Biblical Financial Principles

God Created Everything:

 In the beginning there was nothing, and God created (Genesis 1:1).

God owns everything:

“The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:8). “Every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). “The earth and the fullness thereof belong to the Lord and all those who live within” (Psalm 37:21).

Flowing out of the fact that God created and owns everything is the logical conclusion that whatever we possess is not really ours, but belongs to God; we are simply entrusted with our possessions. Therefore, we are trustees, not owners. Although 1 Corinthians 4 (quoted below) does not directly refer to material possessions, its counsel is applicable to this aspect of life as well.

We are Trustees:

 “A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful” (1 Corinthians 4: 1-2).

We can’t serve two masters: “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despises the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Use recourses wisely:

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25: 21-28).

Pursue biblical, financial knowledge:

“Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understand” (Proverbs 23:23). “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

Measurable goals and realistic plans:

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3).

Trustworthiness matters:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? (Luke 16: 10-12).