Biblical Perspective on Money
These posts have Bible verses contained with in them to give you a Biblical perspective on money
Our greatest battles as Christians are in our minds.
I have noticed in my life that whenever I face a challenging situation (aka opportunity for growth) I almost always have to go through the same three steps…
- I have to open my mind to a new way of thinking or doing something
- I have to make a decision to do it
- Then I can take action
I have found that when I am challenged by something, I either open my mind to the possibility of it or I don’t. If I do open my mind to it, then I have to count the cost to decide if I want to do it. If so, the last and often easiest step is to just do it.
For example: Before I started walking with God and even a couple years after, if I thought about sharing the Gospel with someone, I would not have opened my mind to it, because that was something that, “I would not do.” My mind was completely closed to the possibility of it and I would not even entertain thoughts about it.
As I grew in my walk, God helped me open my mind to the possibility. I was still convinced that it was something I would hopefully never have to do, but if God really, really needed my to, I would.
Well, guess what? It wasn’t much longer before I was faced with the opportunity. Now I had to decide. My mind was telling me 50 reasons why I should not as I argued with myself trying to come to a decision. It was a very fierce battle, but the decision was made and it was all down hill from there. Actually taking action (talking to the person) was easy. None of the stuff I was afraid of happened (got mocked, spit on, etc.), The hardest part was actually DECIDING to do it.
It has been very difficult opening my mind to things that were different. It is easy to do things like you always have, but opening your mind to change is difficult. It can be a painful experience to realize that maybe you have been wrong about something all your life or that there was a better way that you didn’t know about. But what option do you have? We can either bury our head in the sand, or humble ourselves and open up to the possibility of changing.
The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler
This story provides a good example of someone who was not willing open his mind to changing his ways.
Matthew 19:16-22
And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Then he said to Him, “Which ones?”
And Jesus said, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
He probably had all of his identity tied up in his wealth, which is why when Jesus challenged his thinking by telling him to give his stuff away and follow him he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t open his mind to the possibility of not having all his wealth. He had been given specific instruction on what he needed to do to go to Heaven - yet his closed mind prevented him from following through.
He might have been thinking a lot of the same things we think when faced with the decision of whether or not to get out of debt. Like:
- Am I still going to be able to go buy new clothes once a week?
- Am I going to be able to go out to eat as much as I would like?
- Am I going to have to do things that don’t feel good?
For the Rich Young Ruler, the challenge was opening his mind to the possibility of not doing things the way he always had. He was probably raised having everything He wanted and couldn’t imagine the thought of giving it all up. It wasn’t the act of giving the money away that was the challenge, it was the fact that he couldn’t even open his mind to the possibility of not having his wealth.
He could have obeyed Jesus and used his wealth to greatly benefit the lives of others. His problem was that he was unwilling to open his mind to the possibility of giving it away. Without opening his mind to the possibility of it, he obviously would never be able to DECIDE to give it, so would also never be able to give it.
I have found that the greatest breakthroughs in my life came as a result of opening my mind to a new way of thinking. It requires humility to admit that something you have always done or always thought is not necessarily the only way or correct at all. These mindset changes can be very difficult, but they are absolutely essential to follow God and accomplish anything worth accomplishing in life.
Getting out of debt is not a one-time decision
I wish getting out of debt, losing weight, and exercising were one-time decisions, but they are not. They need to be decided over and over again. Every time you get tempted to buy something you don’t need, or have a potluck at work, or just feel like sitting on the couch - you have a decision to make. Are you going to do what you should do, or what you FEEL like doing?
You probably know what most people do most of the time - what they FEEL like doing. You are obviously different. You wouldn’t be reading this if you were like most people.
So, you may have “decided” to get out of debt, but as we go through the rest of this series you will probably be faced with some ideas that are challenging. You first need to open your mind to them, then if they are right for you, decide to do them and then of course, take action.
In Part 3 we are going to look at the reasons for creating a balance sheet…
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Why get out of debt?
God didn’t create us so that we could seek our own satisfaction.
I believe that God put each person down here for a reason and that reason is to bless others. In doing so, we will be blessed.
I have found in my own life that my most joyful moments often revolved around me helping or doing something to benefit another person. This was the reason for starting Free Stuff Friday. Meanwhile, my most painful, sorrowful, and sad moments were taking place when I was thinking about myself. Often times one of the quickest remedies to a struggle that we are having is to get our minds off ourselves and go do something for someone else.
So what does this have to do with getting out of debt? A whole lot actually. Your motivation for wanting to get out of debt should go beyond yourself. Sure, it will be awesome when you get to break out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and when you can buy that car with cash, but that is just part of it. God wants to use you to financially bless others! This is a very good thing because:
- Giving is one of the most fun and self-fulfilling activities you can be a part of.
- You are storing up treasure in Heaven for eternity, rather than down here for a few more years (Matthew 6:20).
- Giving is a great way to burn selfishness out of your life.
- When you give, it will be given back to you in abundance (Luke 6:38)!
You must have something to give!
If you are like most Christians I have met, you want to be able to give more. You have a good heart and wish you could give more. You really want to be able to bless people and give more to your church. But again, if you are like most that I have met, you are thinking, “it is hard enough just to pay the bills each month, let alone give to others the way I would like to.”
This is exactly why you need to get out of debt!
Imagine how much easier it would be to give if you didn’t have any credit card payments, or car payments, or even (dare I say it) a mortgage payment—this has been my motivation over the last few years! This is where you and I are headed!
It is not actually our money
Our money is really not our own. We are merely stewards of what we have been given by God (read the Parable of the Talents for a refresher.) Even if you insist on saying that you worked hard to earn it, who gave you your brain, the hands you used, and even the air you put in your lungs?
We came into the world with nothing, we will leave with nothing. It is all God’s (Psalm 89:11). We have the priveledge of being stewards. When we are slack or wasteful with our money, it is not our money we are wasting, but Gods. It is not only ourselves that we hinder but others as well.
Yes the thought of being out of debt is fun to think about, but the main purpose for our getting out of debt is to benefit the Kingdom of God.
God didn’t set this thing up so that we just sit back as spectators, and it also isn’t just about what we can do with our strength. We have a part to play and so does God. The Bible says that we are co-laborers with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9). We need to be giving to fund and finance the Kingdom of God - how much more effective are we going to be if we are out of debt?
Psalm 67:7
“God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”
In the Getting out of Debt series, there are going to be 6 more articles that will walk you through what you need to do to get out of debt. These are the things I am actually doing myself and found them to be the most helpful. Let me warn you upfront, working to be debt free is NOT easy. It requires sacrifices. It requires a fight. But anything in life that is worth having is going to require a fight. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!! Don’t grow weary in well doing!!
If you ever have any questions or need encouragement - shoot me an email and we can talk.
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Let me preface this by saying, while I have been in deep debt, I have never been to the point where I couldn’t pay my bills. I have had some people really close to me go through it and I have seen how scary it can be. Just remember that you always have hope in God. He said that He will never leave you or forsake you - ask Him for help.
What does the Bible say about bankruptcy?
God’s laws supercede national and local laws. Just because you can go to Las Vegas and legally get a hooker, doesn’t mean that it is okay with God. The tough truth is that bankruptcy seems to work the same way. Just because it is legal, doesn’t mean that God approves of it.
Psalm 37:21
The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.
Ecclesiastes 5:5
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
The problem with bankruptcy is that it is the Government who is saying that you are off the hook with your bills. In most cases the businesses that you owe money to probably would still like to collect payment. It is actually doing a great disservice to the companies that you owe money to. Essentially, the borrower/buyer made a promise to pay, but is allowed (via bankruptcy) to break the agreement.
I remember a guitar I sold for $800 and agreed to let the buyer pay me in installments. I ended up only receiving $400 from the buyer only to never see him again. Everyone has stories like these and knows that it’s not fun when someone doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
When someone files for bankruptcy, this is basically what is happening to each of the businesses that are expecting payment. While I am sure most of them are credit card companies and other lending institutions, it is not an excuse for doing something wrong.
If the businesses themselves forgave the debt, it would be a different story. Realistically, this is rarely the case.
I am drowning in debt and bankruptcy is my only option!
God is great at getting us out of tough situations that we get ourselves into. Ask Him for help and He will not let you down. And be prepared to to fight to get out of debt, because it is going to be a fight. Just because God is helping you doesn’t mean that it is going to be a walk in the park. But you can be assured that if you do it God’s way (even though it may take longer) you will be greatly rewarded! It is worth it.
As far as practical steps I would read articles about getting out of debt, go to the library and read Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover. That book has been a tremendous help to many people who thought that bankruptcy was the only way out.
What about bill consolidation companies?
I would suggest trying to avoid them as well. That said, definitely do a bill consolidation rather than filing bankruptcy. But still avoid it if at all possible. The reason is that most of the bill consolidation companies negotiate with your lenders to get your payments lowered which is nice, but there are a few problems here.
- It is only a temporary fix to the problem. If you don’t put that freed up cash to good use, you are going to be worse off then you were before.
- The bill consolidation company has to get paid to. This is just another hand reaching in the pot wanting to get paid.
- You can negotiate with (at least some of) the lenders yourself. Yes, they negotiate with lenders all the time so they are probably better at it than you will be, but it is worth trying. Believe me, lenders want to get paid something rather than nothing. So, if you communicate with them and put forth a good faith effort, most of them are going to work with you. Give it a shot, you have nothing to lose.
I would love to hear your comments about bankruptcy. Am I missing any Bible verses that suggest something different?
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Living the healthy life
A few years after I began to get my financial life under control, I started working on another important area - my health. I had no idea what organic meant, nor did I care. Since then I have read a couple books that gave me a Biblical understanding of health. The beauty is that it is pretty simple. 
The one book that I would recommend to anyone to read is called “What the Bible says about Healthy Living” by Rex Russell. Considering all the benefits from being healthy, this book could possibly be the most life-changing book that I have read (other than the Bible - duh 
). Oh and just to prove that I am not alone, check out the 5 star rating on Amazon with 42 reviews.
I had read The Maker’s Diet before reading this one and it wasn’t a bad book, but as a rookie to the whole health thing, it was just a bit overwhelming.
Three principles of healthy living in the Bible
Rex Russell’s book on the other hand was just what I needed: a bottom-line approach to health. He boils the whole thing down into three basic principles:
- Only eat stuff that God made to be eaten. A lot of animals are scavengers and contain all kinds of toxins that may or may not make us sick in the short term, but over decades they lead to various diseases.
- Eat it the way God designed it. Eat unprocessed foods, you know, apples rather than an apple flavored fruit roll-up, whole grain bread rather than white bread, or steak rather than hot dogs. Basically, eat like your grandparents did when they were kids—fresh grown fruits and vegetables without pesticides, water rather than four caffenated beverages each day, and meat is more of a special occasion meal rather than the norm.
- Don’t let any food or drink become your god. Fasting is beneficial for many reasons. One of which is to prove to yourself that no food or drink has quietly turned into an addiction.
Obviously there is a lot more to it than this, but these are the three foundational principles that the book is based off of.
For the skeptics
I was skeptical of the whole “alternative” medicine thing. No offense to any Chiropractors, but I used to think they were all quacks. This was another benefit of this book, because Rex Russell clearly teaches “alternative” principles but he is also a medical doctor, so he keeps a seemingly unbiased approach.
For those who don’t know the difference, my definition would be that “alternative” medicine generally focuses on preventing problems and getting to the root of the issue. Modern medicine is more about fixing the problems after they occur. There is a lot more to it than that, but I don’t know enough to get into it.
Oh, and by the way, I now have a few friends who are Chiropractors and they are quacks Just kidding. I have learned and chiropractors are cool in my book.
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Before you begin your journey to get out of debt, it is important to know what the Bible says about debt. You can then use these truths to build your faith since faith comes by hearing the word. Once you have a solid understanding of what God has to say about the issue, then you can boldly pray about your debt in faith.
What does the Bible say about Debt?
The borrower is slave to the lender. When you are in debt to another, you enter into a slave/master relationship with your creditor. (Proverbs 22:7)
God wants us to lend to others. Obviously, this is difficult if you don’t have anything to lend. (Deuteronomy 15:6, 28:12, Matthew 5:24)
We are required to pay back what we borrowed. It is easy to take this lightly, but if we borrowed it, we should pay it back. (Psalm 37:21, Ecclesiastes 5:4).
What the Bible does NOT say about debt
That it is a sin to be in debt. Like mentioned above, it is not God’s best for us, but the Bible does not say that it is a sin.
There are no instances in the Bible where God provides through a loan. He provided for His people in many ways but loans were not one of them. That is something to think about next time you get tempted to reach for the credit card. (added later: see the comments below regarding this. A reader pointed out an instance where God did encourage borrowing)
Here are some more Bible verses about debt.
What are the Biblical promises about debt
The way I look at it, Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of sin. We were slaves to sin, until He set us free. If He wanted to set us free in one area, why would He want us to be slaves in another?
I also love Deuteronomy 28:12:
“The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.”
This verse is one of the promises that I stand on when praying about my debt. The pre-requisite listed in Deuteronomy 28:1 is that we “diligently obey the Lord your God.”
God can NOT keep us out of debt
I believe God would love to see His children living debt-free lives. But, as stewards of the money that He has entrusted to us we have a free will to do what we wish with it. We can choose to give it, save it, spend it, or even spend more than we have.
I also believe that God will work on our behalf to help get us out of debt, but we have a big part to play - to stop spending more than we have! It doesn’t matter how much God provides - as long as we are spending more money than we have, we will always be in debt.
It’s bigger than us
As Christians we have the opportunity to use our finances to build God’s Kingdom. Every decision we make with our money may be much larger than we realize.
Speaking for myself, I know it is easy to get caught up in trying to store up treasures on earth, when I know I should be storing them up in heaven. Every time I do, I get a gentle nudge back on to the narrow path that I am so thankful for. Storing up treasures in heaven is the way to live!
this post was included in the carnival of debt reduction
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This is a guest post by Cory Edwards. Cory is a professional song writer and the Music Director for a church in St. Louis.
If we’re doing our job as Christians, we die to ourselves every day. We kill greed, jealousy, and selfishness so we can become better servants of Christ. And if we’ve done our part, I believe God has a very specific question for us. It comes from James 1:6-8 NIV:
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
So here is the question I believe God is asking us: What do you want?
“Want”, despite its appearance, is not a four-letter word. There is nothing wrong with wanting something, and wanting it badly. In fact, it seems that wanting something badly is almost a pre-requisite to asking God for anything. God is looking for a single-minded man or woman who will not accept anything but God’s best.
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells the story of a woman who pleaded with a judge to grant her justice against her adversary. She wanted justice enough to be persistent. The judge refused for a while, but because of the woman’s persistence, granted her request. Jesus then asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b NASB)
In the New Age movement, there is a lot of talk of synchronicity, that when a person makes a decision to do something the “universe” moves to bring it about. While I do not believe in a universe that grants requests, I absolutely believe that if we decide to do something, if we want something, if we set our mind, will, and emotions toward it, and if we have deliberately made sure it is God’s will and not our own, God will move if we pray.
This does not mean if a person desires a paid-off car, better job, or large retirement account that God requires nothing but a simple “I want.” But I am saying that God will help, and that He will move heaven and earth for the single-minded person who asks for it.
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It is kind of like becoming a tree
I was staring at a tree the other day just day-dreaming and kind of worrying about how long it was taking to get answers to prayer for a few issues in my life. I was reminded of…
Psalm 1:1-3
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
In my case I have been diligently trying not to “walk in the counsel of the wicked,” and it seems to be making my answers to prayer take even longer. I have been earnestly trying to do things the right way, knowing full well that by cutting a few corners or compromising my values I could make the answers appear faster. The major difference being that I can get mediocre answers doing it my way or the fruit God promises by doing it His way.
The pre-requisite for our fruit bearing from Psalm 1 is that we:
- Do things God’s way
- Stay in the Word
If we do these two things we have the promise that whatever we do will prosper and that we WILL bear fruit IN OUR SEASON.
Trees grow slowly
As I was staring at this tree I began to realize that trees grow slowly. You plant a seed for a tree and it takes a while to sprout and takes a while to grow to a decent size.
Grass and even plants, on the other hand, grow a lot faster. They sprout up quickly and sometimes you can even notice growth one day to the next. I have been enjoying watching this rapid growth with all of the plants in my vegetable garden.
Grass grows fast
Then it kind of hit me that God wants to make me “like a tree.” He isn’t interested in seeing rapid growth that will not make it to the next season and is ultimately unsustainable. A tree, though it grows slowly, becomes a lot more sturdy and is able to withstand challenges that grass and plants can’t.
I am reminded of a storm we recently had that snapped my tomato plant right in half. The plant had grown to about 2.5 feet in a matter of months and was not strong enough to survive when the winds came. God wants to make us strong and sturdy to withstand the storms in our lives.
Psalm 92:7
“That when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.”
Psalm 92:12
“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”
Trees yield more fruit
I am excited about the tomatoes that my plants will produce this summer, but even the best tomato plant would be lucky to produce 40 lbs of tomatoes in a season. But older mature trees can produce over 1000 lbs in a season.
The downside, of course, is that trees don’t bear fruit 3 months after you plant them like many vegetable plants will. Some trees will take a few years or even longer to bear fruit. I remember the frustration I had with this when I wanted apples from a new tree and learned that I may have to wait a while.
Patience seems to be a rare virtue in our society these days, but it is one that we ought to develop. God seems to like taking the long road with a lot of things and as I begin to see the reason behind it, it causes me to say, “huh, God really is smarter than I am.”
Trying to be a tree
It’s tough watching the grass sprout up all around you and seeing others bearing fruit when you have been faithfully doing what is right, but we must not be short-sighted. We need to try to look at these things the way God sees them.
Though the tomato plants around us may be popping out some fruit, while we seem to wonder what is taking so long, our day will come. God is doing a work and creating something in us that will be around long after the grass has come and gone.
Galatians 6:9 (AMP)
“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”
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This famous parable that Jesus used has a lot to teach us about our money if we let it. Below is the parable and a few of my thoughts about it…
Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. “To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Stewards are required to take risks
It is interesting to me how upset the master got with the steward who took no risks. The other two stewards did take risks and reaped the rewards. I often wonder why the parable didn’t contain a steward who lost some of the investment. But either way, I think we are led to believe that the primary frustration of the master was that the steward was lazy and didn’t even try.
He was called a, “wicked and lazy slave.” My take on this is that he was more frustrated with his laziness than his lack of production. The steward didn’t even put the talents in the bank to gain interest. The passage states that the master gave to each of them according to their ability. So, I think we can assume that the steward with one talent did have some ability, or else he wouldn’t have given him any.
If he did indeed have some ability to manage money, even with the smallest amount of ability he would have known that earning small interest at the bank is better than burying it!
I liken this to having a Vet watch your dog for the weekend and not feed it. Most everyone knows that you should feed a dog at least daily, but especially a vet. It is their profession - the thing they are skilled at doing and are entrusted to do.
So, the extreme amount of laziness this steward had to not at least put the talent in the bank, coupled with the fact that he let fear paralyze him from doing what he was expected to do infuriated the master.
The parable is speaking of money, but this can also be applied to the gifts and skills that God has entrusted us with. If I refuse to step out in a gift or skill that God has given me because I am afraid or lazy, I may be behaving the same way as the steward with one talent.
Luke 12:48
“…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
Don’t compare yourself to others
The master in the parable didn’t give each steward the same amount. They all started with different amounts, not much different than this game of life that we are all in. Some people start with a lot, some with a little. But we are all judged based on what we did with what we had, rather than what we ended up with.
The great thing about this is that our success is not based on what people may think about us. God knows what He gave us to work with and He will see what we do with it. So, it doesn’t matter whether other people think you are a success or a failure - God’s definition of success is often quite different than man’s.
The master gave them each “according to their ability.” He knew a bit about their faithfulness and how likely they were to increase their talents. Turns out he delegated wisely.
Our money is not our own
We enter into the world with nothing and we leave with nothing.
One of the first lessons that I learned a few years ago that really changed the way I thought about money was that none of it is mine. It is all God’s. I have the privilege and opportunity to be a steward of what He has given me.
Once I began looking at my money this way, it changed my whole financial outlook and helped me to be more focused on pleasing God with the money entrusted to me.
Even if we spent our lives and ignored our responsibility as stewards, we still can’t take any of it with us. We might as well try to better the lives of those around us and store up treasure in heaven rather than down here.
What did you learn from the parable of the talents?
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I recently received an email from a reader asking me about some prosperity verses. I decided to dig in and do a bit more thorough study about it. I noticed a couple things that I hadn’t before about Biblical prosperity.
The prosperity debate
I know this issue seems to be a hot topic for debate among Christians, so I am going to try to just present what I have found in the Word. We all have our opinions and the Bible says that we all only know in part, so none of use have it completely figured out. We never will. But, the Bible is the truth, so I prefer to lean on that rather than my own opinion.
Let me also say that the verses below may or may not be talking about financial prosperity. There are many ways that God can prosper us. If you are on your death-bed suffering from a terrible disease, you probably aren’t too concerned about financial prosperity.
However, there are scriptures to support that God wants to prosper us in all areas of our life. Our walk with Him, our relationships, our health, our finances and every other area of our lives. God doesn’t want to be confined to just a few areas of our lives, He wants to be involved in all of it. Every father wants to see his children prosper and succeed. How much more does our Father in heaven?
Okay, on to the the scriptures, I just shared my opinion like I said I wouldn’t .
Prosperity comes as a result of meditating and obeying on the Word
As I was studying this, this was the first common thread that I noticed.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
then again…
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
and again…
1 Chronicles 22:13
Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.
Prosperity comes from seeking God
2 Chronicles 26:5
He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him.
and another…
2 Chronicles 31:21
Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and prospered.
- side note, I think it is really interesting that this verse specifically mentions that he also did it with, “all of his heart.” There are quite a few proverbs that talk about the importance and necessity of working hard at everything you do.
And one of my favorite verses about seeking God…
Matthew 6:31-33
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Revelations about Biblical prosperity
These were just a couple of the patterns that I found in the Word about prosperity as I started to dig in. I know there is a lot more revelation to be gotten about the subject that I haven’t gotten yet. Anyone have any they want to share?
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Because the Bible says so!!
I found a nice little passage that gave me a swift kick in the rear on a few things in my life. I love how practical the Bible really is. The deeper you dig, the more you find.
Proverbs 24:30-34
I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, and behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,” Then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man.
What it spoke to me
- Fools don’t maintain stuff. The wise do.
- Laziness causes you to be lacking in areas of your life. Those who are lazy rarely see this resulting effect of their actions coming. It catches them off guard and they wonder how and why it happened.
Anyone else get any revelation from this passage?
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