Many people are experiencing financial challenges such as growing debt, little or no savings, inadequate income, and no plans for their financial future. Surveys reveal that more than half of all divorces are a result of financial tension in the home. Others are financially sound, but suffocating materialism has robbed them of their spiritual vitality. They are not spending their resources in eternally significant ways. Fortunately, the Bible has the answers to these financial difficulties – it contains more than 2,350 verses dealing with money and possessions. In fact, Jesus Christ said more about money than almost any other subject. Financial matters are addressed throughout Scripture for both spiritual and practical reasons.
"How we handle money has a significant impact on the intimacy of our relationship with Christ"
“If therefore you are not faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you” (Luke 16:11). There is a correlation between how we handle money and the quality of our fellowship with the Lord. Christ teaches that we must consider the temporary nature of worldly wealth and He wants people to deepen their personal relationship with Him. True riches – our love and service to Christ, discipleship of others and glorification of God – are what really matter.
Money is also a primary competitor with Christ for the lordship of our life. Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” and, Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other… You cannot serve God and money”, express this well. God teaches us we must make a choice of priorities. He does not say money and possessions are a bad thing. He teaches it is the motivation of our financial goals and decision making from money and possessions that is bad. We cannot be loyal to both so we must make a choice.
"True riches – our love and service to Christ, discipleship of others and glorification of God – are what really matter"
The Lord gave us a blueprint or roadmap of life in the Bible and this includes a money map also. Scripture gives us clear principles for earning, spending, saving, investing, giving, getting out of debt, and teaching our children how to handle money.
However, the financial practices of most people are in sharp contrast to the principles of scripture. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Here God is saying He thinks differently and more creatively than we do. The world’s historical approach to money management is to be self-centred and money-centred. God’s approach, as the Isaiah passage indicates is to be Christ-centred because it’s about our relationship with Him. We further learn from Scripture God has very defined roles for Himself and us in finances.
"Scripture teaches there are two distinct responsibilities in the handling of money: the part God plays and the part we play."
God’s role may be summarized into three areas:
1. Ownership
God is the owner of everything. Psalm 24:1 reads, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.” If we are going to be genuine followers of Christ, we must transfer the ownership of our possessions to the Lord (Luke 14:33) The first step in learning contentment is recognizing God is the owner of all your possessions.
2. Control
Our heavenly father is in ultimate control of every event. “We adore you as being in control of everything” (1 Chronicles 29:11, LB). “I praised the Most High … He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:34). It is comforting for the child of God to realize that his heavenly Father orchestrates even seemingly devastating circumstances for ultimate good. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
3. Provision
The Lord promises to provide for our needs. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (food and clothing) shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). God is absolutely predictable in His faithfulness to provide and unpredictable in how He will provide. The basic reason people fail to recognize God’s part is that we do not know who God really is. We tend to shrink Him down to our own human abilities and limitations. “You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord” (Psalm 139:3-4).
Our responsibility is to be a faithful steward or manager of the Lord’s possessions as scripture teaches. “It is required in stewards, that a man is found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). A key reason many people struggle with giving even just 10% is that most of us have not learned how to handle the other 90%.
"We are managers of 100% of what God gives to us not just 10%"
Despite what we might think, God is interested in our faithfulness with the smallest of things. “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10). Small things are small things, but faithfulness with a small thing is a big thing.
I encourage you to press on, commit to be faithful with small things and commit your finances to God. Ask God, through his word and Spirit, to show you what your next step should be.
If you are interested in practical help with your finances from a biblical perspective, here are some online resources:
Eternal Perspective Ministries - Randy Alcorn
Crown Financial Ministries Canada
Ron Blue Institute
Dave Ramsey