A significant portion of your life will revolve around earning, saving, giving, and spending money. So your relationship with money isn’t something you can ignore as unspiritual or unnecessary. Money is a medium of exchange that will allow you to purchase, trade, or pay off a debt. The medium of exchange can differ in many countries. Money doesn’t have a life. It cannot act on its own. It cannot do good deeds, and it cannot commit crimes.
It’s neither good nor bad. Money can only do what you tell it to do. It’s our attachment to money that will lead us into sin, and allow us to make poor financial decisions. Money is frequently discussed in the Bible because there’s a direct correlation between the way we handle our money and our faith. When it comes to money, we will either worship wealth or worship with our wealth.
Consider these biblical statistics:
·
16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables deal
with money and possessions
·
Nearly 25% of Jesus’ words in the New
Testament deal with biblical stewardship
·
1 out of 10 verses in the gospels deal
with money
·
There are more than 2,000 scriptures on tithing, money, and possessions
in the Bible, which is twice as many
as faith and prayer combined
The Bible provides brilliant and timeless financial strategies. God wants us to get our money matters right. Numerous scripture written thousands of years ago illustrate basic financial concepts that are as relevant as ever in today’s modern world. Whether you’re wealthy or drowning in debt, the seven principles below can help you live with peace and freedom in your finances if you’ll apply them:
Debt is a form of slavery,
so get rid of it as fast as you can. When you shackle yourself up with the “golden
handcuffs” of debt, you’re giving away part of our freedom to a debtor. God
wants you to live in freedom not in slavery. Do everything you can to get out
of debt and avoid going into more debt. You may need to do some “plastic
surgery” and cut up those credit cards. For more on how to remove debt, check
out the resources at DaveRamsey.com. “The rich rule over the poor. And borrowers become servants to those who
lend.” Proverbs 22:7
(ICB)
Generosity blesses both the
giver and the recipient. The happiest
people I know are generous people and the most miserable are misers. When
you’re generous, everybody wins. When you’re stingy, everybody loses. This is
why during the Christmas season many people watch A Christmas Carol that is all about Ebenezer Scrooge. “A person who gives to others will get richer.
Whoever helps others will himself be helped.” Proverbs 11:25 (ICB)
It’s all God’s money. We’re
just managers of it. This principle
can change the way you look at your money and your stuff. None of it actually
belongs to you. The only part that belongs to you is the responsibility to be
good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to you. Once you learn you are
managers of God’s resources. You stop acting so entitled and immature in your
impulsive purchases. You became more disciplined. “The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.
The world and all its people belong to Him.” Psalm 24:1(ICB)
Lasting wealth comes from
consistent discipline, not “get-rich-quick” schemes. Our culture wants everything now
so many of us have a financial plan of winning the lottery someday or betting
on a lucky stock. This is a poor approach, which is why so many lottery
winners end up depressed and bankrupt. Lasting wealth is the result of a strong
work ethic over a long period of time when applied with these other principles
as well. Money, like children, grows little by little. “Money that comes easily disappears quickly. But money that is gathered little by little will
slowly grow.” Proverbs 13:11(ICB)
Money is not evil, but greed
is. People have
often misquoted the Bible to say
“money is the root of all evil” which is not what the Bible actually says. Money is a great resource for good when in the
hands of people who follow biblical financial principles. When an unhealthy
love of money becomes the primary desire of your heart, it becomes an unhealthy
idol, and greed can drive you to do barbaric things in the unquenchable quest
for more. “For the love of money (and what
it can buy) is the root of all sorts of evil. Some already have wandered
away from the true faith because they craved what it had to offer; but when reaching for the prize, they
found their hands and hearts
pierced with many sorrows.” (1
Timothy 6:10, VOICE)
True wealth is measured by
relationships, not by dollars. Your faith and your family are always more valuable than your paycheck,
so don’t compromise what matters most in the pursuit of wealth. It’s okay
to have money, but never let money have you. Don’t kill yourself trying to
get wealth only to miss out on real life in the process. Work hard to provide
for your family, but don’t harm your relationships in the process. Your
family can do with less stuff if it means having more of you. “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise
enough to control yourself.” Proverbs 23:4(ICB)
You can’t take it with you,
but you can shape eternity with it. There’s never been a hearse pulling a u-haul because
you obviously can’t take your wealth with you, but you can invest it into
people and ministries that will create an eternal legacy. Commit to using your
money to making a difference that will outlive you. Jesus taught, “Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth. Moths and rust will
destroy treasures here on earth. And thieves can break into your house and
steal the things you have. So store your treasure in heaven.
The treasures in heaven cannot be destroyed by moths or rust. And thieves
cannot break in and steal that treasure. Your heart will be where your
treasure is.” Matthew 6:19-21(ICB)
You cannot serve
two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the other, or you will
be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money at
the same time. (Matthew
6:24, ERV)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“7 Important Financial Tips from the Bible – Verses
about Money” By Amy Livingston
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