This is a question I have asked myself many times. Many people have already tried to answer this question as a quick web search will show you. But I often see where people have twisted the Scripture to fit their message rather than looking at the Scripture first to find the message. I’ve also read that there are over 2,000 Scriptures about money in the Bible, but I can’t seem to find a free resource online that shows all of these Scriptures in one place. Bob at Christian Personal Finance has the most comprehensive list of Scriptures discussing money in the Bible that I have found anywhere online, but it’s a bit short of the 2,000 number that’s so often quoted.
So I decided to do my own Personal Finance Bible Study to list and categorize as many verses in the Bible that I can find pertaining to some aspect of personal finance. From that resource I hope to cull the Bible’s message about personal finance and apply it in practical ways to our lives today. My biggest worry is that I might also fall into the trap of using Scripture out of context to fit my own message, especially since I’m a financial planner and already have my own ideas about personal finance. If you ever catch me doing this, please let me know!
As I complete this work, I’m going to share it with you on this website. I’ll start a page showing the categorized list of Bible verses I’ve found along with a running total of the Scripture references and number of verses in each category. I’ll also share Personal Finance Bible Studies with you via individual posts. I encourage your participation as your wisdom and insight will help me improve this Bible Study and my own understanding.
Why Spend So Much Time on Personal Finance in the Bible?
I don’t want to focus on money so much because of any personal fascination with it or because I’m greedy or because I want to be rich. I’m doing it because it has such an important impact on both our spiritual and material lives. It can be used as a tool to serve God and our needs, or it can keep us far away from God and take control of our lives. The problem isn’t when we’ve got money – it’s when the money has got us. Jesus told us this in Luke 16:13.
13 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Luke 16:13 (NIV)
Jesus is clearly telling us that we must have the right views about Money if we’re going to truly love and serve God. That’s why I think it’s so vitally important to focus on Personal Finance in the Bible and how it should affect our lives as Christians. If we can get that right, it’ll make it much easier for us to serve God completely and wholeheartedly.
Stay Tuned!
So stay tuned for more spiritual resources to come. I’ve already got a good bit of the work finished, but I can tell I have a good bit left to finish.
If you enjoyed this, you might like:
- How Much Should You Be Saving/Spending?
- What Is God's Provident Plan for a Christian's Personal Finances?
- Personal Finance Bible Study: Work (Summary)
- Personal Finance Bible Study: Work (Part 15 of 15) - Don't Use the Church for Business
- Personal Finance Bible Study: Work (Part 14 of 15) - Be a Good Steward
I feel the neeed to share with my people bible perspectives on finances. This site is very good as a source of information. Do you have anything regarding 1. people who do not work hard and only depend on others 2.parents who burden their children with responsibility for their siblings and lastly 3.the attitude that a brother has to assit the other even when they are strained.
some of my friends are victim of this and at times feel guilty that they are unable to assist their people.
Nancy, thanks for taking the time to comment! Regarding working hard, there are several verses that indicate Christians should work hard. Here are a few:
Genesis 2:15, Proverbs 10:5, Proverbs 18:9, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Ecclesiastes 11:4-6, Acts 20:34-35, Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 3:23-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
There aren’t any verses that specifically answer your other questions. But if you’ll read the verses on Giving that I’ve organized on the Personal Finance Bible Verses page, I think you’ll see that God’s commands and expectations for giving are for Christians who are not poor but have an abundance to give from. We should always try to do as much as possible to help our Christian brothers and sisters, but this should not be used to make those who are struggling feel guilty if they cannot help out.
Please let me know if I can help you in any other way!
Thank you for this website which has provided an excellent foundation to an indepth study on the Bible and personal finance I am hoping to undertake over the coming weeks.
I’m glad you have found it helpful, Ben! Please feel free to share any insights you have and wisdom God grants you through your study. I’m always open to hearing how the Spirit teaches others about this topic.
The Bible quotes in Proverbs 22:26
“Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;” and Romans 13:8 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” We have tried to live according to these scriptures. Right now financial investors are suggesting that having a loan in others words to be in debt is better than having everything paid off because of inflation and how the dollar is quickly losing value. I feel like this goes against scripture. Do you agree with these financial investors to have loans?
Angell,
Thank you for taking the time to comment and ask your question! I’ve written about the subject of debt in this article: http://www.providentplan.com/442/is-debt-a-sin/
Debt is not a sin, but God does recommend against debt because of the reasons I note in the article. There are good ways to use debt (buying a house) and there are bad ways to use debt (buying stuff you can’t afford because materialism is ruling your heart). It’s always good to pay off the debt as quickly as you can to avoid the problems it can create.
Iam so sad no Job No money to pay my rent and my debt
i dont know what to
do please.. some one help us my 3 kids and me and my wife i need a Job that can pay good and and needs to be full time have a good back ground check i just need an oportunity