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Question: "What does the Bible say about managing your finances?"
(published with permission from Got Questions Ministries)Answer: The Bible (1) has a lot to say about managing finances. Concerning borrowing, the Bible generally advises against it. See Proverbs 6:1-5; 20:16; 22:7, 26-27 (“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.... Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you”). Over and over again, the Bible warns against the accumulation of wealth and encourages us to seek spiritual riches instead. Proverbs 28:20: “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” See also Proverbs 10:15; 11:4; 18:11; 23:5.
Proverbs 6:6-11 offers wisdom (2) concerning laziness and the financial ruin that inevitably results. We are told to consider the industrious ant who works to store up food for itself. The passage also warns against sleeping when we should be working at something profitable. A “sluggard” is a lazy, slothful person who would rather rest than work. His end is assured—poverty and want. At the other end of the spectrum is the one who is obsessed with gaining money. Such a one, according to Ecclesiastes 5:10, never has enough wealth to satisfy him and must be constantly grasping more and more. First Timothy 6:6-11 also warns against the trap of desiring wealth.
Rather than desiring to heap riches upon ourselves, the biblical model is one of giving, not getting. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God (3) loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). We are also encouraged to be good stewards of what God has given us. In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus (4) told the parable (5) of the dishonest steward as a way of warning us against poor stewardship. The moral of the story is “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (v. 11). We are also responsible to provide for our own household, as 1 Timothy 5:8 reminds us: “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
In summary, what does the Bible say about managing money? The answer can be summarized with a single word—wisdom. We are to be wise with our money. We are to save money, but not hoard it. We are to spend money, but with discretion and control. We are to give back to the Lord, joyfully and sacrificially. We are to use our money to help others, but with discernment and the guidance of God’s Spirit. It is not wrong to be rich, but it is wrong to love money. It is not wrong to be poor, but it is wrong to waste money on trivial things. The Bible’s consistent message on managing money is to be wise. If you need financial help, you can inquire more through Christian Financial Concepts – http://www.crown.org.
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The narrative (a) above has been published with permission (b) and no monetary gain is being sought. Footnotes within the narrative have been inserted by The Marion County Manna Project and re-direct to our webpages (unless otherwise noted) for additional spiritual insight and reflection.
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How do we know if what we're doing financially is acceptable to our Lord? Biblical guidance helps direct us down a God-centered pathway.
Categories below include Contentment, Co-Signing/Surety, Debt, Giving, Lending, Love of Money, Obedience to the LORD, Provisions/Inheritance, Receiving, Stewardship, Taxes, Tithing, Waste, and Wealth & Possessions.
CONTENTMENT
Leviticus 26:9-10; Deuteronomy 2:7, 11:14-15; Psalms 23:1; Luke 3:11-14; Hebrews 13:5.
CO-SIGNING/SURETY
Proverbs 6:1-5, 11:15, 17:18, 22:26-27.
DEBT
Deuteronomy 15:1-11; Proverbs 3:27-28; Romans 13:8-10.
GIVING
Proverbs 11:24-25; Matthew 5:38-42, 6:1-4; Luke 6:27-36; Romans 15:23-33; 2 Corinthians 8:9-15, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Philippians 4:4-23; Galatians 2:1-10.
LENDING
Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 15:6-11, 23:20; Psalms 112:5-6, 9; James 2:15-17.
LOVE OF MONEY
OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD
Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 8:18, 28:1-14; Joshua 1:8; 1 Chronicles 29:9; Proverbs 3:9-10, 10:4-5, 12:24, 13:4, 24:3-4; Jeremiah 22:16; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-34; Galatians 6:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-25.
PROVISION/INHERITANCE
1 Chronicles 4:10; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Revelation 3:15-22.
RECEIVING
Luke 6:38; John 3:22-30; Acts 20:35; 1 Corinthians 9:9-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-25.
STEWARDSHIP
Genesis 26:12-13; Proverbs 6:6-11, 13:11, 16:8, 21:5, 22:8-9, 22:16, 27:12, 27:23-27; Ecclesiastes 11:1-2; Matthew 6:19-21, 6:24, 25:14;30; Luke 14:27-30, Luke 16:1-8, Luke 16:10-13.
TAXES
Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Romans 13:1-7.
TITHING
Exodus 34:26; Leviticus 27:30; Amos 4:4-5; Malachi 3:10; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.
WASTE
Mark 8:36; Luke 6:24, 15:11-13; John 6:12; James 4:1-12.
WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS
2 Kings 4:1-7; Matthew 16:24-27, 19:16-30; Mark 4:19-20, 10:17-31; Luke 9:23-27, 18:18-30.
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If you're seeking additional information about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a Christian Church here in Marion County (6). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (7) (c) is the most rewarding and everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!
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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (8), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (9), Discipleship Encounters (10) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!
Modifications are welcome at [email protected].
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FOOTNOTES:
(1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-good-news
(2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/wisdom
(3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/God-of-the-Bible
(4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/Jesus-Christ
(5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/parables-of-jesus-christ
(6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city
(7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor
(8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies
(9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education
(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship
PAGE CREDITS:
(a) Managing Finances, Got Questions Ministries, accessed February 20, 2020 https://www.gotquestions.org/managing-finances.html
(b) Copyright Policy, Got Questions Ministries, accessed February 20, 2020 https://www.gotquestions.org/about.html
EXTERNAL RESOURCES:
(c) How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020 https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html