Much is written in the scriptures about money and giving. The following scriptures illustrate the principles Jesus taught during his earthly ministry about material wealth.

In Mark 10:25 we read, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 12:34 states, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Mark 8:36–37 adds, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 6:31–33 gives us insights about the priority of our pursuits:

Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Think about Christ and His parables. Many of these parables concern money or similar topics, such as property or wealth. As you review the scriptures, it will become apparent to you that these topics were as important in Jesus’ day as they are today. By consulting the following list of money-related parables in the books of Matthew and Luke, we see that eight of the ten parables in Matthew and nine of the twelve parables in Luke are related to money in some way (see Table 34.1).

Someone once made the following poignant statement: “Money doesn’t change us. It just reveals us to ourselves” (Anonymous). What does money reveal about you?