Join us for live worship and an inspiring message from Laura Toganivalu in our evening service from the Hills Campus, Sydney, Australia.
MESSAGE: I've Got the Power
Biblical Basics of Wise Wealth Management
Although money is just paper and coins, the potential for it to create great destruction is always present. Ironically, it has just as much potential to be a huge blessing. How we view wealth can either make our lives rich on every level or put us in financial bondage; therefore, wise money management has significant impact on our lives.
In the Old Testament, King Solomon was one Israel’s wisest kings—he was also one of the wealthiest. This was no coincidence. Solomon had all the money, status, and power a person could want.
Solomon sought God’s wisdom more than physical wealth; in turn, God honored him and blessed him not just financially, but in other areas of his life as well. Solomon’s mindset toward money can give us some valuable takeaways to apply to our own finances. One is that trusting in God instead of in our own efforts at wealth-building strategies allows Him to bless us financially, with no downside. “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).
There’s nothing wrong with having money, as long as it doesn’t have us. Attaching too much importance to material wealth opens us up to painful things God never intended for us to experience. Letting greed get the best of us leads to disaster. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). We need to put money in context with more important things in life—like other people.
No matter how much or how little we make, it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Constantly letting our expenses get out of hand and blowing the budget causes undue stress. “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up” (Proverbs 21:20). A budget doesn’t have to be restrictive; its purpose is to help us track where our money is going and better manage it.
Spending every last penny we have and living above our means keeps us in debt. Maxing out our credit cards and taking out loans means we pay back more than what we borrowed. Poor money-management skills can keep families in poverty; this isn’t God’s will for anyone. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Taking on too much debt puts us at a disadvantage. “Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?” (Proverbs 22:26, 27, NKJV).
God wants to bless us, and economic stability is a blessing. Following His precepts benefits us. Trusting Him in this keeps us on firm financial footing.
Although money is just paper and coins, the potential for it to create great destruction is always present. Ironically, it has just as much potential to be a huge blessing. How we view wealth can either make our lives rich on every level or put us in financial bondage; therefore, wise money management has significant impact on our lives.
In the Old Testament, King Solomon was one Israel’s wisest kings—he was also one of the wealthiest. This was no coincidence. Solomon had all the money, status, and power a person could want.
And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart…And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt (2 Chronicles 9:22, 23, 25, 26).However, he didn’t value his wealth as much as he valued God.
Solomon sought God’s wisdom more than physical wealth; in turn, God honored him and blessed him not just financially, but in other areas of his life as well. Solomon’s mindset toward money can give us some valuable takeaways to apply to our own finances. One is that trusting in God instead of in our own efforts at wealth-building strategies allows Him to bless us financially, with no downside. “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).
There’s nothing wrong with having money, as long as it doesn’t have us. Attaching too much importance to material wealth opens us up to painful things God never intended for us to experience. Letting greed get the best of us leads to disaster. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). We need to put money in context with more important things in life—like other people.
No matter how much or how little we make, it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. Constantly letting our expenses get out of hand and blowing the budget causes undue stress. “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up” (Proverbs 21:20). A budget doesn’t have to be restrictive; its purpose is to help us track where our money is going and better manage it.
Spending every last penny we have and living above our means keeps us in debt. Maxing out our credit cards and taking out loans means we pay back more than what we borrowed. Poor money-management skills can keep families in poverty; this isn’t God’s will for anyone. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Taking on too much debt puts us at a disadvantage. “Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?” (Proverbs 22:26, 27, NKJV).
God wants to bless us, and economic stability is a blessing. Following His precepts benefits us. Trusting Him in this keeps us on firm financial footing.
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