8 Biblical Responses To Your Money Questions
Money isn't the root of all evil; the "love of money" is the root of all evil. "Money is the answer for everything" the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 10:19.
Everyone desires to have more money. Some people would like to make you think that desiring more money is a sign of greed. That's not true. In reality, the bigger a person's vision in life, the more in need of finances they are. It takes a lot of money to finance Disney World. It takes a lot of money to finance a ministry. It takes a lot of money to build a hospital or provide medical aid to those in need. It takes a lot of money to send your kids to college. It takes a lot of money to build a college. If you have a vision, you will need money.
Yes, there are some people who are simply greedy. But their character defects shouldn't cast a dark cloud on your hopes and dreams. DREAM BIG! And ask God to show up in your life in A BIG WAY!
If you pray about everything else - a mate, healing, deliverance, etc. - then you should also be asking God to bless you with the finances you need to finance His vision for your life. But when you do ask God for money, be prepared for the answer He gives you. Here are a few of God's responses to our requests for money:
1. "If you need more money, then realize that I've already given you 'something' that can generate it in your life." In the Bible, there was the story of a woman who was extremely in debt. Her two sons were on the verge of being sold into slavery to pay off her debts. A prophet showed up at her house and gave her a word from God how to get out of her situation. He told her, in essence, that the solution to her problem was sitting...in her own house. He told her to get all of her pots - and borrow some more from friends and neighbors - and bring them to him. At that point, God miraculously filled her pots with enough oil to pay off her debts, save her sons, and reverse her financial predicament.
The moral of the story is: In most cases, when we ask God for money, He will redirect our attention to things we aleady have, and remind us that He has already given us something that can change our financial predicaments - we just need to find out what that "something" is.
2. "I don't place money into your hands. I place ideas into your head." The Bible tells us that God gives us "the ability to get wealth" in Deuteronomy chapter 8. Most people just want money to fall into their hands. That is wrong. That is a sign of laziness. In the book of Proverbs, God mentions that laziness, alcohol addiction and pride (the unwillingness to take advice) are among the main causes of poverty. God doesn't bless lazy people. Be willing to get an idea and work it. God's reward for faithfulness to Him is that He gives us ideas and visions of things that can change our lives. "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions" (Proverbs 8:12).
3. "An instruction always come before a reward." God doesn't necessarily work for us; He works with us. God doesn't do all of the work. He gives us tasks to do as well. For example, the woman had to go and get the pots before God supernaturally provided for her; the little boy had to bring his two fish and five loaves of bread in order for Jesus to multiply them; the disciple had to go to the marketplace to get the coin out of the fish's mouth upon Jesus' instruction - the fish didn't float into the disciple's hand; Peter had to cast his net where Jesus told him to cast it in order to catch the fish. In every case of a miracle, God gave an instruction first.
Tithe first, then God opens up a window of favor. Sow a seed first, and then God rewards your act of sacrifice. Obey God first, and then He will honor your sacrifices.
4. "I place my 'super' on your 'natural' in order for you to experience the supernatural." As stated above: God will require that you bring Him your talents, gifts and abilities in order for Him to anoint and bless them. God's promise of reward for our obedience to Him is that He will bless "the works of your hands" (Deuteronomy 28:12). You must present what you have to God and ask Him for His favor to rest on it. The key, however, is that God doesn't bless sin, disobedient people (who ignore His Commandments according to John 9:31), and sinful desires.
Are you doing your part - the natural part? Are you doing something rather than just sitting back waiting and wishing for things to change? Are you looking, seeking, knocking, pursuing and stepping out on faith rather than sitting in the boat? Are you preparing yourself now for the opportunity that is coming? If God were to bring the investors, the media exposure, the clients, the customers, the spotlight to you today, are you even prepared for it? Do you have yourself set-up properly as a business? Do you have your license? Do you have a website? Do you have a product? Is your presentation prepared?
In an interview I once did with a celebrity publicist, she mentioned to me that one of the biggest problems business owners have is not being prepared for opportunities when they come. She said many business owners won't invest the money into branding themselves properly, getting professional pictures to go on their advertisements and websites, developing a business model, and more. And when she presents them to major television networks and media outlets, they get rejected because...they weren't adequately prepared (their presentation was well-together). When preparation meets opportunity, success is created. Likewise, when God's super connects with your natural, that's when thesupernatural is established.
5. "I never told you to settle. I told you to establish mutliple streams of income because...you never know when one stream may dry up." So many people are in financial dire straits today because they didn't prepare like the ant (Proverbs 6). They were too comfortable with their jobs, not anticipating layoffs, downsizings, job closings, and even sicknesses; and when these things hit, that one stream of income they've been depending on also takes a hit - it dries up.
"Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead" (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2). God literally tells us to use wisdom and invest money into multiple business ventures, not just one. Have a job . . . and a side business. Get your paycheck from your job, and money on the side. Build one business, take money from that business and then start or invest into another, etc. Set yourself up using wisdom, because you never know "what risks (job closings, layoffs, etc.) might lie ahead". Don't blame God for not adequately preparing yourself, especially after reading this and being informed on what you're to do.
6. "Seek after the knowledge and advice of others who have wisdom and insight." The Bible says that a decision must be established in the mutlitude of counselors in Proverbs. You need a mentor, a coach, a counselor. God gave everyone different gifts and abilities; and you must recognize where your gift ends and where another's begins. Other people see things you don't see. We all know in part, and see in part. You don't have all of the sense.
Read books. Get information. If you're not a reader, you'll handicap yourself. You can bypass years of mistakes just by reading another person's book. Don't be lazy. Attend wealth and business training seminars. Spend the money and invest into your education. This doesn't necessarily mean attending a college, but it does mean attending some training program (seminars, conferences, meetings, workshops, etc.). You're asking God for instant money, and He's sending you opportunities to gain "understanding" in the form of various wealth and business trainings, books, and mentorship programs. "In all of your getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7).
Sadly, most people who are in need of money and guidance waste the majority of their time focusing on non-important things: reality tv, destructive music rather than listening to that which can sharpen their minds, mindless entertainment, etc. You can't sow to "the flesh" and reap life (Galatians 6:8). Mind what you spend the majority of your time doing. Change your habits and you'll change your ways; change your ways and you'll create better, more prosperous days.
7. "Don't look for instant success. Start small and build. Be consistent and faithful to the vision." What many people are looking for is instant success and money, but what God is trying to establish in our lives is lasting success and money. Success and money can't last if we have the wrong character, a lack of vision, and a lack of knowledge. The Bible says that money gained quickly will leave us quickly, but money we gain gradually we'll save (Proverbs 13:11). So...NO LOTTERY. Get rid of that mentality. Quit looking for the quick and easy route - for get rich quick schemes. Work! Be dilligent and consistent! Save little by little! And more importantly, start small and build. Zechariah 4:10 says "despise not small beginnings." Don't try to start on the mountaintop. Start in the valley. Some of the wealthiest and most successful people today started out small. Mark Cuban, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc. Each of these men worked odd jobs here and there, learning little skills here and there which they used to hone their skills and abilities in business.
You can make it to the mountaintop, but you have to be willing to start somewhere. Procrastination will keep you in the valley. Stop thinking about it and do it! Start somewhere. Eventually, you will end up where you need to be. But you have to start right where you are and stop waiting for the perfect opportunity or a convenient time to start...because it will never come. You have to fight for your future.
8. "The key to gaining is sowing, not hoarding." Ironically, a stingy person never prospers. What causes us to be stingy? Fear. We're afraid that if we give what we have we'll end up with nothing. I like the way Dr. Mike Murdoch puts it: "The seed that you sow never leaves you life; it simply leaves your hand and goes into your future." If God can cause money to flow through you He can cause money to flow to you. Just like you have a need, so do others; but if God can't bless others through you, why should He bless you through others. The Bible says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38). You are blessed to be a blessing. More importantly, giving to the right things is critical. Paul wrote that when you do good (be a blessing) to men, "especially those of the household of faith (God's people)" (Galatians 6:10), that's when you set yourself up to be compensated by God Himself.