5 Biblical Teachings about Money
December 20, 2024
The Bible says a lot about money. In fact, according to those who’ve tallied up the verses, God’s Word says more about money than any other topic except for the Kingdom of Heaven. Apparently, God knew we’d need some help in this area! The Bible has financial guidance on everything from earning to saving and from borrowing to investing. Out of all the many biblical lessons that relate to money, here are five foundational teachings.
God owns it all
The starting point of biblical money management is recognizing that God is the creator and owner of everything.
“I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.”
-Psalm 50:9-12
“We may have a house, a car in the garage, and money in the bank, but they are all gifts from God.”
-Deuteronomy 8:17-18
We are His managers
The parable of the bags of gold makes clear that God has appointed us as stewards of all that we have. And it’s noteworthy that the amount He has entrusted to us is the amount He believes we have the ability to manage well right now.
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.”
-Matthew 25:14-15
Of course, man is God, and we are the servants. Just a few verses later in the parable, it says the man eventually returns and settles accounts with his servants. The two who made something more of what had been entrusted to them were strongly affirmed. The one who did not was strongly rebuked. It’s clear that we are to do something productive with what God has entrusted to us, to use it for God’s purposes according to His principles.
Generosity is part of our spiritual DNA
An essential aspect of managing money well in God’s economy is living generously. In fact, it’s our first financial priority.
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.”
-Proverbs 3:9, NKJV
“Firstfruits” means first portion and “increase” refers to any money that flows into our life. Old Testament law specified that the first ten percent, or a “tithe,” must be given to God. In the New Testament, every example of generosity goes beyond ten percent. (See Luke 19:1-10 and Luke 21:1-4.) In other words, ten percent is the historical biblical starting point of generosity, not the intended stopping point. It isn’t that God needs our financial help, it’s that He wants our heart, which can get so easily bound up in money.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
-Matthew 6:21
Regularly investing in God’s Kingdom work keeps our hearts oriented toward Him, while bringing meaning and joy. The Bible says we were made in God’s image and one of God’s most defining characteristics is generosity. That’s why it’s no surprise that secular researchers who study what makes life meaningful and joyful point to generosity as one of the essentials. To live generously is to live in sync with our God-given design.
Taught to provide
Another of our God-given purposes is to take care of our family.
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
-1 Timothy 5:8
Out of God’s care for us, His Word teaches us how, instructing us to maintain a reserve of savings (Proverbs 21:20), be cautious in our use of debt (Proverbs 22:7), and patiently invest for the future (Proverbs 21:5, TLB).
Called to contentment
Biblical money management is as much about our attitudes as it is our actions. In the face of a culture that does its best to foster discontentment, God’s Word calls us to a different perspective, as exemplified by the Apostle Paul.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
-Philippians 4:12-13
Contentment “in any and every situation” may seem like an impossibly high standard, and yet the Bible points us to a practice that can help.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gratitude is the gateway to contentment, and contentment leads back to gratitude in a wonderfully self-reinforcing cycle. Indeed, the Bible says a lot about money. Some of it is counterintuitive, much of it is counter-cultural, and all of it is wise.
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Matt Bell is the author of Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management. He speaks at churches and conferences throughout the country and writes the MattAboutMoney blog.
This article should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. You may wish to consult a tax or financial advisor about your individual financial situation.
