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First Thoughts

Faithfulness & Finances

The Bible is remarkably clear about the command to give regularly to the church. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul says, “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” In other words, regular, patterned giving is a moral imperative. It’s something we, as Christians, must do.

But what if I told you that various studies and surveys show that only 10-25% of Christians obey this straightforward command? How can this be? What if only 10% of Christians remained faithful to their spouses? Or what if 1 of the 4 people sitting in the pew next to you was embezzling money from their company? It would be an outrage! So why do we seem to let ourselves off the hook about Paul’s command in 1 Corinthians 16:2? Why is money management and generous giving such a difficult command for Christians to follow?

Thankfully, the Bible provides us with clear instructions on how we should think about and manage our finances. God has much to say about money. In fact, Jesus teaches us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21) and that “out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). When we combine these teachings together, we can see that what we want the most determines how we act. When we treasure our money over Christ, we fall into idolatry. But when we love Jesus more than anything else, it will change the way we relate to money.

The Bible offers profound wisdom on how to manage our finances — principles that can shield us from the pitfalls of debt and greed while leading us to a life of generosity and peace. But before we look at some of these principles, we need to know why we give.

Why We Give

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “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.” The reason we give back to God through his church is because he has given so much to us! He’s given us a gift that is infinitely greater than anything we could ever offer him. He’s given us his Son! Jesus laid aside the riches of heaven to walk this dusty earth and die on the cross for our sins. When we believe in him — in his perfect life, his death, and his resurrection — then God lifts us out of our spiritual poverty and “seat[s] us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6b-7).

So, out of the abundance of joy, life, and peace in our hearts, we should strive to faithfully steward and generously give our money to advance his kingdom. But if you have found yourself struggling with managing your finances biblically, consider these three categories from the Scriptures to help you honor Christ with your money.

Budget for the Past: Eliminate Debt

Debt can pose a significant challenge to faithful giving. Proverbs 22:7 teaches us that “the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Debt places us in bondage to the one we owe. But Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other.”[1] Clearly, we need to cut debt so that we can be freed up financially to obey the earlier command to “contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13).

If you possess significant debt — whether it’s student loans or a silly purchase you made on credit (Proverbs 21:5) — start by acknowledging each one, resolving to have integrity in paying back what you owe. Psalm 37:21 says, “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” Then, work hard to pay off your debts (Ephesians 4:28). Pay the full amount on time as you receive the funds as Proverbs 3:27-28 commands us: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it’—when you have it with you.”

If you are struggling with debt, speak to a wise brother or sister in Christ who could help you set up a repayment plan. Regularly set aside funds each month to make your debt payments and close the gap. By doing so, you demonstrate a commitment to biblical stewardship.

Budget for the Present: Steward Wisely

Once you are out of debt, you need to stay out! Not only because debt hinders your ability to make ends meet but also because it stifles your generosity. It gets in the way of fulfilling 1 Corinthians 16:2.

The best way to steward your family’s finances is by making a budget. A sustainable and realistic budget ensures that we are living within our means and trusting in God’s provision for us. Proverbs 21:5 praises diligent planning. Budgeting helps us know how much money we have and where we need to spend it each month so that we might care for our families and bless others (1 Timothy 5:8). Try using “the envelope method” of budgeting by putting only the money you have now into various categories such as “groceries,” “gas money,” and “savings” and only spending what’s in the “envelope.” By doing this, you ensure you never spend beyond your means.

When I first learned the principles of “the envelope method” of budgeting from my father, I would have to sit down for half an hour each week and reconcile all my receipts with a paper checkbook. Nowadays, there are many apps out there that digitize the method and sync with your bank and, make checking your funds and managing your budget a breeze.

One practice our family has implemented that has been beneficial in setting up our budget to maximize our giving to the church is to set our “Giving” category as the first one filled each month. Before we slot funds into “Dining out,” “Vacation,” or even “Auto insurance,” we make sure that our agreed-upon amount is funded so that we can give regularly and cheerfully to the Lord. Setting aside these funds each month is how we seek to obey 1 Corinthians 16:2 we looked at earlier.

Sometimes, that means I might not get to buy that bag of specialty coffee I was eyeing at the shop, or it might take an extra month or two to fund the family vacation, but the Bible reminds us that we have something far greater — the Lord who is near and who blesses us through his Son. Hebrews 13:5 calls us to “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.’”

Budgeting is a tangible method that helps manage your spending and ensures that you live within your financial means while still being generous with what God has given you.

Budget for the Future: Trust God

After eliminating debt and stewarding wisely through a budget, you can begin planning for the future. But in my experience, this is where Christians often face the perils of wealth (1 Timothy 6:6-10). We start trusting in our money to solve our problems, and we stop relying on God.

Expect the unexpected. Car accidents, health problems, and economic recessions happen to everyone. Only God knows the future (Isaiah 46:10). We can’t predict what is going to happen to us.

Now, don’t get me wrong — the Bible encourages us to plan (Proverbs 15:22; 24:27). But the Bible is always careful to remind us that no amount of human preparation can thwart God’s purposes. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” It is God who decides our future, not our 401k, our investments, or the gold bars buried under the floorboards (James 4:13-16).

Remember Job? Despite him being a righteous man and the wealthiest man on Earth, God’s sovereign hand brought Job to financial ruin. Job learned that submission to God is what matters. Job learned what Romans 8:28 teaches — that God will work financial hardships, economic depressions, and unexpected bills to pay for the good of those who love him.

No matter if you’re rich or poor, struggling to make ends meet or financially carefree, we can remember that “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). So, let’s honor him with our stewardship and give back to him just a small part of the tremendous blessings he has given to us in Christ.

[1] A mortgage is a special kind of debt that, if entered carefully and prayerfully, can still be honoring to God. In Luke 14:28, Jesus presents a metaphor for discipleship, but the economic principle he illustrates is instructive: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” Before buying a home and taking out a mortgage, count the cost. Will you be able to continue to give cheerfully with your monthly payments? Will you be able to cover the cost of repairs and still maintain your regular contributions to the church? Are you buying a home in a place that will allow you to practice biblical hospitality? All these questions should factor into making a wise decision about taking out a mortgage.


Austin Collins (M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Serve Pastor at First Baptist Church.

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