Understanding Financial StewardshipSample

Money and Your Faith

There’s a strong correlation between money and your spiritual life. The way you handle money indicates a great deal about your relationship with God. 

In Revelation, we see that a sign of the end times is an overemphasis on riches and a total preoccupation with material goods. It’s a graphic manifestation of how the ungodly have run their course and have spent their all on material pursuits (Revelation 18:9-19). In this passage, the leaders, merchants, sailors, and traders are all devastated at their loss of wealth. There’s no mention of the state of their souls. They’ve completely sacrificed their faith on the altar of wealth. Their entire pursuit in life has turned to a pursuit of material gain; there’s no mention of spiritual gain or loss. They’re ungodly to their core.

Though this passage should serve as a cautionary tale to all, let me be very clear on this point: A concern about material gain is not in itself ungodly. Rather, a concern for material wealth that chokes out concern for one’s spiritual health is ungodly. 

A life out of balance is destined for failure, not success.

The fact that God wants us to register a balanced concern for material gain is found throughout Scripture (Deut. 25:13-16; Prov. 11:1). The Lord wants us to grow in every area of our lives—spiritually, emotionally, in friendships and family ties, and in material sustenance—always in balance, but always growing. We’re to invest our abilities and assets wisely so that growth is possible. When we completely abandon our potential, refusing to do anything with the gifts God’s given us, His Word tells us He’s displeased. He’s not displeased that we gain wealth. He’s displeased when we gain wealth at the expense of other areas of our lives. 

Faith is integral to the management of our material goods and unique talents. We must trust God to help, teach, and lead each of us to those places where He will reward us with the blessings He has in store. And we must always remember to never sacrifice our faith on the altar of wealth. Allow the Father to help you fulfill your God-given potential and, in so doing, you will reap the blessings He’s prepared for you.