Wake up, go to work to make money, go home, and repeat.
That seems to be the most common routine for working adults. We can’t escape the challenges Mondays will bring, and we’re left wishing to find a better job, start our own business, or somehow escape the hassle of the week ahead.
But we do all of this for our families. We do this to provide for the ones we love, but sometimes all that hard work doesn’t reflect the financial goals we set for ourselves. It seems that our expenses devour our wallets as soon as we get our paychecks.
What God says about money
While we may think we have our finances figured out,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
It’s hard to give up control in the area of finances. After all, we work hard for our money, but we must arm ourselves with faith and boldness and surrender this area to God, knowing that His will is far better than ours.
God’s plan regarding our finances will save us from headaches we may not foresee with our human eyes.
Proverbs 3:7-8 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
The first thing to do with our money
Now, let’s take a look at what God says we should do with our money.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
Proverbs 3:9-10
What an awesome promise from God!
How do we honor God with our wealth? Before we go out and spend money on bills and groceries, we must give a portion to Him. This can look like giving 10% to the church we attend.
When we give money to God’s church, it’s an eternal investment because the physical building serves as a place that helps people know Jesus. Let’s remember that God urges us to keep our eyes on things above.
If God promises that our homes will be “filled to overflowing,” then it will happen!
Dr. Charles Stanley explained it so clearly in his sermon, “God and Our Money,”
“Is God telling the truth or is he not? Yes, he’s telling the truth, and oftentimes we’re in financial problems because we’ve simply disobeyed God. He’s not going to challenge us to do something that’s not for our best benefit. So I want you to think for just a moment when you think about your finances, consider the basic teachings of Scripture.”
We have to decide if we believe what God says He will do.
Our money is not ours, we are just stewards
So far we’ve agreed that we work with our hands to gain a financial benefit, but now we must surrender the belief of thinking that our money belongs to us.
Psalm 50:12 says: “For the world is mine, and all that is in it.”
The Bible confirms that our money is not in fact our money. Everything belongs to God, and we are just caretakers.
Breaking the curse of never having enough
If we are still under the mindset that our money belongs to us or if we are not managing it how God commands us to, then we are bringing a curse on our pockets.
Malachi 3:8-12 explains this so clearly:
“‘Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
God gives us a challenge to test him and see if he will come through.
Then it says: “‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
When we give to God, through our tithes and offerings, we are:
- Providing for the work of the Lord
- Providing the needs of others
- Giving God an opportunity to prove his faithfulness
If we accept this challenge, then we will see God move in our finances.
We must give cheerfully
We must believe that this investment is true, not because it makes sense, but because God says it’s true!
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Keep in mind, God does not force anyone to give.
What if God doesn’t provide?
Many of us are quick to throw money into a business plan or new equipment that we think may generate more money, but how about investing in something that will bring us a return?
It’s 100% guaranteed! It’s not a question of whether God will provide or not, it’s a fact – God will bless us abundantly because He said He will.
We can either do it our way or God’s way.
Let’s take a look at what Haggai 1:5-6 teaches, “Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
Does the verse sound familiar? It explains our life, as many of us are frustrated over doing so much, yet gaining so little.
Imagine having all the money in the world and still not being satisfied. Others have all the money they need, yet still feel overwhelmed by finances.
Money is something we will deal with for the rest of our lives, so why not surrender this area to God and live by the principle his Word teaches us?
List of verses to reflect on regarding finances:
“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
1 Chronicles 29:12
1 Chronicle’s 29:14 says, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38
Leviticus 27:30 says, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” (A tithe means tenth in Hebrew)
To others, it may not make sense, but that’s why we are called to live by faith! Let’s try God and give.
Prayer over finances and money
God, thank you for convicting me through your word about my finances. I’ve tried it my own way and have gotten nowhere. Many times it feels as if my finances have holes in them, but today I surrender this area to you. I accept that the job and money you provide are not mine, but yours. From now on, I will commit to honoring you with the money you’ve put in my hands, by giving my tithes and offerings. I trust that your Word is true, and know that you will open the floodgates of heaven, and will pour out your blessings until they overflow. Give me the grace to give cheerfully and trust in you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Verses and talking points shared in this blog post were shared in the sermon “God and Our Money” by Dr.Charles Stanley. The full sermon can be found here.