Faith Over Finances | Living for True Riches in Christ

“They say money talks—but mine usually just says goodbye.”

"Money. We all need it. We all want it. And yet, it has a way of revealing the deepest truths about our hearts. Jesus said we can’t serve two masters—God and money. Today, we’re going to talk about what it means to live faithfully with the resources God has entrusted to us, how to find joy in what we have, and how to resist the endless chase for more. Because in the end, it’s not about how much we have—it’s about who we trust."

Luke 16:10–13 “10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.””

1. God Owns It All

Truth: Everything we have—money, possessions, time, talent—belongs to God. We are stewards, not owners.

Psalm 24:1 ESV

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

Deuteronomy 10:14 “14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.”

Application: When we understand this, generosity becomes worship, and contentment becomes natural.

1 Chronicles 29:11–12 “11 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. 12 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.”

Illustration: A child managing their parent’s money—how they spend says more about their trust than their resources.

"Once we realize that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, the next natural question is: What are we doing with what He’s given us? The way we spend, save, and give doesn’t just show our habits—it reveals our heart. And according to Jesus, our hearts follow our treasure."

2. Money Reveals the Heart

Truth: Jesus didn’t shy away from talking about money because it so clearly reflects our priorities and desires.

Matthew 6:21 ESV

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 16:13 “13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.””

Application: Look at your bank statement like a spiritual MRI—what does it say about your love, priorities, and trust?

Matthew 19:21–23 “21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Challenge: What are you funding more: the kingdom of God or your own comfort?

"If money reflects the condition of our hearts, then one of the clearest indicators of our priorities is how we give. Not just if we give, but when and how. God doesn’t want leftovers—He desires first place in every area of our lives, including our finances."

3. Give First Not Last

Truth: Giving first demonstrates faith and priority. Giving leftovers shows God is an afterthought.

Proverbs 3:9 ESV

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

Proverbs 3:10 “10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

Exodus 23:19 ESV

19 “The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

“Giving first isn’t losing—it’s like investing in the only stock that never crashes: God’s kingdom.”

Application: Build your budget around generosity, not the other way around.

John Wesley: “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”

D.L. Moody: “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him, including his wallet.”

Practical Tip: Automate giving, make it a habit—not a decision you wrestle with every month.

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 “1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 “9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

2 Corinthians 8:15 “15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.””

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 “6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

"When we give first, we’re making a statement: God is my provider, not my paycheck. Money is fragile. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. God’s Word calls us to place our full confidence not in wealth, but in the One who richly provides all we need."

4. Trust God, Not Riches

Truth: Wealth is unstable. God is not.

Proverbs 11:28 ESV

28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Proverbs 23:4–5 ESV

4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. 5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

1 Timothy 6:17 “17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

Application: Where do you turn when you're afraid? Your savings account or your Savior?

Matthew 6:31–33 “31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Hebrews 13:5 “5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

R.C. Sproul: “God calls us to be faithful with what we have, not greedy for what we don’t.”

Challenge: Live like you trust God more than your financial plan.

Luke 12:13–21 “13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.””

The heart of the issue here is—trust. The lie of more tempts us to trust in money but God calls us to forsake money for true riches HIM. But that kind of faith runs against the grain of our culture, which constantly tells us that more is never enough. Let’s be honest—there’s a lie we’re all tempted to believe: If I just had a little more, I’d finally be secure. But Scripture warns of this mentality."

5. Beware the Lie of More

Truth: The world preaches that more equals better. God warns that more often leads to bondage, not blessing.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

1 Timothy 6:7–10 ESV

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 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.

Application: Contentment doesn’t come from more stuff—it comes from more of God.

Illustration: The “if I just had one more raise” trap—it never ends.

Luke 12:15 “15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.””

Ecclesiastes 2:10–11 “10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”

“Life is too short to work for treasure that moths can eat and thieves can steal. Aim higher.”

"So let’s bring it all together. God owns it all. Our money reveals our hearts. We are called to give first, not last. We must reject the lie that more equals better. And in the end, we are invited to trust—not in riches, but in our good and faithful God. That’s how we find freedom, peace, and purpose in our finances."

C.H. Spurgeon: “It is not what we possess, but what possesses us that matters.”

Group Questions

How should knowing that everything belongs to God change the way we view our finances, time, and talents?

Can you share a time when you felt like God used your resources for His purposes?

Looking at your spending and giving habits, what do they reveal about your priorities and heart?

How can we guard against allowing money to become an idol in our lives?

What practical steps can you take to make giving first a natural habit in your life?

How does giving generously challenge your faith and trust in God?

When you face financial fear or uncertainty, where do you typically place your trust?

How can Scripture encourage you to rely on God rather than your savings or investments?

What “more” do you find yourself chasing, and why do you think it hasn’t satisfied you?

How can contentment in God change the way you approach your finances, possessions, and goals?