Giving with God
Of all the books my old book group read, the book With, by Skye Jethani, was one of the most impactful. The book introduces four postures that can entice people from a relationship with God. They are:
Life From God
Life Under God
Life For God
Life Over God
I’ve been rereading the book, focusing on how the four flawed postures might apply to financial discipleship. It has helped me discern how worldly messages about money can lead me to the wrong destination. As you read on, see if you find yourself in any of these postures.
1. Life From God
The Life from God posture gives to get. It is the prosperity gospel in its rawest form. It treats God like a slot machine that comes up $$$ nearly every time. The giver pays God off to bless their endeavors and expects to be radically blessed in return. Skye counsels, “The Life from God posture is so appealing because it doesn’t ask us to change. What we desire, what we seek, what we do, and how we live—all shaped by consumerism—are not disrupted.”
2. Life Under God
People who give from a Life Under God mentality are in fear of a world that is dangerous and ruled by an unpredictable God who can be appeased by following the correct moral code. Skye notes, “Many Christians are told if they obey God’s commands, if they worship him, give financially to the church (emphasis mine), and abstain from immorality, then he will bless their lives.” They want the security and comfort of a good marriage, great kids, physical health, and solid finances.
3. Life For God
The Life For God posture puts being on mission for God above being in relationship with God. When this posture meets giving, two groups struggle. The first group seeks to purchase significance through generosity. They overstate money's importance, often giving to make up for not pursuing a “spiritual enough” career or falling short in other areas. The second group fails to take Matthew 11:30 at its word and instead sees the burden as anything but light. Skye quotes one woman who asks, “How radical do I have to be?” People feel they are being called to something rather than someone—and can’t figure out how to move forward.
4. Life Over God
Life Over God subscribes to the practical wisdom the Bible shares about money. But even more than wisdom, this posture elevates the hacks and techniques that help people achieve their financial goals. It ignores inconvenient statements and scriptural truths that admonish the love of money over the love of God (Job 31:24, 2 Timothy 3:2) or encourage joyous generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7). The focus is on wealth and wisdom without worship. It often works—at least to achieve a comfortable financial existence—but falls short of delivering true riches (Matthew 6:19-20; 1 Timothy 6:17).
Invariably, these false postures will let you down. What happens, for instance, when God doesn’t cooperate and my business struggles? How do I react when my giving doesn’t provide the security or assurances I want, or I never get the significance I hoped for? What if my comfortable financial life doesn’t satisfy? Do I become bitter with God because he didn’t meet my expectations?
Here is my challenge to you: For the next month, evaluate messages from the world, the church, and your own heart to see if they fall into these traps. Evaluate your financial picture. Ask yourself what progress you want to make then identify the motivations behind each goal. I am confident you’ll learn something and perhaps avoid unnecessary bitterness toward a God who loves you.
Check out this helpful resource: With: Reimagining the Way you Relate to God, by Skye Jethani
