‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
This scripture states that the Lord owns and has full possession of all riches and wealth. It all belongs to Him. Therefore, Christians are only stewards or managers of what God has given us. So God wants all humanity to understand that He owns everything and human beings own nothing. However, He has entrusted it to us to properly manage and enjoy it during our lifespan on earth.
“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
This scripture is very important because it lets us know that the Lord is the one who gives human beings the creativity, desire, strength, and avenues to be able to earn a decent living. This scripture instructs us to remember because it is so easy for human beings to forget God when we are blessed and prosperous.
Next, we will take a look at Matthew 6:24. It states
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
From this scripture we learn that the Christian must be disciplined and careful so that money does not replace God on the throne of our hearts. Jesus Christ is speaking in this scripture and He lets us know that no person can have divided loyalties in the kingdom of God. God must be first and foremost in the life of the Christian. Jesus makes this statement so specifically because it is so easy for people to believe that money is able to get us everything we need, and is, therefore, supreme.
“Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
This scripture is a stern warning to every Christian to understand that no matter how much wealth a person may amass, one day it will all fly away. This scripture doesn’t just imply that riches will disappear and no longer be important in eternity. This scripture is also saying that riches are able to disappear here and now on earth. The nature of owning wealth is fleeting and temporary.
The next scripture we’ll look at is Psalm 37:21. It states
“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.”
This scripture states that the characteristic of someone that is wicked is that they borrow without returning or paying back what was given to them. Therefore, based on scripture, it is not a good practice to borrow anything, especially money. There are so many people who could testify that after they lended someone money, the money was not paid back on time or paid back at all. And, as a result, the relationship between the lender and the borrower was strained and in conflict.
Malachi 3:10 states
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
The giving of tithes and offerings was commanded in the Old Testament. In fact, Malachi 3:8 states that refusing to give the tithe was considered robbing God.The New Testament does not explicitly command the giving of tithes because Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. In other words, the New Testament doesn’t specifically state that a Christian is supposed to give ten percent of their income as a minimum. However, it is still highly recommended as the statute was instituted in the Old Testament. The New Testament emphasizes giving in general.
Acts 20:35 states
"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
This scripture is so important because one prevalent sign that someone has truly been born again and changed is that they enjoy being generous and benefiting people. Studies have shown that human beings in general are more happy and their life is prolonged when they become someone who is generous.