Finding God's Best

Finding God’s Best: Managing Your Money
Ken W. Smith, President and Founder Christian Stewardship Ministries
Summary: To guarantee freedom from anxiety associated with financial affairs, we need
only follow two basic biblical principles. Read to discover what these two vital, but
simple principles are.
Not necessarily
God has a very best plan for each of our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future” (Jr 29:11).
Part of that plan is a strategy for handling our money. When it comes to finances, we tend
to assume that more is better. Perhaps, but not necessarily. To guarantee freedom from
anxiety associated with financial affairs, we need only follow two basic biblical
principles. First, we must give at the level the Lord wants us to give. Second, we must
avoid borrowing.
In the parable of the talents Jesus said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have
been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things....” (Mt 25:21).
On the other hand, Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be
demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be
asked” (Lk 12:48).
If we faithfully manage the money the Lord has entrusted to us, we can generally expect
Him to entrust us with more. But the primary purpose for entrusting us with more is to
further His kingdom on earth. In 2 Corinthians 9:11 we are told, “You will be made rich
in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Begin by tithing
The first step is to tithe. “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 you will not have room
enough for it” (Mal 3:10).
Those who have tried it know the truth of this Scripture. God does not necessarily
provide more and more money in response to increased giving. He may or may not. But
He definitely provides more and more of His peace.
Today … many people have far more than enough to meet their own needs and have
moved on to fulfill most of their desires as well…. Polls conducted by Gallup, Barna, and
others reveal a terribly shameful truth, however. Most Christians not only do not tithe,
they do not give even one percent of their income to the Lord and His work. In fact, the
more money most Christians have, the less they give….
Too many churches have failed to teach their people about giving in line with the
guidance God has provided in Scripture. They are shortchanging their congregations and
their ministries with this approach.
Avoid borrowing
The second biblical principle that guarantees freedom from anxiety in money matters is
to avoid borrowing. Although borrowing is not forbidden, it is clearly to be discouraged.
“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender,” says Proverbs
22:7.
Yet, in many cultures, borrowing is commonplace, not just for home mortgages but many
other things as well. The case can be made for not borrowing—even to finance a home—
but the point here is to determine whether God wants us to borrow. As a matter of
principle, if we are committed to seeking God’s best, and if we believe that God’s best
does not include borrowing, then we should be committed to not borrowing. Then and
only then will we be in a position to discover God’s direction through our finances. If
borrowing is considered an option, there will almost certainly come a time when we will
borrow.
Other than a home mortgage, the most common reason for personal loans is to finance
automobiles. But there is always a better way to deal with transportation needs, and we
need to find solutions rather than incur debt. In some countries, another common form of
borrowing is the use of credit cards. They can be a convenience, but anyone who does not
pay off the entire balance monthly would do well to forego using the cards in order to
avoid borrowing.
Should churches borrow?

Churches should also beware of borrowing. Larry Burkett, former director of Crown
Financial Ministries, tells a story about a businessman who wanted to give a large
donation to his church to build a youth center.
The man told Mr. Burkett that he would give the gift to the church, but only on the
condition that the pastor commit to not borrowing to finance the expansion without
knowing about the gift. Unfortunately, the pastor accepted the argument of another
businessman who said that incurring debt was the only way to proceed, rather than
listening to Burkett’s plea for following the biblical prescription to avoid debt.
The pastor presented the case to the congregation for borrowing, and the potential donor,
who was ready to underwrite the youth center, wrote a check for $200,000 to another
ministry.
If individuals and churches would just “hold the line” when it seems impossible to do so
and remain faithful to the biblical principles for giving and borrowing, God’s kingdom on
earth would never lack for financial resources. In addition, individuals and churches
would make better decisions in many other areas of their personal and corporate lives.
Commit yourself to giving at the level that represents obedience to God and to not
borrowing. This is the sure way to position yourself to receive God’s best in the area of
your finances.

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Finding God’s Best: Managing Your Money

Ken W. Smith, President and Founder Christian Stewardship Ministries

Should churches borrow?

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