Money. It’s something we all need and want. We work hard to earn it, spend it, save it, invest it. But have you ever stopped to wonder – why does God give us money in the first place? As Christians, how should we view money and material possessions?
Key Takeaways:
- God owns everything; we are simply stewards of what He entrusts to us.
- God blesses us financially to provide for our needs and bless others.
- We should avoid loving money or trusting in it over God.
- Giving generously should be a priority over personal gain.
- God rewards those who use money wisely for kingdom purposes.
- Heavenly rewards await those who invest in eternity through giving.
As Evangelical and Charismatic Christians, we believe the Bible provides clear guidance on why God gives us money and how we are to handle it. In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore biblical truths about money through the lenses of stewardship, provision, spiritual life, generosity, and eternal rewards.
God Owns Everything
To start, we must recognize that God owns everything in the universe. The earth and everything in it belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). Our money is not truly our own; it all comes from and belongs to God. As King David prayed, “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” (1 Chronicles 29:14, NIV).
Though He puts resources into our hands, we are simply managers or administrators acting on His behalf. Theologians refer to this as the concept of stewardship. A steward is someone entrusted to care for what belongs to another. All we have – our time, talents, and finances – belongs to God alone. We are stewards responsible for wise use of what God entrusts to us.
The parable of the talents illustrates this principle. Before leaving on a long trip, a man entrusted his wealth to his servants to manage in his absence. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and another one bag, dividing it “according to their abilities” (Matthew 25:15). Upon the master’s return, the servants who invested and multiplied the money were rewarded for their faithfulness, while the servant who simply buried the money was rebuked for poor stewardship (Matthew 25:26-30).
Like these servants, God has entrusted resources to us. As faithful stewards, we should ask, “How does God want me to manage and invest what He has given me?” We are responsible for putting His money to work for kingdom purposes.
God Provides For Our Needs
A foundational truth about God’s provision comes from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus taught us not to worry about food, drink, or clothing because “your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31-33). Elsewhere, Scripture promises God will supply all our needs “according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). As our loving Provider, God may not give us everything we want, but He will meet our needs.
God has promised to provide the resources we require to fulfill our purpose. The Bible says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). As we seek God’s kingdom, we can trust Him to supply material necessities at the right times.
Sometimes God provides through supernatural miracles, as when ravens brought bread and meat to Elijah during a famine (1 Kings 17:2-6). Other times, He uses natural means like employment. Paul worked as a tentmaker to provide for his own needs so he could preach the gospel free of charge (Acts 18:3). Whether through miracles or everyday provision, God promises to supply what we need.
Avoid Loving Money
Though money itself is morally neutral, the love of money leads to spiritual trouble. As 1 Timothy 6:10 warns, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (ESV). Loving riches can draw our affections away from God. We start trusting in money over trusting in Him.
Jesus urged, “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Money should never replace God on the throne of our hearts. We must seek God’s kingdom first, trusting that material needs will follow (Matthew 6:33).
Sometimes God blesses His children with more than they require so they can generously meet the needs of others. Paul wrote, “God gave us far more than we need for ourselves so that we could have the privilege of helping others” (2 Corinthians 8:14, CEV). Surplus resources are not given so we can live in luxury. We must avoid greed and reliance on riches rather than God. Our security rests in our eternal Provider, not earthly wealth.
Giving Over Personal Gain
Generous giving should be a priority over personal gain. As Peter wrote to persecuted Christians suffering financially, “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” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Giving does not depend on having excess resources. The poor widow who gave two tiny copper coins was praised by Jesus as giving more than the wealthy because she gave sacrificially from her poverty (Luke 21:1-4). Sometimes God calls us to give cheerfully from our need as an act of faith and worship.
Sharing with others should be motivated by love, not obligation. “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). God prizes generous and cheerful giving that flows from a loving heart.
Blessings for Generosity
Scripture often connects selfless giving with God’s blessing. As Proverbs 11:24-25 promises, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
When the Israelites gave generously for the building of the Tabernacle, they received such an outpouring of gifts and talents that Moses had to tell them to stop giving (Exodus 36:2-7)! God blesses and multiplies what is generously shared with others. As we meet the needs of others, our needs are met in return.
Speaking of the Macedonian Christians overflowing generosity, Paul testified, “They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability…out of the most severe trial…their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…so that there might be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4, 13-14). Out of their own lack, they begged earnestly for the grace of giving. God used their joyful generosity to meet needs in the church.
Giving does not always lead to immediate material blessing. The Macedonian church gave sacrificially from their poverty. However, God promises to bless and multiply generosity that flows from faith. As we give freely, we can trust Him to provide for our needs and open the floodgates of blessing.
Rewards for Wise Stewards
How we handle money and possessions reflects our spiritual maturity. Jesus said, “If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:11). Faithful stewardship prepares us to receive even more from God.
Several parables remind us that God rewards those who use money wisely for kingdom purposes:
- The parable of the bags of gold shows God rewarding investments that multiply resources for the master (Matthew 25:14-30). Wise stewards expand God’s kingdom.
- In the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus commended resourceful management and prudent investment for future purposes (Luke 16:1-9). We should use money strategically to bless others.
- The parable of the ten minas shows faithful stewards being rewarded with greater responsibility and honor in the kingdom (Luke 19:11-27). Wise money management demonstrates readiness for greater kingdom responsibility.
While earthly wealth will ultimately fade away, Jesus urges us to “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” through selfless generosity (Matthew 6:19-21). When we share generously, invest strategically, and manage money for eternal gain rather than selfish indulgence, heavenly rewards await us.
Giving as Eternal Investment
The rewards for righteous and generous financial stewardship extend into eternity. Paul wrote these amazing words: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV)
Giving generously should be a defining mark of Christians, providing “a good foundation for the time to come.” When we share generously from the riches God allows us to possess, we store up an eternal inheritance in heaven that will endure for all time.
Jesus assured us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). When we use money for eternal purposes – supporting missions, church planting, spreading the gospel – we reap eternal rewards. Generous giving is eternal investment.
The prosperity gospel falsely teaches that generous giving earns guaranteed earthly returns or obligates God to make us rich. However, we must give cheerfully to bless others, not as a way to obligate God or earn selfish prosperity. Our motive for giving is laying up heavenly treasure that endures, not earthly wealth that fades away.
Trust God Over Riches
Scripture consistently warns against trusting in riches rather than God. “No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5).
Riches cannot secure our future. Only God’s promise and provision can truly provide lasting security. “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness” (Proverbs 23:4). Earthly wealth is uncertain and can disappear instantly (James 4:14). Financial security rests not in our account balance but in our relationship with our eternal Provider.
Rather than striving for more, we must learn contentment, which “with godliness is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). As David prayed, “God, you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts” (Psalm 63:1, MSG). May this be our heart’s cry.
Key Takeaways:
- God owns everything; we are simply stewards of what He entrusts to us.
- God blesses us financially to provide for our needs and bless others.
- We should avoid loving money or trusting in it over God.
- Giving generously should be a priority over personal gain.
- God rewards those who use money wisely for kingdom purposes.
- Heavenly rewards await those who invest in eternity through giving.
As Evangelical and Charismatic Christians, we believe the Bible provides clear and liberating truths about money. Our finances are a sacred trust from God. We can reject greed and anxiety over money as we embrace God’s principles of faithful stewardship and reliance on Him as Provider. We give generously, knowing that we store up eternal treasure when we use money to advance God’s kingdom. Our security rests in the One who ultimately owns it all.
