There are a lot of resources out there on the topic of money, both by secular and Christian authors. My personal favorite is God’s Word. Nothing is more inspirational and life‐changing than hearing God’s perspective on a topic and applying those truths to our lives.
When it comes to the topic of money and possessions, the Bible contains over 2,300 verses. Why would God include that many verses on one topic? He knew it was a topic we would need lots of guidance on. Randy Alcorn, author of one of my favorite books, Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide, says, “The sheer enormity of the Bible’s teaching on this subject screams for our attention.” 1
But, have you been putting His words into practice? There’s nothing like operating your life like a wise man! (Matt. 7:24‐27)
Let’s uncover a few of the truths that God has given us, and while we do, test yourself and see how you’re doing…
- God owns it all…
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1, NIV
“Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all…” I Chron. 29:12a, NASB
Food for thought: You don’t own your money or possessions, God does. You are merely a steward, being trusted to use it wisely and for His purposes. Therefore, spending decisions are also spiritual decisions.
“Wisdom is the ability to view life as God perceives it.” ~Chuck Swindoll
- God does not want us to trust in or love riches…
“He who trusts in riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” Prov. 11:28, NASB
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world.” I John 2:15a, NASB
Food for thought: We should trust in the Lord rather than money and possessions. He is the One we should love and the One who protects and provides for the righteous.
“Whether or not we own nice things, He wants to be sure that we aren’t owned by them!”
~Chuck Swindoll, The Owner’s Manual for Christians
- God wants us to be content…
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’ ” Heb. 13:5, NASB
“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” I Tim. 6:7‐8, NASB
“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” Eccl. 5:10, NIV
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” Prov. 23:4, NIV
Food for thought: The dictionary defines contentment as “a state of happiness and satisfaction”. This “state” can only be found when we make Him our main focus in life. Nothing else compares!
“In contrast to materialism’s emptiness, there is joyful liberty in Christ.
Those who hold tightly to the true God will loosen their grip on money and
thereby loosen money’s grip on them.” ~Randy Alcorn 1
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God wants us to give of our “firstfruits” (tithe)…
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house…” Malachi 3:10a, NIV
“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year…so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” Deut. 14:22 and 29b, NIV
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Prov. 3:9‐10, NIV
Food for thought: When we receive income, we acknowledge that it comes from God by first giving a portion back to Him. In the Old Testament, ten percent was required as the tithe. Since the New Testament was written, givers are encouraged to give sacrificially, which may mean more than just 10% in your case. Definitely something to pray about!
“[Tithing] should be a meaningful expression of our dependence upon God
and gratitude to Him.” ~Randy Alcorn 1
- The wise save for the future…
“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” Prov. 21:20, NIV
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Proverbs 6:6‐8, NIV
Food for thought: Living paycheck‐to‐paycheck or using up all your financial resources each month is, as the Bible says, foolish.
“Out of the will of God there is no such thing as success;
in the will of God there cannot be any failure.” ~Author Unknown
- The wise have a “game plan”…
“For which of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him.” Luke 14:28‐29, NASB
“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.” Proverbs 27:23, NLT
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Prov. 21:5, NIV
Food for thought: It is wise to know your financial situation and have your affairs in order. We can’t predict the future, but we should plan for one!
“I like to think of budgeting as goal‐setting, not limit‐setting. A budget helps us align our day‐to‐day actions with our long‐term hopes and dreams. It’s about living purposefully, not carelessly.” ~Amy Suardi
- God wants us to be debt free…
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another…” Romans 13:8a, NASB
“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Prov. 22:7, NASB
Food for thought: Debt adds stress to our lives and God has a better plan for us than that! Remember Proverbs 23:4, it is better to “show restraint”.
“Spending your life trying to look like something you’re not isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s time to take some pressure off yourself!” ~Dave Ramsey
- The wise care for the needs of others…
“…he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” Eph. 4:28b, NASB
“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Prov. 11:24, NIV
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3, NASB
Food for thought: Some of the money God puts in our possession is to be allocated for others. We shouldn’t use it all for ourselves, but rather, also look out for needs that others may have.
“But giving away our excess does something for us that keeping or spending it doesn’t. It makes us dependent on God…”~Randy Alcorn 1
Our Response
“We can change the way we think, which will change the way we act. And as we change the way we act, the way we feel also begins to change. In the breaking of every habit, someone wills it first and feels it later. Whatever you do, don’t shrug your shoulders and decide the prospect is too hard to do and too much to ask.” ~Beth Moore, So Long, Insecurity
Whew! That was a lot of material to cover in a short time. But aren’t you glad that God gives us instructions on how to manage finances the right way?
Our heavenly Father knows that if His children live by these standards we will avoid a lot of grief (I Timothy 6:6‐19). He tells us that the quest for more money can be a distraction from our life purpose (Matt. 6:25, 31‐33 and Luke 12:15). It causes Christians to put their trust in the things of this world instead of Him (Deut. 8:13‐14). And it leads us to being less generous with those in need (2 Cor. 9:6‐9).
God wants us to be 100% obedient in handling our finances in the ways that He has prescribed in His Word. Anything less is disobedience.
1 Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide written by Randy Alcorn and published by Tyndale House Publishers in 2011.
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