BIG IDEA
We need to learn how to handle money God’s way.
READING
Matt. 6:19–33
THOUGHTS
There are over two thousand references to money in the Bible. It is by far one of the most popular topics. Jesus spent time teaching about money as well. As we grow in faith and spiritual maturity, we’ll understand and apply biblical principles to handling finances. Here are some of the principles we find in the Bible.
1. The Way We Handle Money Reflects Our Heart.
Money is a temporary tool for this life. It is neither good nor bad. Yet how we handle it reflects what we truly believe and in whom we trust.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. Matt. 6:19–21
2. All Our Resources Are from God.
When we understand that all we have is given to us by God, we’ll see ourselves as managers of resources more than owners of the resources in our care. We need to see our bank accounts as His bank accounts, our investments as His investments, our businesses as His businesses.
It can be hard to give control of the money we’ve worked to earn over to Jesus. It can be hard to change our savings, investing, giving, and spending habits, especially the ones we’re used to and comfortable with. It can be hard to see that what we manage isn’t ours but has been given to us.
Yet as we grow in our relationship with God, we’re to grow in wisdom in how we handle resources entrusted to us. We’re to see them multiplied. We’re to see them grow. We’re to use them to see our family blessed. We’re to use them to see His kingdom advanced (Matt. 6:31–34; Col. 3:17).
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matt. 6:24
3. We Are Designed to Work
God provides us with the strength, wisdom, ability, and capacity to work. We’re to choose careers that will help us provide for our families. As we find suitable employment and work hard at it as employees or business owners, we’ll see our needs provided for (Gen. 2:15; 2 Thess. 3:10).
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labour, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Eph. 4:28
4. We Are Designed to Grow Financial Capacity.
As we save and make wise investment choices, we’ll see God grow our capacity. Greed can trap us. Wisdom will help us look for opportunities that honour God and yield a good return. The love of money can destroy us; however, as we are faithful in a few things, we will grow in our capacity to oversee more (1 Chron. 4:10; Matt. 25:14–27; Luke 14:28; 3 John 1:2).
But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you the power to make wealth. Deut. 8:18
5. We Are to Be Wise in Our Spending.
As we are wise in our spending, we will see God provide for all our needs. We need to pay our bills, live within our means, get rid of debt, and be disciplined in our spending. We need to be on guard against both materialism and a poverty mentality (Matt. 6:31–34; 2 Pet. 3:10–14).
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 1 Tim. 6:17–19
6. We Are to Be Generous in Our Giving.
As we are intentionally generous with our finances for God’s kingdom, we will see the message of Jesus continue to increase throughout the world, those in need cared for, and our hearts less controlled by money.
In the Old Testament, people were required by law to bring to the temple 10 to 23 percent of their income. In the New Testament, generosity is determined to be a matter of the heart. We’re to be guided by God’s Spirit in us, our capacity, and the need to share in the expenses of the church we attend. We’re called to equal sacrifice and generosity that remembers that God’s blessing outpaces our giving. The New Testament shares with us an example of many believers who gave more than Old Testament tithing requirements. (Luke 6:38; Acts 4:34–37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:11–15).
DISCUSSION
- Why do we ignore talking about money as Christians?
- In what area do you need to work: finding employment, saving, investing, spending, or giving?