“When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion.” —Voltaire
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the term “atheist” as follows:
A person who believes that God does not exist.
Let me pose this question to you:
“Can a person be a Spirit-led follower of Christ but deny His existence in their finances?”
Before I answer that question, let me be crystal clear on two things:
1. Salvation can’t be bought.
You can’t “give” your way into Heaven. In fact, salvation isn’t even something that can be earned.
Ephesians 2:8 says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..
Salvation is free.
2. All Christians are called to be generous.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 8:7. In these verses, Paul urges the church at Corinth to prove their love for Christ by urging them to give.
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Jesus was the most generous person to ever live. And as His follower, you are called to be generous too.
When you give, you demonstrate your love for Him.
Now, back to the question at hand …
Can a person be a spirit-led follower of Christ, but deny His existence in their finances?
Yes, you can make it to heaven without giving.
Giving is not a prerequisite for a personal relationship with Christ. It’s not a salvation issue.
But when you choose not to give, you shut God out of one of the most important areas of your life—your finances.
“Not only is giving worship. It’s an act of faith and submission.”
When you don’t give, you limit your spiritual growth and maturity.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
As a developing follower of Christ, this cord of three strands includes prayer/fasting, studying Scripture and, yes, giving.
If you want to live in the center of God’s will for your life, you must be spiritually engaged in each of these three areas.
“What if I have been an Economic Atheist and haven’t fully trusted God with my money?”
I think this is a question that all Christians battle with at some point during their spiritual walk.
Here are a couple of things that I’ve learned on my own generosity journey.
