Faith-Driven Impact Investor: What the Bible SaysSample

4. The Kingdom of God Turns Everything Upside Down

The last two readings have been tough – so tough, you may be thinking, “I can’t do this! It’s not possible!”

So try a different angle. Let’s see how Jesus explained this to the business people of his day – the well-to-do folks really trying to help keep the Jewish nation on the path as ordained by God Himself throughout the Old Testament – the Pharisees.

On another day, Jesus told a different parable about money management. In that case, Jesus tells the story of a dishonest manager who is about to be fired for his dishonesty. But just before he’s let go, the manager calls in the master’s clients and cuts the outstanding balances on their various debts by 20–50%.

Surprisingly, Jesus commends the dishonest manager for being so shrewd on his way out. He especially calls out how the manager gave away the master’s money to build favor for himself once he was out of a job. Clever guy, this dishonest manager, says Jesus.

That story surely caught the attention of the Pharisees, who were all about following good business practices and optimizing their wealth – especially as Jesus talked about how people need to be trustworthy in handling worldly wealth. You can almost see the Pharisees gloating inside – “Yes! We must be the ones who have it right — just as Jesus is saying.”

But then Jesus switches gears from the parable to the real world:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Luke 16:13 NIV

The Pharisees start shuffling about and even begin sneering at Jesus’ teachings. And then Jesus drops the truth bomb:

“What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” – Luke 16:15b NIV

Read that again.

What Jesus is saying here is that money, wealth, and the optimization of business practices are actually detestable in God’s sight. Not merely unimportant. Not just dangerous if misused. But detestable.

These words were meant for the Pharisees – the religious elite who saw wealth as a sign of God’s blessing. They were careful with their money, structured in their giving, and wise in their financial decisions. They were the ones who thought they had it all figured out and were doing right by God’s will.

Isn’t that like us today? We see wealth as a sign of God’s blessing. We are careful with money. We structure our giving. We are wise in our financial decisions. And yes, we think we also have it all figured out and are doing right by God’s will.

And then Jesus delivers the shock: the value we assign to wealth, to financial wisdom, money management, and careful investment actions is detestable to God. Ouch.

But wait a minute, we say. We’re different because we use our wealth for “impact.” We’re not greedy or selfish – we’re wise stewards.

Say what we want, call ourselves whatever we like, Jesus still speaks this truth to us that we may feel uncomfortable with – as long as we value wealth, as long as we look for a financial return, as long as we structure our giving in ways that keep us in control, then Jesus says this – God detests that.

But if God hates us hanging on to our money and wealth, what then does He love?

God loves generosity – the kind that isn’t calculated or strategic, but sacrificial and free. He loves it when His people give, not because it makes financial sense, but because it reflects His own heart.

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” – Luke 12:33a NIV

”Freely you have received; freely give.” – Matthew 10:8b NIV

The world tells us to hold on. Jesus tells us to let go.

So, what will you do? Keep managing your wealth like the Pharisees, hoping God approves?

Or follow Jesus, who says: Give it away. No strings. No control. Just give.