How can I best handle my money? - Money - TouchPoints

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.