There is a wonderful prayer presented by Moses in Psalm 90. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12. Do we receive a heart of wisdom, only after numbering aright our days? What about applying this verse to our money? Then the prayer becomes “teach us to handle money aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom in its management.”
I encourage you to take a moment to think about what your thoughts are regarding your money. What is your reaction to how others (family and friends) manage their money? How powerful or overwhelmed do you feel in regards to money? What are some wise principles in money handling and money management?
Power of money
If money is not an issue, what is the first thing that you would buy, and why? What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? How long did you save up for it?
How much money does one need to have in order to be happy? The millionaire may answer you, “just something a little more than what I possess now.” Like the French proverb saying “plus on a, plus on veut avoir” which means, as much as someone has, he wishes more. The human heart is never satisfied.
Every person, whether man or woman, old or young, believer or unbeliever, rich or poor, has to deal with money. We cannot live in this world without money. Even the Bible talks about money and possessions in more than 2,000 verses. Money can dominate much of our daily conversation as it affects a very large part of our lives. We spend a great deal of time worrying about, and thinking about, money. Most of one’s daily life is spent in employment to earn money.
Money has the power to lead us away from God, whether we have it or not. Riches tempt us toward self-sufficiency and practical atheism. Poverty tempts us toward anxiety and sinful forms of self-preservation. Neither extreme is desirable. “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny Thee and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain.” Proverbs 30:8–9. Therefore, wisdom is needed.
Money is good and helpful, but it can also harm us. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil.” 1 Timothy 6:9–10. This is why we need wisdom in the management of our money. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16–26. It is a terrible mistake to think that we can sustain ourselves on our own by our money or the consumption of it.
Wisdom from above
In the Bible you will find 500 passages on faith, 500 on prayer, but 2350 passages on money. There are twice as many references on wealth and prosperity than there are of faith and prayer combined. About 15% of what Jesus spoke about was related to money. Money is an important subject in the Bible because it is a window into the heart. How we handle money exposes the values and priorities of our hearts and a right approach to it indicates we have a strong relationship with Jesus. With God at the centre of our lives, the temptation into which money can draw us, with its worries and conflicts, are diminished. Read: Matthew 5:14–16. We will now look at the warnings the Word of God gives us concerning money.
The only source of wisdom is from heaven. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
Wisdom is promised to all those who seek for it from the Heavenly Father, through His word. Firstly, we need wisdom to know what money is and then, how to use it.
Money provides influence and power to make things happen, and gives us a sense of value and importance. In many ways, money allows us to experience good things in life. On the other hand, when people lose their businesses or jobs, they can be devastated and feel as if they have been abandoned by God and the community. Because of the advantages money provides, we are tempted to look to money for our security, sense of value, and happiness. Unless we remain vigilant, the love of money may distract us from worshiping God as the source and provider of all of life. Our habit of trusting money to provide for us can keep us from putting our hope and trust in God. For many, by experience, it seems that if they have money, they do not need God.
Money is good, but we need to be vigilant and wise with it, otherwise, there will be ongoing tension between our need for money and the temptation to worship it. We need money to provide the goods and services in our lives. Although money can appear to be the source of good things, we do not want to worship it. We want to worship God, the Creator and Source of all life.
We must acknowledge that our money and possessions actually belong to God; and without Him, we would have nothing. “Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” Job 4:11. “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:19
God is the sole proprietor of everything we have (clothes, house, car, our children, computer, our investments and everything imaginable). See 1 Chronicles 29:11–12; Psalm 24:1. Since He owns everything, we can never really acquire anything new, because it is already His. Not only the ownership is His, but God also controls everything. Daniel 2:20–21; Isaiah 46:9–10. Jehovah jireh—the Lord who provides (Genesis 22:14).
You and I are just stewards and managers. A steward is one who manages the resources of another. Each one of us is a manager, not an owner. God is the owner and we are to manage according to His plan. Our challenge is to manage the resources He put in our care in a society where all the pressures are to conform to the world. “A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1–2 NLT). When he looks at all the riches around him, the steward must remember that this wealth belongs, not to him personally, but to his Master, and must be used in a way that will please and profit Him.
Dear reader, I encourage you to be a wise steward of the money and resources God has allowed you to possess. Teach your children also to acknowledge and be thankful to God for all that they possess.
We are warned in this quotation: “Believing parents have frequently transferred their property to their unbelieving children, thus putting it out of their power to render to God the things that are His. By so doing they lay off that responsibility which God has laid upon them, and place in the enemy’s ranks means which God has entrusted to them to be returned to Him by being invested in His cause when He shall require it of them. It is not in God’s order that parents who are capable of managing their own business should give up the control of their property, even to children who are of the same faith.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 529
Wise use of money
Some people talk about good luck while the Bible speaks about God’s blessings. Material prosperity does, in fact, require effort on the part of man. A businessman, to make a profit, has to invest his money well. A farmer, to have a good harvest, has to sow and properly manage his crops. If we are administrators, we have to manage to the best of our ability, especially if we work for someone else. Many people would feel honored, and would consider it a privilege if they were asked to invest in a prosperous commercial enterprise. That is exactly what God invites us to do. He asks us to be His partners in the greatest enterprise of all: helping the world to escape condemnation and prepare for His coming Kingdom of glory. But we may ask, how can I make an investment when I am not a merchant? How can I sow if I am not a farmer, make financial deals when I am not an accountant or find a partner who can help me make a profit when I have no capital? God, in the Bible, reveals to us the plan through which we can prosper:
“Lay up not for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where you treasure is there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19–21
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Ecclesiastes 5:10–12
Having money is not itself a sin. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. Money can be a good servant, but is always a bad master. How we handle money affects our relationship with Jesus, and hence it affects the quality of our spiritual life. Think, for example, of the lazy servant in the parable of the talents. He mishandled money by burying it and therefore the relation with his master was broken, and he was cast outside, into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).
For many, money and possessions are major competitors with Jesus for the ruler of their lives. However, the truth is that, “No man can serve two masters: For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money].” Mathew 6:24. Jesus clearly states that it is impossible for anyone to serve two masters. Interestingly, He does not even bring the devil into this statement, but rather declares the two masters to be God and money.
All the promises that God made regarding our finances are predicated on the principle that we relinquish ownership to Him. If we refuse to do this, as a consequence, our lives will be characterized by constant turmoil and anxiety as we struggle to understand and manage the complexities of our finances. “He who seeks to quench his thirst at the fountains of this world will drink only to thirst again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 187
A solemn warning
“Satan told his angels that the churches were asleep. He would increase his power and lying wonders, and he could hold them. ‘But,’ he said, ‘the sect of Sabbathkeepers we hate; they are continually working against us, and taking from us our subjects, to keep the hated law of God. Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with cares. If you can make them place their affections upon these things, we shall have them yet. They may profess what they please, only make them care more for money than for the success of Christ’s kingdom or the spread of the truths we hate. Present the world before them in the most attractive light, that they may love and idolize it.
“‘We must keep in our ranks all the means of which we can gain control. The more means the followers of Christ devote to His service, the more will they injure our kingdom by getting our subjects. . . . Control the money matters if you can, and drive their ministers to want and distress. This will weaken their courage and zeal. Battle every inch of ground. Make covetousness and love of earthly treasures the ruling traits of their character. As long as these traits rule, salvation and grace stand back. Crowd every attraction around them, and they will be surely ours. And not only are we sure of them, but their hateful influence will not be exercised to lead others to heaven. When any shall attempt to give, put within them a grudging disposition, that it may be sparingly.’” –Early Writings, p. 266–267
Money is the greatest tool that the devil uses to draw people away from God, and Jesus knew this. We choose which master we will serve. The choice we make determines our value system which, in turn, determines our behaviour. When we choose to serve God our value system is driven by His commandments. When we see money as more important than God and people, we effectively have chosen money as our master. What we do in regards to money should be determined by God’s word. The devil will always try and take our love away from God and others by focusing on mammon (the spirit of money) which is why the Apostle Paul said it is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10).
The important question that we all need to honestly answer is, “Which master am I truly serving?” Our love should only flow towards God and people. Serving the master of money results in behaviour that is driven by the values of materialism, greed, self-ambition, cheating, stealing, lying, corruption, extortion, bribery, etc. These people would do anything to acquire money and material possessions at the expense of other people and obedience to God. Serving God brings out financial behaviour that is consistent with what the Bible teaches us: generosity, self-control, honest and just business practices, wisdom in how we use our money, etc.
Overlooked Accountability
“We should regard ourselves as stewards of the Lord’s property and God as the supreme proprietor, to whom we are to render His Own when He shall require it.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 480–481
“God calls us servants, which implies that we are employed by Him to do a certain work and bear certain responsibilities. He has lent us capital for investment. It is not our property, and we displease God if we hoard up our Lord’s goods or spend them as we please. . .
“Every talent which returns to the Master will be scrutinized. The doings and trusts of God’s servants will not be considered an unimportant matter. Every individual will be dealt with personally and will be required to give an account of the talents entrusted to him, whether he has improved or abused them. The reward bestowed will be proportionate to the improvement of the talents. The punishment awarded will be according as the talents have been abused. . . . The talents are in our hands. Shall we use them to God’s glory, or shall we abuse them? We may trade with them today, but tomorrow our probation may end and our account be forever.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 668
“The end is fast approaching and many in our churches are asleep. Let all now make it their chief business to serve the Lord. The Lord has entrusted to His people the talent of means, some more and some less than others. With many the possession of wealth has proved a snare. In their desire to follow the fashions of the world, they have lost their zeal for the truth, and they are in peril of losing eternal life. In proportion as God has prospered them, men should return to Him of the goods He has entrusted to their stewardship.” –This Day With God, p. 349
“God also entrusts men with means. He gives them power to get wealth. He waters the earth with the dews of heaven and with the showers of refreshing rain. . . . Our money has not been given us that we might honor and glorify ourselves. As faithful stewards we are to use it for the honor and glory of God. Some think that only a portion of their means is the Lord’s. . . . All we possess is the Lord’s, and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it. In the use of every penny, it will be seen whether we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. Money has great value, because it can do great good. . . . He who realizes that his money is a talent from God will use it economically, and will feel it a duty to save that he may give. The more means we expend in display and self-indulgence, the less we can have to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Every penny used unnecessarily deprives the spender of a precious opportunity of doing good. It is robbing God of the honor and glory which should flow back to Him through the improvement of His entrusted talents.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 351–352
Let us decide to put God at the centre of our lives and not money, adopting the right attitude to our possessions. We should donate in a cheerful attitude. Our approach to money should inspire others to know Jesus.
“Some close their ears to the calls made for money to be used in sending missionaries to foreign countries and in publishing the truth and scattering it like autumn leaves all over the world. Such excuse their covetousness by informing you that they have made arrangements to be charitable at death. They have considered the cause of God in their wills. Therefore they live a life of avarice, robbing God in tithes and in offerings, and in their wills return to God but a small portion of that which He has lent them, while a very large proportion is appropriated to relatives who have no interest in the truth.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 479– 480
Was there a time in your life that you chose material possessions over the commandments of God? Do you find it hard to extend generosity to other people? What do you
think are the things that hinder you from being generous to others? In your own way, how can you be a channel of God’s blessings to other people?
Every decision we make on the issues of earning, spending, borrowing, saving, and giving will show which master we are serving. Our personal salvation is involved in the question of money.
“Money is a trust from God. It is not ours to expend for the gratification of pride or ambition.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 287
“When labor is to be done, when our money is wanted to aid the work of the Redeemer in the salvation of souls, we shrink from duty and pray to be excused.” –Counsels on Stewardship, p. 21
“We are to make investments in heavenly interests, and always work with heaven in view, laying our treasure up in the bank of heaven.” –The Signs of the Times, April 4, 1895
Earthly money and treasures are truly perishable. They do not satisfy and do not last. When a millionaire dies, he is no longer a millionaire.
“And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15–21
Jesus equated our attitude towards money with the genuineness of our relationship to God. If we fully understand this, we will likely avoid the idolatry of materialism. Whatever we elevate to the status of treasure will also be the centre of our lives, excluding God. They lead us away from God. The Devil understood this well when he tempted Christ with earthly wealth and power. Materialism leads to a blinding of our spiritual eyesight. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:17–18
Take heed that you do not “spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not.” Isaiah 55:2. We are living in the end-times when money is a major competitor with God. “2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [a]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:2–4 NKJV
Our failure to view our present lives in light of eternity is one of the biggest hindrances in our Christian life. Yet, Scripture states that the reality of our eternal future should determine the character of our present lives and the use of our money and possessions. People who do not know the Lord look at life as a brief interval that begins at birth and ends at death. With no eternal perspective, they think, “If this life is all there is, why deny myself any pleasure or possession?” But, those who know Christ have an entirely different perspective. We know that life is short, but it is the testing period that will determine much of our experience in heaven. “The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years . . . for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. . . . So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:10, 12
The topic of money management helps us to acknowledge God as the source of everything, and that we are managing our possessions for God.
May the Lord help us to obtain wisdom: spend as much time seeking wisdom as you do dealing with your wealth. Wisdom is worth more than rubies, worth more than gold (Proverbs 8:10–11; 3:13–16). Amen.
Victor Shumbusho – D R Congo