Finally, no Christian would deny the benefit of hearing what the Scriptures had to say about sin and salvation. Because of Christ, we have “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” (Phil. 4:7). We are “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3). And, among many other benefits, we have an inheritance in heaven that is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away” (1 Pet. 1:4).
In light of all these benefits, then surely God has benefits planned for those who hear what He has to say about finances, as well!
Christians in America probably receive a more diversified array of spiritual teachings than the rest of the Christian world combined. Yet, financial faithfulness is probably among the subjects that receives the least exposure in the church. As Christians, one of our chief mandates is the fulfillment of Jesus’ Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). And, in order to “make disciples of all the nations” (v. 19) we’re going to need a financial investment beyond paying for the utilities, maintenance, and cleaning of our churches. Pastors can help make the Great Commission a reality by sharing the financial principles of God’s Word, including all that our Lord taught as He lived on this earth as our perfect example.
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Scripture quotations in this article are from the New American Standard Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
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Howard Dayton is the cofounder and CEO of Crown Financial Ministries (www.crown.org). He is author of Your Money Map: A Proven 7-Step Guide to True Financial Freedom.
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Powerful texts for financial preaching
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
The Living Bible contains a beautiful translation of these verses. It reads as follows: “Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength.”
These verses offer some of the most inspiring and encouraging words on the subject of God’s ownership. Here are some suggestions for developing an awareness of that ownership.
(1) Meditate on these verses for 30 days when you first awake and just before going to sleep.
(2) When referring to money and possessions, be careful in the use of personal pronouns. Consider substituting “the” or “the Lord’s” for “my,” “mine,” and “ours.”
(3) Ask God to make you aware of His ownership and make you willing to relinquish ownership. Make this a special object of prayer during the next 30 days.
(4) Establish the habit of acknowledging the Lord’s ownership every time you purchase an item.
Luke 16:11
When quoted from the New International Version, this verse says, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
If we handle our money properly according to the principles of Scripture, our fellowship with Christ is going to grow closer. However, if we are unfaithful, our fellowship with Him will suffer.
In the realm of finances, God has retained certain responsibilities and has delegated other responsibilities to us. Most of the frustration we experience in handling money is because we do not realize which responsibilities are ours and which are not. However, when we learn God’s responsibilities and do our part faithfully, we can experience contentment.
1 Peter 2:11
The King James Version of the Bible translates this verse as follows: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”
As Christians, we must remember that pilgrims are unattached. They are travelers, not settlers, and are acutely aware that the excessive accumulation of things can distract them. Material things are valuable to a pilgrim, but only as they facilitate his or her mission.
Pilgrims of faith look to the next world. They see earthly possessions for what they are—useful for kingdom purposes, but far too flimsy to bear the weight of trust, and wholly unable to survive the coming destruction of things.
(Howard Dayton)
