Money close to home

As I mentioned in Monday's blog, we have been praying (in WorldMovers) for the new Congress, and inevitably concerns about how they will budget and spend keep arising.  On Sunday I posed the question, "Based on Biblical principles, do we know how we want them to handle money issues?"

For the next three days, I will share here some biblical principles regarding the use of money.  I credit these to Dr. Ruth Haycock's excellent research in preparing her life work, Encyclopedia of Bible Truths for School Subjects, the secret weapon that makes Christian schools diferent from all other schools.

As you read through these, consider your own personal decisions about wealth accumulation, budgeting, discretionary spending, and so on.

1.  Whatever good things we have are gifts from God.
      "Every good and perfect git is rom above, and comes down from the Father of lights..."  James 1:17
2.  Believers are stewards over God's possessions, not independent owners.
      Parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-29
3.  Material things should not be a goal in life.
     "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?   Or what will a man give in exchange for his own soul?"   Matthew 16:26
4.   Money is entrusted to believers to use as God purposes.
     "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."   I Timothy 5:4,8,16   "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have somehting to give to him who is in need."  Ephesians 4:28
5.  God is the supplier of material needs for those who trust in him.  
     "Be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'  So we may boldly say:  'The Lord is my helper;  I will not fear.  What can man do to me?'"  Hebrews 13: 5,6
6.  Money will not buy spiritual blessings. 
     "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and wihtout spot."  I Peter 1: 18,19 

7   Attitude toward money is an index of one's general attitude. 

     "He who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much;   and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.  Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to you trust the true riches?"  Luke 16: 10,11

8.  True prosperity depends on obedience to God and favor from him.  

"This bookof the law shall not depart rom your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous,  and then you will have good success."   Joshua 1:8