9 Biblical Principles That Will Transform How You View & Give Your Resources
The more we understand what the Bible has to say about money, the more joy we can get from the way we steward it. Here are nine principles straight from the Bible that will change how you view and share your resources
God Owns Everything
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
Psalm 24:1a
This is the foundation of how the Bible tells us to view not only money, but everything we have, even our very lives. God made everything, so he owns everything.
I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Psalm 50:9-12
Everything is his because he made it. When it comes to our resources, if you think you own it, you’ll do things your way. If you recognize God as the ultimate owner, then you will seek his will above your own. That is the biblical principle of stewardship. Once we internalize this, we will begin to hold everything with an open hand. You can start by asking, “God, what is your purpose for me and the resources you’ve entrusted to me?”
God’s Allocation
With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.
Jeremiah 27:5
Everything belongs to God, and he can do whatever he pleases with it. He decides who gets what. This truth can be both humbling and freeing.
It is humbling because it reminds us that our success is not solely the result of our own effort. Our intelligence, opportunities, skills, relationships, health, wealth, and abilities are all gifts from God. Remembering this can protect us from arrogance and pride.
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth
Deuteronomy 8:18a
It is freeing because we know that we don’t have to carry the burden of our outcomes alone. We should still do our best, but we can trust God with the outcomes because he is the one who gives us everything as he sees fit. This can free us from stress and anxiety.
God’s Provision
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
As Jesus said, God made us, so he is going to take care of us. We don’t need to let worry and fear cause us to cling to our resources. We can hold them with an open hand and trust that God will provide. Truly trusting God often leads to generosity, as one of the biggest barriers to it is fear.
God’s Example
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
God set an example of generosity for us. Not only in the huge things, like sending Jesus to die for our sins, but in the little things as well. He is generous in giving us beautiful sunsets to admire. He is generous in giving us the smell of freshly baked bread or garden roses. He gave us hugs to cherish, waves to play in, chocolate to savor, and even technology so that I could share this message with you. God has been so generous with us in every way and we have the opportunity to follow his example and also be generous.
Tithe
The word “tithe” literally means 10%. Giving 10% of your increase is commanded and taken very seriously in the Old Testament.
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
Leviticus 27:30
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 3:8-11
Though not specifically commanded in the New Testament, Jesus does recommend it.
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
Luke 11:42
As with many things that Jesus discussed (Matthew 5), he took the command of the Old Testament and expanded it to include the heart. We should not view the tithe as an Old Testament relic, but as a starting point for New Testament generosity.
Firstfruits
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10
Firstfruits means first. Proverbs tells us that God should get the first of everything we have. He should be in line before the IRS, before our 401(k), before our HSA, and before our medical insurance. This is why many Christian financial professionals recommend managing finances by giving first, then saving, then spending, which is the opposite order that most Americans approach it in practice. You can read more about how the principle of firstfruits applies to the tithe here. And remember, God really owns everything that we have, not just the firstfruits.
Sowing & Reaping
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 19:17
One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25
The biblical principle of sowing and reaping does not mean that we should give in order to reap or that God owes us when we give. As we’ve seen time and again, it’s more about our hearts than our actions. God rewards a generous person, not simply a person who gives. And God’s rewards aren’t always financial. Sometimes they are far more valuable.
Margin
When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen.
Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10
God commanded the Israelites to leave margin in their use of their resources so that they would have something available to help those in need. This article goes into the principle in more depth. We see a beautiful example of this principle in practice in the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. The Jewish man who had been attacked was only able to recover because the Samaritan in the story had enough margin to be able to pay the innkeeper to house, feed, and nurse him back to health.
This principle also plays a role in the genealogy of Jesus himself. We see in the book of Ruth that because he put this into practice, Boaz met Ruth and they became the great-grandparents of King David, the greatest Jewish king and an ancestor of Jesus.
Obedience
The final principle is that of obedience. Generosity is commanded in the Bible, so we should be generous.
No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 16:16-17
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
Proverbs 3:27-28
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Obedience can be a great place to start if you’re struggling to develop a generous heart. You don’t have to be led by feelings. You can lead through action, and often your feelings will follow. And many blessings as well.
As you can see, the Bible has a lot to say about finances. Meditating on these verses and the principles they illustrate can truly transform the way we think about, manage, and share our resources.
If you want a plan for your finances that aligns with these principles, we would love to help. At Guide Financial Planning, our focus isn’t on building earthly riches. We know that true riches are eternal, and we help our clients to steward their resources with an eternal perspective. We are financially minded, yet eternally focused. To learn more about how we guide our clients on their stewardship journeys, schedule a free introductory phone call with us today.
About Guide Financial Planning
Guide Financial Planning is led by founder Ben Wacek, who is a Christian fee-only Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Kingdom Advisor®. He has a passion for helping people of all income levels make wise financial decisions and steward their resources from an eternal perspective using Biblical principles. Based in Minneapolis, MN, he works with clients both locally and virtually throughout the country and abroad. You can follow the links to learn more about Guide Financial Planning and our team and the services we offer.