In 2017, while finishing my master’s degree, my family and I were in financial turmoil. One day, my card was declined, and I realized the depth of our financial issues. A friend at the bank revealed that we had accumulated $2500 in overdraft fees. It was a wake-up call that we didn’t understand money management.
Thankfully, around that time, I discovered Tiffani Aliche, the Budgetnista. She taught me how to manage our money by automating and organizing it. For the past 6-7 years, I’ve applied those lessons. We paid our bills on time and almost eliminated overdraft fees. But as we made more money, we spent more. I’m not flashy, but I enjoy nice things. I went from wanting a Tory Burch bag to buying a Louis Vuitton one, justifying it because "everyone at my level has one."
God soon challenged me on these decisions. The Bible talks about money 2,357 times, emphasizing its importance in our lives. Often, we hear about fear being mentioned 365 times in the Bible, one for each day. But when it comes to money, we have at least six scriptures a day to ponder! This shows how significant money is to God, especially in how we manage it.
Dr. Myles Monroe once said, “God’s money management plan is truly a leadership plan.” If we follow God’s principles for money, we will become phenomenal leaders. This revelation aligned perfectly with a leadership training program I was developing for the church.
Let's reflect on Romans 12:1-2 :
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
This scripture encourages us not to conform to the world’s ways. Unfortunately, many Christians mirror the world's financial habits: spending more than we earn, not paying bills on time, and neglecting tithes and offerings. We often see our money as finite, forgetting that God is our provider.
For those spending more than they earn, Luke 9:23 reminds us:
"Then he [Jesus] said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.'
Living within our means requires discipline and the willingness to give up our impulsive ways. Our consumer culture leads us to consume everything God provides, leaving nothing for His kingdom. This lifestyle can bring stress, anxiety, and even depression, as seen in various studies.
Proverbs 22:7-9 warns:
"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor."
God never intended for us to be enslaved by lenders. Mismanaging money robs us of joy, freedom, and peace.
For those who struggle with paying bills on time, Matthew 5:35-37 teaches:
"Don’t make a vow using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to him. Don’t make a vow using the name of Jerusalem, because it also belongs to him, the great King. And don’t even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your promise. You cannot make one hair on your head white or black. Say only ‘yes’ if you mean ‘yes,’ and say only ‘no’ if you mean ‘no.’ If you say more than that, it is from the Evil One."
We must be people of integrity, honoring our commitments, including financial ones. Often, we use credit with the false belief that we can pay it back later. But if we don’t have the funds today, what guarantees we’ll have them tomorrow? This thinking leads us into debt, making us believe we can afford things we cannot.
Proverbs 21:20 says,
"A wise man saves for the future, but a foolish man spends whatever he gets."
Being a fool, according to the Bible, means refusing to listen to wisdom or learn from discipline. My upbringing taught me this lesson when my mother struggled with payments from Rent-A-Center. We lived in fear of the knock on the door demanding payment. Today, we may not face Rent-A-Center, but we still experience the consequences of financial irresponsibility.
Ecclesiastes 5:5 reminds us,
"It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it."
God expects us to be people of our word, organized, and disciplined. Our financial struggles often result from our own disorganization and disobedience. This also applies to our tithing practices.
Leviticus 27:30 instructs,
"A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy."
We are commanded to tithe a tenth of our income, honoring God with our wealth. Some may confuse tithing with giving offerings, but true tithing meets the 10% requirement. It’s an act of obedience and a test of our loyalty to God.
Malachi 3:8-10 states,
"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. 'Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,' says the Lord Almighty."
Tithing isn’t about salvation but about abundance and God’s promise to bless us. It’s a test of our obedience, stewardship, and loyalty.
Matthew 23:23 also clarifies,
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
Tithing is not an Old Testament practice alone. Jesus confirms its importance but emphasizes that it must be accompanied by justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
As we strive to manage our finances according to God’s principles, let us remember that it’s not just about financial freedom but spiritual alignment and leadership. Let us be transformed in how we think about and manage our resources, honoring God in all we do.
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