As Christians we know about the tithe. But did you know that there are so many other financial principles spelled out in Scriptures? If we are called to be obedient to God’s Word then knowing what His Word says beyond the tithe will bring you understanding that will yield peace and joy.
The first and foremost principle that comes to my mind when I consider God’s financial principles is stewardship. When you look this word up in the dictionary, you will read that stewardship is the office, duties, and obligations of a steward. Now there are several definitions for the steward, but the one that applies the most in this context is a fiscal agent or if you will a fiscal manager. As a fiscal manager, you are making decisions about how to use and to distribute the funds appropriated to you by its owner.
If we are stewards of the money appropriated to us, then who is the owner? Well, that’s very clear when you read 1 Chr 29:11-14 – God is. God owns everything under the heavens and in the earth. Nothing is ours. And once we can truly internalize this principle, this truth, we will struggle with our finances.
And while stewardship is the most important principle, it is also the hardest to live by. After all, one of the first words of a young child is the word mine! How clear is our sinful nature when you take this one word in the context of being a steward? A steward whose attitude drifts to being the owner of something that isn’t is guilty of stealing. Is this a bit extreme? I don’t think so.
Stealing is serious accusation to make but isn’t that what God did when speaking about tithes and offerings in Malachi 3:7-11? Why would it be considered stealing from God if was yours in the first place? It’s simple: it’s not yours. Giving a portion back to God is what He expects of us as stewards of His “stuff” and as we manage the financial resources He has appropriated to us.
Once you are able to internalize your role as steward, an entirely new set of questions enters your mind as you seek to use the finances given to you. For example: (Okay I have to say it) What would Jesus do? Would He spend twice as much money on an item because it’s the biggest thing that’s happening or would He get by with the item that gets the job done at half the cost? Yet, it isn’t so much this question that is the issue as the subsequent one: What could I do with the money I just saved on buying the less costly item? Would I use it to buy a homeless person a lunch? Would I use it to buy flowers for the widow living in the local nursing home? Would I donate it to the local food bank so that they can buy food for the poor? And so yes, being a steward is hard because we often don’t think this way.
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that God provides us with financial resources in such a way as to enjoy what He has given us. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 that God not only provides riches but also the ability to enjoy them.
What I sense is wrong is enjoying things in the now at the expense of pain in the future. What do I mean by this? Well, we unfortunately to buy things on credit, things that maybe we wouldn’t buy if we only had cash in hand to spend. Credit presumes on the future, presumes on the future grace of God and this is a very slippery slope to be on. It just isn’t good stewardship.
I’ve spent a lot of time on stewardship because it’s by far the most important of God’s financial principles, but are there others? Yes and they are much easier to apply once you have accepted this stewardship principle. Here is a brief list of these principles and you can read about many of them in my previous blog posts.
· Spend less than you earn – build a budget that meets your financial goals
· Save money since you never know when an emergency will strike
· Get out of debt as quickly as you can
· Never cosign for another person’s debt
· Seek counsel from others when making important financial decisions
· Be honest and fair in all of your affairs
· Strive for contentment with your circumstances
· Give to the poor and less fortunate
· And yes, tithe according to how God has blessed you
When you think and act according to these principles, you will discover a new peace as well; a peace and comfort that comes from God. And you will never want to go back to your old ways ever again.
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