Faith and Finances Bible Study
Why Money Management Is Important to the Christian
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Righteousness is obedience. Humans have a strange sense of security when they have enough money. This security often causes you to think if only I had a little more money, all would be well.
Let us focus on how our society is driven to acquire more money. Our society equates having money as being successful and powerful. A lack of money produces a sense of failure and weakness. What if you had to chose between money or God?
Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Money competes with us for our time, energy and focus. Love is the most used word in the Bible. Money is the second. Two-thirds of Jesus parables are about money. Jesus wants us to understand financial principles.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Remember when the earth came into view on the lunar horizon and the Apollo mission astronauts quoted this verse about God creating?
Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
The first text of the Bible tells us that God is in charge! If God creates, does He have the ability to supply? The second verse shows us man is dependent on God. God’s role is to sustain man. We are to be productive-to multiply and be fruitful.
God wants us to also produce in our occupations. We are called to not be lazy. In the fourth commandment, we are told to work six days a week. Lazy Christians bring dishonor to God. Shine as a light for God!
Psalms 24:1-2
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
God owns everything-including you!
Deuteronomy 10:14
Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it.
Materialism is wreaking havoc on our society! People have an “I want it now” mentality. Popular teaching going around Christian churches is the Prosperity Gospel. This teaching is not biblical. The Bible does not teach being wealthy is a goal. God does want us to prosper and reach other people for Christ.
Mark 12:30
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.
God wants us to be free, not in bondage. Borrower is servant to the lender. Debt is killing our society. God wants us to plan for the future. Put God first, above money and everything else. What does it mean to offer ourselves to God? We should surrender our will and abandon our selfish desires.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Are my actions God Honoring? What lessons can we learn from the parable in Matthew 25:14-30?
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Use the money He has given us wisely! True wisdom comes from God. Gambling is not pleasing to the Lord. Casinos are not built on winners. Gambling induces organized crime, deaths, corruption and ruins people.
Matthew 6:19-24
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Lamp of the Body
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
You Cannot Serve God and Riches
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
What are ways money becomes your Master? Many people refuse to keep Sabbath because of money. Money keeps people from following God’s commandments. Money will keep people out of God’s Kingdom. Money affects every aspect of our lives. Everything revolves around money.
Knowledge is Power. How do we chose to serve God over Money? It’s all about worship-putting God first everyday. Everyone experiences financial problems. It is not God’s will for His Children to suffer. God wants us to put our priorities in order. We should have balance in our lives. What areas of your life has God made new, and how do you see Him working in those around you?
Ezekiel 36:26-27
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
God will take a hard heart and make it right. We just need to surrender our will in our finances and God will lead us.
Romans 13:8
Love Your Neighbor
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.