The Biblical view of sex is unique. It rejects the view, held by some conservative cultures, that sex is dirty. Instead, the Bible views sex so highly that it cannot be shared casually with anyone outside the covenantal relationship of marriage. Sex is meant to bind two people together. It renews the covenant that they have made with one another.

Money is not inherently evil, but it is often dangerous because it has a power to blind us to spiritual reality. When a person becomes financially successful, they start to feel that they are a success in all areas, and they can easily become blinded to their own sin. Also, the love of money is a unique sin because few people can see greed in themselves. Instead, we falsely believe that luxuries are necessities. Finally, money deceives us by telling us that it can bring us security, and this makes us unwilling to part with our money.

Naturally we’re inclined to spend our money on ourselves and if we have any left over, we will give it to ministry and charity. However, Jesus shows us how our priorities need to change. Giving to ministry and charity must come first. Only then should we figure out how to spend the rest of our money. Yet, it is only through the Gospel that we can give so much away. It is only when we are spiritually rich that we can stop looking at money as our real wealth and security.

Money is not a peripheral subject for Jesus. Jesus is always concerned about the hearts of His followers, and He constantly teaches about money because our attitude towards money is a window into our hearts. We put our trust in money instead of trusting in God. We look to money for the security that only God can provide. Yet, when we see how Jesus gave up his heavenly riches in order to draw near to us, we can forsake our earthly riches in order to draw near to Him.

Money will always reveal what you truly worship. As God’s money managers, we are called to share the money he has provided to us with those who do not have as much. However, money exercises great power over us and we are often oblivious to this power. If you feel unable to part with your wealth, meditate upon the radical generosity of Christ on the cross and he will become the treasure of your heart.

When we realize that everything that we have is a gift from God, it becomes possible for us to give in a radical way. As we realize God’s grace, we also understand that our earthly possessions are expendable. We are also fed physically and spiritually when we engage in this kind of Christ-like generosity.

Meeting with God and grasping the grace he freely gives us changes our relationship to our money, possessions, and career. When we see that salvation cannot be earned or gained through hard work, we are freed from the idolatry of wealth. When we experience this freedom, we can give with spontaneity and joy.

Our God works, is creative, and rests. We are made in his image and should mirror these attributes. In this letter, Paul gives the young Christians in Thessalonica practical advice on how to work, not only to be successful and to earn a living, but to fulfill our highest calling: to please God.

A panel of three traders discusses the particular challenges of living out their Christian walk in the trading world, giving a Christian perspective on working in Finance.

Only in Christianity is the world intentionally created by God. The world is not created by accident and then ruled by God. Therefore, all of God's creation — including wealth — should be enjoyed. However, if our worldly wealth becomes our identity, we will remain in unfulfilling jobs; we will overwork to gain financial prestige; and we may become emotionally bipolar. This kind of wealth-based identity causes us to dangerously seal off work life from personal life.