6 biblical tips for managing your money the way God wants it to
God has oversight over every area of our lives: our relationships, lifestyle, and even our finances. As disciples, we need to find out how God would like us to deal with them. We’re lucky: He’s already got it all figured out and told us exactly what relationship to have with money in His Word, 1 Timothy 6. Here are 6 financial tips you can follow to make the best use of your money.
Align your conceptions with those of God
Does your conception of success, achievement, and wealth agree with what the Bible says? Money is necessary for our survival. It allows us to eat, dress, pay our bills and provide shelter. It is necessary for our projects but also for our leisure activities. But money isn’t everything.
Before blessing us financially, God wants to bless us spiritually, and we must never reverse this order! God is more interested in your salvation and where you will spend your eternity than in how many luxury cars you can store in your garage! Success is serving God. Success is obeying His commandments. Let’s focus on the things of the non-perishable Kingdom first. Money is not forever. He may open all doors on earth,
Learn contentment
“Godliness with contentment is indeed a great source of gain; for we have brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it ”(1 Timothy 6: 7-8)
To be happy is to be satisfied with what you already have and not run after the surplus. The dissatisfaction and the “always more” push us to consume more than we have reason and buy things we do not need.
What are our real needs? We read in the Word that it is about the clothes, the food, and the roof under which we sleep for God. Yes, these three elements alone should be enough for our satisfaction. The rest is ultimately only superfluous.
Runaway from the love of money
“But you man of God, flee all this and seek righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
How not to fall into the clutches of Mammon? By pursuing righteousness, holiness, faith, love, patience, and humility according to the Word of God. To live the life that God wants us to live,
we have to manifest these things first. Therefore, our first goals should not be to have nice possessions and a well-stocked bank account but to love God and run after the things He wants us to cherish, and they are all spiritual!
Focus on eternal life
“Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of eternal life, to which you were called, and to which you made a beautiful confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12).
Life on earth is like a bus stop. We do not settle there. We are passing through while waiting for the bus that will take us to our final destination. We are citizens of paradise, and our homes, the ones in which we will reside for eternity, are not on earth.
We are only temporarily in this world, so why invest in it? Nothing prevents you from doing so, but first, be sure that you have invested just as much in the things of God. Invest your money in things that will never perish.
Don’t expect anything from money but everything from God
“Commit to the rich of this century not to be proud, and not to put their hope in uncertain wealth, but to put it in God, who abundantly gives us all things that we may enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
Money is a fragile commodity. It is subject to inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, etc. Money only provides material goods that never last. He is the very opposite of what God is.
Our Heavenly Father is a real source of security. He is faithful and never changes. He not only provides for our earthly needs, but He also makes sure that we have good eternal life.
Be generous and ready to share your wealth with those in need
“Recommend to them to do good, to be rich in good works, to have liberality, generosity, and thus to accumulate for the future a treasure placed on a solid foundation, to grasp the real-life.” (1 Timothy 6: 18-19).
Gold and silver belong to God. You are only managers of the riches He gives you. That is why you must learn to deal with them as He would have dealt with them. How would God want you to use his money? No doubt by showing generosity.
The Bible warns us against greed. As the Word says, let us be ready to help those in need, the widow and the fatherless. We must give our money to support the gospel and care for others to share in the blessings that God has given us.
The love of money will cause the loss of many people. Who is your heart attached to? To blessings or the Giver? Be good managers. Use your money wisely and thoughtfully. Provide for your needs, pay your taxes, run away from the illegality, and don’t forget those in need!
