Faith, Money, and the Three-Legged Stool
I hope I’m not alone. I think about money a lot.
- How to make it.
- How to save it.
- How to spend it well.
- How to give it.
If you’re anything like me, money crosses your mind often. It’s important that we talk about it. It’s crucial that we know what God thinks of it.Your pastor in church likely talks about tithing. Do you check out mentally either from familiarity with the topic or from disgust of the church asking for your money?Think of your faith as a three-legged stool. Your finances are one leg of that stool. When your money is aligned with God’s design, you have a sturdy foundation to sit on. When your money gets more devotion than God, you lose a leg of the stool, and the stool is difficult at best to sturdy.How can we keep our faith stool on a sturdy three legs?
Think of yourself as a money manager.
When you receive a paycheck, you’ve earned your income. It’s easy to get upset when taxes are taken from our check or a different withholding reduces the amount you have left each month.God never intended us to see tithing in this way. Tithing, or giving 10% of your income to your local church, is a crucial part of a personal relationship with God.If it’s tough to imagine giving that much money, it helps to see yourself as a money manager or investor. It’s already God’s money that He has placed under our management.If you were managing another person's money, wouldn’t you take extra care to invest well, spend carefully, and give to those who need it?
Dependence vs. Independent.
You either live in dependence on God or independent of Him. There is no in between.
Our faith asks us to depend completely on God. How are you doing depending on God in your finances?It’s easier to expect Him to provide when you’re in financial ruin – you have to depend on Him. Tithing when you’re in ruin is more difficult, but entirely essential. I’ve heard countless testimonies of people who only had a small amount of money and they still faithfully tithed. God then provided for all of their needs in other ways.When you’re check increases – are you depending upon him? How about when you get the unexpected bonus, commission, or financial gift? Is the first thing you think about, what you can buy with that money? I’ve totally been there – the whole, “I just got a bonus but God only wanted me to tithe on my base salary right?”Let’s be real – God does not care about that actual dollar amount – He cares about your devotion to Him which is reflected through the giving of your first and best income.Tithing regularly ensures that we always remain dependent upon God.
God’s got you.
It’s so easy to get carried away thinking that we can protect ourselves financially. Subconsciously we desire to have enough money to not worry about our needs.We max our 401K. We build up an emergency fund. We do all the right things to make sure we don’t ever have to need anything.The problem with this approach is that everything on this earth is temporary. The stock market can crash. The emergencies can be too many. The sickness can come.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“ - Matthew 6:19-21
In my personal experience, I lived a good portion of my early life lacking – never hungry, but never plenty. This made me always want a financial security blanket.The idea of trusting God with 10% of my income was wild when I knew that 10% could bring me the earthly security I desired. Still, the highest level of security you can have is full trust in God. He’s always provided more than I needed and blessed me with so much more than that.He will meet all your needs. Trust Him completely with your finances. He’s got you. Keep your faith stool on all three legs.