Question 1

What is a proper perspective toward money?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 6:21“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”The Bible mentions many wealthy people who loved God while saying nothing negative about the amount of wealth they owned (Abraham, David, Joseph of Arimathea, and Lydia, for example). Scripture doesn’t focus on how much money we can or cannot have, but rather on what we do with it. Jesus made one thing clear: Wherever our money goes, our hearts will follow after. We can work hard and succeed without guilt; but we must make sure to work just as hard finding ways to spend our money for God’s Kingdom.Psalm 23:1The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.Ecclesiastes 5:10Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!Money can cultivate a dangerous craving—the more we have, the more we want. It is a vicious cycle that never has a satisfactory conclusion. Money can never satisfy our deepest needs, but God can. We must take care to keep him first in our hearts.Matthew 6:24“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.”Luke 18:22-23When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.The love of money will invariably get our priorities out of line. The more we have, the more time we must spend to manage it, and, thus, the more important it becomes to us. This doesn’t always happen to those with lots of money, but it tends to happen if we don’t watch for it and work hard against it.Psalm 119:36Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!1 Timothy 6:10The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.Hebrews 13:5Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is!Deuteronomy 8:17-18“He [the Lord] did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”Wealth and prosperity should not be our goals, nor are they definitive signs of God’s blessing—many who are poor are rich in other ways. Prosperity, when given by God, is to be received with gratitude and humility, and it is to be shared with gracious hospitality and generosity.Hebrews 13:5Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”Our greatest security comes not from what we have, but from the fact that God has us.Proverbs 11:28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.Isaiah 55:2Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.John 4:10, 13-14Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” . . . Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”Often, we buy things to try to fill a void or a need in our lives. The Bible tells how to acquire a deep and lasting happiness that always satisfies.Proverbs 19:1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.Mark 8:36“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”No amount of money is worth deception or dishonesty. Taking advantage of others to make money is stealing. Those who do this lose far more than they could ever gain.Matthew 6:28-33“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”Matthew 7:9-11“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Philippians 4:19This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.Sometimes, honest, hardworking Christians hit financial difficulties—perhaps a car accident, a layoff. Unforeseen medical expenses or a natural disaster can empty our bank accounts and challenge our faith. The feelings of helplessness and uncertainty this creates may be terrifying, especially if others are dependent on us. In such times, we can take comfort in our heavenly Father, who promises to care for his children.Psalm 37:4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.The Bible promises that God will supply all our needs. The problem comes when our definition of “need” is different from God’s. If we desire him above all else, we will learn to long for what he longs for—and he will surely give that to us!1 Timothy 4:4-5Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.All things are good if received with gratitude and enjoyment in Christ. We will find joy in them, especially if we put them to use in serving God and sharing with others.Matthew 19:23-24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”Luke 8:11, 14-15“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. . . . The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”1 Timothy 6:6-10True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.Our desires for money and worldly goods can become a deep temptation. Faithfulness often brings success, and success can sometimes bring a measure of financial reward. On the one hand, we understand that money is neither good nor bad, but simply a neutral medium of exchange. On the other hand, money represents wealth, power, and status. As such, it can wield extraordinary power over our lives. Jesus goes so far as to identify money as a potential rival to God. Money, like natural resources, material goods, and time itself, is ours to be used for the glory of God, not to take the place of God.

Question 2

How can I best handle my money?

Accepted Answer

Mark 12:42-44Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”1 John 3:17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?Consistent and generous giving is one of the most effective ways to keep us from growing greedy with our money. When our giving meets needs in the lives of others, we will find much deeper satisfaction than if we hoard the money for ourselves.Proverbs 3:9-10Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.Malachi 3:10“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”We should view our money as God’s, to use as he wishes. Giving back to God the first part of everything we receive will help us maintain this perspective.Proverbs 21:20The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.Proverbs 28:19A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.Matthew 25:14“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.”Luke 6:38“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”1 Corinthians 4:12We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.2 Corinthians 9:6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.1 Thessalonians 4:11-12Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.Properly handling money requires good stewardship in earning, giving, spending, and saving. God understands the importance of providing for the needs of our families and the future, but he also expects us to use our money generously to help others. Such generosity will not go unrewarded.Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”Luke 16:9-13“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 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 both God and money.”1 Timothy 6:17-19Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.We will be held accountable for how we use the money God has entrusted to us; therefore, we should use it in ways that honor God and help others. We should be motivated by knowing the link between how you use our money on earth and the corresponding rewards in heaven. Money is a temporary resource. If we hold on to it and build our hopes on it, we’ll find it worthless in the end. However, money is also a resource that can be invested. Spending money on meeting others’ needs, building relationships, and spreading the good news has eternal impact. Possessions can be lost, broken, or destroyed. Our earthly fame and social standing will not match our heavenly one. The greatest pleasure money can buy is only an echo of paradise’s joy. But the good we do on earth can build relationships that last for all eternity!Proverbs 13:11Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.Luke 6:30“Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.”Luke 12:15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”1 Timothy 5:8Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.If we have children, we should teach them God’s principles about earning money, giving generously, saving regularly, and spending responsibly.Psalm 119:36Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!Luke 16:13“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 both God and money.”We are wise to pray for God to grow our healthy desires, such as our devotion to him. This will help crowd out unhealthy obsessions, such as a love for money.

Question 3

Why don’t I ever seem to have enough?

Accepted Answer

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!Ecclesiastes 10:19A party gives laughter, wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!It seems that it is our nature as humans to believe that if we just had more money, we could be happy and fix almost any problem. But when we get more, we will want even more, and we will never seem to have enough.Proverbs 21:17Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich.If we review our spending habits closely, we will likely be surprised at how much we are spending on frivolous pursuits, pleasure, and possessions we don’t really need.Haggai 1:4“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?”When we’re not managing our money by God’s priorities, we will feel as though we never have enough. God’s priorities first ask “Where can I help?” not “What can I get?”Luke 12:15Then he [Jesus] said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”It is easy for us to look to money to bring us security, but this is false thinking. Our money is never secure on earth and can disappear suddenly. Only in heaven will our treasures be completely secure.Mark 10:17, 21-22As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” . . . Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away very sad, for he had many possessions.We accumulate money because we believe that money and wealth can really make us happier. But imagine how much more joyful and productive we could be if we set our minds to accumulating treasure in heaven!

Question 4

Is debt a sin?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 18:23“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.”In his teaching on forgiveness, Jesus used this parable that uses the lending or borrowing of money as normal and acceptable, implying that it is not in itself sinful. Money itself isn’t the problem; the love of money is.Proverbs 22:7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.Although borrowing money is not, in itself, sinful, we must be careful and wise when we borrow so we don’t become a slave to debt. Usually, it is wise to avoid borrowing money, unless that is our only option.Proverbs 6:1-4My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said—follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.Just as we should be careful about borrowing money for ourselves, we should also be careful about signing on to guarantee someone else’s debt. If we legally bind ourselves to someone else’s loan, it can enslave us to debt just as surely as taking the loan ourselves. It may seem compassionate and loving to help a friend or neighbor qualify for a loan, but if we do this, we need to be able and willing to pay it all in the end.Psalm 37:21The wicked borrow and never repay.Romans 13:8Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.Although incurring debt may not be sinful, the failure to repay a debt is.

Question 5

Will God provide for my financial needs?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 6:31-33“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”God knows our true needs and promises to supply them fully. Worry puts us in danger of denying, dismissing, or even not noticing God’s love and care. We can overcome anxiety by reminding ourselves how much God loves and cares for us.Psalm 37:4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.Matthew 7:7-11“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.Philippians 4:19This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.James 4:2-3You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.1 John 5:14-15We are confident that he [God] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.God promises to supply all of our needs, but the problem comes when our definition of “need” is different from God’s. Studying God’s Word will help us discover what God considers to be important to a fulfilling life.

Question 6

What are the benefits of using my money as God directs?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 3:9-10Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.2 Corinthians 9:6-8Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.We should not give in order to get, but we may indeed receive when we give. When we are generous toward others, God is generous toward us.Proverbs 11:24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.God often blesses those who use money as a tool for his purposes. Those who hoard their money, using it only for themselves, never have enough.1 Timothy 6:17-19Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.The secret to investing is knowing whom to trust and where to invest. The only lasting investment comes from trusting God and investing in helping others.Hebrews 13:5Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”Money can be a tool for blessing or a trap for our hearts. Rather than hoarding our money and growing attached to it, we should use the resources God has given us to do good for others.

Question 7

How can I best use my money?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 16:17“All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God.”Proverbs 3:9-10Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.Malachi 3:10“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.We should honor the Lord by giving to his work.Luke 12:33“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.”Luke 16:9“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”2 Corinthians 9:9As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”1 Timothy 6:9, 18-19People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. . . . Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.1 John 3:17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?We should use our money to meet the needs of others. God wants us to share with people who are in need. And by doing it, we are revealing God’s love and provision for them. As followers of Jesus, we are his hands and feet in this world.1 Timothy 5:8Those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.Caring for our families and those who depend on us should be a basic financial priority for us.Romans 15:25-26Before I [Paul] come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.Galatians 6:10Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.James 2:15-16Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?We should be especially eager to bless the family of faith with our giving, whether we give to a specific individual, our local church, or to believers across the globe.Luke 6:38“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”When we use our wealth to bless others in need, we are making a wise investment in God’s Kingdom.