In Proverbs, we read of a god who blesses money. But money is more than a blessing. It is power. It lures rival gods and makes increasing demands. You must learn to bless it with faith and gratitude. But how? First, you must believe that God has given you this money for a purpose.
God's purpose
If you have ever wondered how God will use the money you earn, you will find that His purpose goes beyond the natural. In His Word, He identifies four fundamental purposes for money. Understanding these purposes will help you to relate money to God's work. The purpose of money is to provide the people of God with resources that will bless their lives.
One of God's purposes for blessing your money is to give you power. In the Bible, this power is called the power to earn wealth. But the real blessing comes from God. Jesus came so that His followers would enjoy an abundant life.
God's blessing
The Bible speaks of God's blessing on money in several places. It mentions it as one of God's blessings on people, but in a different way than we normally understand it. It reveals a plan and purpose for our money. Having money is not a sin, and God blesses those who deserve it with great wealth. However, we must not mistake money for blessing, as money is not necessarily good.
Scripture also gives us important limits on money. It says that we should not view money as our measure of self-worth, as a reward for living righteously, or as a sign of success and contentment. Instead, we should view it as an opportunity to serve God and His kingdom.
Giving charity
There are many benefits to giving money to a charity. Not only will your donations benefit the cause, but they'll also be tax-deductible. Giving stock or non-cash assets is one way to give to charity and is often more tax-efficient than donating cash. However, many charities have trouble accepting non-cash assets. One of the easiest ways to donate stock is to open a Giving Account, which allows you to transfer it directly from your brokerage account to charity.
Before you start giving, figure out how much you can afford to give each month. Achieving a monthly donation target is a good idea, as it makes it easier to remember and budget for tax purposes. Aside from money, donating your time can be equally rewarding. Just be sure to do enough research on the organization before you donate.
Faith
Blessing your money has a spiritual component. Proverbs celebrates the blessing of money. It is powerful. It can entice rival gods and make increasing demands. Yet, many faith camps don't discuss the spiritual aspect of work. It is easy to neglect the spiritual role of money and focus on the economic aspect.
God uses money to test our spiritual readiness. Those who spend beyond their means are failing a major test from God. Jesus said that money is the biggest test of our readiness for spiritual advancement.
God's plan
God has a purpose for your money, and you aren't supposed to use it to manipulate or hoard it. Instead, He created it to help you meet your basic needs and fulfill His mission. His plan is to use money to bless you now and in the future. This plan is called stewardship and it is sprinkled throughout the Bible. It's about personal responsibility, giving to the kingdom, and making a difference in the world.
As a Christian, you should seek to understand God's purpose for your money. Money is one of the greatest tools God created to bless us. The Bible lists four basic purposes for money and helps us understand how our finances relate to God's purpose.