Issue #108, June 19, 2013
As Paul continues to list what he expects from servant leaders, he turns next to the sensitive issue of money. A leader of quality will be “not a lover of money” (1 Timothy 3:3). Paul recognizes that loving money is a powerful temptation for all leaders. He later says to Timothy, “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” (1Timothy 6:10). Paul’s primary concern is not with the amount of money a leader has but with the heart attitude the leader has towards money. Servant leaders seek to honor God in the way they use money and clearly recognize the evil results of loving money.
Leaders who love money use people.
Leaders who love money focus on how their leadership can increase their personal income or help them to achieve their own financial goals. Whether the followers are workers in a business or members of a congregation, the leader looks at them as a way to prosper. They are producers of income and sources of finance. They see the people they lead as means towards their selfish ends. However, servant leaders see the people they lead as gifts from God and honor them by investing in their lives to see them develop. They focus on developing others rather than using them for their own benefit.
Leaders who love money compromise integrity.
Leaders who love money will inevitably begin to make decisions based primarily on what will be most profitable. They will begin to take shortcuts, engage in questionable business practices, develop friendships based on what the other person has to offer financially, etc. These actions can easily be justified as normal since so many others are also doing the same. However, servant leaders refuse to compromise their integrity for financial gain. They make some decisions that will provide less income simply because the decision is right. They treat the poor with the same respect as those with much.
Leaders who love money reject God.
This statement may seem overly judgmental; however, Jesus makes it clear that between God and money, only one will be the master (Matthew 6:24). When leaders choose to build their leadership around money or profit, they have unconsciously rejected God’s rule and authority over their lives. Money becomes an idol that controls how they lead, the decisions they make and the way they relate to others. Servant leaders recognize this sobering reality and consciously seek first God’s kingdom, not material gain. They learn to be content with what they have and view themselves as stewards of all that God has given to them and surrender their finances to the Lordship of Jesus. They give generously and as they do are set free from the tyranny of loving money.
The sad story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10) serves as a biblical example of the danger of loving money. Ironically, in the midst of an act of giving, this couple was guilty of loving money. Outwardly they looked good but they desired to use money to gain favor and respect from others, they compromised truth in their report to Peter and tragically lost their lives as a result. Their sudden death should cause each of us to pause and ask ourselves if there are ways that our own hearts reflect a love of money.
For further reflection and discussion:
Are any of the following warning signs of loving money in my life and leadership? If so, what corrective steps should I take?
- I see the people I lead as sources of money for myself
- I treat people differently based on the amount of money they have
- I make decisions based on potential loss or profit more than whether it is right or wrong.
- I find it difficult to give sacrificially
- I do not experience genuine contentment with what I have
Reflect on the following scriptures. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:15; 16:13-14; Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:9-10) What is the Lord speaking to your heart through them?