Can We Talk About Money?

Is it okay for Christians to talk about money? I believe it’s not only okay, but it’s necessary. Many of us are in financial bondage because we have never been taught basic financial principles. While our society seems to recognize the importance of literacy, there’s still a huge percentage of our population that are financially illiterate.

The Bible has a lot to say about money, so, there’s no reason for us to shy away from the topic. Even if we just look at a few of the verses, we can gain some incredible insight from a spiritual perspective that can help us take a step towards our financial freedom.

Love people, not money. Contrary to popular belief, money is not the root of all evil – the love of money is (see 1 Timothy 6:10). When we enter into a love affair with money, it causes us to be unfaithful in so many ways. Why? Because whoever loves money never has enough and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income (see Ecclesiastes 5:10). Then, the deeper you fall in love, the more you’ll be willing to sacrifice for the love of your life. Imagine if we pursued Jesus with the intensity in which we pursue money. Imagine if we loved people with the passion in which we love money. I believe that alone would give us a new perspective on our relationship with our finances.

It’s okay to want things. It’s not okay to worship them. Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” If you know money is not a good master, why would you continue to choose to worship it?

Earthly riches are not eternal. Let’s be honest. No matter how much money we’re able to accumulate while we’re here on this earth, we cannot take any of it with us to glory. So why do we spend all our life pursuing something that has no value to us after death? Proverbs 11:4 says, “When judgment day comes, all the wealth of the world won’t help you one bit. So be rich in righteousness, for that’s the only thing that can save you in death.” Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Don’t keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value. Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value.” Earthly riches are temporary. Heavenly riches are eternal.

Debt is not your friend. Have you ever befriended someone who you later found out didn’t have your best interest in mind? Well, debt is kind of like that. Initially it appears to meet all your needs, but in the end the only interest it’s interested in is its own (pun intended). Good debt… bad debt… Debt is still debt. And my Bible says, “Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another” (Romans 13:8a).

Don’t be greedy. As I was cutting my grass the other day for one last time this season, this thought came to me, “Shame on us if we spend on greed what God provides to meet our need or to sow as seed.” We quote Philippians 4:19 all the time, “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” It’s a promise the Father has made to us. And if He promised it, He is faithful to fulfill it. But how many of us don’t even recognize His faithfulness in our finances because we aren’t good stewards of what He provides? We spend our money on our wants and then beg God for our needs. Luke 12:15 says, “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”” Many of us wouldn’t be so needy if we weren’t being so greedy.

There is wisdom in saving. Saving is not just for a rainy day. It’s also so we have what’s needed when we receive an instruction from the Lord that requires money, and so we have enough to give. We can’t continuously spend all we get and convince ourselves we’re walking by faith. The Bible doesn’t call that faith – it calls that foolishness. Proverbs 21:20 says, “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.”

Favor is more valuable than money. Money is not the only thing that has value. There is value in wisdom. There is value in integrity. There is value in living honorably. Choosing the intangible things of value can bring favor, and favor can open doors that money cannot. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.”

Trying to get rich will wear you out. If God has given you a grace to accumulate wealth, then He will add no sorrow to it. But when we start something on our own, we’ll have to finish it on our own. And operating in our own strength is draining. Proverbs 23:4 says, “Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.” 

 Rest is priceless. We live in a society where we work, work, work, until we can’t work anymore. We wear as a badge of honor one of the very things that causes the bulk of our weariness. There is no dollar amount that we can put on rest. Exodus 23:12a says, “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.”

There are countless natural principles that we can apply to our finances, but we will only appreciate those once we lay a firm spiritual foundation. Unfortunately, many of us see no connection between our relationship with our finances and our relationship with our Father. So, if you really want to know what He thinks about the way you’re stewarding what He has entrusted to you, then I encourage you… the next time you initiate a conversation with your Creator, ask Him, “Can we talk about money?”

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