Does God want our money? Did Jesus say to help people or build fancy churches?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
Does God Want Our Money?
God does not need or want our money for Himself. He is the Creator and Master of all things, entirely self-sufficient and lacking nothing. As the Scripture states:
"For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills... If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness." (Psalm 50:10, 12)
God does not need our silver or gold. When Scripture calls us to give our tithes, offerings, and alms, the benefit is entirely for our salvation, not God's enrichment. Giving teaches us:
- Detachment from the world: Wealth easily becomes an idol (mammon). By giving away our money, we break the grip of greed and trust in God rather than material things.
- Love and Mercy: Giving is an expression of genuine love toward our fellow man, reflecting God's love toward us.
- Good Will: God looks at the intention of the heart, not the financial sum. Like the poor widow who offered two mites (Mark 12:41–44), God accepts our good will and willingness to sacrifice.
Did Jesus Say to Help People or Build Fancy Churches?
The Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly commanded us to care for the poor, the suffering, and the needy. In Matthew 25:31–46, He reveals that the final judgment will hinge directly on how we treated the least of His brethren: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned.
At the same time, the Church understands the role of the house of God and the care of the poor in proper balance:
1. The Priority of Charity and Almsgiving
Christ made it clear that our material goods should be used to relieve human suffering and store up treasure in heaven rather than be hoarded on earth. When the rich young man asked how to inherit eternal life, Christ commanded him: "Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven" (Mark 10:21). In the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12), a man who lived only to hoard his wealth in bigger barns lost his soul because he was not rich toward God.
St. John Chrysostom pointedly reminded believers of the danger of neglecting the living temples of God while adorning the physical building:
"Do you wish to honor the Body of Christ? Do not despise Him when He is naked... What use is it if His table is full of golden cups, while He Himself is starving to death? First satisfy His hunger, and then with what is left, adorn His altar."
2. The Purpose of the Church Building
The physical church—a Greek loanword used in Coptic is not built for vanity, worldly luxury, or pride. It is consecrated as the House of God—the place where heaven and earth meet, where prayers are offered, and where the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist (the Body and Blood of Christ) is celebrated.
When Mary of Bethany poured expensive, fragrant oil upon Christ's feet, Judas Iscariot complained, claiming the oil should have been sold to give money to the poor. Christ defended her devotion, saying: "The poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always" (John 12:8). Honoring God with beauty, reverence, and devotion in His sanctuary is acceptable and holy, provided it stems from true worship and not human vanity.
Coptic churches are built not as displays of earthly wealth, but as icons of the heavenly Jerusalem:
- Icons, candles, and incense are not frivolous decorations; they are liturgical elements that draw the soul into prayer, teaching the faith and reminding believers of the presence of the saints and angels.
- The building serves as the center of spiritual nourishment and practical charity, where the community gathers to worship and from which support for the poor and afflicted is organized and distributed.
Summary
Christ calls us to give ourselves, not merely our wallets, to Him. While the sanctuary of God is kept reverent, clean, and worthy of the Holy Mysteries, Christ's explicit commandment to every believer is to use worldly wealth to show mercy to those in need.