5 Undeniably Biblical Money Principles

Quick Summary:

The foundation of your worldview impacts how you handle money. Here are 5 undeniably biblical money principles.

1. Gain Honestly

2. Budget Diligently

3. Owe Nobody

4. Invest Wisely

5. Give Generously

Does your wallet mirror your heart?

What is the foundation of your worldview? That’s a big question.

As a local church pastor in small town America, I often find myself in conversations with couples who have completely different worldviews, but they don’t even realize it.

They just think things like, “Well, she likes church and the Bible and all that God-stuff, but I’m not really into it…but we love each other.”

That’s two different worldviews: Biblical and Secular, and they shouldn’t be ignored.

Generally what this means is one of them is a follower of Jesus Christ and the other is not. When a relationship has split beliefs like this, whether it’s romantic, professional, or otherwise, Christians call this being unequally yolked.

That’s two different worldviews: Biblical and secular, and they shouldn’t be ignored.

When slated with an opportunity to speak into a situation, I do my best to gently, yet truthfully explain to the believer that the nonbeliever will not see their perspective until something changes.

In some ways it’s like sleeping with the enemy. Sure, I’m dramatic, but the Bible teaches this quite clearly (see )

That brings me to the main question.

What is the foundation of your world view regarding money?

The foundation of your worldview effects every area of your life. Yes, even money.

You do have one, whether you realize it or not. We all do, and it tends to be tied to important aspects of our life: religion, passions, childhood, etc.

What is the foundation of your world view regarding money?

You do have one, whether you realize it or not. We all do, and it tends to be tied to important aspects of our life: religion, passions, childhood, etc.

When that same couple decides to get married even though the pastor and the Bible recommend against it, their worldview regarding money is already different.

The problem, though, is that most Christians these days haven’t taken the time to figure out what the Bible teaches on how we are to handle money God’s way.

The Bible is overflowing with lessons and scriptures regarding how we handle money, our attitude toward money, the uses of money, the purpose of money, and the vanity of money.

Today I’ve selected five undeniably biblical money principles that every Christian should apply to their finances.

There are countless more. Enjoy this sampling.

I’d like to begin with a personal story of my

I’d like to begin with a personal story of my

The righteous handling of money is an important and practical test of godliness.

1. Gain Honestly

Money must be obtained honestly

You and I expect Christians to be honest, and we should. Integrity is an important character trait for anyone.

It always bothers me…no, that’s too soft. It irks me…no, still too soft. It royally ticks me off…there, that’s it…when Christians lie, cheat, steal, and oppress to line their own pockets. It is a terrible example of who Christ is!

Money must be obtained honestly. The Bible’s teaching on this is undeniable.

Not by theft.

Exodus 20:15 ESV

“You shall not steal.

James 5:4 NLT

For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

How do we gain honestly? By work, trade, investments, inheritance, or even gifts.

Not by theft, fraud, extortion, oppression...

2 Thessalonians 3:12 ESV

Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

2 Thessalonians

By work, trade, investments or inheritance.

Proverbs 13:11 ESV

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

2. Budget Diligently

Once you’ve gained money honestly, it’s important you take good care of it.

Remember, God owns it all and he is simply entrusting it to you for stewardship.

Psalm 24:1 NLT

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

It’s very important that we know where our money is going.

Personal

This hasn’t always been the case for me. I remember once crinkling up a receipt at a restaurant while on a date. My date was not impressed.

For many years I was the Christian guy who coasted financially.

When you really get into scripture it’s undeniable that budgeting is a discipline Christians are called to practice.

Luke 14:28 NIV

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

Proverbs 27:23–24 NIV

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

Nowadays, my wife and I create a unique budget each month for our household. It helps us know we’re hitting our big goals like tithing to our local church, funding our golden years, paying off the mortgage, saving for future large purchases, and keeping the kids clothed and fed.

God is honored when we budget diligently. He will trust you with more as he sees he can trust you with what you’ve been given.

3. Owe Nobody

Time for the debt principle. Oh boy! You had to know it was coming.

Dave Ramsey has been teaching the world on the radio everyday that debt is dumb and no where in the Bible do we find debt as a way God blesses his people. Nope. That’s because debt is slavery.

Proverbs 22:7 ESV

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

It’s so true. “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.”

As Christian we should seek to live debt free and owe nobody. That’s true financial freedom, or as Dave calls it, financial peace.

Allow me to give it to you another way.

The apostle Paul says this in .

Romans 13:8 ESV

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

It’s God-honoring to live debt free, owing no one anything so that we can spend out time and resources loving others. More on that when we get to principle five.

I don’t know about you, but I choose freedom over slavery. I choose love over limitation.

4. Invest Wisely

Here are two extremes: One guy puts every penny he can save into a metal box and hides it in his basement, and another guy puts every penny he has into a single company stock.

Which guy is right? Biblically speaking, neither.

I

Or someone

Who is more likely to become wildly wealthy? The single stock guy.

Who is more likely to go broke? The single stock guy.

Who is more likely (barring a flood or fire) to still have money 30 years later, but go backwards due to inflation? The metal box in the basement guy.

I want you to know that Christians are undeniably called to invest. Read the parable of the talents in when you find time.

We need to be wise about it though.

Investing money wisely used to be more difficult that it is today.

There was a time when investors had to rely on their small communities to grow their money. Nowadays,

I’ve recently become more interested in investing, and after a couple months of research I’ve reached two conclusions. First,

You know that word diversify? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket? Yeah, God pretty much invented the concept.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 ESV

Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.

Fortunately in our modern day investing broadly is much easier than it has ever been.

The way I invest is by investing in America. Thanks to Jack Bogle of Vanguard, I can purchase nearly every publically traded stock in the United States with one mutual fund. That’s over 3,600 single stocks in one fund.

If the tech industry tanks, I’m good. When the healthcare industry hits record highs, I’m on the way up too. I’m riding the American economy. That’s diversified.

That’s how I invest wisely. It’s not the only way to invest wisely. You can do it by putting in a lot more work.

Without going to deep into this, the key to investing wisely is to diversify.

5. Give Generously

I saved generosity for last, but truth be told it’s the money principle I’m most excited about. Obviously, since I do have a blog that is somewhat dedicated to this concept.

Giving generously is an undeniably biblical money principle.

First off, Christians are shown generosity by God himself when we receive grace as undeserved sinners. It’s his nature, and we desire to be like Christ.

So let’s be generous people. That’s what we’re called to be.

Throughout the New Testament Christians are called to give generously to God’s work and God’s people. It’s all over the place. One of the best concentrations of the teaching I know of is .

Check out the cycle of blessing: God is generous to us so we can be generous to others so that we can continue to be generous. I love it!

That’s a tall order.

2 Corinthians 9:

2 Corinthians 9:10–12 NLT

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

You can’t out give God! He wants to bless you!

Does your wallet mirror your heart?

If a Christian worldview is the foundation of your life, it needs to also be the foundation for your finances.

If your heart belongs to Jesus, have you asked him how to handle his money his way?

My wife and I have found time and time again that when we apply these principles, and others like them, we find financial peace, freedom, and inexpressible joy.

In short, our money is no longer stressful. Our hearts are full instead.

It’s as if money takes it’s proper place as a tool for living in this world.

I’d encourage you evaluate your personal finances today by considering these five undeniably biblical money principles.

1. Gain Honestly

Are you gaining money honestly, budgeting money diligently, owing money to nobody, investing money wisely, and giving money generously?

2. Budget Diligently

3. Owe Nobody

4. Invest Wisely

5. Give Generously