Is Our Theology of Money Upside Down? with Paul David Tripp

Apr 7, 2025

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“And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” - 2 Corinthians 5:15.

Most of us view our income as God’s primary way of providing for us—and then, almost as an afterthought, we consider giving. But what if Scripture teaches the opposite? Paul David Tripp is here to flip our theology of money upside down.

Paul David Tripp is the president of Paul Tripp Ministries, a pastor, best-selling author, and international conference speaker with a heart for connecting the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. He has written over thirty books and resources on Christian living, including Redeeming Money: How God Reveals and Reorients Our Hearts.

Why We Struggle to Be Generous

Sin causes us to live with an obsessive self-focus, and money often becomes the most obvious place that focus shows up. We think first about what we need, want, and what dreams money can buy…and only then might we consider being generous with it.

We need to recognize the tension between what God intends for our money, what we say we believe about Him, and how we actually live that out through our bank accounts.”

Reversing the Order: What If Generosity Came First?

Here’s the big idea that flips our theology of money on its head:

Most of us view our income as God’s primary way of providing for us—and then, as a sort of afterthought, He also calls us to give. But what if Scripture actually teaches the opposite?

What if God’s primary purpose for money is that we would be participants in His generosity story? And then, almost as an afterthought, He uses it to meet our daily needs?”

This idea is rooted in Jesus' words in Matthew 6:19–34, the “Treasures in Heaven” section of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches that financial peace begins not with budget-savvy spreadsheets but with trust: You have a heavenly Father who knows what you need and promises to provide.

Here are just a few of those promises:

Philippians 4:19—“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 6:31–32—“Do not be anxious… your heavenly Father knows that you need [these things].”
Luke 12:24—“Consider the ravens…yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”

If God has taken the burden of provision off our shoulders and onto His, then we’re free to have a bigger, more beautiful vision for our money.

A Transformed Purpose: From Getting to Giving

When we understand that provision is God's job and generosity is our calling, we begin to see money differently. Paul highlights Ephesians 4:28 to illustrate this:

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."

Here’s what’s striking: The passage doesn’t say, “so he can legally provide for himself.” The focus shifts from self-centered stealing to God-honoring generosity. It’s not just a change in behavior—it’s a complete transformation of the heart.

God’s grace reorders our motives. Without this grace, our pursuit of money will always drift toward self. And we’ll try to squeeze God into the leftovers.

More Than Mechanics: Recovering the Bigger Picture

Paul also notes that many Christians get stuck in the mechanics of money:

How do I get out of debt?
How much should I give?
Will I have enough for retirement?

These are good and necessary questions, but if we focus only on them, we miss the greater story.

Instead of starting with ourselves and hoping something is left for God, Scripture invites us to flip that approach. We’re called to live as God’s generous ambassadors on earth, using our money as an act of worship, love, and service.

It’s not about ignoring bills or forsaking grocery runs—it’s about reordering our hearts.

Freedom Through Generosity

May God, in His faithful grace, continue to liberate us from our bondage to ourselves. He will liberate our wallets from their bondage to self-focus as He does.

This isn’t just about giving more—it’s about being more like Jesus.

When we align our theology of money with God's Word, we stop clinging to what we have and start participating in what He’s doing. And in that act of radical generosity, we discover true financial freedom—not because we have more, but because we need less. God is enough.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I have $36,000 in student loans with different balances and interest rates. I'm paying off the higher interest rate loans, but I heard I should pay the smallest balance first. Should I change my strategy?
We're moving IRA money to a Roth, and our CPA suggests using a charitable gift account to pay for our tithe. I'm uncomfortable with this, feeling like we shouldn't use funds that gave us a tax benefit for our tithe. Is this okay?

Resources Mentioned:

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