3—Stating the Obvious
What money is and what you can do with it
Whole books have been written about the history and nature of money, and most people know what it is basically from an economic point of view. First, it’s a store of value (although inflation messes with that). Second, it’s a unit of account that can be used to compare the value of one thing versus another. And third, money is a medium of exchange. You can exchange it for a cup of coffee. You can also use it to help someone in need or save and invest it for retirement.
It may sound like I'm stating the obvious when I say that money is essentially a gift and a tool for Christians. Money is a gift; the Bible teaches us that everything we have has been given to us by God. 1 Timothy 6:17 tells us not to put our hope on the uncertainty of riches, which is idolatry, but on God, who "richly provides us with everything to enjoy." We often hear that first part: don't put your hope in money, but it's easy to miss the "God gives us everything to enjoy" part.
Of course, this doesn't mean we should idolize money or let it take God's place as our ultimate source of joy. As C.S. Lewis said, human history is filled with people chasing after things other than God to make them happy, only to end up disappointed.
But the verse from Timothy and others like Ecclesiastes 5:19 tells us that it's okay to enjoy money: "It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the ability to enjoy it." That's right—enjoying God's blessings isn't just okay; it's part of His gift to us.
The key is balance. When we enjoy money as a gift from God—without guilt or fear—it can actually become a source of joy, peace, and generosity. Imagine loving your work, spending wisely, and finding joy in giving.
Money is a tool. When we see money as a tool God gives us to draw closer to Him and build His kingdom, it frees us from the stress and anxiety that often accompany it. Instead of chasing "financial success" as the world defines it, we'll experience true freedom—peace, contentment, and joy in managing what God has entrusted to us.
Because it’s a tool, money isn't inherently good or bad—it's neutral. But in our culture, it's often tied to power, status, and control, which can lead to unhealthy attitudes. The Bible warns us about the "love of money," which can become idolatry. Jesus even calls money a potential rival to God (Matthew 6:24). Putting money above God brings fear, worry, and pride into our hearts.
But here's some more good news: God gives us the wisdom and grace to use money as a tool for various good purposes. Here’s a graphic and a list of things you can do with money, with a few editorial comments from yours truly:
You can earn it. Most people will work and earn an income as the primary source of the money they have to spend.
You can spend it. This is the “living” part, which can be fun, but you need to spend less to live than you earn because every financial success depends on it.
You can give it away. If you give generously, you reduce the power that money can have over you. But more importantly, you can have MORE fun than just spending it all.
You can grow it: You need to save for the short term because the unexpected will occur (think “emergency fund,” and Christmas isn’t an emergency, as Dave Ramsey says). You should save and invest for long-term goals because there is always a tradeoff between the short and long term (the short term almost always wins if we let it).
You can owe it to creditors. That means you’re a borrower and are in debt, but it’s usually best to avoid (or payoff) most debt because it always mortgages the future. (There is some bad and “not so bad” debt; we’ll get into that later.)
You can owe it to the IRS: Rule number one is don’t mess with the IRS (pay your taxes).
You can use it to buy “protection.” I use the term loosely, but I’m talking about insurance, which means you do what you can to protect what you have from catastrophic loss because we live in a fallen world.
This very general, high-level framework gives us an overall context for discussing money and how to manage it according to biblical teachings.
The question is, “How is it going with your money at this stage in your life?” You’ve got to answer that question—in context—before you can chart a path forward. NGS can help you with that!
For reflection: Author Jaime Munson wrote an excellent book titled “Money God or Gift.” Which of those (God or gift) would characterize your view of money? What would your life look like if you viewed money as a gift and a tool; how could you better use it for your good, the good of others, and God’s glory?
Verse: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17, ESV).