The following scripture is absolutely central, and key to the Bible's whole teaching on Money. What did Jesus say about giving? He said, give and you will receive more. Jesus said we should give, and expect a harvest. This is recorded in Luke 6: 38:

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

This promise is so central to this whole teaching that we should spend more time on it! In our secular world, we have all taken for granted the following implied financial emphasis on how we should run our financial affairs. According to traditional secular understanding, we should;

- Work for a living.

- Pay for all our goods and services.

- Buy a car, usually by instalments to repay a car loan.

- If we go to university, spend many years paying off student loans.

- Buy a home, usually on a mortgage.

- Very frequently the repayment of a mortgage requires two salaries, so that both parents are required to work, and pay for child care as well as the mortgage.

- Save for our retirement in a pension plan.

In the UK where we live, this traditional wisdom is, in many cases, simply not working

- House prices are now so high that many normal families simply cannot afford to buy a home.

- In many cases, young people start off their lives with huge student loans.

- These youngsters are so concerned about saving to buy a house, and paying off their student loans, that saving for a pension plan is the last thing on their minds!

- Many families find themselves on a very difficult treadmill, where a home can only be bought using two incomes.

- Many families are genuinely perplexed about the best way forward.
In order to more easily raise children, the mother (or occasionally the father) must reduce her work commitments.

- However, the family finances are, in many cases, already stretched, and this is often not possible.

Jesus Christ taught a radical, totally different, financial model for believers to build their lives on.

Jesus is completely aware of the need for food, clothing, housing, education, transport, and holidays. However, to every single one of us, He gives a radically different financial model!

Jesus said, in Matthew 6:31-34, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek . For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you".

Jesus said, in Luke 6: 38, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

These two commands are totally revolutionary!

Jesus Christ very simply says;

- "Seek first the kingdom of God", Matthew 6:31-34

- "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap", (Luke 6: 38).