The Gospel and Our Finances
My husband and I were ecstatic when we found out we were pregnant. That excitement didn’t waver until we were given a quote for the expected costs of labor and delivery. As the reality of that large number set in, we looked at our budget, set our savings goals, and worked tirelessly to meet them. We excitedly accepted secondhand baby clothes, spent hours on DIY nursery décor, and almost cried when a friend unexpectedly sent seven Costco-sized boxes of diapers. I even joked with my husband that if I didn’t get an epidural it would save us money—an idea I quickly discarded in the midst of labor.
But after all the sacrifices we made, we sat at our kitchen table holding our infant daughter with a medical bill marked “Paid In Full” sitting in front of us. The satisfaction of seeing such positive results was the reason I had taken on the responsibility of planning and managing the budget after we settled into our married life. I loved the control I seemed to have and was always ready to sacrifice for new savings goals. But my eyes became more fixated on our finances and less fixated on my Savior. My husband’s least favorite words quickly became, “Can we talk about the budget?”
What once was an excellent tool to help us be diligent with our resources had quickly been refashioned into an idol that sat on the throne of my heart. I heaped guilt on myself when I overspent on our monthly groceries, I was angry when my daughter’s croup bill was higher than I had expected, and I nagged my husband incessantly about his spending—all because the demands of this idol weren’t met.
Whether we err on the side of seeking refuge in financial security, find ourselves living under mounds of debt, or we’re fearful and anxious in light of financial uncertainty, managing money biblically can be a struggle.
So how do we manage our finances in a manner that glorifies God? It starts when we reorient our understanding of finances in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When God created the world, there was no lack of resources available to Adam and Eve. There was no need to plan a budget because they lived in paradise! There was no fear of whether or not bills would be paid or if there would be enough food on the table.[1] But in the aftermath of the fall, paradise was lost and broken.[2] We see the rich seeking satisfaction in their wealth,[3] we see the poor begging in their lack,[4] and we see warnings about the temptation to put our hope in riches.[5]
Those stories jump off the pages of scripture and play out in our everyday lives. We find ourselves seeking peace in large emergency funds. We despair over debt. We covet the wealth of others, or we pride ourselves in our own.
So where does that leave us? It leaves us in the same place that all sin leaves us—in need of a Savior.
Jesus Christ is our only hope. It’s in him alone, not our money, that we find peace surpassing all understanding.[6] He is the same yesterday when we had wealth, he is the same today when we have to find room in the budget for more diapers, and he is the same tomorrow when our child’s dare-deviled playground stunt results in an ER bill.[7] While the future of our finances is often filled with questions, our future with him remains secure.
But the glorious hope of the gospel doesn’t begin when we get to heaven. It meets us right here, right now. No matter our financial situation, God promises he will never leave us or forsake us.[8] This promise unfolds in the call God has given to his church. When God saves us, he never intends for us to walk through life alone. He adopted us into his family! We must remember this in all financial situations.
The gospel shows us how to face times of “plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil. 4:12). We can face each season, not with anxiety, but with perseverance and hope. We can seek perfect wisdom from our Heavenly Father and from the wisdom of older saints in our local church. And we can rejoice in peace knowing that, in any and every circumstance, it’s through Christ that we receive our strength.[9]
If we’re in a season of abundance, the gospel motivates us to give generously to those in need—first and foremost to our brothers and sisters in Christ.[10] If our cabinets are bare, our children need new clothes (again), and we receive paychecks that barely cover half the expenses before us, the gospel gives us peace because our Heavenly Father cares for us and knows our needs.[11] His church is a tangible display of the gospel as its members grow and walk together, supporting one another through all circumstances.
We can’t serve both God and money.[12] But we can serve God by managing money wisely. Every time we sit down to look at our finances, we must realize that Jesus—not our bank account—is our king! Every time we plan a budget, every sacrifice we make for a savings goal, every debt that is paid off, every time we give from our excess, we can do it all for God’s glory!
Whether we have little or lots, we praise God![13] Trust him in times of need, be generous in times of plenty, be faithful with what he has provided, and let your hope rest securely in the glorious riches of Christ our Savior.
[1] Genesis 3:16
[2] Genesis 3:23–24
[3] Ecclesiastes 5:10
[4] Job 24:4–5
[5] Psalm 62:10
[6] Philippians 4:6–7
[7] Hebrews 13:8
[8] Hebrews 13:5–6
[9] Philippians 4:13
[10] Galatians 6:10
[11] 1 Peter 5:7
[12] Matthew 6:24
[13] 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
