By Glen Bowman, Minister at 3rd & Kilgore Church of Christ

Sadly, a lot of people worry about their finances. Supposedly, this is the number one issue that causes conflict between married people. But why? If we look at our finances from God’s perspective, our attitudes towards them might change drastically and we might have much more hope for the future!

First, we need to remember that we’re supposed to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5) and recognize that God will supply everything that we need (Philippians 4:19). If we’re not trying to spend our lives getting more stuff (most of which we don’t really need), then it can take a LOT of stress off us! Why not be content with what we have right now, which has sustained us to this point?

Jesus warns us not to store up treasurers on earth, especially since they won’t last (Matthew 6:19). Instead, we’re supposed to set our heart on spiritual things (v. 20, 21). If we don’t live beyond our means, then we can enjoy our lives and not try to seek to acquire more than what we can afford (Ecclesiastes 2:24; Luke 14:28-30).

However, a lot of people believe that they’ve found the answer for how to live beyond their means and pursue happiness through it. They take out a loan or put it on a credit card that they can’t pay off. The Bible warns that “the borrower is the slave of the lender” (Proverbs 22:7b). Is slavery our goal? Through the Spirit, God says to “owe no one anything, except to love each other” (Romans 13:8a). While this seems extreme, it makes sense to not chase after earthly treasures by going into debt.

So how do we have enough then? God gives the secret, although it’s counterintuitive without faith. He says to “honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine” (Proverbs 3:9, 10). When we give to God first, He then blesses us to have plenty. 

Many other verses reinforce this idea. In Malachi 3:10, God says to “bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” While we’re not required to tithe anymore, this shows how God will provide if we give Him His due in ‘22!

This theme continues in the New Testament also. Jesus says to “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). Basically, the more that we give, the more that we’ll receive back. God can do this because everything belongs to Him (Psalm 50:10-12). So why not give to Him and others in faith that He’ll pay us back and then some?

David had great faith and therefore he prayed these words that should resonate with us: “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:14). When we give, we’re truly just giving back a part of what God has given to us. Let’s recognize that all our finances are His and start managing them like they’re simply a gift from Him!

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 1,609 helpful votes
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV / 723 helpful votes
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 14:28-30 ESV / 1,025 helpful votes
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?
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Proverbs 22:7 ESV / 2,142 helpful votes
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Romans 13:8 ESV / 1,181 helpful votes
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV / 1,282 helpful votes
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Malachi 3:10 ESV / 961 helpful votes
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts,
if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Luke 6:38 ESV / 1,330 helpful votes
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.
For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

1 Chronicles 29:14 ESV / 584 helpful votes
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.