Balancing Your Finances

We tend to polarize financial convictions, but the Bible provides surprising wisdom to obtain balance. If we learn God’s financial perspective, we will benefit from obeying biblical practices.

  • Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. -Prov. 8:10-11
  • Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. -Prov. 15:16
  • By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. -Prov. 24:3-4
  • A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all. -Prov. 22:1-2

Unhelpful Polarizations

  • Prosperity Gospel vs. Poverty Gospel
    • Balance: Properly Gospel – If you have been blessed, it is proper to be a blessing.
    • And God is able to make all grace about to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. -2 Cor. 9:8
  • Ownership vs. Non-possession
    • Balance: Stewardship – God owns absolutely everything, but He allows you to oversee some of it.
    • Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. -1 Chron. 29:11-12
  • Present Generosity vs. Future Flexibility
    • Balance: Ongoing Stability – Setup your financial picture where you can be a blessing now without becoming a burden later.
    • All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them. -Prov. 19:7
  • Moral Money vs. Immoral Money
    • Balance: Amoral Money – The possession of money does not have a moral value, but the manner in which you use it does.
    • For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. -1 Tim. 6:10

The World’s Pattern vs. God’s Pattern

[from Managing Our Finances God’s Way]

  • The World’s Pattern
    • Acquire
    • Enjoy
    • Repay
    • Save
    • Give
    • Plan
  • God’s Pattern
    • Dedicate
    • Plan
    • Give
    • Save
    • Repay
    • Enjoy

Foundational Principles

  • I don’t have a cash issue; I have a contentment issue.
  • I don’t have an amount issue; I have an authority issue.
  • I don’t have a possession issue; I have a perspective issue.