7 Ways Faith Should Guide Your Financial Decisions

1. Seek First the Kingdom

Like everything in life, it begins with our heart.

Faith guides our decisions to seek God’s kingdom over material and worldly possessions. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Our primary focus should be on spiritual growth and living according to God’s will rather than accumulating wealth and material goods.

God didn’t design wealth to be the priority. When it becomes our main concern, that is idolatry, which is why Paul equates greed with serving other gods. Reading through the Old Testament, idolatry leads to destruction and slavery. God alone is worthy of worship and our whole lives. Material things rust, fade, and prove unstable. The Father gives us an eternal reward, and what we have in him, we never lose.

Seeking God’s kingdom first encourages contentment and reduces the desire for materialism. Hebrews 13:5 advises, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Contentment in God’s provision helps us make wise financial choices that reflect our faith and values.

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2. Trust the Father’s Provision

When we seek God’s kingdom first, we trust God to provide for our needs. Trusting the Father’s provision alleviates worry and anxiety. To further explore Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, verses 25-26 record his words. “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?” Jesus assures us that God, who cares for all his creation, will also provide for our needs.

As humans with the experience of lack and desire, we naturally worry about our own provision and life. But this is part of the curse (Genesis 3:17-19), to work and provide for ourselves, lest we starve and perish. And yet we perish anyway. In Christ, the Father gives us the Kingdom, where we have eternal life and no longer need to worry about our needs. Our Father knows and provides.

When we trust God’s provision, we make financial decisions rooted in faith rather than fear. This trust frees us from the constant anxiety about our financial security and enables us to live more generously and confidently. Believing in this promise allows us to manage our finances with peace and assurance.

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3. Understand Stewardship and Accountability

In thankfulness for God’s provision and realizing he is our source, God uses finances to disciple us. Viewing our finances in faith helps us understand the principles of stewardship and accountability.

Everything we have is a gift from God, and we are entrusted to manage these resources wisely. Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Recognizing that our possessions belong to God encourages us to handle our finances responsibly and carefully.

Stewardship involves using our resources to honor God and fulfill his purposes since we seek His Kingdom first. In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus illustrates the importance of being good stewards. In Matthew 25:14-30, a master entrusts his servants with different amounts of money, expecting them to invest it wisely. The servant who manages his master’s money effectively is rewarded, while the one who does nothing with his entrusted money is reprimanded. This parable teaches us that God expects us to use our financial resources to generate positive outcomes and further his kingdom.

Accountability is also a key aspect of stewardship. Romans 14:12 reminds us, “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Knowing we are accountable to God for how we use his resources motivates us to make financial decisions that reflect integrity and purpose.

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4. Personal and Family Responsibility

As stewards, God expects us to fulfill responsibilities associated with social roles like a parent, child, brother, or employee. The Bible clearly outlines the duty to provide for ourselves and our families. 1 Timothy 5:8 states, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Here, the apostle Paul reveals the spiritual responsibility of ensuring our family’s well-being. We reflect our faith through practical means.

Meeting personal and family needs is an essential aspect of stewardship. Proverbs 13:22 advises, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” This wisdom underscores the importance of planning and saving for immediate needs and future generations. Doing so honors God’s provision and demonstrates foresight and care for our loved ones.

This responsibility doesn’t become an excuse to refrain from living generously in our church or community. We can struggle with worry and fear regarding providing for our families, sometimes more so than ourselves. While God places us in positions of responsibility, we still require the Spirit’s empowerment and guidance to keep from fear so we can be generous in every aspect of life (Acts 20:35).

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5. Generosity to Others

Using faith as a lens for our finances, God encourages us to live generously, especially towards the poor, resting in the Father’s provision. The Bible consistently calls believers to help those in need, reflecting God’s love and care for the less fortunate. Proverbs 19:17 states, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” God gives to people in need, including us, and we reflect his heart when we do the same in various ways. Generosity towards the poor is not only a moral obligation but also a form of worship and trust in God's faithfulness.

Jesus emphasizes this principle in Matthew 25:35-40, where he identifies with the needy. “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink... The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Jesus identifies so much with people experiencing poverty that he counts our generosity to them as treating him generously.

Living generously requires trust in God’s eternal Kingdom provision. Back to the first step—seek first God’s Kingdom and righteousness, complete with the promise that he meets our needs according to his riches (Philippians 4:19). Generosity reflects our faith in God’s abundance and our willingness to share His blessings with others.

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6. Honesty and Integrity

Since our culture views money as a personal topic, our financial lives offer many opportunities to reveal our true character. We should take these opportunities, which people may not see, to instill honesty and integrity in all our dealings. The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and ethical behavior, reflecting God’s nature. Proverbs 11:1 states, “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.” God values honesty in business and personal transactions, condemning deceit and unfair practices.

Proverbs 10:9 affirms, “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Living with integrity means being transparent and honest, ensuring that our actions align with our words and values. This builds trust and fosters a positive reputation, both personally and professionally.

In the New Testament, Paul underscores the need for integrity in financial decisions. In 2 Corinthians 8:21, he writes, “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.” Paul’s words remind us that our financial conduct should honor God and maintain a good witness before others, reflecting our faith through ethical behavior.

Honesty and integrity also involve avoiding greed and deceit. Proverbs 13:11 warns, “Dishonest money dwindles, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” We should earn and save money through honest means, promoting steady and righteous financial growth.

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7. Planning and Investment

Money becomes a way to invest in the future. Our generosity doesn’t dismiss planning and saving for the future, both in this life and eternity. The Bible encourages foresight and prudent management of resources, which aligns with responsible stewardship. Proverbs 21:5 states, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

The Parable of the Talents also illustrates the importance of investment, both in the world and spiritually (Matthew 25:14-30). The servants who plan and invest the money responsibly are rewarded, while those who fail are reprimanded. This parable teaches how God expects us to plan for the future.

Faith-driven planning involves setting goals, budgeting, and saving. Proverbs 6:6-8 advises, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” The example of the ant highlights the wisdom of preparing for future needs and investing resources during times of abundance.

Scripture even encourages diversifying a portfolio. Ecclesiastes 11:2 advises, “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” Diversifying investments reduces risk and demonstrates wise financial stewardship. We must be careful not to make building wealth an idol, and we should use these gifts and growing finances to be even more generous to people with low incomes and missions, not spending it on ourselves.

God seeks to bless us; to do so, he must challenge our thinking and behavior. With money, the world enslaves us to our own desires or the control of others. Christ frees us from these bondages to properly steward money through faith and the Kingdom culture. When we do, we discover the resources of heaven to bless others and experience joy and peace instead of fear and worry.

Peace.

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