrected Christ’s call will hold possessions loosely, seeking to use resources as instruments of service and worship rather than for self-glorification.

8. Addressing the Concern: Why the Focus on Money?

• Funding Ministry and Outreach: Churches often emphasize giving because it funds ministries, missionary work, community assistance, children’s programs, educational resources, and more.

• Teaching Obedience and Stewardship: Many congregations want to disciple believers to handle resources responsibly, following scriptural guidelines.

• Potential Drift from Intent: In some cases, the message or methods of fundraising can overshadow more foundational spiritual truths, giving the impression that all the church cares about is money.

9. Discernment and Encouragement

While some might perceive an excessive focus on finances, discerning believers will notice that faithful churches ground their appeals in Scripture’s teachings on generosity, accountability, and devotion to God’s work. Churches prone to error in this area should be reminded of Paul’s caution: “Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires” (1 Timothy 6:9). Healthy church communities will encourage transparent practices and clear biblical instruction to maintain integrity.

10. Concluding Reflections

Jesus’s warnings about greed remain a critical safeguard. Genuine faith communities, historically and in the present, must constantly re-examine their motives, remembering that kingdom work is about salvation, not material accumulation. When contributions flow from cheerful givers responding to God’s grace, the financial life of a church aligns with Christ’s teachings rather than contradicting them.

Ultimately, the proper focus is not money itself but the heart’s intention. In the words of Christ, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Church communities that balance faithful stewardship with wise caution against greed can powerfully display God’s love and generosity to a watching world.