Scripture makes a lot of strong and pointed statements about wealth, and it would be easy to assume that money is a terrible necessity.
The truth is that money plays a particular role in society. For example, it allows the farmer or the carpenter to trade for goods and services without having to carry cows, produce, and lumber everywhere they go. The problem that Scripture recognizes and addresses is how we can give money our affection and make it lord of our lives instead of the Lord. When we use money as a tool to serve only ourselves and to exploit others, we have lost our way.
A careful look at how the Bible addresses money helps us discover practical advice about stewardship, devotion, and discipline.
This is the first part in a four-part series on Bible verses that discuss money and stewardship. Let’s take a look at some key money principles we can glean from Scripture.
Prospering and wise investments.
Let us take a look at the parable of the three servants from Matthew 25:14–30.
First, we see a Master who has prospered.
When he planned to be away, he gave portions of his belongings to three of his stewards, with the expectation they would make the most of what he had given them. In the end, only two of his stewards found ways to invest wisely. The third only sought to hide his share until the Master returned. He did not do his homework.
Money principle #1: Grow wealth strategically.
“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Proverbs 13:11 ESV).
The stories are common enough to be a trope—someone wins the lottery and then their life is destroyed by their instant wealth. Perhaps they don’t have the self-discipline to deny themselves ridiculous purchases, they haven’t learned where to go for help and money-management advice, or they don’t know how to deal with all the requests from friends and family for loans. These unfortunate stories are living illustrations of this Proverb’s principle.
On the other hand, when you build wealth over time by making strategic, thoughtful decisions, you learn how to care for it. You learn the diligence and responsibility that will help you manage your money better.
Money principle #2: 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 ESV).
Trying to accumulate more and more to sate our appetites will never satisfy us or leave us feeling secure or at peace. True freedom is only found in the Lord, never in wealth or possessions. Certainly, those of us who have been blessed with abundance have the responsibility to steward those resources to both meet our needs and contribute to meeting the needs of others. But we must protect our hearts against insidious greed.
When we begin grasping at wealth and love it more than the Lord, it poisons us.
Money principle #3: Don’t start without a plan.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” (Luke 14:28–30 ESV).
In this chapter of Luke, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people who have gathered to hear Him teach, and He is making the point that He isn’t out recruiting followers under false pretenses. If you come to Him, He wants you to count the cost and consider the sacrifice. To illustrate His point, He uses the example of a man who begins a building project without considering how much it is going to cost him, and before he is finished, he’s run out of money.
Jesus uses this example because He knows the audience will instantly recognize how foolish of an act this is. And it’s a good reminder for us too: Plan ahead. Don’t start something without counting the cost—financial or otherwise—first.
Money principle #4: Never seek to take financial advantage of those around you.
“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 ESV).
The first five books in the Old Testament (collectively known as the Pentateuch) tell the story of God’s creation of the nation of Israel through whom He planned to bless the rest of the world. Much of the Pentateuch details God’s expectations and laws about how the Israelites are to treat each other and those outside their community.
We read here that Israelites shouldn’t oppress their neighbors or help themselves to each other’s property. As an example, we’re told that a boss shouldn’t withhold the wages of an employee. This directive 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. It’s not as if he’s trying to keep them from the worker indefinitely. But this overnight error is still considered taking advantage of the worker. The point is that the worker needs to be paid for work in a way that allows him to look after his personal needs. In this directive, we can see how God is paying attention to these seemingly small ways of how we interact with our neighbors and employees. We are reminded that in everything, God expects us to treat each other with dignity and respect.
Money principle #5: Protect your reputation.
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1 ESV).
In modern western cultures, we’re not necessarily at the mercy of our family name. But we certainly know what it means to cultivate a reputation, whether for good or for ill. Committing ourselves to doing what is right and building a good reputation is of greater worth than riches, and the former should never be sacrificed to gain the latter.
