(9) Manage Money Wisely

Managing money is an unavoidable topic for anyone serious about vocational faithfulness. After all, most work will earn wages (1 Tim. 5:18). So we have to know what money means and how we should handle it Christianly. If financial management doesn't sound very "spiritual" we might have an unbiblical notion of spirituality. More than 2,000 Scripture verses deal with money and possessions. The way we manage money is fundamentally a spiritual matter (Luke 16:10–11). And even if money were never specifically mentioned in the Bible it would remain a part of the estate each of us are called to steward.

On top of this, consider the problems related to poor money management. In a recent survey 46% of Americans reported suffering from debt-related stress. Financial problems can lead to marital breakdowns and contribute to unethical behavior (Prov. 30:8–9).

In Ephesians 4:28 Paul gives instructions on money management. He does so not as a financial guru but as a pastor teaching believers how to "walk worthy of the calling with which [they] were called" (v. 1). Before we can specifically apply financial stewardship we need to know how the Bible wants us to understand wealth.