How controlling money can cause brokenness

19 Aug, 2024

Ever since the fall, humanity has lived in the wreckage of sin and brokenness – broken lives, broken relationships, and broken systems.

In going our own way and cutting ourselves off from relationship with God, we chose fear and control over true reliance on Him. And we see this play out in the areas of our lives that we hold closest to us.

Our relationship with money is a huge example of this.

“Money gives us a feeling of autonomy from God. We don’t need a provider because we have the ability to provide for ourselves. We don’t need a sustainer because we can sustain ourselves. All our longings and deepest needs, we can now meet them ourselves through money. So, we don’t need God. Money gives us the illusion of control.”

Hew Nunn, Senior Leader – Church Partnerships, CAP Australia.

Our innate desire for control when it comes to money has bred a number of unhealthy beliefs and behaviours, all shaped from a place of brokenness.

Scarcity

When we don’t believe that God will provide for us, we can develop a scarcity mindset. This mindset leaves us in a place of fear, where we feel that it is only our own effort that can ensure financial security.

Operating from a negative base like this can cause us to stockpile money and possessions, sign up for more insurances than necessary, and more, all to give ourselves a false sense of peace and security that’s unsustainable.

For further reading, see Matthew 25:14-30.

Consumerism

Consumerism is born out of a misdirected need to find something that will satisfy us. By purchasing more and more, we operate under the belief that possessions will help satiate what’s missing from our lives. We’re also fostering feelings of jealousy and envy by looking at others’ material assets, believing that our worth and standing in the world is in direct correlation with how much we acquire.

For further reading, see Matthew 6:19-21.

Individualism

Our desire for control can lead us to become more internally focused and less inclined to be generous with our money or material possessions. We then pursue happiness above all else – an unattainable goal when we think only of ourselves.

Having an individualistic mindset can impact the wellbeing of others who are in need of the help of a community. And it can lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety in our own lives.

For further reading, see Luke 12:13-21.

By leaning into the mindsets of scarcity, consumerism and individualism, we’re continuing in the pattern of brokenness.

But, through an ongoing process of surrendering control to God and leaning further into our relationship with Jesus, we are continually refined – and become more like Him each day.

Words by Hew Nunn and Cassie Holland