Biblical Stewardship: A Christian’s Money Goals → A More Beautiful Life Collective

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What should be a Christian’s Money Goals? How should we characterize our relationship with money when we view money as a tool, not an idol? This post will talk about Biblical Stewardship and give you some financial goals based on faith to work towards.

S4E6 – What Does the Bible Say About Money? | 20+ Scriptures on Finances & Biblical Stewardship – A More Beautiful Life Collective Podcast

What does the Bible actually say about money, wealth, debt, saving, and financial stewardship?Money touches nearly every part of our lives—and it can easily become a source of stress, fear, or even an idol. But Scripture gives us a different way to think about our finances.In this episode of A More Beautiful Life Collective, we're looking at 20+ Scriptures about money and finances to build a biblical framework for how Christians should think about wealth.We'll talk about:Why money and possessions can never truly satisfy us• The danger of allowing wealth to become our source of securityWhat the Bible says about debt, hard work, saving, and generosityWhy wise living often leads to better financial stewardshipHow to redefine what it actually means to be “wealthy” Why the ultimate purpose of our resources is bigger than simply accumulating moreBiblical stewardship isn't about becoming as wealthy as possible—and it isn't about believing that money itself is bad. It's about putting money in its proper place.God should be our primary love, our trust should be in Him rather than our wealth, and the resources He gives us should ultimately be used to bless others and glorify Him.Read the full post here: https://amorebeautifullifecollective.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-finances-with-20-scriptures-on-finances/ SPEND WITH PURPOSE BUDGET PLANNER: Create a budget that helps you put your money in its proper place, get control of your finances, and spend according to what matters most.https://amorebeautifullifecollective.com/product/spend-with-purpose-budget-planner-printable-spiral-bound-money-management-system-digital-version-only/Visit our Shop to get a copy of any of the resources mentioned in this episode: I’m your host, Cayce Fletcher, and you can learn a little bit more about me here. While you’re here, would you consider leaving a comment, rating, or review? You can find our podcast, A More Beautiful Life Collective Podcast, wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or watch on YouTube. Subscribe to the blog for access to our latest content and some freebies. I love creating and sharing resources with you. You can find all of our resources at A More Beautiful Life Collective Shop.Keep creating a life you love, and cultivating your heart for God.

In this post, we are going to be talking about how to put together a budget that follows biblical principles. We talked about what the Bible says about money in this post here. This episode will give you the practical knowledge to put money in its proper place.

If you would like resources to help you start to create a budget that follows the principles we’ve talked about, check out the shop which has a budgeting bundle with everything you need to start getting your money in order today.

Put money in its proper place: Money as a tool, not as an idol.

In our episode on what the Bible says about money, we looked at some basic Biblical principles we can find across scripture. Here are some guiding principles:

God should be our primary love, not money.
God should be the source of our trust, not our wealth.
God is the originator of our wealth. Everything comes from him.
Wise living can lead to wealthy living.
Hard work can lead to wealthy living.
We are blessed in order to bless others and give glory to God.

It can seem like the Bible conflicts on whether or not money is a good thing, but we should recognize that the Bible warns against the ‘love of money’ as being the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). We are told that if someone does not work, they should not eat (Thess. 3:10). This shows that there is a responsibility for people to pursue some amount of money. We aren’t meant to be freeloaders or reject money completely.

So, how should we view money?

Money – like technology, our possessions, and other neutral things – is a tool. We can use it for good things, blessing others and supporting ministries. We can also use it for harmful things, promoting sin and harm. And, when we allow it to become our primary love, it can become an idol that draws us away from God.

We have to put these tools in their proper place. If we approach money in a biblical way, we have to put money in its proper place as a tool. It should not be our primary love. It should not be the driving force our lives. But, it can be something that can help us to bless others and glorify God if dealt with rightly.

Biblical Stewardship: Stewarding Your Money Well

We need to put money in its proper place. We have to approach money as a tool. But, how do we consistently do this while guarding against the ever-present temptation to make money an idol?

We need to approach our money as a steward. A steward is someone who takes care of something that they do not necessarily own. Their primary responsibility is to handle what they are in charge of well until the owner returns.

A parable that shows this idea of biblical stewardship is the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The talents in this story could represent lots of different elements of the Christian life. It could be our lives as a whole, it could be our spiritual gifts (or talents), and it could even be our actual wealth. Regardless of what the talents represent, the principle of biblical stewardship is plainly seen. The owner entrusts his wealth to his servants. Their job is to make the wealth grow. Two servants do this. One servant does not. The servant who buries the talent is the one who is a poor steward, and he was punished for it.

How does the principle of biblical stewardship affect our relationship with money?

Our money is not our own. It’s God’s.
Because the money is not our own, we should take good care of it.
Taking ‘good care’ of our money means that we deal with it wisely.
Dealing with it wisely means that we (1) stay out of debt, (2) don’t waste it, and (3) put it to good and proper use.

What does the Bible say about biblical stewardship?

Biblical Stewardship #1 – We need to use our money to glorify God, not ourselves.

The pursuit of money and wealth can easily lead us down the path of idolatry. When we spend our whole lives pursuing money, we often can make it the God of our lives. We will do whatever it takes – sacrifice whatever we need to – to get a bigger bank account and more stuff in our houses. This pursuit is meaningless and will ultimately result in nothing when measured in light of eternity.

Our money should be used to glorify God. When we earn money, we do so with the knowledge that it is allowing us to support the work of the kingdom. Our money should not be a vehicle to puff ourselves up.

Why are you pursuing money? If you are just pursuing it to glorify yourself, then you need to evaluate your heart.

Biblical Stewardship #2 – We need to know our ‘money health.’

I know when I get stressed about money, my coping mechanism is to stick my head in the sand. I don’t want to look at balances and budgets. I just cross my fingers and hope that things will turn out okay.

Obviously, that doesn’t often lead to a healthy budget. We have to have an understanding of our income and expenses. We need to know the status of our finances.

Proverbs 27:23 says, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.” We need to know where we stand. This means that we need to know what our money is being used for. This means being honest with ourselves as we track and evaluate our expenses.

Biblical Stewardship #3 – We need to be wise in our dealings with money.

The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom on how to deal with our money. We can use our money foolishly, and we can use it wisely.

Foolishness in our dealings with money looks like:

Spending money on excess and frivolities
Trying to look ‘more expensive’ than we really are
Getting wealth by dishonest means
Wasting money on debt

Wisdom in our dealings with money looks like:

Earning income through consistent, steady work
Small, quiet living with God is better than luxurious living without him
Generosity and kindness will reap rewards
Trusting in God leads to riches

We need to use our money wisely.

Biblical Stewardship #4 – We need to hold our money with open hands.

Because our money is not our own, we have to recognize that ultimately we are not in control of our money. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that we spend our money foolishly. Like I said before, we want to be wise in our dealings with money. But, at the same time, our money is God’s money. We have to be open to changing our ‘money goals’ to be reflective of God’s goals for us. This means that we tithe, support ministry, and show hospitality and generosity. Our budget should be reflective of our values. We have to put ‘our money where our mouth is.’

What should a Christian’s money goals be?: Goals for Biblical Stewardship

Financial goals can help us to be intentional with our money. It can be so valuable to set goals and see the fruit of your labor as you reach them. Importantly, our goals shouldn’t just be a bigger bank account. A Christian’s money goals should reflect our values. Here are some goals that you can shoot for as you begin to approach your finances biblically.

Pay down debt. Proverbs 22:7 says, “The borrower is slave to the lender.” When we amass debt, we often spend our days working just to pay it off (or even worse – just paying the interest on the debt). One of the best ways to get our finances in order is to pay down debt.
Stop relying on credit cards. Credit cards seem like a given for modern life, but they often just lead to more pain than they’re worth. A great goal can be to stop relying on credit cards as a short-term loan. Can you still use them for the points and rewards? Depending on your personality and level of self-discipline, yes – as long as you are religious in paying them off each statement.
Pay cash for big expenses. This goal goes hand in hand with the last goal. If you don’t want to rely on credit cards, you have to save money before an expense comes up. Then, you’ll be able to pay for that expense in cash. In the budgeting world, this type of savings is called a sinking fund. We’ll talk more about this in a future episode.
Build a fully funded emergency fund. Another way to eliminate the need to rely on credit cards is to start saving for an emergency fund. The current recommendation is to have at least $1000 set aside for emergencies. But, an even better goal is to set aside 3-6 months of expenses.
Invest in your future. Proverbs 21:20 says, “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” As you begin to get ahead of your budget (and hopefully stop living paycheck to paycheck), you can begin to invest in your future. This means preparing for retirement through savings and investments. And, it also means investing in the hopes and dreams you have for yourself, whether that’s buying a house, adopting a child, or participating in mission trips.
Find freedom in doing work that you love. Another goal that you may have is to use your newfound freedom to explore other options for your life. When we are enslaved to debt, we often have to stay in a pretty regimented job working long hours to keep up our lifestyle. This may mean that you aren’t able to spend time with your kids or volunteer at your church. Your life is driven by the bills you have to pay. As you find financial freedom, you can begin to evaluate what you want your life to look like. What career do you want? Do you want to start a business you can pass on? What does generational wealth mean to you? Do you want to be able to stay home with your kids? Do you want more flexible hours? You have more freedom to choose.
Tithe regularly. Tithing can be a sore subject in a world of televangelist and dubious megachurches. People can lack trust in their churches – not believing that their church will use their money in wise and just ways. I would just say this in response. The only one of the disciples who questioned the use of money throughout the gospels was Judas… who was stealing the money and ultimately sold Jesus to the priests. Yes, you want to be wise in who you are giving your money to. But, hopefully, you trust the church you are a part of. If you do, then maybe not tithing is just an excuse to keep the money for yourself. I don’t think there is any kind of magic number that we need to give, though 10% of our paycheck is a common goal. Tithing ultimately reminds us that our money is God’s. By giving the money back to him through giving to local churches and ministry, we are showing that we are not holding our money too tightly.
Give generously and support ministries. When we talk about budgeting and money, we often focus on personal goals. As we’ve seen though, we should also be concerned with the work God is doing. We need to ‘seek his kingdom first’ in regards to finances as well as in everything else. Tithing is a great first step, but we can go beyond this. Think about how you could support ministries that do the work of God. This could be church conferences, parachurch ministries, mission work, or even just supporting local ministries like food banks and shelters. It could also be in the form of supporting individual people through showing regular hospitality in your home.
Build a legacy you can pass on. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” When we make wise choices with our money, the ramifications of those decisions don’t just end with us. They are passed down to our children and even our grandchildren. Our legacy could look like an inheritance. It could also look like a family business or even family mission work.

The Spend with Purpose Budget Planner: Your Guide to Biblical Stewardship

You can download the free guide below to begin tracking your goals, or get the FULL Spend with Purpose Planner. This planner comes with:

Budget Vision Sheets to help you set your goals
Debt Payoff Trackers and Wealth Trackers to assess your progress
Monthly Budget Templates and Cash Envelope Trackers
Cash Envelope Templates
and more

Get the full Planner here: Spend with Purpose Budget Planner

Is okay to pray for your finances?

Our pursuit should be after the fruits of the Spirit. We should desire the kingdom above all else. But, when there is too much month left at the end of the money, it is easy to lay awake in bed and worry about how you will make ends meet.

In these moments, it is important to pray and be content. Our finances are one of the key areas of our lives that can be an exercise in trusting God. Part of this trust is found when we don’t feel like we have the money to meet our needs. We have to trust that God will take care of us. Part of biblical stewardship is recognizing that God is the source of everything we have – and we can trust him to provide it.

In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, Jesus tells his listeners not to worry. He says, “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Paul repeats this idea in 1 Timothy when he says, “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

How do we demonstrate this trust? Giving is one way, but I think the primary way is through prayer. When we pray, we are inviting God into our situation. We are casting our burdens onto him. We are asking for his help. Prayer is central to biblical stewardship.

We need to recognize why we are praying for our finances. If it is just to amass more wealth, we probably need to check our hearts. But, if it is to get through a difficult season, then I believe God welcomes our prayers. He will not always answer them with riches, but he can provide comfort and provision – your basic needs – in that season.

As we pray, we can cultivate contentment with our hearts. Whether we have a little or a lot, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:12-13). This contentment truly paves the way for wise living. Biblical Stewardship should lead to a heart that is content in every season.

Becoming a Good Steward

Being a good steward of our money means that we recognize these bible-based principles.

Biblical Stewardship Principles:

Your money is not your own.
Your money should be used to glorify God.
You should know what your money is being used for.
You should use your money in wise ways.

How will you put these biblical stewardship principles into practice in your life?

When we recognize that we are stewards of our money, it completely changes our relationship with money. The next episode in this series will help you to know how to practically get started on getting your budget in order.

If you would like resources to help you get started, check out our Spend with Purpose Budget and Bill Planner with printable worksheets and trackers to help you reach your money goals.