How to Honor God With Your Money
Have you ever heard folks say, "money is the root of all evil" and wondered what they were talking about? Well, as it turns out, that phrase is a misquote of the Bible verse that says, "the love of money is the root of all evil." In the Bible, Jesus talks about money a lot, but he never once says that money is bad or that having a lot of it is wrong. King David, for instance, is one of the wealthiest figures in the Bible, and Scripture refers to him as "a man after God's own heart." For some reason, our culture is squeamish with money. We don't like to talk about how much we make, have in savings or spent on our last big purchase. This hush-hush attitude over little pieces of green paper has made many of us feel shame surrounding money when that is never what God intended.
Turns out, God knows how big of a role money plays in our everyday lives, and He already laid out how we can use and enjoy wealth in a glorifying way, such as:
Practicing Contentment and Gratitude: Hebrews 13:5 tells us, "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" We have assurance that there is no need to be anxious when our bank accounts are in the red or overflowing and overwhelming us with the possibilities of how to spend it. Having money is essential to purchasing life's necessities, which means money is a good thing, and all good things come from God. It is when we make money the object of our worship and desire in place of God that gets us into trouble.
Attaining Your Money Ethically: We're bombarded with "get rich quick" schemes daily. You've probably figured out by now that lofty marketing promises of earning six figures through minimal work are probably empty. Did you know that the Bible cautioned us against these types of worthless endeavors? Proverbs 13:11 says, "Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it." It requires more patience to work hard and save diligently. Also, it's the biblical and practical way to prepare for your future and the needs of the generations that will come after you: "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous." - Proverbs 13:22
Being Generous With What You Have: Giving away money when you don't have a lot or are trying to save up can seem counterintuitive if you don't look to the Bible to guide you! The Bible tells us that God loves a cheerful giver, and that "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back," Luke 6:38. As shown in these verses and in so many others, we don't have to fear running out of money because we spent too much helping those in need because God meets our needs no matter what and rewards generosity.
Money is a blessing, so long as we use it to bless others. And it is an act of worship when we are smart and frugal with our funds, as this models good stewardship of the gifts God bestowed on us. There is no need to feel shame for having a lot of money or a little, so long as we are content to be servants of God first and foremost, being good stewards of the gifts He has given to us, and storing up our treasure not on earth, but in heaven.