7 Biblical Money Principles to Improve Your Finances

Imagine I borrowed your Honda CRV for a three-day trip.

Because I am your friend and you trusted me, you said yes. However, you have one condition—just take care of your car. 

I got so excited as you handed me the car key. Remember, the car is not mine but you let me use it for a few days.

Now, I returned your car after three days. When I handed you the car key, you were stunned like a cat with big eyes, waiting to be hit by a truck in the middle of the road. It’s completely a bolt from the blue. Why?

Aside from I didn’t refuel your car, it was so messy inside and had minor scratches in the side skirt. Then I began to lay down my excuses—telling you that I was drunk or maybe I had problem with my vision while driving at night.

As the owner, how would you feel? It’s embarrassing, isn’t? 

You feel that I can’t be trusted anymore. Well, that illustration simply means God is like the owner of the car and he has entrusted you to use it.

You need to remember that a starting place to being a responsible steward is to recognize God’s ownership.

We are not likely to manage well unless we acknowledge that we are managers. 

We are not likely to exercise good stewardship unless we recognize that we are stewards—and stewardship is associated with accountability.

Let me share with you the seven money biblical principles to remember when making financial decisions.

1. Shun debt to avoid financial problems (Proverbs 22:7)

The Bible has a plain advise about debt: avoid debt whenever possible. Why? Because the borrower becomes a slave to the lender resulting to financial bondage. 

In fact, Ellen White reminds us to shun the incurring of debts as you would shun leprosy (Counsels on Stewardship, 272).

Whenever you borrow money from a friend or fellow Christian, it creates a barrier resulting to a debt-lender unhealthy relationship. 

Just like being trapped on a deep pit, it’s difficult to get out of chronic debt.  Pray about the situation and follow God’s principles of managing your finances.

2. Spend your money wisely (Isaiah 55:2)

The reason why most Christians are in debt is that they spend money more than what they earn. 

Remember, it’s not enough to set aside the 10 percent for your tithes and offerings for God. 

The ability to spend the other 90 percent wisely can impact how you allocate your budget.

For instance, bad spending habits like impulse buying can hurt your budgeting. 

Instead of asking where your money went after payday, you should ask where your money should go before payday.

3. Keep in mind that all you have comes from God (James 1:17)

Everything belongs to God—your house, your car, your business, your money in the bank, talent and career. 

You are just being entrusted by God to manage them. 

When you realized that all those things are not yours, you need to take care of them and manage them wisely because you will be held accountable later on.

4. Pray about every aspect of your finances (Matthew 7:7-8)

You don’t have to live with debt, fear, and worry as God wants the best for your finances so you can bless more people. It’s difficult to help others when you’re also in need financially. 

The bills, debts and mortgages can cause an incredible amount of stress and pressure.

Therefore, it’s essential to pray and seek God’s guidance. All you need is just to ask, seek and knock. 

Any financial problem can be an opportunity to bend your knees and improve your personal finances.

5. Love God, not money (Acts 8:20)

Money is neutral. It’s neither evil nor good—just like a sharp kitchen knife it can use to cut an apple or to stab an enemy. 

As long as you believe that money will bring you happiness, you will always be disappointed as you will always feel not have enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Loving money more than God is expensive. It can cost you your family, precious time (as you pursue its accumulation), and, of course, your relationship with God. 

Always remember that relationship is more important than hoarding money.

6. Learn to manage what God has given you (Luke 16:10)

Each of us has received a talent from God, yet some people are reluctant to use the gifts God has given us. Remember the parable of the talent in Matthew 25:14-30? 

While every one of us has been entrusted with different talents according to our ability, being faithful is really what makes the difference.

It is your attitude towards money that matters, not how much or how little you have. In the end, we will be held accountable of what we did with our talents—big or small.

7. Give generously so you will be blessed (Acts 20:35)

Each of us has something to give. When I say giving, it’s not only about money. 

Some have wealth, some have talents, some have time. Whatever gifts we have been given—large or small—we should share generously.

Why? Because it is more blessed to give than to receive as you will be a tremendous blessing to others.

Final thoughts

In God’s economy, stewardship is measured by having the right perspective about material blessings. To avoid financial bondage, one has to abandon hoarding practices and embrace the biblical principles of stewardship.

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Mr JUN AMPARO is the author of two inspirational books about personal finance and marriage. He is a motivational speaker, blogger, and nominee for Huwarang OFW 2019 Individual Category organized by The 700 Club Asia. Presently, he is currently working as a university counselor at Asia-Pacific International University in Thailand.