Money Principle #: Do Not Be Greedy
And he said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.Luke 12:15
Its imperative that we dont misread Scripture and walk away with the idea that asceticism is the key to right Christian living. Greed and avarice are wrong, but having money isnt. Throughout the Bible, God financially blesses othersin fact, so much of Gods work relies on responsible and charitable people of means.
Its when we begin grasping at wealth and desire it above all that it poisons us.
Bible Verses About Money & Greed
The opposite of generosity is greed. Studies show that greed causes stress, depression, despair, and anxiety, leading people into vices such as gambling, hoarding, and theft.
But what does the Bible say about greed? Letâs take a look.
Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.Psalm 62:10
Do not wear yourself out to get rich do not trust your own cleverness. Proverbs 23:4
Whoever loves money never has enough whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:21
âNo one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.âMatthew 6:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, âTruly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.âMatthew 19:23-24
Then he said to them, âWatch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.âLuke 12:15
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy personâsuch a person is an idolaterâhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.Ephesians 5:5
Do Not Assume Tomorrow But Prepare For It
Many Christians frequently hear, Live today like Jesus is coming back tomorrow. This is a great way to remind us of our responsibility to have a Kingdom mindset at all times. How do we apply this to our finances?
Oversaving and storing up treasures on earth places too much value on wealth. Overspending, even if you were to give every last dollar to churches and charities, does not place enough value on the fact that giving is not measured by the amount, but by obedience, need, and generosity.
Paul is talking to the church at Corinth when he says:
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.
He is not encouraging the Corinthian Christians to give until it hurts, but to give out of their abundance, to help those in need instead of hoarding their material riches for themselves.
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We Develop The Habit Of Spending Or Saving Money
Notice the word or in the subhead above. We cant develop the habit of spending and saving money. They are mutually exclusive. Think of a plane trying to fly in two different directions. Ive spoken with people who habitually spend money and defend their actions by talking about how much they have saved. They still develop the habit of spending money, but theyve found a way to justify it.
For some people, spending money moves from a habit to an addiction. Consider these testimonies. Although women are in view, men can have similar problems:
Three in five women admit to hiding purchases from their husband. These women are slaves to spending money, and as I said a moment ago, men have this problem too.
The good news is all of us can change. Even if youre the biggest spender, you can develop the habit of saving money. The same fervor you had for spending, can be turned into a fervor for saving. You can become as excited about maxing your retirement account as you used to be about buying things. You can reach the point that you view every purchase as money you are unable to save. To put it simply: As much as spending used to be your habit, saving can become your habit.
Money Principle #1: Remember What Lasts
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.Hebrews 13:5
The key to not falling into the snare of loving money is correct perspective.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and its our reliance and trust in Gods goodness that removes the roots that money might sink deeply into our hearts.
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What Does The Bible Say About Investing
To invest is not about accumulating wealth for the sake of financial gain alone. We are called to be good stewards of the resources we gather, and to invest our money for our present and future needs is one part of being a good steward.
Below are 10 Bible verses about investing. Donât think of these as biblical investment strategies per se. Instead, consider them like beacons of light pointing you in the right direction.
Saving Money The Right Way
Proverbs 13:11 gives us insight into how to save correctly: Wealth gained dishonestly will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase. This encourages consistent, steady saving week after week, month after month, and year after year.
Take your mind back to the parable of the talents:
He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents moreBut he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his masters money. But his master him, You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
Matthew 25:16, 18, 26-27
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Bible Verses About God Providing
Matthew 6:31-33Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich he brings low and he exalts.
Psalm 84:11-12For the LORD God is a sun and shield The LORD gives grace and glory No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Luke 12:31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
Matthew 7:11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Deuteronomy 8:18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 28:12The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.
Psalms 67:5-6 May the peoples praise you, O God May all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
Bible Verses About Tithing
Malachi 3:6-12For I the LORD do not change therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, How shall we return? Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions.You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your money, with the first fruits of all your labor
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Biblical Principles For Saving And Investing Your Money
Most Christians know they should save and invest for retirement or disability. But many find it difficult to adopt a practical theology for managing their money, especially when it comes to saving and investing for a distant and uncertain future.
Its difficult because there are so many perspectives on this topic. Some promote a life of denial, eschewing any luxuries and savings for the sake of the kingdom. Others suggest budgeting, avoiding debt, and regular saving in order to enjoy greater wealth for giving and spending later in life. In the broader culture, the FIRE movement emphasizes extreme frugality and saving to be able to retire before age 40.
With all these seemingly inconsistent and conflicting messages, how can you come up with a personal theology of money that balances biblical orthodoxy with practicality in saving and investing for the future?
Here are seven biblical principles that may help.
Scriptures About Money Frugal Living And Finances
Here are over 50 scriptures about money and finances. Read these Bible verses on frugal living to get your budget set up the way God would want.
Hey yall, Tiffany here.
Living frugally is something that is really important to our family. We try so hard to never spend more than we earn, and we stick closely to our budget.
This isnt always easy it means living a $42 weekly grocery budget went times are tight and following the seven steps to financial freedom.
But once youve corrected your financial freedom mistakes and start saving money, what should you do with the money that you save?
In fact, Phillip and I have often asked ourselves, What should we do with the money and other worldly goods that we possess? Is there a relationship between frugality and integrity?
To help answer those questions, we want to share with you some of our favorite scriptures about money, finances, frugality, and thrifty living.
We encourage you to prayerfully study these scriptures about money and consider how you earn money and what you do with your savings and stockpile that are the result of your hard work. If you have any insights, PLEASE share them with us in the comments! We would LOVE to hear what these verses mean to you!
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Money Principle #: Be Diligent In Paying Your Workers
You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.Leviticus 19:13
The first five books in the Old Testament tell the story of Gods creation of a nation who would serve him and worship himand through whom he could bless the rest of the world. A lot of the Pentateuch is full of expectations and laws about how Israelites would treat each other and those outside of their community.
These passages can often feel laborious, but its nice to see how seriously God takes treating each other with dignity and respect. Here the Lord instructs them on how to treat their fellow Israelite.
Were told that Israelites shouldnt oppress their neighbor or help themselves to each others property. As an example, were told that a boss shouldnt withhold the wages of an employee. This advice comes from a time when daily wages were needed to meet daily expenses.
The important thing to notice here is that the boss is only holding the wages overnight. Its not as if hes trying to keep them from the worker. It could be that he simply forgot. The point is that the worker needs to be paid for work in a way that allows him to look after his personal needs. And more importantly, God is paying attention to these kinds of details.
Bible Verses About Diversifying
None of us knows what will happen from one day to the next, in our lives and in the stock market. As a result we are best served by diversifying our holdings to protect ourselves.
James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lords will, we will live and do this or that.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
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Here Is A List Of Bible Verses About Contentment To Help You Fight For Contentment:
- âJob 36:11:“If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.ââ
- Proverbs 19:23:“The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied he will not be visited by harm.ââ
- Psalm 37:16-17:“Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.ââ
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.ââ
- Philippians 4:11-13:“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.ââ
- Philippians 4:19:“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.â
Bible Verses About Debt
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:26-27Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
Psalm 37:21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously
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I Want To Make Jesus Christ Lord Of My Life Today
Tired Of The Road You’re On?ââEverything that has happened in your life has all led up to this moment. Childhood pains, even the current path you’re on now. God is not going to leave you where you are! He’s ready now to RECEIVE YOU with all of your dirty ways. He Loves You!Jesus Christ has been waiting for you… Pray this prayer:Lord Jesus, please forgive me for ALL of my sins. I confess everything to you. I believe you died on the cross for me and rose again the third day. Lord Jesus, I open the door of my heart to you come in and save me. Let your blood wash me clean. Write my name in your Book of Life. Be my Lord and Savior. In your precious name I pray, Amen!âIf you really believe this prayer, God heard you! Welcome to the family!!Use the short form below to give us your name and contact information. We have already started praying that you have a successful walk with Christ and a major turnaround in your life.Welcome to the family of God!
“Water Baptism”And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.Acts 22:16
Money Principle #: Prosperity Can Be A Blessing
The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.Deuteronomy 28:12
As God lays out the potential blessings for Israels obedience, he includes this promise: you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. This promise comes from a time when debt was reserved for the most desperate situations, and could quite literally make someone beholden to their debtor. The writer of Proverbs communicates this well when he says, the rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
In this time period, debt was tied to slavery. Because of this, being a lender as opposed to a debtor was linked to having power and, in this instance, Gods favor. With this promise, God tells the Israelites that their obedience would lead them to a place of prominence and power over other nations.
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