A biblical worldview of money and stewardship is rarely explored in churches and Christian circles today, yet there are over 2,000 scriptures that relate to this subject. Many biblical scholars say Jesus spoke more about stewardship than about heaven and hell combined. Money and Wealth battle for the heart, soul, and mind of man, and you can see why when we spend money every day on almost everything imaginable, from food and shelter to clothing, gasoline for our cars, a cup of coffee, utilities, medical expenses, and more.

There are at least 12 different subjects that cover a Biblical worldview of Money and Wealth in the Bible, which we will touch on today and delve into more over the coming months. They are:

1. Tithing and Giving

Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Malachi 3:10
Nowhere in Scripture does it say we can test God, except in Malachi 3:10, where it refers to our tithe. Giving is by far the most powerful tool for releasing selfishness.

2. Saving

Read Proverbs 6:6-8 and Proverbs 21:20
Saving is both wise and prudent for the inevitable unexpected things in life that hit all of us. Without savings, we can become a burden on others during tough times.

3. Investing

Read Ecclesiastes 11:2, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Timothy 6:10
God greatly cares about how we invest HIS RESOURCES and requires us to do so with wisdom, diversification, integrity, purity, and freedom from the love of money and returns at any cost. We should never invest God's money to support companies that knowingly violate biblical principles, regardless of the returns.

4. Ownership

Read Psalm 24:1 and Haggai 2:8
This scripture serves as the Foundation for all scriptures on Stewardship, which teaches that God owns everything; yes, this includes our savings and investment accounts. You miss the true meaning of this one, and you miss all the others.

5. Providing for Family

Read 1 Timothy 5:8 and Proverbs 3:27-28
First and foremost, believers are called to provide for their families' needs.

6. Debt

Read Proverbs 22:7 and Proverbs 22:26-27
Debt is not inherently sinful, but irresponsible debt can make us slaves to lending institutions. I've never seen anyone hurt by being debt-free, but I've sure seen a lot of people hurt by debt.

7. Paying Taxes

Read Matthew 22:19-21 and Romans 13:1-2
Paying taxes is a part of God's provision, and we should never cheat by accepting cash for services without reporting it as income.

8. Honesty and Integrity

Read Proverbs 10:9, Exodus 20:16
Just one dishonest act or lie requires another one to cover it up. Getting caught up in the vicious cycle of dishonesty and lies eventually can destroy a person. But when we are honest and have integrity in all our dealings, we never have to fear repercussions.

9. Work

Read Genesis 2:15 and Colossians 3:23-24
Work is good, provides a purpose, is Biblical, and even before the fall in the garden, God called for us to work and take care of it.

10. Inheritance

Read Proverbs 17:16 and Proverbs 20:21
Inheritance without wisdom is a recipe for disaster, and money should be given to heirs slowly and methodically at the same rate it was earned over many years.

11. Council

Read Proverbs 15:22, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, and 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Christians should seek counsel based on a biblical worldview. Virtues found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 are excellent qualifications to look for in anyone you desire to receive counsel from.

12. Retirement

Read Numbers 8:23-26 and 1 Peter 4:10
Retirement can be a time of serving God and others or a time of self-indulgence. Studies have shown that a retired life focused on self-indulgence often results in depression and, for many, shortened lifespans, but when retirement is used to help and serve others, it can become one of the most significant and fulfilling times of life.

Summary of a Biblical Worldview of Money and Wealth

1. God owns it all
2. God is in control of my financial destiny.
3. Contentment is found in Christ, not the size of a bank account or investment portfolio.
4. Financial decisions are spiritual decisions prayed about before they are made.
5. I've learn to understand how much is enough and don't always need more.
6. Giving is a privilege and part of my long-term financial plan.
7. How I make money on anything, including my investments, is just as important as why I make it.
8. My self-worth is centered around Christ, not the size of my portfolio, what I drive, or where I live.
9. Financial truths are based on absolutes found in the Bible.
10. The needs of others are just as important as my own.
11. Pay others a good wage and tip abundantly for a job well done.
12. Report all income, even when paid in cash, as Jesus said: 'Pay to Caesar what is Caesar's.'
13. The handbook for using money is the Bible, not man's ways.
14. Invest in companies with good values and avoid those that support harmful agendas that violate biblical principles. Profit is never more important than following scriptural principles.

Conclusion

Living outside of a Biblical Worldview for money and stewardship results in selfishness, depression, fear, and the insecurity of never having enough. However, living within a biblical worldview of money and stewardship results in contentment, joy, freedom, and more than enough.

Questions to ponder until time:

1. Who owns it all
2. How much is enough
3. How much can I give away
4. How do I properly hand wealth off to the following generations

Next time, we will expand on the Biblical Worldview of Tithing and Giving.

About Author Bob Barber, CWS, CKA