The Scriptures on Finances - Guard your heart above all else

This week, we continue to look at material from the book “Never Enough?” by Ron Blue with Karen Guess.

If we invest money when we are younger and let the interest make money we are increasing wealth. If we run up credit card debt and make the minimum monthly payments then we pay the bank more than we borrowed. Debt can lead to health problems, relational strain, and sometimes divorce.

Micah 6:8 tells us that the Lord requires us to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with God. When we go into debt and arrogantly think or presume that tomorrow will be the same or better regarding our level of financial ability we may abandon our daily walk of contentment with God.

God wants us to be thankful. My grandma said that I couldn’t have more until I was thankful with what I already had.

In America, we don’t seem to be very thankful. Mark 12:17 states, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Many of us complain about paying taxes. Perhaps we should recognize that paying taxes indicates that God has provided us income.

God owns everything. He has entrusted us with His resources to steward with care and wisdom. Work, time, and money are all stewardship categories. Good tax planning is important. Tax deductions and debt both cost us something.

One of the cures for our hearts regarding the love of money is to become cheerful givers. When we give, our money becomes centered on others rather than ourselves. Money is a tool to accomplish goals.

The Bible also encourages us to save. Proverbs 21:20 says, “Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a foolish man consumes them.” Saving money on a consistent basis means becoming disciplined.

To get to the place of more financial freedom we typically have to move through different steps or stages. We can begin by eliminating all high interest and short-term debt. We need an emergency fund and savings for major purchases. As we become financially healthier we can diversify our investments to meet long-term goals and then work to complete long-term goals. We may see our money grow by saving early and consistently.

We make our money by the income we earn. Our investments help us to save and grow that income so that it is also available for later. As we age we become more concerned about preservation than accumulation. I need enough to get to the finish line but I don’t need too much left over.

The purpose of these articles has been to encourage you to embark on a financial faith adventure with Jesus. We are to do everything for God’s glory. God has unlimited resources and He is the best giver.

We need to avoid the heart problem of materialism as well as making money our idol. There is a fine line between materialism and hoarding. If we are saving just to accumulate then we are probably hoarding and possibly allowing fear to control us.

Ron Blue told the story of a man who had sold his business for $6 million. His wife wanted to replace a dresser that they had owned for their entire 30 years of marriage. The author asked the man, “Are you willing to invest the price of a new dresser in your wife?” The man’s tight financial control was actually having adverse relational effects. He began to understand that he wasn’t parting with money just to buy a dresser; rather he was making an investment in his wife. Money can often be a relational tool.

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”

May God bless you big.

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This is the 17th column in a series by Kevin Barsotti, pastor at Ark Church in Havre, about financial matters and their treatment in the Christian faith.