Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 21

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Seven Biblical Fundamentals of Personal Finance

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

There are many sources of opinion and advice that men turn to when we consider the question of finance. However, Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

There are two significant statements here:

  • All of Scripture is inspired and profitable. 
  • All of Scripture is sufficient to guide us in every area of our lives. This will include the subject of our finances. 

The Westminster Confession also makes clear in chapter I section VI, that the Scriptures are sufficient to objectively give us principles to judge every aspect of our lives – The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: 

unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.

Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

Financial trouble can come in terms of job losses, mismanagement of finances leading to debt that led to near bankruptcy, investments that went bad resulting in severe losses impacting their nest-egg for retirement, excessive spending beyond their means that drives husband and wife to have to maintain jobs to service these monthly instalments that impacted family life.

We seek to understand from the Scripture Seven Principles of Personal Finance.

Principle One – God ordained work for wages

The first principle is the truth that God ordained work for wages and honest hard 

work is God-honouring (2 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Ephesians 4:28).

Principle Two – Acknowledge that God is the Giver of Wealth

It is God who provides and sustains us by blessing us with jobs and wages from our labour (Deuteronomy 8:18; Ecclesiastes 5:19).

Principle Three: God Requires That We Give Our First Fruits to Him

Christians are on a generous 90% commission on everything the Lord blesses us with! Acknowledgment that God is the Giver of all wealth is the fruit of a God fearer living in holy consecration to Him (Deuteronomy 26:1-10; Proverbs 3:9-10; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Genesis 14:20, 28:20-22; Malachi 3:8).

Principle Four: God Instructs Us to Provide for the Needs of our Family

Every head of the home has the duty to make provision from his income for the members of his own household – his wife and children and to take care of his parents especially in their old age (1 Timothy 5:8, 4; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Matthew 15:4-6; Genesis 47:12).

Principle Five: Enjoy the Fruit of Your Labour

Every man should eat, and enjoy the good of his labour, it is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:13; 5:19; 2:24; Psalm 128:1-2). It is borne out of gratitude. The blessing of those who fear God. This should not be wasted upon lustful indulgences (1 Peter 4:3). 

Principle Six: The Wise Man Saves and Avoids Taking Debts

Human labour is that which is ordained of God whereby man feeds or sustains himself physically till the day he dies. Money has been used to quantify this labour. It is a unit measure of a man’s labour whereby he could use to feed himself till the day he dies. Savings is the accumulated or stored value of human labour whereas debt is the obligation to serve human labour. This is the biblical concept of honest money (Deuteronomy 28:12, 15:6; Proverbs 21:20, 22:7; Genesis 41:48). God help us to be wise stewards for His glory.

Principle Seven: More Blessed to Give

The blessing of giving has to be experienced. How can we understand this truth except through the exercise of faith in our giving? We give for the gospel’s sake, to support the weak, those who are unable to return our favour, those who are in need. We have to take God at His Word to give and experience God’s blessing. When we give, we lose what we have given, how can it be more blessed? We are to take Jesus at His Word, obey and behold His glory in our lives by our giving (Acts 20:35; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Proverbs 19:17; Psalm 37:21; Deuteronomy 15:7, 10; Romans 12:13a; Ephesians 4:11-12).

When we seek after God’s ways, we shall not be disappointed. Notice the first world nations today are suffering in debt and living at the expense of the future generation because they have not sought or have departed from the wisdom of God’s laws. 

May we learn well these principles for our eternal benefit. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee