The Bible teaches that sound financial management includes saving and giving.
The choices that believers make should align with God’s will—and finances are no exception. Our heavenly Father has provided us with resources and expects us to manage them wisely. The Bible helps us understand His perspective and offers guidance in setting financial goals.
Not everyone is able to plan years and years into the future. Sometimes there are seasons we can look ahead only a month or two. But even when finances are tight, the Lord wants us to plan for the future. Otherwise, shortsighted thinking can lead to high credit card debt, overdue bills, and inadequate savings.
Then there are those of us who already have a financial plan—say, for college education, medical savings, or retirement—and are adhering to it. In this situation, the temptation can be to become overly protective of what we have. Luke 12:16-20 tells of a rich man who built bigger barns for storage instead of sharing what he had—and the Lord called him a fool. We certainly don’t want to be foolish in God’s eyes.
Whether we have little or much, seeking God’s priorities for our spending, saving, and giving will help us use His money wisely. Imagine what can be accomplished when we follow His instructions for handling finances and invest our resources in His kingdom work.
Matthew 25:14-30
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
`The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying,Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
`His master said to him,Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
`Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said,Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’
`His master said to him,Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
`And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said,Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
`And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
`But his master answered and said to him,You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
`Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
`Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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