23. Jesus on money teaches us to be generous to our enemies

This is the 23^rd post as I attempt to visit everything (pretty much!) Jesus said about money in the gospels over 2 weeks. In order to do this I will be putting up around two posts each day. This is coinciding with a 2-week preaching series that we are going through at Community Church Putney- Jesus On Money.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36)

These are very challenging words from Jesus on money.

I’m sure that, like me, many of you are generous to friends and things that you are passionate about. Jesus confronts us and tells us to imitate the Father’s tender mercy with our money.

It is only as we give to our enemies that we most closely demonstrate the gospel of grace- the Father gave His only Son to save rebel sinners like you and me and that person you don’t like very much!

I’m not telling you how to apply this text. Each of us must hear Jesus on money and seek the Spirit’s guidance and be like our Father in our generosity.

This is surely what Paul meant when he said,

‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Romans 12:20-21)

Paul is teaching that our mercy may bring a sense of shame ‘burning coals’ and thus, possibly, leading them to salvation.

Take a moment to ask God to search you: Are you generous to your ‘enemies’? Think about the people in your life that have wounded you, are being unkind to you, whom you find simply annoying; what can you do to be generous to them?