Jesus spoke about money and wealth on several occasions, reflecting on both the practical and spiritual aspects of its use. Regarding interest specifically, while Jesus does not address the modern concept of interest rates directly in His teachings recorded in the Gospels, He does provide principles that have been applied to the understanding of interest.
One relevant parable is the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and its parallel, the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:12-28). In these parables, a man going on a journey entrusts his property to his servants. Upon his return, he evaluates what they have done with the resources (talents or minas) given to them. The servants who have invested and gained more are rewarded, while the servant who did nothing but hide his talent is reprimanded. The parable includes a reference to earning interest (or increase) as a positive outcome of responsible stewardship of resources given by the master. In Matthew 25:27, the master says to the servant who hid his talent, “Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest.”
Three main takeaways from Jesus’ teachings that can be applied to the concept of interest and financial stewardship are:
- Responsible Stewardship: Jesus encourages the responsible use of resources entrusted to us. The parables of the Talents and the Minas teach that God expects us to use and invest what He has given us wisely, not to hoard or hide it out of fear or laziness.
- Spiritual Priorities: While Jesus acknowledges the practicalities of economic activity, including earning interest, He also warns against allowing wealth to become a master over our lives. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” This emphasizes the importance of keeping spiritual priorities above financial gain.
- Generosity and Care for the Needy: Throughout His ministry, Jesus emphasizes the importance of generosity and caring for the poor and needy. This principle can apply to the way we think about and use our wealth, including the gains from interest, to benefit others rather than accumulating wealth selfishly.
These takeaways offer a balanced view of financial stewardship that includes prudent investment and increase (such as interest), while also prioritizing spiritual values and the well-being of others.
