7 Biblical Thoughts on Finances
The Bible has a whole lot to say about finances because God cares enough to provide for our needs and wants us to heed His Fatherly wisdom in taking care of anything he puts into our bank accounts.
1. Take School Seriously. If you are still in your school-age years, take it seriously. Your studies (or lack thereof) can make a big impact on both job availability and performance in future years. The work ethic that you learn and practice during the school age years will show up in your workplace. The attitude you have towards educational authority will overflow towards your future employers and management.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23–24).
2. Work Harder. The longer we work somewhere the more likely we will be tempted towards complacency and laziness. Don’t take shortcuts at work and don’t look for ways to live dependently on others when you have the ability to work. Seek to do your best but don’t let work become your identity or your idol.
“Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thessalonians 3:12).
3. Work Longer. Not overworking each day, but work consistently for the long haul. Do your homework on your benefits before you retire too early. Understand the earning limitations you may have in your retirement years. Consider the possibility of working beyond your earliest retirement age in order to maximize your retirement income and increase your ability to give in your later years.
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
4. Give Generously to God. How we spend our money really demonstrates our priorities. Does your generosity to God demonstrate that He is the priority of your life? Not giving to God is more seriously selfish and disobedient than we may care to consider. Everything we have is a gift from God anyhow so let’s take good care of it and enjoy the privilege of being part of his work through the ability to work and give.
“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions” (Malachi 3:8).
5. Save & Invest for the Future. Count the cost of projects before you commit to them. Be disciplined in setting aside resources to provide for near-term, mid-term, and long-term needs and goals. Keep a reserve of savings in order to meet any unforeseen financial responsibilities that might arise through an accident, opportunity, or maintenance cost. Invest wisely with your savings so that the funds may grow over time.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:28).
6. Spend within Your Means. Pay your bills, as you would want others to pay you. Spend your resources as if you are borrowing them temporarily for needs, not greeds. Frugal living will allow you to be generous and to save for the long haul. Don’t waste now what you might need tomorrow.
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
7. Thank God. May we be grateful with the resources God has given us. In America especially, we are blessed with abundance way beyond the basic needs of life.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.