Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about money?

There are many Bible scriptures about money and the Bible is full of wisdom about our money and our finances. In fact, of Jesus’ 39 parables, over half of them use money or work as a teaching tool.

As we undertake this study, there are five key verses to keep in mind about what God says on our finances:

1.   Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. You are probably well aware that putting your trust in the economy, your employer, or your bank account is not a good idea. They can be helping you greatly one minute, and then the next everything has changed. God, however is always faithful. That is why we should always be trusting Him as our supply! God will still supply your needs. Just like He promised.

2.   Malachi 3:10 – 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 you will not have room enough for it.” It is a bold step of faith to start tithing. Cynics sometimes argue that tithing is not required in the New Testament. Tithing opens the door for blessing that can not be opened without doing it.

3.   1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money is not evil. The love of it is. Having a million in your bank account doesn’t mean that you love it. Having $5 in your account doesn’t prove that you don’t. It is a matter of the heart that only God can judge.

4.   Acts 20:35 – In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Giving sets us free, while hoarding entraps us (James 5:2). Giving changes the lives of others (John 3:16). Giving brings blessing back to us (Luke 6:38). Giving allows us to store up treasures in Heaven rather than here on the earth (Matthew 19:21). Giving really is fun – we need to be in on it.

5.   Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Getting out of debt is not easy and often requires a fight, but the freedom that comes with it is so worth it.

 

Here’s wishing us a God directed success in this study!

 

Contents

Day 1 – Your God and Your Money

Day 2 – Dealing With Your Heart

Part 1 – The Pure Heart

Day 3 – Dealing With Your Heart

Part 2 – Obstacles

Day 4 – Dealing With Your Heart

Part 2 – Obstacles (continued)

Day 5 – Giving

Part 1 – Sacrificial Giving

Day 6 – Giving

Part 2 – Giving by Faith

Day 7 – Giving

Part 3 – Joyful Giving

Day 8 – Sacrificial Living

Day 9 – Planning and Budgeting

Day 10 – Dealing With Debt

Part 1 – God’s View

Day 11 – Dealing With Debt

Part 2 – Getting Out – The Radical Approach

Day 12 – Your God and Your Job

Day 13 – Christian Responsibilities

Day 14 – Decisions

Budget Worksheet

Debt Worksheet

The True Cost of Debt

Day 1 – Your God and Your Money

 

Parable of the Shrewd Manager – Luke 16:1-15

• God expects us to be honest yet shrewd in the use of money (vv. 1-8)

• Money is a tool to be used to gain friends (v. 9)

• If we are not trustworthy in handling money, God will not entrust us with true riches (people’s souls) (vv. 10-11)

• God will keep us from leadership if we are not trustworthy with finances (vv 10-11)

 

Whose money is it? – Matthew 25:14-30

•  We are managers, not owners. An owner does what he pleases with his money / possessions, while a manager submits to the will of the owner.

•  As disciples our attitude must reflect a willingness to “give up everything” to advance God’s Kingdom.

 

Questions:

1.    What ways am I not being shrewd, honest or trustworthy with my money and possessions?

§  Examples

• Checkbook not balanced
• Credit Card debt – paying high monthly interest rates
• Not paying bills on time
• Writing bad checks
• Not living on a written budget
• Borrowing from others and not repaying

2.    What ways can I use God’s money to win souls rather than serve myself?

3.    How do I view my money and possessions? Who owns them? Do I have the attitude of giving up everything for the Kingdom?

 

Day 2 – Dealing With Your Heart

Part 1 – The Pure Heart

 

The Blessing of Giving – Acts 20:33-35

• Paul did not desire anyone else’s money or possessions

•  He worked hard and sacrificed to help the weak

• He knew that giving brought more joy than receiving

 

Living for External Possessions – Matthew 6:19-21 & Hebrews 10:32-34

•  When our treasure is in heaven, and not on earth, our hearts will be in heaven also.

• As disciples we will look foolish to the world because our hearts and treasures are in heaven not on earth

 

All Things for Our Enjoyment – 1 Timothy 6:17-18

• It is very easy for us who have wealth to put our hope and trust in money and things rather than God.

• As disciples, we are commanded to be generous and willing to share

• When we follow God’s plan, we can feel great about enjoying the blessings God has given us.

 

Questions

1.  Which do I desire more, to give or receive?

2.  How can I put all my treasures in heaven so that all my heart will be there also?

3.  How am I being generous and willing to share on a daily basis?

4.  Am I enjoying God’s blessings or do I feel guilty about the things I have?

 

Day 3 – Dealing With Your Heart

Part 2 – Obstacles

 

The Obstacle of Greed – Luke 12:13-21 & Luke 16:19-31

•  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.

• The value of a man’s life has nothing to do with his wealth.

o   The rich fool’s goal was financial independence and being independent of God

o   This is the “American Dream”

The rich man in Luke 16 went to hell because of his greed and lack of concern about the needs of others.

 

The Obstacle of Discontentment – Philippians 4:10-13

Paul rejoiced while he was in prison

o   He was grateful and content even in need.

Paul did not focus on what he lacked, but rather on what he had (Christ)

o   See also 1 Timothy 6:6-10

 

Questions

1.  How am I storing up treasures for myself but not being rich toward God?

2.  How am I showing concern toward the poor and needy?

3.  Am I grateful and content with what I have right now?

4.  What grief do I have in my life because of greed and contentment?

a.    Examples:

i.    Debt

ii.    High monthly payments

iii.    Bad credit record

Day 4 – Dealing With Your Heart

Part 2 – Obstacles (continued)

 

The Obstacle of Worry – Matthew 6:25-34 & Philippians 4:4-9

•  As disciples we sin when we worry about finances

• Worry is a result of lack of faith

Ways to overcome worry:

o   Prayer

o   Rejoice always

o   Be thankful in all situations

 

The Obstacle of Laziness – Signs of Laziness according to Solomon

The Sluggard

o   Proverbs 6:9-11, 19:15, 20:13, 26:14

Oversleeping and eating to much

o   Proverbs 13:4, 15:19

Not accomplishing goals, something always getting in the way

o   Proverbs 19:24, 26:13

Making excuses

o   Proverbs 20:4

Unwilling to work hard

o   Proverbs 6:6

Results of laziness

o   Poverty – Proverbs 10:4, 12:24

Overcome laziness by hard work

o   Proverbs 14:23

 

Questions

1. What do I worry about? How will I overcome it?

2. How does worry affect my relationship with God?

3. What signs of laziness do I need to overcome? Be specific.

Day 5 – Giving

Part 1 – Sacrificial Giving

 

Old Testament Precedent – Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 1:13-14

• The Israelites were commanded to give a tenth (tithe) of all their income to the Lord

•  The Israelites had many other kinds of sacrifices. (e.g., burnt, sin, grain, fellowship) in addition to the tithe.

o   The Israelites actually gave up to 33% of their income

o   The sacrifices were to the best available.

• God will not accept second rates sacrifice.

 

New Testament Examples

The Widow – Mark 12:41-44

o   She was not commended for what she gave, but her heart behind giving. She was totally dependent upon God.

Barnabas – Acts 4:36-37

o   He sold his property and gave all the proceeds from the sale to meet the needs of the church

The Macedonians – 2 Corinthians 8:1-3

o   They gave beyond their ability even though they were very poor.

 

True Sacrifice Costs Something – 2 Samuel 24:21-25

• David refused to God something that cost him nothing.

 

 

Questions

1. Am I giving my best to God in my weekly giving?

2. Do I give to God first out of my pay or from what I have left over?

3. What percent if my income am I giving in my weekly contribution?

4. What am I willing to sell or sacrifice for Missions Contribution?

 

Day 6 – Giving

Part 2 – Giving by Faith

 

It takes faith to give – Malachi 3:8-11

•  God wants us to test him in our giving (v 10)

• All we need is the faith

•  God is waiting to pour out blessings when we trust Him.

•  It is easy to say “I will give when God blesses me.”

•  God says, “Give and I will bless you.”

 

God’s Promises – Malachi 3:10-11, Mark 10:29-31, 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

•  We will not have enough room for God’s blessings

•  We can never out give God

•  God always gives back 100 times as much as us.

• God will continue to give to us so we can in turn give to others and meet their needs

• Our ultimate blessing is treasure in Heaven.

 

Depend on God – Philippians 4:14-19

•  Our giving is a sacrifice pleasing to God

•  When we give God will meet all of our needs.

 

 

Questions:

1.    Do I hold back on my contribution because I am worried about the future?

2.    Does my giving cause me to rely on God?

3.    What amount of money should I give weekly that is both responsible and still requires faith?

4.    When have I relied on the promise of God in my giving? What did God do in response?

 

Day 7 – Giving

Part 3 – Joyful Giving

 

Giving with Joy – 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

• Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give.

o   Plan your giving.

•  God does not want you to give reluctantly or under compulsion

o   You should feel a joy, excitement, and enthusiasm when you give.

• God loves a cheerful (in Greek “hilarious”) giver.

 

The privilege of Giving – 2 Corinthians 8:3-5

•  The Macedonians urgently pleaded to give

•  They understood that is was a privilege because they had first given themselves to the Lord

 

Special Time of Giving – Time of Victory and Joy for God’s People

•  The Israelites gave to build the temple and the people rejoiced (1 Chronicles 29:1-9)

•  The people willingly brought more to contribute to the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 35:20-29, 36:2-7)

 

 

Questions

1. Am I cheerful giver? What keeps me from giving cheerfully?

2. Am I eager or reluctant to give, especially at times of special contribution?

3. At what time was I the most joyful about my giving? Why?

 

Day 8 – Sacrificial Living

 

Jesus Example – 2 Corinthians 8:9, Luke 9:57-58

•  Jesus chose to live sacrificially. He gave up heaven itself.

•  He became poor so the world could be saved.

 

The need for Sacrificial Living

To meet the physical needs of others (2 Corinthians 8:13-15; Acts 4:34-37)

• Paul wanted those who had plenty to sacrifice for those who were in need.
• The first century Christians sacrificed so there would be no needy people among them.

To support full-time workers so the world would be evangelized (Philippians 4:10-19)

• Paul commended the Philippians for the aid they had sent him.
• He considered their gifts to him as a sacrifice to God.

 

 

Questions

1. In what ways can I choose to live more sacrificially in order to have money to give to meet needs?

Examples:

• Cut food budget
• Limit or eliminate eating out for a time for a special contribution
• Have creative dates to save money
• Stop impulse spending (vending machines, fast food, etc.)

2. Am I wiling to “become poor” so that others can have the chance to become Christians?

 

Day 9 – Planning and Budgeting

 

Introduction

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

As Christians, we often fail to have a plan for our finances. Prior to doing this study, you may have even thought that it was unspiritual to spend time focusing on your finances. In this study we will look at the need for us to establish a budget for our spending. A budget is framework for your giving, spending and saving based on your income. It is a tool to help you be a good steward of that which God has entrusted to you.

 

The Need for a Budget

•  God expects you to know the conditions of your flocks and herds (i.e., money, possessions, debts) (Proverbs 27:23)

•  We must have a plan and commit it to God (Proverbs 16:1, 3:9)

•  Jesus teaches us to know the cost of something before we begin. It is foolish not to budget (Luke 14:28-30)

 

Guidelines

•  Plan to give to God FIRST!

•  Plan to live sacrificially, not beyond your means.

•  Plan to have something to share, to be able to be generous with others.

•  Plan to save for emergency or one-time expenses (auto repairs, medical expenses, family trips)

•  Plan to eliminate debt (Romans 13:8)

 

Questions

1.    Do I have a written budget that I use to plan my giving, spending and saving?

2.    Do I compare my actual spending to my budget?

3.    Have I adopted a standard of living that enable s me to stay out of debt and have enough to be generous with others?

 

 

A sample budget format can be found on page 18.

Day 10 – Dealing With Debt

Part 1 – God’s View

 

Types of Debt

Legitimate

o   To meet real needs or provide for necessities

o   Home mortgage

o   Auto Loan

o   Educational Loan

Sinful, Foolish

o   To make non-essential purchases

o   Entertainment items

o   Vacations

o   Borrowing what you cannot repay or do not know when can repay

o   Borrowing at excessive rates of interest

 

Borrowing

•  As Christians, borrowing should be the exception, not the rule.

•  Do not let any debt remain outstanding, remain totally debt free! (Romans 13:8)

•  God calls those who borrow and do not repay wicked (Psalm 37:21)

•  Let your “Yes” be “Yes.” When you borrow, repay on time (Matthew 5:37)

•  When you borrow someone’s property you are responsible for it. For example, if you borrow someone’s car and get into an accident, you are responsible for the cost of repairs.

 

Lending

•  Do not charge interest when lending to a brother in need.

• Have compassion and do add to people’s burdens (Exodus 22:25-27)

•  Be generous in lending to those in real need (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

• Do not lend expecting repayment; therefore, do not lend what you need to get back.

• Lending your rent money expecting the borrower to repay on time (Luke 6:34-36)

•  Do not lend or give money to someone who is idle or unwilling to work, even if they are a Disciple! Do not lend to people if it promotes their irresponsibility, laziness or self indulgence.

 

Practical

1. Fill out the debt work sheet on page 19.

2. Make a plan to repay all of your debts!

 

Day 11 – Dealing With Debt

Part 2 – Getting Out – The Radical Approach

 

Why Get Out of Debt?

• It hinders us from being able to give generously

• When you are paying 18% interest on top of the principal, it is difficult to have anything to share with others.

• It is wasteful! The interest we pay on our credit cards is totally wasted.

• The balance is probably there because you were not following God’s plan for your finances.

 

How to Get Out

You must be radical! Matthew 5:29-30

• Seek advice! Proverbs 15:22
• Cut up all of your credit cards!
• Call your credit card companies and cancel the accounts
• Cut out ALL unnecessary expenditures
• Cable TV, newspapers, internet access
• Work out your debt snowball
  • List your debts, smallest to largest
  • Pay minimums on everything except the smallest debt. Put every extra penny you have toward paying off this debt.
  • When the smallest is paid, roll everything over to the next debt.
  • Commit your plan to the Lord! (Psalm 127:1-2)

Finish the Job Luke 14:28-30

• Let Godly sorrow lead you to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10-11
• You must take responsibility for your debts.

 

 

Questions

1.  Are you in sinful or foolish debt? If so, why?

2.  Are you willing to apply these principles to get out of debt?

3.  What will be the hardest thing for you to change to get out of debt?

4.  Who will help you with your plan?

 

Day 12 – Your God and Your Job

 

God’s Plan for Your Life – Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:13, 22; 2 Thessalonians 3:10

• It is God’s will for us to work hard in order to earn the bread we eat.

•  God wants us to find satisfaction in our work

• If a person will not work, he cannot eat.

 

Responsibility of the Employee Colossians 3:22-25; Ephesians 4:28; Acts 5:29

• Obedience

o   We are to be a disciple to our boss on the job.

o   God expects us to obey our boss, not just to win his favor, but out of reverence for Christ

• Wholeheartedness

o   God expects us to put our whole heart into our work.

o   As Christians, we should be the most sincere and hard-working employees on the job.

• Honesty

o   Do not steal from your employer

o   Receiving pay for work you did not do.

o   Submitting false or exaggerated expense reports

o   Obey God First! If asked to do something that is illegal, unethical or sinful, obey God over men.

 

 

Questions

1.  What do I need to repent of in relation to my job? Be specific.

2.  Am I doing anything as a part of my job that is sinful or goes against my conscience?

 

Day 13 – Christian Responsibilities

 

Yourself – 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

• We need to be financially independent in that sense that we take care of our own.

o   As adults, we should not be dependent upon parents, family, friends, or the church except in rare instances

• Non-Christians do not respect people who do not carry their own weight financially.

o   We hinder the spread of the Gospel if we are irresponsible with our finances

 

Family – 1 Timothy 5:4-8

• Taking care of our family is one of the most basic responsibilities we have. If we fail, we deny the faith.

• Responsibility includes at least parents, grandparents, spouse, children, brothers and sisters.

• It is right for us to repay our parents and grandparents.

 

Government – Romans 13:1-7

• We need to support the government through payment of taxes

• We pay not according to what we can get away with, but what is right to pay.

 

The Church – 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

•  Each one of us has the responsibility to take care of the church financially

• Set aside on the first day of every week.

• Plan and save for Missions Contribution

 

The poor – Luke 12:33, James 1:27

 

 

Questions

1.  In which of these responsibilities am I not fulfilling my responsibilities?

 

Day 14 – Decisions

 

Honor God with Your Wealth Proverbs 3:9

• Will I obey the Scriptures and tithe weekly?

• Will I, as a mature Christian, increase my weekly giving?

 

Guard Your Heart – Proverbs 4:23

• What sins of the heart have I confronted and repented of regarding my finances?

• Am I ready to give out of a pure heart and a sincere love for God?

 

A Living Sacrifice – Romans 12:1

• In what ways am I going to live a more sacrificial life style in order to advance God’s Kingdom?

 

Give and It Will Be Given To You – Luke 6:38

• Have I made decisions to give by faith and to give joyfully to the Lord?

 

A Spirit of Self Discipline – 2 Timothy 1:7

• Have I prepared a budget that I ma ready to live by?

• If not, when will I have it completed?

•  Have I sought input on my budget?

 

Free At Last – Romans 13:8

• Have I gained deep convictions about getting out of debt?

• What is my plan to eliminate sinful and/or foolish debt from my life?

 

A Light to the World – Matthew 5:14

•  How am I going to work at my job in such a way that my life is an upward calling to everyone around me?

•  Am I fulfilling my financial responsibilities as a disciple in the areas that God expects?

 

Budget Worksheet

 

Debt Worksheet

(MC/VISA/AMEX)   Credit Card 2

(MC/VISA/AMEX)   Credit Card 3

(MC/VISA/AMEX)   Credit Card 4

(MC/VISA/AMEX)   Store Card 1

(Sears, Lowes, etc.)   Store Card 2

(Sears, Lowes, etc.)   Store Card 3

(Sears, Lowes, etc.)   Auto Loan 1   Auto Loan 2   Student Loan(s)   Personal Loans   Line(s) of Credit   Total Debt Total Payments

 

The True Cost of Debt

Currently, the average interest rate on credit cards is 16.76%.

The average American household has an average of $8,000 in credit card debt.

If you make only the minimum payment on the credit card, your $8,000 balance will cost you $18,774.14 in payments and take 318 months to pay off! (That’s 26 years and 6 months!)

If you pay the same amount every month, your $8,000 balance will cost you $12,127.68 and take 63 months to pay off.

The savings to you is $6646.46!