Bible and Finances

Bible and Finances

Bible and Finances

There is much that links the Bible and Finances. Up to some extent, we can say that both can’t be separated because finances are a reflection of what God has allowed us to have. And as we know, the Bible in itself is an authoritative voice when it comes to knowing and doing what pleases God. It is in its light that we’ll learn what God has to say about the management of the financial blessings that he has given us. It is without doubt that God has something to say about our finances. All what we have comes from God and there is nothing that we can boast about for being ours. In simple language, we are management stewards of God’s belongings. And some day will come when we shall be called into his presence to give an account of how well we managed what was entrusted to us.

Our lives, wealth, families, money, and all belongings have been entrusted into our care by he who truly owns them, God. Let’s support this saying by reading from Deuteronomy 10:14 – “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” We can as well get the same message by reading from Psalms 89:11 – “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all that it contains, You have founded them.” Having this in mind, the right thing to do will be to find out how God wants us to correctly manage the financial blessings that he has given us. We are aware that when it comes to Christian Finances, many people are just too skeptical to see the truth before them talk less of handling the Bible and Finances together.

Understanding the Bible and Finances

Misinterpretation and failure to understand the link between the Bible and Finances has led many into committing severe financial mistakes. Perhaps this is why many Christians dwell in financial struggles all their lives while others go to the extent of entering into financial bondage. It is sad to say but how can we expect someone who believes that money is evil to reach financial independence and benefit from a debt free life. If you’ve been skeptical about money in the Bible, you’ll need to review your approach if you are serious about achieving financial freedom God’s way and enjoying what life looks like out of credit card debts. But what do we mean by this saying? Could it be that we are trying to contradict or negate that in 1 Timothy 6:10? For sure, that’s not what we are saying.

Let’s read from 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.” Truth be told, the misinterpretation of this scripture from Apostle Paul to his spiritual son, Timothy, has led many into lives of financial struggles. Note that Apostle Paul did not say that money is evil nor is it written anywhere in the scriptures that money in itself is evil. The problem with money comes in when you give it more value than God and his ways. It is then that you see people stealing and obtaining it unjustly in ways that are not pleasing to God. Money is a blessing unto those who honor God’s command to work in justice and in honor of his will.

Benefiting from the Financial blessings of God

It is not strange to hear Christians asking what they can do to benefit from God’s financial blessings. Let’s find the answer in Deuteronomy 28:1 – “If you obey the Lord your God and faithfully keep his commands that I am giving you today, he will make you greater than any other nation on Earth. Obedience to God is the key to benefiting from the riches in his storeroom. God wants you to prosper as it is written in Jeremiah 29:11 – “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” That’s why we can say without doubt that God wants to see his children successful in all domains of life moving from financial to spiritual aspects. But they must learn to do what he wants from them.

Obedience to God will place you in a better position to receive his financial blessings. It is also worth noting that the way you manage the financial blessings from God determine whether he’ll add more into your care or subtract even the little you think that you have. Whatever you have at hand is never too small to rightly manage in a way that is pleasing to God. Correctly manage the little at hand and he’ll bless you with more. Get started by understanding the link between the Bible and Finances from the following points of views:

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1. God is the source of all things

Psalms 89:11 – “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all that it contains, You have founded them.Deuteronomy 10:14 – “Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it.” The first step to take in order to correctly manage your finances is that of understanding that God is the source of all things.

And because God is the source of all things, he can give to anyone as he likes. Let’s support this by reading Philippians 4:19 – “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Do not allow your heart to dwell in worries but pray and ask God to bless you financially. In his goodness, he’ll bless and provide you with what you need for a living.

2. Contentment with God’s blessings

Hebrews 13:5 – “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” As a Christian, you must not pass your days complaining or entertaining an ungrateful mindset. Look around you and you’ll find that there is much to give thanks to God for having accomplished. This holds even in your financial life. That’s why the scriptures call on us to give thanks to God for the things he has done and he will do even greater things we’ve never heard nor seen.

A contented mind is one which is free from ingratitude, jealousy, and bitterness. Be happy with what you have knowing well fully that God has said in his word that he will never abandon you. That’s why you should never be discouraged by your situation but rather thank God for he is in control.

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3. Embrace hard work as the only way

Proverbs 14:23 -“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury [poverty]” Brethren, God has given you the strength to work in order to make a living; if you sit around in laziness, you’ll definitely become poor. Proverbs 28:19 – “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.” Allow no one to fool you that Christians are to remain poor. If you honor God’s command to work, he’ll bless your efforts and make your wealthy.

The Bible says in Genesis 1:1 that “In the beginning God created” This is to say that even God worked. What more of us who are his creatures. By embracing hard work as the only way to financial success, you’ll end up benefiting from a debt free life as you enjoy financial freedom. You’ll have nothing to do with credit loans no guarantor talk less of a life of financial struggles.

4. Embrace saving and Investing

Proverbs 21:20 – “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Proverbs 22:3“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Truth be told, saving and investing can’t be omitted when seriously handling the Bible and Finances. Saving is a wise man’s approach to securing his financial future. Only a foolish man will spend all that he earns and even go to the extent of spending more than what he earns. Failing to save will lead you into lots of financial problems in times to come. Saving can help you in times of financial emergencies as well as covering huge financial expenses or losses.

Saving without investing does not make sense. It’s just like owning seeds and keeping them in the storeroom. Until you plant those seeds, they’ll never multiply for your profit. The same thing goes for money. Saving is good but you’ll need to also envisage investing once you’ve successfully saved a reasonable amount of money. If possible, automate your monthly savings. That is, a fixed percentage is automatically removed every month before your salary gets into your hands. This will prevent you from spending it all and having little to nothing for future investments. As a christian, it is advisable to go for Biblical Responsible Investing opportunities (BRI).

5. Avoid debt

Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” From a general point of view, the Bible does not encourage debts. That’s why it won’t make sense for us to write about the Bible and Finances without pointing to the advantages of avoiding debts. The debt trap comes with stress, bitterness, anger, and hatred. A discussion with does looking for bad credit loans no guarantor will help you to better understand this. As long as you can do without borrowing, stay off debts. Borrow only when there is no other option at hand.

And even if you must borrow, make sure that it is to purchase a good or service that increases in value like education or house. Avoid borrowing to purchase luxurious goods and services which you can do without. Many people these days get into debts because they spend all what they earn without thinking of saving for emergencies and future financial achievements. Some of them go to the extent of spending more than what they earn. Such leads to debts which are frowned upon by the Bible. It would have been best if you don;t even get into debts at all. Have a look at the following Biblical teachings on debts:

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6. Don’t Cosign

Proverbs 27:13 – “Anyone stupid enough to promise to be responsible for a stranger’s debts deserves to have his own property held to guarantee payment.” In simple terms, don’t cosign when you are not willing to pay back the loan in question. God is telling us in Proverbs 27:13 that we should exercise extreme caution when it comes to cosigning. The man who agrees to pay a stranger’s debt is embracing the world’s poorest credit risk. By cosigning a loan, you are the real person who is borrowing. If a lender request for cosigner, it is definitely because they do not want to borrow to the person requesting the loan.

7. Give out of love

Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Perhaps you were not aware, but we’ll tell you that there is power in giving. That’s why we couldn’t afford to omit giving from our write-up on the Bible and Finances. By giving, we mean giving anything moving from your time, money, advice, and hospitality. However, it is not only about giving but giving out of love for God is love in nature.

It is the love accompanying our gesture of charity that makes our sacrifices acceptable before God. That’s why you shouldn’t be giving out of constraint but out of love for your neighbor. Give to others and it will be given to you. God loves a cheerful giver. You are a keeper of God’s wealth. On the last day, you’ll have to give an account of how well you managed it. See yourself as a father to the fatherless, a mother to the motherless and a benefactor to those in need as Prophet TB Joshua puts it.

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