This blog entry was written by Brandon. I have known him for many years. I consider Brandon and his family as dear friends and fellow servants of the Lord. They are members of Mount Zion Road Church and most importantly, they are faithful followers of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Brandon has served and continues to serve our church family in numerous ways. He serves as a member of the Elders team along with undertaking many other responsibilities of the church. He is a man of integrity and honesty. It is a blessing to call him both friend and brother. I am thankful that he was willing to allow me to post this entry on my website. I pray that you find his words to be a blessing as you read. To God be the glory!
The topic of finance has been debated a lot in the church. Some Christians believe that it is holier to be poor. And of course, some believe in the prosperity gospel, which teaches that when you give, God will make you rich. Let’s dig into what the bible says.
Genesis 2:15, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God gave Adam a job & responsibility. So, it’s in our God given nature that man needs meaningful work.
Deuteronomy 8:18, But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
A great reminder that we should never be prideful of what we have, because that ability to work and generate wealth comes from God and should affect us in that we should not take it for granted. Though there are many warnings regarding money and possessions in the bible, it’s a warning to not put those things above God. So, make sure your heart is in the right place & remain humble in all things. That’s a good challenge for us.
Proverbs 22:29, Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
The meaning of this proverb is that you should use your God given talent to strive for the best at what you do, so you can improve in your profession. God wants us to work hard and be successful in our everyday lives.
1 Timothy 5:8, Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Provide for your family, and extended family in times of need. This mindset should come natural to us. To me, whether you’re on the giving end or receiving end, it’s a reminder that family should be helping family and not solely relying on a third party or the government for unexpected financial needs. This can also apply to our church family too. So, if we are to be prepared to help our family in times of need, what does God say about saving?
Proverbs 21:20, The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
This proverb commends those who maintain provisions. We are to make wise decisions & save for a future time. The prodigal son story is a great example of not taking the advice of this proverb. Proverbs 13:11, Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. My take on this verse is to work hard, consistently, & honestly to build wealth gradually. So, if God wants us to build up our savings for future needs, how are we to handle that savings?
Matthew 25, Parable of the talents. (The master entrusted servants with talents)
Of course, the main lesson we can learn from this parable is that we should use the talents that God has given us, like skills, abilities, and also the holy spirit, to grow and produce spiritually. In other words, don’t waste your gifts, use them. Because God gives us each unique gifts and talents and he expects us to use them to do good.
I think we can also learn something from Jesus’ real-life example too, in financial terms. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with and entrusted us with. I think of it as, we are not the owners, but managers of God’s assets. We should not hide them out of fear of losing them, but strive to multiply them for reasons I’ll talk about soon.
Proverbs 14:15, The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
This is great general advice for safety and success in our everyday lives. I think you can apply this to our finances as well. For example, don’t fall for a get-rich-quick scheme. Be responsible with your money and even do research before making decisions.
Proverbs 13:22, A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Wealth in this lifetime isn’t guaranteed, (I think of the passage, “in this world you will have trouble”). But, this proverb is a good general instruction because we also strive to pass down our values and beliefs so that the cycle can continue and so God continues to be glorified in many ways through the generations. I also like this verse too so I’ll share: Proverbs 19:14, Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
There are many bible verses on giving and being generous, I’ll share a couple. Malachi 3:10, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. And Proverbs 19:17, Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Again, I think about our financial blessings come from God, so out of honor, we are to give back to Him in the way of a tithe and being generous with our money. Help those who are less fortunate, the poor, the widows, the orphans. Having the mindset of using our blessings for good can help to break the grip of materialism that so many people struggle with in our world today. God will bless us in many ways through these acts of giving. So, generous giving is intended for our own good, because it directs our focus back to God and what He has done for us.
Review:
- Man is designed to work
- Wealth comes from God
- Strive to be the best at your skill/talent
- Provide for your family
- Plan & budget for the future
- Practice good stewardship
- Be wise and research
- Leave a legacy behind
- The ultimate goal – being able to give to others through a heart of gratitude and the desire to glorify God
Closing thoughts:
While this subject is traditionally focused on men, we also need to understand that some women are highly gifted at a skill, savings, and budgeting too. And no matter what our financial status is, we can all lay-up treasures in Heaven. That eternal reward will be the greatest investment of all.
Ephesians 4:28, Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
~ Brandon
Corby Shuey 