33–Lever #3: Spending (Part Two—Making Lifestyle Decisions)
Big decisions with ever bigger consequences
The question, "What kind of lifestyle does God want me to live?" is a hard one to answer because the Bible is long on principles (and wisdom) and short on prescriptive practices about such things. It doesn't say to live here or there, or to buy a small house or a big one, to buy this car or that one, or whether to send your children to public or private school.
I certainly can’t answer these questions for you; only God can. Fortunately, He has given us His Word, which suggests that your decisions about lifestyle and money aren't about how much you have or specific spending rules or amounts. They're about your attitude toward money and how you use what you’ve been given.
A truly biblical approach to money and spending is heart-centered. It's about faithfully aligning your financial decisions with godly wisdom and principles (Proverbs 3:6). Many lifestyle debates we see—even among Christians—often come from misreading what the Bible says about wealth and possessions. Some say it teaches poverty (asceticism), and others say it teaches abundance (prosperity gospel), and both are mostly false.
I touched on this in some earlier articles, but the Bible doesn't offer a one-size-fits-all lifestyle for believers. Instead, it presents many individuals in very different financial conditions—from kings with vast riches to faithful widows with nothing. (Not to mention Jesus Himself, who owned only the clothes on His back.) What mattered wasn't the size of their bank account but their hearts and what they treasured. The Bible is clear on this: We love what we treasure (Matthew 6:21).
The Bible mainly distinguishes between earthly treasure and heavenly treasure. The hard question it poses is, “Where is your treasure?” We would all like to think that we treasure the things of heaven, but that is not always true. Since that is the case, Jesus commands us not to store up earthly treasure. Instead, we are to store up heavenly treasure.
Some see this as an injunction against saving; isn’t that storing up earthly treasure? It certainly could be, but it is hard to square that view with other teachings in Scripture, so I believe it comes back to our hearts. Where do we place our love, trust, faith, and hope? What do we love? The treasures of this world or heaven?
We all need to know that we tend to love earthly treasure, so we must guard our hearts and work against it.
In the previous article, I suggested you start at the high level, the "big picture" of your lifestyle choices. But while those decisions are big, drift happens in the small things. For example, once you've decided where to live, you've already defined much of your financial path. Your choice of house often determines whether you'll need one car or two, what kind of school your children will attend, and what your commuting costs will look like. So, take that decision seriously. (We’ll discuss the house purchase specifically in a later article.) Jesus told His followers to "count the cost" before starting something significant (Luke 14:28), and this is no exception.
However, the more significant spiritual challenges come later. As your income grows (yes, it probably will, at least for most), you’ll be tempted, not necessarily to make bad decisions, but to gradually adopt a lifestyle just a little more comfortable, a little more luxurious, a little more image-conscious. It won't feel like much at first—a nicer coffee, a bigger vacation, better gadgets. But these small changes can subtly affect your heart and priorities over time.
Again, it is not that buying any of those things is wrong; it is what they can do to our hearts if we're not careful. That's why some type of budget (a/k/a spending plan) can be used as a financial cash flow management tool and a spiritual discipline. A budget helps you tell your money where to go before your heart can send it somewhere else. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us to “keep [our] heart[s] with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (ESV).
Lifestyle is primarily about stewardship and managing three limited resources: time, money, and relationships. We can convert one into the other in many ways; they are "fungible." You can turn time into money by working, freelancing, or serving others with your skills. You can also turn money into time by hiring someone to fix your roof or mow your lawn so you can rest or serve your family or others. To some degree, we can use both to invest in relationships: spending time with your spouse or family or church community, buying a gift for a friend, or choosing not to work late to have dinner with your kids.
The key is to discern your limiting factor—time, money, or relational energy—and steward the others accordingly. For example, a physician or busy executive may have more money than time. Wealthier believers may wisely invest in conveniences like a house cleaner or babysitter, not out of laziness but to preserve energy and time for ministry or family. Others stretch limited time and resources to increase their giving, like the widow who gave two small coins, whom Jesus praised for her sacrificial generosity (Mark 12:41–44).
Again, there’s no one-size-fits-all. But remember: God cares how we trade these currencies—because they’re not ours. God has entrusted them to us for His purposes and our good.
Flexibility is a virtue; James warns us not to presume on tomorrow. “You do not know what tomorrow will bring… Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:14–15, ESV). That means we shouldn't build a lifestyle that keeps us from responding to God’s call. If God calls you to a lower-paying ministry or non-profit job, could you say yes? If He nudges you to relocate to serve others, perhaps to help plant a church, could you move freely—or are you tied down by debt, possessions, and obligations?
The more financial and lifestyle margin we leave, the more available we are for God’s purposes. (More on this concept of “margin” in a later article.) Flexibility is a form of faithfulness.
Contentment is another way to keep our lifestyle in the proper perspective, and gratitude is the foundation of contentment. (1 Thessalonians. 5:18; Phillipians 4:11–13). Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” That kind of contentment isn’t natural—it’s learned. And it begins with gratitude.
A grateful heart keeps lifestyle drift in check. When you regularly thank God for what you already have—a roof over your head, food on the table, family, work, and community—you’ll be less tempted to chase what others have. Gratitude reorients us to see God’s provision through the lens of grace, not comparison.
It will protect your finances and soul more than any budget ever could. In reality, we need both—a budget built with wisdom from a heart full of gratitude.
Paul reminds us that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6, ESV). However, he also warns that the desire to get rich can lead to "ruin and destruction." You don't have to be wealthy to live wisely. Even if you have a lot of money, you just need to live simply enough that your lifestyle doesn't hinder your freedom, generosity, or joy.
Making lifestyle decisions isn't just about what you spend (and save); it is also about generosity and how it affects our lifestyle decisions (2 Corinthians 9:6–8). Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35, ESV), and Paul told the Corinthian church that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV). But generous living doesn't just mean setting aside 10% (although that's a good place to start or a goal to aspire to); it reshapes everything else, including our lifestyle.
A generous lifestyle asks, “How can I live in a way that allows me to give more freely, joyfully, and often? “ That might mean fewer luxuries and fewer commitments so that you can devote more time and money to things that matter. God doesn't just want you to give; He wants your lifestyle to be a launchpad for ministry and generosity.
I’ve already mentioned the wisdom of creating margin in your finances (Ephesians 5:15–17). Proverbs says, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down” (Proverbs 21:20, ESV). The wise leave margin—space between what they have and what they use. Margin allows you to respond to unexpected needs, pivot when circumstances change, and rest when you're weary. It's not just a financial concept. You need time margin, emotional margin, relational margin. In a world of overcommitment and burnout, margin enables serving and ministry.
With God's help, a wise steward strives to find the right balance in their lifestyle choices. You can pursue a lifestyle of underspending, but that can be out of fear or frugality without faith (some would call this hoarding). Or you can overspend and create a lifestyle you can't afford to maintain (which leads to indebtedness and the stress and anxiety it brings). Wisdom walks a careful middle path.
Your lifestyle is also a witness; it tells a story to a watching world. Is it one of humility, simplicity, generosity, and joy? Or is it a reflection of the same anxiety, comparison, and striving the world offers? The world is watching. In a culture consumed by materialism, a quiet, content, gracious lifestyle is countercultural and can be deeply compelling to some.
For reflection: A faithful lifestyle isn’t about doing less or living small—it’s about living wisely, freely, and fruitfully for the long haul. You don’t have to get everything perfect from the get-go; take one step at a time with a grateful heart. What small steps can you take to change your lifestyle that enhance your “I” and enable you to do more for God’s Kingdom?
Verse: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:12, ESV).