In today’s fast-paced world, financial struggles are a reality that many individuals and families face. The Bible offers valuable insights into money and finances, providing guidance on how to navigate these challenges with wisdom and faith. In this blog post, we will explore the biblical view of money and delve into the right way to handle financial difficulties in accordance with the teachings of Scripture.
The secret to being content with what you have depends on what matters to you the most. The Bible says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Your life’s pursuit will either be for the “treasures” of this world, or for eternal treasures. But to store up treasures in heaven, you must be reconciled with God, your Creator. If you you’re not sure of your relationship with God, visit my blog post, Finding Peace with God, and settle the matter with Him.
The danger in loving money
Though there is nothing inherently wrong with money itself, the Bible is very clear that we should not love it. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Our love of money does not depend on how little or much of it we have. There are some people who have very little money, but they love it. And there are some who have a lot of money, but do not love it. The point is no matter how much we have, it should not be overly important to us.
Holding a proper attitude toward money
The main principle for Christians about their money is that they should not love it. Here are some of the proper attitudes we should hold toward money:
- There’s nothing wrong with having money, whether we have little or much.
- We did not gain our money all on our own.
- We should not cling to money against God’s will.
- We should not show more favor to people who are richer for selfish reasons.
- We should not be prideful about the money we have.
- We should not seek riches.
- We should not substitute money for our trust in God.
- We should not hoard money in a selfish way.
The Love of money is the root cause which produces all kinds of evil.
To gain more money, people may be willing to commit all kinds of sins. They will take bribes, distort justice, lie, cheat, extort, deceive, steal, rob, abuse, kill, and the list goes on and on. Every imaginable sin can flow out of loving money, because if you’re consumed with loving money, that becomes the driving force of your life. Therefore, you will do whatever it takes to get it.
How do you know if you love money?
Here are some questions to ask yourself to know whether you love money or not:
- Do you spend more time thinking about how to get money or how to do a good job?
- Do you never seem to have enough?
- Do you want to show off what money can provide?
- Do you resent giving it away?
- Do you sin to obtain it?
Godliness with contentment is great gain
The danger with loving money is that it ignores what is truly gainful to us. 1 Timothy 6:6 teaches that godliness with contentment is great gain. Now if all you want is money, you’ll never have that great gain, because you’ll never be content. The gain comes from true godliness, which is inseparably linked to contentment. This contentment is more than just some human virtue; it is a contentment related to the sufficency of God. It’s an attitude that we’ll be satisfied with whatever God wants me to have. Therefore, if you love money, you’re pursuing a feeling of contentment that you’ll never find.
The person who is rich is the one who doesn’t need anything else. The secret to contentment is not to add to a man’s possessions, but to take away from his desires. Wanting neither too little or too much would seem to strike the right balance. In Timothy 6:8, Paul wrote that if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. And Proverbs 30:8-9 says, …give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
The secret to contentment is not to add to a man’s possessions, but to take away from his desires.
When we have contentment, we will live our lives without covetousness, because we will not be seeking something that does not belong to us. What more can we want than to have what God has given you, and to have God?
Learn how to always be content
The apostle Paul learned how to be content with little or with much, and in every circumstance of life. When he wrote the epistle to the Philippians while in a Roman prison, he told them to rejoice always. He knew that God would always meet his needs. Therefore, in spite of the suffering he was going through, he was a contented man. (See Philippians 4:14-19.) Here is what Paul had learned:
Learn to give thanks in all things.
Paul had learned to give thanks in every circumstance and he exhorted all believers to do the same. Thankfulness is first of all a matter of obedience (1 Thess. 5:18, Eph. 5:18), but it is also a characteristic of a Spirit-filled believer (Eph. 5:18-20).
Be convinced that God is sovereignly ordering every detail of life.
If we truly know God, we know that He is unfolding His agenda and purpose in our lives. He has sovereignly determined each part of His plan for us so that we’ll be benefited and He’ll be glorified (cf. Rom. 8:28). We should not be surprised or ungrateful when we experience trials because we know that God sees perfectly the end result (cf. 1 Pet. 4:12-13).
Be satisfed with little.
Paul had learned to make the choice to be satisfied with little, and he knew it was important for others to learn to make that same choice. He noted that we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out (1 Tim. 6:6). Paul understood that covetousness and contentment are mutually exclusive.
Remain independent of your circumstances.
Paul didn’t take pleasure in the pain itself, but in the power of Christ manifested through him in times of infirmity, reproach, persecution, and distress. We also should learn to take pleasure in the power of Christ in times of distress. (See 2 Cor. 12:9-10).
Rely on God to sustain you through His power.
The apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”; and Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). Like Paul, we can learn to rely on Christ’s promise. He faithfully infuses every believer with His own strength and sustains them in their time of need until they receive provision from His hand (Eph. 3:16).
Preoccupy yourself with the well-being of others.
A self-centered man is a discontented man. But the soul of the generous man, the man who lives for the interests and benefit of others, will find blessing upon blessing in his life (see Prov. 11:24-25, 19:17, Luke 6:38, 2 Cor. 9:6).
Pursue God, not money
Christians should live with a pursuit of God, not a pursuit of money. God’s will for us is our sanctification. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Roman 8:29).
This process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ involves both our effort and God’s power. On our part, we are told not to worry about what we eat, drink, or wear. For our heavenly Father knows we need them. Rather, we should strive to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And if we do so, all these other needs of ours will given to us as well. (See Matthew 6:31-34.)
A suggested prayer
If you’re sincerely ready to rededicate yourself and your resources to the Lord, the following is a sample prayer you may choose to use:
“Lord, if there’s any love of money in me, take it away. I want all of my life and all of my resources to be used for Your glory. Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and not to be concerned about indulging myself.
I consciously transfer ownership of everything I have to You. I am thankful for the state I currently find myself. May Your Holy Spirit help me to discern my needs from my wants. I want to seek Your will with all my resources. From now on I desire to joyfully give to You sacrificially.”
