Scriptural Guidelines for Handling Money: What the Bible Says About Wealth

Key Principles

1. God owns everything
   • Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.“
   • Haggai 2:8 “‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty.“
   • We are stewards, not owners of wealth
   • This principle reminds us to hold our possessions loosely and use them for God’s purposes
2. Work diligently
   • Proverbs 10:4 “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
   • Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
   • 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
   • Hard work is valued in Scripture, but it should be balanced with rest and worship
3. Live below your means
   • Proverbs 21:20 “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
   • Practice contentment and avoid unnecessary debt
   • Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
   • This principle encourages financial discipline and wise stewardship
4. Give generously
   • 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
   • Proverbs 11:24 “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”
   • Malachi 3:10 “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 there will not be room enough to store it.”
   • Giving is seen as an act of worship and trust in God’s provision
5. Avoid the love of money
   • 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
   • Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
   • Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
   • The Bible warns against greed and the idolatry of wealth
6. Plan for the future
   • Proverbs 6:6-8 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
   • Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
   • While trusting in God, we’re encouraged to plan wisely and save for future needs
7. Be content
   • Philippians 4:11-12 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
   • 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
   • Contentment is viewed as a spiritual discipline that guards against materialism
8. Use wealth to bless others
   • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
   • Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
   • Using resources to help others is seen as an investment in eternal rewards
9. Seek wisdom in financial matters
   • Proverbs 3:13-14 “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”
   • Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
   • The Bible encourages seeking godly wisdom and counsel in financial decisions
10. Remember the temporal nature of wealth
    • 1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
    • Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
    • This principle reminds us to focus on eternal values rather than temporary riches
11. Practice honesty and integrity
    • Proverbs 11:1 “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.”
    • Leviticus 19:13 “Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.”
    • Honesty in financial dealings is emphasized throughout Scripture

Remember, these principles should be understood in the context of the entire Bible and applied with wisdom and discernment to individual circumstances. The overarching theme is that money and wealth are tools to be used responsibly in service to God and others, rather than ends in themselves.