Let’s face it—talking about money in church makes many of us uncomfortable. Whether it’s the annual pledge drive or a passing mention in a sermon, there’s a tendency to tense up, look away, or wonder if it’s really appropriate. After all, isn’t church supposed to be about spiritual things—like prayer, faith, and love?
Here’s the surprising truth: the Bible talks more about money than it does about prayer. In fact, money is the third most talked about topic in all of Scripture, right behind God and Jesus. There are over 2,000 verses about money, wealth, and possessions. That’s more than verses about faith, justice, mercy, prayer, or even love.
Why? Because how we handle money is deeply spiritual.
Money itself is neutral—neither good nor evil. It’s a tool, and like any tool, its impact depends on how we use it. The Bible doesn’t condemn wealth, nor does it idealize poverty. What it does is challenge us to examine how money influences our hearts, our trust, and our priorities.
That’s why Jesus spoke about it so often—15% of his recorded teachings are about money and possessions. He knew that our financial decisions often reveal what we value most. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
Most of us have far more than we need. Yet we often hesitate when it comes to giving—especially giving to the church. It’s easy to justify a new phone or a weekend getaway, but harder to talk honestly about supporting the mission of the church.
At St. Matthew’s, we begin our annual financial planning in the fall. So over the coming months, you’ll hear more about money—not to make anyone uncomfortable, but because this is an important part of our shared life of faith. Stewardship isn’t just about covering the budget—it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s vision for the world.
Giving is a spiritual act. It reminds us that everything we have is from God. It loosens our grip on what we’ve been given and opens our hands to generosity.
So when we talk about money at church, it’s not a distraction from the gospel—it’s a reflection of it.
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