Years ago, I had an interesting conversation with an old missionary friend of mine. We were sitting in the church office one day, just talking. Now, this man had spent decades in the mission field, living by faith, trusting God to provide for his needs. Yet, every time financial planning came up, he smiled and said, “I don’t believe in investing. It’s gambling.”
He was a good friend and a man far wiser than I could ever hope to be. But I believe he was wrong in this case. I couldn’t believe financial planning fell outside the will of God, especially in light of 1 Timothy 5:8:
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8, NASB 95)
That got me thinking about how important it is to take care of the people we love most. We can speak to the subject of faith until we’re out of breath. But faith isn’t what gets us our paycheck.
It’s hard work, something God deems important as well. Faith simply spurs us to do what we should. One of those aspects of life is to work hard and save what we can.
In short, investing and financial planning doesn’t run contrary to faith. It runs on faith like a rocket runs on fuel. Our faith should propel us to plan while still allowing God to remain God.
So how do we do that? Let’s let Scripture speak for itself.
The Bible Simply Accepts the Existence of Material Wealth
One of the first things we need to recognize is that the Bible treats wealth itself as neutral. So what’s the problem then? Why do we find negative statements about wealth in the Scriptures? Let’s find out.
A. Money Itself Isn’t Evil
The Bible makes it clear that the physical world God created is good. In Genesis, after every stage of creation, God looked at what He made and called it good. That includes everything material—land, crops and livestock. Although money didn’t exist at creation, it’s part of the material universe. It’s included in God’s declaration.
But somewhere along the way, humans started thinking differently. Ancient Greek philosophy, for example, taught that only spiritual things were good, while physical things were bad. That mindset has crept into the church at times, but it’s not biblical. Wealth itself isn’t evil. It’s how we view and use it that matters.
B. Our Attitude Toward Money Can Be Evil
Some may be thinking, “Okay, Bill, we’re still waiting for the answer.” Here it is.
1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB 95) says, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
It’s not money itself that’s the problem. It’s our attitude toward it. We run into trouble when we forget Who the true owner of wealth is.
Job 41:11 (NASB 95) says, “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the entire heaven is Mine.”
Psalm 24:1 (NASB 95) tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who live in it.” We don’t own anything. We’re simply stewards of what God has entrusted to us.
The danger comes when we start thinking money is ours and ours alone. That’s when greed takes over, and greed is what corrupts people, not money itself. Our job is to manage God’s resources wisely, not hoard them for selfish gain.
If we can remember this, we won’t fall to the folly of those whom Paul had to warn Timothy of.
The Bible Gives Us Wisdom for Managing Money
If we’re just stewards of God’s resources, then we need to be wise in how we manage them. And thankfully, Scripture gives us plenty of guidance on that.
A. Money Should Be Earned Through Hard Work
Proverbs 6:6–8 (NASB 95) tells us to “Go to the ant, you lazy one, Observe its ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer, or ruler, Prepares its food in the summer And gathers its provision in the harvest.” The principle is simple: God expects His people to work for what they have.
The Bible never condones laziness or get-rich-quick schemes. Gambling, for example, is never presented as a legitimate way to acquire wealth. It’s based on luck rather than sweat.
On the other hand, the concept of gleaning—where farmers left portions of their fields for the poor to work and gather—was a biblically endorsed method of helping those in need while still promoting hard work. That’s a social program just about anyone could support. Needless to say, there was never a shortage of work in Israel!
Why? Because God endorses hard work. It’s what He gave Adam in the Garden. It’s what we must do today.
B. Money Should Be Saved
Some people think saving money shows a lack of faith, but the Bible tells a different story. Consider Joseph’s advice to Pharaoh in Genesis 41:34–36 (NASB 95). He instructed Pharaoh to store up food during seven years of abundance so that Egypt could survive the seven years of famine. At least in that instance, God was all for saving. He even commanded it!
The same principle applies to us. Having a financial cushion—a “nest egg” if you will—isn’t a lack of trust in God. It’s wisdom. Imagine how much less financial stress we’d face if we all had even a small emergency fund set aside.
C. Money Should Be Invested Wisely
In Matthew 25:14–28, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. The servants who took what their master gave them and put it to work were rewarded. The one who buried his talent out of fear was condemned as “evil and lazy.”
While this parable is primarily about spiritual matters, it also reflects a truth about finances: God expects us to be wise with what He gives us. We are called to save a little back for rainy days.
So, what does investing look like?
- Invest in Your Family – This means working hard, managing your household well, and even making financial investments that will benefit your family in the long run (See 1 Timothy 5:8 for more on this.).
- Invest in Others – Proverbs 19:17 (NASB 95) says, “One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.” Whether it’s helping someone start a business or supporting those in need, investing in people carries spiritual rewards.
- Invest in Your Church – 1 Corinthians 9:14 (NASB 95) tells us, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” Supporting your pastor, missionaries, and your local church is part of biblical stewardship.
- Invest in Eternity – Jesus said in Matthew 6:19–21 (NASB 95), “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our ultimate financial goal should be to use what we have in a way that impacts eternity, not just our bank accounts.
The Greatest Investment Ever Made
At the end of the day, the greatest investment ever made wasn’t in gold, land, or stocks. It was in people. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem mankind. That investment had the greatest return imaginable—salvation for all who believe.
Jesus Himself invested in us, giving His life so that we might have eternal life. And if we’ve been given such an incredible gift, how could we not seek to use our own resources to further His kingdom?
So What?
So, is it wrong to plan financially for the future? Not at all. In fact, the Bible encourages it. But as we do, we need to keep our priorities straight. Money is a tool, not a treasure. We are stewards, not owners. And the best investments aren’t just the ones that secure our financial future—they’re the ones that secure eternal rewards.
Let’s use the resources God gives us for the greatest good and God’s glory.
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