Faith and Finances

Are you facing financial difficulties as a Christian? As Christians, we do not want to be greedy, but how can we still find financial freedom for our families and support our church using godly principles? I want to go over a few Christian concepts behind financial planning and show you why it is important (and godly!) to educate yourself about money matters.

A common misconception is that Christians should not be concerned about money. We often quote the Bible, which says that "the love of money is the root of all evil" and that you "cannot serve two masters". It is true that we should not idolize money. But that is no excuse for ignorance or folly! Jesus gave several financial-flavored parables about stewardship. The bottom line is that Christians should be good stewards of all their resources - including their finances. This will not only help us, but also let us bless others with our financial resources. Furthermore, we do not want to be enslaved to debt as a Christian - we should be free in Christ!

Financial planning for Christians is an important part of our stewardship. How do we get started? We could quit our jobs, and sit at home praying constantly for money. This is not necessarily godly, though. Even Paul the apostle worked a daytime job as a tent-maker while he preached the gospel. Don't think that you are better than the apostles! Instead, you should start looking at educational resources related to Christian financial planning. The Bible teaches us to seek wisdom (see Proverbs, for example). We need to look for Christian teaching on financial planning that follows ethical principles. Some ideas are obvious, such as tithing to our church. However, many people need help learning how to manage cash flow, and dealing with debt, assets, and liabilities.

In summary, Christian financial planning is a godly concept. Learning how to achieve financial freedom is part of being a Christian steward. Seeking financial wisdom is the first step, and very appropriate for Christians. There are many excellent resources on financial planning, but make sure you follow one with Christian principles.