Does God want us to be financially free?
Now, to be sure, God wants you to be financially free, because that allows you to be more generous and to serve Him more fully. Sadly, folks often say they'd love to give more to God's kingdom, but they just can't afford to.
Financial freedom means having enough to provide adequately for your household and to give generously and joyfully to God's work. God wants you to be financially free so you can put Him first in your life and be sensitive to His voice, ready to follow Him whenever -- and wherever -- He leads.
The Bible on Debt
Scripture does not say that debt is a sin, but it strongly discourages it. Remember, God loves us and has given us these principles for our benefit. Read the first portion of Romans 13:8 from several different translations: “Owe no man anything” (KJV). “Let no debt remain outstanding” (NIV).
While God does not expect us to live on nothing, he does require us to maximise our resources for the building of God's kingdom. Those fortunate enough to be born into affluence have a responsibility to use their wealth to provide for those who don't have enough.
While tithing 10% of your income is biblical, that doesn't mean you have to be a Christian to tithe. It also doesn't mean you're a bad Christian if you don't tithe.
- 5) Be a Saver ~ Proverbs 21:5.
- 6) Give God what is Rightfully His: The Tithe ~ Leviticus 27:30 / Genesis.
- 14:20b.
- 7) Be a Faithful Steward ~ Psalm 8:6.
- 8) Righteous Prayer over your Finances ~ Philippians 4:19.
- 9) Learn to be Content ~ Philippians 4:11-13.
- 10) Understanding God's definition of prosperity ~ Psalm 35:27.
Deuteronomy 28:11-12 NLT “The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do.
Romans 13:8 (AMPC) tells us to Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another... My husband, Dave, says that if we learn to live within our income, or our borders, then God will bless us.
Deuteronomy 15:8 says, “You shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” Turning to the New Testament, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:42, Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Romans 13:7-14 GW
Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person.
What does God say about having a lot of money?
1 Timothy 6:17-19: "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
But Scripture tells us that God loves the poor. He is on their side simply because they are still persons worthy of respect. And in their helplessness, they put their trust in God.
In times of prosperity, God calls us to be generous and ready to share with those who have less. By being generous and rich in good works, we store up the treasure of a good foundation for the future.
The Bible clearly illustrates how Christians are to respond to the poor and hopeless. Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you,” in Matthew 5:42, and in James it says, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
God cannot accept the payment of tithes because of what Jesus has done. But God will accept you GIVING A TITHE. He will not punish you if you do not give a tithe. There is a big difference in paying tithes and giving tithes.
Saving Honors God and Serves Others
Yet the Bible actually encourages us to set aside for expected, future needs. Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (ESV). Saving honors God because it values money as a gift that He has given to us.
Proverbs 14:23 (NIV) – “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Ask the Lord to relieve you of financial debt, by enabling you to pay back what you owe.
Live on Less Than You Make and Save
That means living on less than you make—so you'll have money left over to save. The Bible talks about the importance of saving in Proverbs 21:20 (NIV84), which says, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”
After all, the Bible came first and provides great wisdom on finances and wealth. Here are a few common principles you may have heard about, that are mentioned in the Bible: Spend less than you earn – Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it”
Proverbs 22:7 (ESV) says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” Whenever we borrow money, whether via a credit card or some other means, we have certain obligations to the lender. We must repay what we borrow.
How does God view debt?
Key Bible Verses about Debt
Psalm 37:21 “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” Romans 13:8 “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
Borrowing money is not a sin. But it isn't God's best either. Everything in God's Word is designed to keep you at the top in every area of life—including financially. You are called to be the head, not the tail; above, not beneath; and the lender, not the borrower (Deuteronomy 28:12-13).
According to Leviticus 25:37, “You shall not lend [your brother] your money at interest.” Exodus 22:25 stipulates” “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.” Deuteronomy 23:20 says much the same thing about loans ...
It's not a sin to borrow money. But the mindset that values hard work seeks as often as possible not to take out debt. This is what the Scriptures about work let us know. “If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution."
Proverbs 22:26-27
26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; 27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
