5 Questions for Christians to Ask Before they Spend Money

There are over 2,000 Bible verses mentioning money in the Bible. Jesus’s parables teach directly about money—or as a metaphor—eleven out of forty times. Most references to money are warnings or instructions on God-honoring practices.

These days we are hearing more and more about ethical shopping, ethical fashion, ethical investments, etc. We are a fully globalized market. I click my mouse in America and a dozen computers start working on my order around the globe. The cotton comes from India, the fabric is spun in the Philippines, the boxes are shipped by Japan, trucks in California drive it across country to me. There are hundreds of people impacted by each dollar I spend. Like a spider web, if step on one strand, the whole web moves.

Questions about how workers are treated, how safe the factories are, how sustainable the processing works, they can be inundating and almost too much to consider.

Yet, we are called to be salt and light.

It has never been more overwhelming to do unto others as we would have them to unto us. In a way, it’s harder than ever to shoulder such responsibility. The burden of knowledge in a globalized economy makes it virtually impossible to avoid participating in harmful systems. Still, I don’t believe we need to be paralyzed in fear.

Where do Biblical Christian living and practical world ethics meet? The truth is, it’s another gray area. As it says in Romans 14:13-23, what may be right for you won’t be right for someone else. How do we consider what is an ethical purchase? Here are some questions to ask before putting your finance into the system:

1.       Does this support human dignity?

As Christians, we believe people are made in the image of God, precious and innately valuable. The ministry of Christ focused on the marginalized and rejected, in particular. While all of us will have differing levels of income and opportunities for work and upward mobility, all of these levels should be able to contribute to human flourishing.

Our money does not just buy things, it speaks. It invests in a system, good or bad. So, we must ask, does this brand, store, venue, destination contribute to the dignified work of the people connected to it? Do they work in dangerous or degrading conditions? Are they paid a minimum wage or a living wage?

2.       Am I buying this only because of cultural influences?

What we need and what we think we need are largely culturally based assumptions. When living in Australia, we became accustomed to hanging out laundry to dry in the sun. Electricity is very expensive there. When my family visited, they would ask why we didn’t have a dryer machine. We would explain that it just wasn’t a necessity, and we were happy without it. We would get confused, blank stare back. In their minds, a dryer was an essential need. But really, it was just cultural.

What do Christians NEED? What material comforts have you grown accustomed to that you consider a need? Is it really normal to have a large V8 truck with four-door cab when you drive to your job as an accountant? Do you really need more than a few pairs of shoes, or do you WANT them? Do you really need the latest fashion trends or are you accustomed to buying them because of consumeristic pressure? Why do you need a new phone? Is there really anything wrong with your old one?

Christians who leave margin in their budget because they refuse conformity to cultural consumerism, are able to afford more generosity and intentional investment in systems and goods that support human flourishing.

3.       Am I open to feedback on this purchase?

Have you ever considered having an accountability partner for your purchases? Not for every little thing. But for the big ones? Not your spouse or parents, but a deeply trusted friend who, like you, is committed to Godly wisdom and restraint with their finances.

This may feel radical at first. Why would I ask my friend for permission to spend my own money? The answer is in the question: “My Money.” Psalm 24 and 50 remind us that everything belongs to the Lord anyways. We are only borrowing what is rightfully His. If we are committed to living deeply committed lives of servanthood and honour to God, if we want our lives to look like something Heavenly and not just a carbon copy of our neighbors, then we should embrace a more radical example of financial stewardship.

Maybe set a threshold that any purchase that is a.) not an emergency, b.) not a need, c.) above a certain dollar amount (more than rent or basic life expenses). Then welcome the accountability of that trusted friend to give their perspective and insight.

Hey man, we’re thinking of buying this new car, our old one is becoming a money drain, this is the model we’re looking at and payment we would have. Do you think this is responsible? Could you pray for our motivations and let us know what God might be telling you?

If they really love you, if they’re really committed to your best life in honor of God, they are going to bring deep clarity and compassion into your purchasing choices.

4.       Does this only serve me?

We live in a paradox as Christians: we are infinitely valuable and precious, and yet we are called to deny ourselves and take up a daily cross. When we make financial decisions, sometimes we spend on ourselves only—this is not wrong. Our life is filled with blessing and fulfillment in God and sometimes he extends the blessing to material things. He made the material world, He made delicious food, He made breathtaking landscapes for us to see and worship Him as a result. But like the holy trinity, the blessings are expanded through community.

That pair of sneakers I’ve been longing for would cost the same and taking a friend to dinner. A cheaper car (and consequentially lower car payment) would free up more money to commit to a monthly charity. That dream ‘man-cave’ in the basement could become a guest room for person in need while they’re between jobs.

5.       Does this encourage renewal?

Salt preserves and salt heals. We are the salt of the earth. Do I contribute to decay or renewal when I spend? Do I help destroy the forests and oceans or do I help revive them? Do I support large, inhumane factories for cheap goods? Or do I invest in small, privately owned businesses? I often run into the road block of expense. An ethically produced item will always cost more than the alternative. It’s hard to spend $60 on a single T-shirt. It takes some getting used to. The grounding principle is that this investment contributes to renewal in the earth (churches may also want to consider where they are sourcing their merchandise). We are not called to be consumers who also go to church on Sunday. We are called to be a light in the darkness.

As always, when wading into challenging topics like this, remember the wisdom in Micah 6:8:

Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.

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For more information on these topics:

John Mark Comer address this same topic far more eloquently than I: https://johnmarkcomer.com/blog/the-true-cost

Good on You rates fashion brands based on rigid, ethical guidelines: https://goodonyou.eco/