#49 Debt-Free Living: A Biblical Guide to Financial Freedom

Part One: What Does the Bible Say About Stewardship

When I was a kid, my papaw gave me one of his old western cowboy boots. Not a pair of boots—just one. The catch was that the boot was full to the brim with spare change. It weighed an easy thirty pounds! To an eight-year-old that may as well have been a million bucks! I remember counting the total sum several times. I kept it in a safe place. I was so excited. I still have the boot… but I don’t have the money.

You see, after a few months with the coins vacation bible school came rolling around. That year we were doing a coin drive and it was boys versus girls. Whoever raised the most had bragging rights for an entire year. In a youth group of only eight kids, bragging rights were pretty valuable! After two nights of VBS, we were down however many pounds it was to the girls. So I said to my mom, “I am going to give my boot tonight.” To my surprise, she wasn’t pleased. “Your papaw gave that to you to save. Maybe just give some of the coins and save the rest?” Was my mom telling me not to give to the church? Was it better that I keep it all for myself?

These are kid versions of the kinds of questions we should all be asking as followers of Jesus. What does Jesus expect of us as his followers when it comes to using our money? More than that, how should Christians even think about money? The good news is that the Bible has a ton to say about our coins and our credit cards and all our money in between.

The Bible has so much to say, in fact, that this guide is not long enough to capture every point and principle it has on offer. And yet, I want to begin this guide thinking about a few prominent principles concerning stewardship before getting into some of the nitty-gritty bits of how to save and spend wisely. Why? Because, in the end, it’s not about your wealth nor is it about mine. It is about God’s glory and our being faithful to him alone. If you lose sight of this, then your pursuit of wealth will almost certainly end in idolatry which is spiritually deadly. Rather than financial freedom, you’ll be in spiritual prison. So, before we talk about your money . . . let’s talk about guarding your heart.

I’ve selected twenty-five verses from Scripture and arranged them under seven points. As you consider these in your mentorship group, be sure to stop along the way and reflect on whether or not your life is characterized by God’s instruction on money and stewardship.

First, Christians are called to trust God to meet their needs. 

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my sons, and he has become my salvation.”  – Isaiah 12:2

“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!” – Isaiah 31:1

In these verses, we learn that from salvation all the way down to what we eat and how we protect ourselves is from the Lord. We must trust in him for all that we need. After all, he has promised that he is fully committed to using everything in our lives for our eternal good. Do you doubt that? Simply look to Jesus, God’s own Son, who was offered up as a ransom for all who believe. If God did not spare his own Son, how can we doubt that he will make sure that everything else is taken care of?

What does this mean for our money? It means that our money comes from God and we should always trust him to supply what we need. Sometimes this means wealth. In God’s providence, it may also mean loss. In either case, we can trust the Lord to give us what we need. After all, he knows what we need better than we do.

Second, Christians are called to work hard as unto the Lord.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:23-25

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3

“I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.” – Ecclesiastes 3:17

Trusting the Lord to meet our needs doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work hard. In fact, God regularly called us to work in order that we may have our needs supplied. So, which is it? God supplies or we work? Well, it’s both. God supplies through our work. “Wait a minute,” you may be thinking, “if I work why does God get the credit?” Well, I assume you realize that your entire life is a gift given you by God, right? You wouldn’t have a hand to raise in work if you didn’t have a Creator who gave it to you.

But there’s another reason that God should be given credit for meeting our every need. As is clear in the verses above, God demands that we approach our work as unto him. This means that we work for him and in order to display him to the world. Our work is, therefore, a testimony to our gracious God who gives us all things. Next time you’re tempted to slack off, stop and ask yourself, “Would I be behaving this way if God were here?” Friend, God has given you everything and sees everything. With what he has given you he expects you to work for his glory.

Third, Christians give out of their abundance.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38

“For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.” 2 Corinthians 8:2

“But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Acts 3:6

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 4:10

God has given us so much. What I chiefly have in mind is Jesus. Jesus is more valuable than all the riches in this world and if you have him then I trust you know that. And yet, under Jesus God has also given us so much. He’s given us life, our churches, our families, our friendships, opportunities to serve him, life’s many joys, and much more. God is so good.

What does he require in return for all he has given? Well, for one, he requires our worship. That is, God expects that we swear loyalty to him alone. Part of showing loyalty to him means that we should give to God and others out of the abundance of what he has given us. This includes our money but is not limited to it. We should consider all that we have—Jesus and everything else—and seek to give it back to God and others. What do you have that you have not received? Nothing. What can you give as a testimony that you’ve received everything you have from your loving heavenly Father? Give that.

Fourth, Christians give to support the ministry of their local church. 

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.” – Proverbs 3:9

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

“For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” – 2 Corinthians 8:12

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” – Malachi 3:10

I wonder if you’ve ever been standing at the cash register in your local supermarket and heard the cashier say, “Would you like to round up eighty-seven cents (or whatever the amount) for the local children’s hospital (or whatever the charity)?” Maybe you even make a routine to answer their question with a hardy, “yes!”

The reality is that there are a ton of good deeds that we can do with our money, the local children’s hospital being just one of those. And yet, I want to encourage you to always start your giving with your local church. The reasons for this are many more than I have space to mention but let me name a few. First, the most important thing you can do with the money you’re giving away is help make disciples and that is the explicit responsibility of every gospel preaching church. Second, giving to God’s people is a biblically established pattern in both the New and Old Testament. Third by giving to your local church, you’re investing in your own spiritual growth because with that money your church will pay its pastor to preach excellent sermons. Fourth, giving to your church allows your money to join your fellow members’ money in order to invest in bigger things for God’s glory.

These are just a few reasons to let your giving start with your church.

Fifth, Christians are expected to give to the needs of others as they are able.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:2-4

“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Luke 12:33-34

“All day long [the sluggard] craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.” – Proverbs 21:26

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” – Matthew 23:23

Return to the cashier’s request that you round up for a local charity. Should a Christian give in that scenario? Well, maybe! If the organization is good (1. They aren’t propagating a false gospel. 2. They are honestly doing the work they set out to do on behalf of those in need), then a Christian should feel free, maybe even compelled, to give. When you give in faith, God receives much glory for your generosity. So feel free to give to others whether it be to a charitable organization or to someone in need.

Sixth, Christians plan to be a blessing to their children and their children’s children. 

“No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.” – Matthew 6:24

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” – Proverbs 13:22

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7

“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.” – 1 Timothy 5:4

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” –  Proverbs 13:22

This one may not get a lot of press among Christians today, but it is very true nonetheless. God commands that we seek to supply for our children. This, in part, means seeking to secure them financially. I am blessed to have a grandfather who regularly reminded us that he was working for our long term security. When I’d see him leave the house at 6:00 AM to get on the plumbing truck, I knew that he was working for me.

Good authority blesses those underneath it. Isn’t that the example which our heavenly Father has given us? He gave us the Lord Jesus and everything under him! So, parents, you should see to spend yourself for your children and this should look like, in part, leaving them an inheritance. Of course, a financial inheritance isn’t the most important thing you do for them (that would be raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord!), but it is important. So in work, work for them and tell them that’s why you’re working so hard. This will help them understand not only your love, but also God’s love by your example.

The rest of this guide is going to be going through basics and principles to investing. I hope those principles will serve to help you grow your wealth. However, if along the way you lose sight of what

God’s Word says about wealth, then you’re most to be pitied. Whether you make $100,000,000 or $0, God’s Word must lead out in your heart.

Seventh, Christians should heed the Bible’s warnings concerning debt. 

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” – Proverbs 22:7.

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” – Romans 13:8

“Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?” – Proverbs 22:26-27

“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.” – Deuteronomy 28:12

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” – Psalm 37:21

Countless stories can be told of the trouble that comes when you spend more than you make. I remember once being so far into credit card debt that I didn’t know how I would get out. The debt created such anxiety that I struggled to sleep at night. And yet, as has been demonstrated in just these few verses, the Bible has a lot to say about debt. If I had heeded its instruction, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache.

If you’re like me, you regularly experience the temptation to go into debt for all kinds of things. Be careful. Listen to God’s Word. Walk in faith. I know it’s not always intuitive to think of a swipe of the plastic as a matter of Christ’s lordship over our live, but if you stop and think about it, I think you’ll see that it just might be. How long will it to take you to pay off the credit card after you use it for that brand new TV or game system or shopping spree or fancy night out on the town? 25% credit card interest is a tough number to swallow. What could you have done with the money you will pay out in interest on the purchase alone? Lots.

I’m not intending this to be a war on credit cards. I’m definitely not telling you to never buy clothes or shoes or TV’s or whatever else. I am telling you to bring those decisions under the Lordship of Jesus and seek to make decisions which bring him glory (which requires you heed the instruction of passages such as those listed above) and bring about financial freedom. With freedom, you can be generous.

Reflection questions:

1. What did you find most surprising about what God’s Word says on money and stewardship?
2. What is most difficult for you to apply from God’s Word on money and stewardship?
3. How have you experienced negative consequences by not following God’s Word on money and stewardship?
4. How have you seen God’s Word benefit your approach to money and stewardship?

Part Two: The Foundations

Do you remember Dobie from the old black and white television show called “The Many Loves of Dobie Gills”? I’ll never forget a character on the show named Maynard G. Krebs. Maynard would get sick to his stomach anytime someone mentioned the word “work.” At even the mention of any sort of manual labor, Maynard would echo, “W-w-w-w-w-ork . . .” Truth be told, most people feel about discipline what Maynard felt about work. Discipline is hard. It’s tedious. It’s painful. And you know what else? Discipline normally means saying no to other options which, in the moment, just seem like more fun.

Does this mean we should avoid discipline? Not at all. Failing to discipline yourself leads to long term, continuous pain. In the end, you get what you discipline yourself for. If you merely live for your immediate desires, you’ll become a servant to them—chasing your tail believing that if you could just catch it then you’d find happiness. This is how most people treat money. Money is a means to fulfilling an immediate desire. Got a little money? Spend it fast and be happy for… how long? Not long at all. If you’re undisciplined with money, it is likely the case that you’re dissatisfied with how fast it spends and how slow it is replenished. You go paycheck to paycheck wishing that paydays were everyday rather than every two weeks.

Few have the discipline it takes to save money in order that it may grow over time. Discipline in saving, after all, requires saying no to desires today in order to say yes to good things like generosity, retirement, and inheritance for your kids down the road. Saying no today is sometimes referred to as “delaying gratification.” Notice that financial discipline doesn’t mean no gratification but delayed gratification. To be sure, the gratifications are likely not the same for the one with no discipline compared to the one with discipline. For the one with no discipline, gratification means eating out, superfluous spending on unnecessary luxuries, wasting money on quick hitting happinesses. The one with discipline is likelier to save for better things—things like a house, education for their kids, retirement, and living generously for the good of others.

Notice what all those things have in common? Impact. Delaying gratification in order to save for better things means being able to have a positive impact for others. Do you want financial peace now and the opportunity to impact others by being generous later on? I hope so and I hope this guide will help you do just that.

It’s really not rocket science. There are some fundamentals to having financial peace. that I would like to share with you. Life is about making a few right choices and sticking with them. Principles are few and they never change; methods are many and continually change. Seek the principles.

The fact that you’re willing to work through a life skill guide like this is a good sign and great start. Many have said, and I agree, leaders are readers. So let’s learn somethings about money and financial peace.

1. Spend less than you earn. 

Biblical Principle: “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” (Proverbs 21:20, NIV)

Spending less than you earn is the cornerstone of financial stability. When you live within your means, you avoid the bondage of debt and create a margin for generosity and future needs. Be it you earn a little, a medium or a lot of money, spend less than what you make, and you will have peace and confidence and continue to become wealthier over time. This is a simple and solid life skill.

A side note: just because your income increases over time doesn’t mean your spending needs to follow. You should regularly ask yourself “Do I need this, or just want it?” It is easy for us to assume that because we have more we should spend more. But this isn’t always the case. Our desire to always be spending more is often rooted in our lack of contentment. But what did Paul tell Timothy? “Contentment with godliness is great gain.” With whatever you have today, pray that the Lord would make you content. After all, if you’re content spending less and living within your means will be much easier.

2. Be careful with debt. 

Biblical Warning: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7, NIV)

Debt enslaves, limiting your ability to serve God and others freely. The Bible encourages us to owe to others nothing but love. (Romans 13:8)

Taking on debt means you are consuming today and promising to pay back with tomorrows labor. You are buying for today and promising to pay back another day in the future. Carrying debt drains peace and confidence because you will always owe tomorrows wages for today’s enjoyment. This is a unsustainable lifestyle that cannot be overcome without developing self-control.

Credit cards are some of the worst kinds of debt you can have. The reason for this is because most cards charge more than 25% interest. This is an incredibly high rate. So many can testify to getting over their heads with credit card debt with the result being frustration and fear. If you’re free of credit card debt today, then stay that way!

Summary to memorize and keep in your mind forever:

1. Debt will take you father than you ever intended to go,
2. Debt will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay,
3. Debt will cost you more than you ever intended to pay.

3. Self-control is a primary lesson to learn in life. 

Biblical Wisdom: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28, ESV)

If you don’t develop self-control, then you’ll waste whatever money you have. The result will be bondage, not peace. If you’re self-controlled in your finances, however, you will be able to save, invest, and live generously. Think also about these additional benefits:

• Improved Decision-Making: Self-control helps you resist impulsive choices, leading to more thoughtful and beneficial decisions.
• Enhanced Relationships: By managing emotions and reactions, self-control fosters better communication and reduces conflicts.
• Increased Productivity: Staying focused and resisting distractions allows for greater efficiency and accomplishment of goals.
• Better Health: Self-control supports healthier habits, like maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding harmful behaviors.
• Emotional Stability: It enables you to regulate stress and negative emotions, promoting mental resilience and well-being.

4. Like in all of life, financial peace begins with acknowledging God as creator and Lord.  

Biblical Principal: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV)

You were given everything you have. Are you thankful for your parents? Thankful for your body? Thankful for your intelligence? Thankful that you have eyes and hands and ears? Everything you have comes from God and God tells you to continually acknowledge and thank him, and to model your life to serve others as God has served you in Jesus.

5. We should serve like Jesus. 

Bible Principal: Jesus’ life reveals that greatness comes through servanthood. Does that sound strange to you? It definitely sounds strange to the world. The world is all about self-advancement and promotion. But Jesus came to serve rather than be served. Your life—including your finances—should also be about service. Among other things, this means putting others’ needs above your own (Philippians 2:5–7).

At the beginning of my Christian Walk, it seemed impossible to understand that I could have more peace and joy and confidence by serving others. At 80 years old now, I have had 40 years of enjoyment, excitement and challenge serving others; and the Lord has provided for my every need along the way.

Reflection questions: 

1. Which of these tips are hardest for you to implement? Why?
2. How does money relate to our trust (or lack thereof) in God?
3. Does anyone know how you spend your money? Share with your mentor or someone in your church that you trust so they can help you stay accountable.

Part Three: Managing Money

I became a Christian in my late thirties. Before I was converted, my life was a mess and the main reason was because of my sin. I lost my marriage, hurt my kids, and drove myself into debt. By God’s grace, however, I came to understand the gospel and repented of my sin and trusted in Jesus. Shortly thereafter (I was 38), I met and married my second wife, Carol. Carol taught me a lot about a lot, not least of which was about money.

Early in our marriage, we moved to Tennessee and bought a home there. Little did we know, however, that the IRS would soon come knocking on our door to inform me that I owed $150,000 (in 1983) for investment tax credit recapture. They put a lien on our new home. Worse yet, I was regularly driving us into further debt by impromptu spending. I once bought a jacuzzi on credit! When the tub arrived at our front door, Carol sent it back. She let me know that day that I had to get my spending under control. She said, “If you can’t pay cash, you’re not buying it!” My approach to money changed that day. I knew I needed to start implementing some of the advice I shared in part two of this life skill guide.

With Carol’s help, I developed a debt payment plan and in 2-3 years, we were debt free. At that point, Carol asked how much we would have to save in order to prepare for retirement. In two years, we saved that amount and after many good investments, that money grew to be more than enough to live on.

After approximately five years of being married, Carol requested that we donate all cash accumulation yearly to Christian ministries. She wanted to give all cash away every year, so we didn’t accumulate what we didn’t need. Carol was generous with others and I learned generosity from her example.

For the following 40 years at least 50% of our annual income has been donated to Christian ministries and we have lived well and been hospitable to many during that time. God has been gracious. Sadly, Carol went home to be with the Lord when she was 63. I praise the Lord for her life and all that she taught me about how to live mine.

The 80-10-10 Rule. 

I recognize that not everyone can give 50% of their income away. That’s why I regularly recommend the 80-10-10 rule. For the record, these figures are starting recommendations. Based on your situation, you may need to adjust these to best account for what the Lord has given you and what responsibilities you have.

It is not an understatement to say that the 80-10-10 rule changed my finances. Here’s how it breaks down.

• The first 10% of your income should be given to your local church. I say the first because often it is the case that if we wait until the end of the month, we end up spending this amount on ourselves rather than give it in trust to the Lord. By giving the first 10% to the Lord’s work, we demonstrate that he is our priority and treasure. This is a testimony to our children and the watching world.
• The second 10% of your income should go to your savings account or your investment account. Again, if you wait to the end of the month to save or invest, you won’t have enough money left to make the payment. The longer you live with this discipline the wealthier you will become.
• That leaves 80% for your needs, wants, and debts. You will find that this forced self-control will change your life for the better. You start by taming yourself. Then slowly you learn to invest. And lastly you learn that peace and confidence doesn’t come from spending; it comes from self-control.

This is just one option for budgeting. You may need to adjust these numbers or go with a different strategy. I strongly recommend that these three primary buckets, however, be a part of whatever budget you choose. You need to give, save, and spend wisely.

Tips for smart investing. 

This life skill guide is about financial freedom, not investing. Nonetheless, investing often plays a role in achieving financial freedom. Therefore, here are some brief tips for how you might wisely invest what God has given you in order to see it grow.

• Buy low is the key to success & requires wisdom. Most investors buy high and believe the value will continue to rise over time.

• From 1980-2020 the real estate and stock market was up, up, up and making money was easy. The last 5 years has been bumpy and not as smooth. This means that if you’re just starting your investment journey, you will need to be patient.
• I have learned after decades of investing that the most profitable investments are the ones where we buy an asset “when it’s value has dropped significantly”, and then it bounces back up to a nice gain. Drops in value in proven companies mean a good opportunity to jump in.
• Think short-term. Being out of the market at least half of the time reduces risk exposure. Yet we gain high returns by purchasing good financial guidance and accept that better returns come with market turmoil.
• The market determines the sell price – you don’t. Your key to success is to buy right, more than sell right.

Remember that wealth means responsibility. Our hearts are easily tempted into turning wealth into an idol. Nothing I say about growing wealth is safe or worth pursuing if you do not hear and heed the Bible’s warnings on idolatry and command to live generously.

Reflection questions:

1. Have you ever had a budget? Do you have one now? What challenges/joys have you experienced because of budgeting?
2. Can you look back over your life and identify any season that was characterized by bad financial decisions? What helped you get out of it?
3. What accountability do you have in place to help you with self-control regarding your finances?

Part Four: Resources on Finances

1. Where are there mature believers in your church who have been faithful with their finances who would be willing to help you learn how to manage yours? Seek them out, and you will prosper.
2. An additional option for financial mentorship is Ramsey Financial Solutions. Dave Ramsey helpfully provides guidance on debt relief, buying/selling real estate, budgeting, investing, planning for retirement, buying insurance, filing taxes, and more. https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money-34462
3. They have 100’s of useful YouTube videos from people like yourself sharing their problems and opportunities that are produced daily. EXCELLENT LISTENING to Godly financial principles.

Four old books to read. 

1. Mover of Men and Mountains by R.G. LeTourneau. I first read this book in the late 1980’s. I’ve read it many times since. He was a builder of large earthmoving equipment. I have spent almost all my working life in the field of machinery, so I liked the title of this book and wanted to read about this man.

Mover of Men and Mountains is an autobiography that chronicles the life of R.G. LeTourneau, a prolific inventor, industrialist, and devout Christian who revolutionized the earthmoving industry. The book weaves together his personal journey, business achievements, and unwavering faith, presenting his life as a testament to the power of partnering with God in all endeavors. Written in a conversational and inspirational tone, it details how LeTourneau overcame challenges through ingenuity, perseverance, and a commitment to giving 90% of his income to Christian causes.

1. G. LeTourneau was one of my machinery hero’s. His life of generosity has many times encouraged me to live more generously with what God has given me. I recommend this book to you. If not this one, pick another book that tells the story of someone who lived generously and aim to live after their example.
2. The Richest Man in Babylon by Geroge S. Clason. This book is an easy read and full of profound wisdom. It was first published in 1926, and it’s still a classic personal finance book that uses parables set in ancient Babylon to convey timeless principles on wealth and money management. The stories in this book center around Arkad, a once-poor scribe who becomes the wealthiest man in Babylon, and his teachings to others seeking financial success.

The book’s core message revolves around the idea that financial success is achievable for anyone who understands and applies basic principles. One of the most important concepts is “pay yourself first,” which advises saving at least ten percent of every earning. This principle emphasizes the importance of consistent saving as the foundation of wealth accumulation. Whether you ever become wealthy, savings is an essential ingredient to financial freedom.

The book also stresses the significance of controlling expenditures. It argues that individuals must distinguish between necessary expenses and desires and avoid letting their expenses grow to equal their income. Living within one’s means is crucial for financial freedom.

Furthermore, “The Richest Man in Babylon” highlights the importance of making money work “for you” through wise investment. It advises seeking knowledge and advice from those experienced in financial matters and avoiding risky ventures that promise quick returns. The book also discusses the power of compound interest, illustrating how invested money can generate further earnings over time.

Other key themes include the importance of owning a home, ensuring a future income through investments or planning for retirement, and continuously seeking to improve one’s ability to earn. The book also touches on the role of opportunity and the need to act decisively when opportunities arise.

I recommend The Richest Man in Babylon to anyone who needs to learn fundamental principles for financial freedom. It emphasizes the importance of saving, budgeting, investing wisely, and developing a mindset that fosters financial success.

3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This book was first published in 1937. It is a self-help book that outlines a philosophy of personal achievement. Take this one with a grain of salt. I know many will hear the phrase “self-help” and get worried. I’m not recommending this book as the beat-all-end-all. Even still, I think this book remains a useful resource for learning how to succeed financially and beyond.

The book emphasizes the power of mindset and the importance of having a strong desire. Hill states that a burning desire, coupled with targeted confidence, can propel individuals towards their goals. He introduces the concept of “auto suggestion,” a technique for influencing the subconscious mind through repeated affirmations and visualization.

Another key principle Hill offers is specialized knowledge. Hill argues that general knowledge is insufficient for achieving wealth; instead, individuals need to acquire specific knowledge related to their chosen field. He also highlights the role of imagination, distinguishing between synthetic imagination (combining existing ideas) and creative imagination (generating new ideas).

We know that organized planning is crucial for translating desires into reality. Hill stresses the importance of creating a detailed plan of action and collaborating with others through a “Master Mind” group, which fosters synergy and support. Decision-making and persistence are also vital; successful individuals make decisions quickly and stick to them, refusing to be deterred by obstacles.

Ultimately, “Think and Grow Rich” provides a framework for cultivating a success-oriented mindset and taking concrete action to achieve one’s goals. It emphasizes that by understanding and applying these principles, anyone can achieve prosperity and fulfillment.

4. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. This one was first published in 1949. Some may think of this book as the Bible of investing. The Intelligent Investor provides a long-term philosophy focused on minimizing risk and maximizing returns through careful analysis. Graham’s principles of investing in undervalued companies and having a margin of safety remain foundational for prudent investors.

These books offer a blend of practical advice, fundamental principles, and insightful perspectives on the psychology of money, making them valuable resources for anyone seeking to understand and navigate the world of finance effectively, now and in the future.

Additional Resources

If you’re new to budgeting, saving, and investing, I strongly recommend finding some financial mentor. One of the best places to look for such a person is in your local church. In an age of information, Christians often look everywhere but their local churches to get help on life’s many problems. This is a mistake.

Reflection questions:

1. Who is in your life who you think you could talk to about your money (what you make, give away, save, and spend)?
2. Do you feel uncomfortable talking about your earnings, generosity, savings, or spending? Why?
3. Did your parents use money wisely? How or how not?

Conclusion

I wrote this guide, in part, to help you think wisely about making more money. But this isn’t the main reason I wrote it. I wrote it so that with whatever money you make, you learn to honor God and serve others with it. By doing so, I believe you will be best positioned to testify to everyone watching your life that God is who he says he is and he is worth all of your worship.

About the Author

John Nugier is a devoted follower of Christ who calls California’s central valley home. After John’s successful career in business, he has dedicated himself to living a high-impact life, investing in the eternal good of others. His desire is to pass on their hard-won wisdom to coming generations, and to see other Christians take up the task of mentoring. This is the vision behind The Mentoring Project.

Taylor Hartley serves as the editorial director at 9Marks in Washington, D.C. He is married to his wife, Rachel, and together they have one son, Bode. Taylor earned his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently working on his Th.M. at London Seminary in the UK.

#45 Gambling; The Hidden Costs

Part One: The Appeal of
Gambling—What’s Really at Stake?

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”—Ecclesiastes 5:10

The pull of the win

I’ve always been competitive. I hated losing (still do, if the truth be told). When I discovered gambling, it felt like the perfect extension of that drive. I was studying to become a math teacher—someone who saw patterns and probabilities, someone who thought, “I can figure this out. I can beat the system.” And at times, I thought I did.

I remember walking out of a casino with thousands more than I walked in with. I felt invincible. There was a rush, a sense of pride—like I had outsmarted the odds. At the craps table, when the dice were hot and the whole crowd was cheering, the atmosphere felt electric. I was the one on fire. There was applause, camaraderie, and adrenaline. It felt like winning a championship.

It wasn’t just about money; it was about identity—validation. Gambling gave me something else I didn’t even realize I was craving: admiration. It created an atmosphere where talking about your wins made you sound smarter than everyone else in the room. After all, you don’t often hear people boast in their losses. You hear stories about hitting a big parlay, multiplying your buy-in at the poker table, or walking away with a $10,000 slot machine win. Everyone who talks about gambling sounds like a winner. So, I thought, “Why not me? Why couldn’t I be the one who figured it out, beat the odds, and built a life off a system that worked?”

I read books on how to count cards and promoted the best system to win in craps. I subscribed to experts who sold “can’t-miss” sports picks. I poured time and money into learning the angles. If there was an edge to be found, I wanted to find it.

I didn’t view it as reckless. I saw it as preparation. While others saw gambling as chance, I convinced myself it was a game of skill. The irony was that the more I thought I was in control, the more I was actually being controlled.

And do you want to know the truth? The wins were never enough. I always wanted more—the next big hit, the next rush, the next story to tell. I wasn’t just gambling for money, I was gambling for meaning. The system was beating me, and I was becoming more addicted by the minute. The casino made sure I stayed hooked: free meals, free rooms, and even free bets at the casino and sportsbook. I felt like royalty, and I had barely graduated high school. Unfortunately, none of those “gifts” were really free; they were bait to keep me coming back and staying even longer. Eventually, I lost all my winnings—plus a lot more.

These casinos and gambling platforms always win. They are built to win. That’s why they’re multi-billion-dollar organizations. People like you and me are the ones funding their success.

Gambling had become a counterfeit reward system. It promised excitement, wealth, admiration—but what it actually gave me was restlessness, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness.

The myth of mastery

Gambling preys on people who are wired like me—people who hate to lose, who believe they can beat the odds, people who deep down think that the more money they have, the more fulfilling life will be.

I had a “system” (so does everyone), but systems don’t work when the game is rigged. That’s the illusion: if you’re smart enough, quick enough, strategic enough, you’ll win—but it’s a lie. As Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money.” Gambling doesn’t bring satisfaction—it teases and whispers false of promises. Then it draws you into depths you never thought you’d enter. With each cycle, the hunger grows louder.

What started as fun quickly turned into fixation. My mind was always running—calculating odds, tracking spreads, looking for the next “sure thing.” The high from a win wore off quickly, and the lows from a loss loitered longer each time. It became less about winning and more about numbing—numbing fear, disappointment, and the growing awareness that something was deeply broken inside me.

It wasn’t just a hobby—it became a false identity. Gambling told me I was sharp, clever, strategic. It told me I was different from the average bettor. But those were lies. I wasn’t beating the system. I was sinking into it and every attempt to master my addiction only resulted in it tightening its grip.

Mood swings and false highs

I didn’t notice how much gambling began to control my emotional state. A win made me feel invincible but a loss sent me into a spiral. My mood was no longer my own—it belonged to the outcome of each bet. My sense of worth was being dictated by numbers and odds.

Friends began to distance themselves. I stopped going to casinos with others and started going alone. I watched the games I bet on alone. People didn’t want to be around me when I lost, and I couldn’t blame them. I became irritable, angry, and desperate. Still, I convinced myself the next win would fix everything.

Eventually, I wasn’t even betting on things I cared about. I was placing money on tennis matches I didn’t watch and cricket tournaments in places I’d never heard of. At that point, it wasn’t about enjoyment or strategy. I was just trying to fill the God-sized hole in my heart.

I can still remember the feeling of waking up and immediately checking scores from halfway around the world. I had gone from calculated risk to blind obsession. That’s when I knew I wasn’t chasing success anymore. I was trying to escape.

The emotional rollercoaster was exhausting. Joy was replaced by anxiety. Peace was replaced by panic. I didn’t recognize myself anymore.

The unthinkable

Gambling took me places I never thought I’d go. I began stealing—from friends, family, coworkers, and strangers. Many were people who trusted me. I maxed out credit cards and lied repeatedly to cover it all. The worst part was how normal it all felt. One compromise led to another until my conscience was barely a whisper.

I didn’t feel guilty about what I was doing. All I cared about was trying to get my money back, and I was able to justify my actions in my own mind with thoughts like, “They’ll understand once I hit big again. I just need one more shot.” That kind of thinking is toxic—and it’s terrifying how convincing it can become.

But the truth is, it wasn’t just about gambling anymore. It started there, but it didn’t end there—it spread. Once I was okay with lying, I found it easier to cheat. Once I justified stealing, I stopped seeing people as people—they became means to an end. I was consumed with self-preservation and pleasure. I crossed lines I never thought possible.

At the time, I wouldn’t have called it sin. I didn’t know Jesus. I didn’t understand the language of conviction or repentance. I called it being “desperate.” I called it “survival.” I told myself, “Everybody’s got issues. I mean, at least I’m not a murderer.” But deep down, I knew I was breaking something sacred. I just didn’t have the words for it yet.

As I drew closer to rock bottom, my life lost all sense of meaning and purpose. I wasn’t living anymore. I was simply surviving.

A wise pastor once said, “Sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go, keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay, and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay.” That was my story.

And gambling wasn’t the only sin I got tangled in. Because I didn’t know Jesus, and because I didn’t have him anchoring my life, the sin that began with money eventually spread into other areas of my life too. When you ignore conviction in one area, it gets easier to ignore it everywhere else.

Sin is never static—it grows and infects, and when we try to manage it instead of kill it, sin manages us until it mangles us. At the right time, God intervened and radically changed my life by setting me free from the grip of gambling. And He is ready and willing to free you too.

A tragic story that could’ve been mine

I know a man who hid his gambling for years. His family had no idea, and when everything finally came to light, the damage was devastating. He lost his house, his marriage, and his daughters. It wasn’t that this man didn’t love his family but that his addiction to gambling had grown too big to hide and too powerful to fight on his own.

That could’ve been my story. Maybe it’s already your story—or close to it. More than money is at stake here; peace, integrity, relationships, and your soul are also in jeopardy.

The real question

What is it you’re really chasing? Maybe it’s the feeling of control in a life that feels uncertain. Maybe it’s the approval that comes from a big win, or the rush that helps you forget your stress, pain, or regret. Maybe it’s the dream of finally getting ahead—of proving to others, or yourself, that you’re not a failure.

Gambling doesn’t just offer money. It offers a false sense of meaning.

Jesus doesn’t offer empty promises. He offers rest. He says to the hurting:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
—Matthew 11:28–30

If you’re worn out—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—he’s not waiting to scold you. He’s ready to carry you. The road ahead may be hard, but you won’t walk it alone. He is the only one who can give you true and everlasting rest. And when you finally step out of the fog, you’ll find what gambling never gave you: peace. Not the peace of a winning streak, but the peace of a Savior who loves you, even when you lose.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you think gambling has offered you emotionally, socially, or spiritually?

2. How has your sense of identity or mood been tied to winning or losing?

3. What false promises have you believed, and what have they actually cost you?

A Prayer to Begin

Father, forgive me for relying on money more than You. Help me to follow You in every area of my life, and be all in for You. Amen.

Part Two: The Hidden Costs—Emotional,
Relational, and Spiritual

“A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”—Proverbs 28:20

What you don’t see at first

No one starts gambling thinking it will destroy their life. The appeal is fast money, fun, and maybe even a chance to prove something. It begins with excitement and possibility—a win here, a hot streak there, the sense that you’ve found something that works.

But the damage gambling causes doesn’t usually show up all at once. It creeps in quietly, masked by the adrenaline and the thrill. The wins are front and center in your perception over everything else. Making the last thing you notice those things you’re losing. By the time you realize the firm grip gambling has on you and what this addiction is really costing you, the pattern is already deeply rooted and the habit is formed.

The losses aren’t just financial—they’re emotional, relational, and spiritual. As Proverbs 28:20 warns, “Whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” The race for quick money doesn’t lead to peace—it leads to pain. There’s a trail of destruction that’s easy to overlook until the damage becomes insurmountable.

This session is about seeing the trail clearly. It’s about identifying the deeper costs—the ones no one talks about when they’re cheering a win, hiding a loss, or placing “just one more” bet.

The emotional toll: an underestimated weight

Gambling doesn’t just affect your wallet—it affects your heart. It begins to shape how you see yourself, how you regulate your emotions, and how you process your day-to-day life. A good day is when you win, a bad day is when you lose, and somewhere along the way, your mood becomes dependent on odds, outcomes, and numbers that are completely out of your control.

There’s a specific kind of anxiety that comes with gambling. You may feel it before placing a bet, while the event plays out, or afterward as you obsess over what you should have done differently. It may show up in your body as restlessness, tension, or insomnia. Emotionally, you may experience anger, numbness, or even despair. And when you lose, the pressure to win it back builds quickly—often at the cost of your peace, your sleep, and your sanity.

This is what emotional captivity looks like. You’re no longer managing your emotions—they’re managing you. A win might make you feel untouchable. A loss might make you feel worthless. In both cases, your worth is tied to something that cannot hold the weight of your soul.

Over time, your sense of identity becomes entangled with your performance as a gambler. I once placed a massive 12-game parlay during March Madness, chasing a dream payout that would’ve crossed six figures. One by one, the first eleven teams won. I was on the edge of a life-changing win—until the twelfth and final game went into overtime. I still remember sitting there, heart pounding, as it came down to the last possession. A player from the opposing team launched a shot from nearly three-quarters of the court. It went in. Game over. My team lost. And just like that, $9,000 vanished—along with the fantasy of what I thought that win would fix.

The emotional high was replaced with a crushing low. I wasn’t just disappointed—I was sick. It felt like everything had been building to that moment, and it unraveled in an instant. That’s the emotional torment gambling creates: irrational hope followed by devastating collapse.

It’s no longer just something you do—it starts to define who you are, and that’s a dangerous place to live.

The relational damage: trust erodes in the shadows

Gambling is rarely just a personal problem. Its consequences ripple outward, impacting those nearest to you. Maybe you’ve already seen this in your own life—relationships strained by secrecy, distance, or financial stress. Maybe you’ve begun to hide things from your spouse, your parents, or your friends. Maybe you’ve found yourself canceling plans, dodging questions, or withdrawing emotionally from people you love.

Even when intentions are good, lies are often the first domino to fall. A small excuse here, a delayed payment there. Promises are made to keep the peace, but eventually they get broken. Trust, once damaged, is hard to rebuild, and when those around you can’t trust your words or your actions, the relationships begin to fracture.

Perhaps you’ve borrowed money and didn’t repay it. Maybe you’ve made commitments and failed to follow through. Or maybe you’ve even taken money that wasn’t yours—telling yourself you’d return it as soon as things turned around. But the thing about gambling is that “when things turn around” rarely comes—and if it does, it’s never enough.

And then comes the isolation. You may start to believe that no one would understand what you’re going through—that if people really knew, they would walk away. So, you keep your distance and avoid conversations that could expose you. What you need more than anything isn’t another win—it’s being fully known and fully loved.

That kind of love can only be found in God and he already knows everything. There’s nothing you’ve hidden that he hasn’t seen. God’s not turning away from you, he’s waiting to heal what’s been broken.

The spiritual gap: what happens in your heart

At first, gambling might not feel like a spiritual problem. It might feel like a strategy, a hobby, or a way to blow off steam. But over time, it can slowly change your heart—and that’s when the spiritual danger becomes clear.

Gambling competes for your affections. It grabs your attention, consumes your time, and draws your trust away from God and toward something else. When gambling becomes a source of hope, relief, control, or meaning, it begins to function like a god. It becomes an idol—one you rely on when life feels uncertain or painful.

If you’re a Christian struggling with a temptation to gamble, slowly and gradually you may find yourself no longer interested in praying, opening your Bible, or seeking God because your focus is elsewhere. Deep down you know what you’re doing is wrong, but you don’t want to address it—not yet at least. Eventually, wins start to feel like confirmation that your strategy is working, while losses start to feel like punishment or “bad luck.” Either way, the center of your trust has shifted away from God  and toward yourself.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In other words, what you value most will always shape what you love most. If your thoughts, hopes, and plans revolve around gambling, your heart will follow.

One of the clearest signs of this shift is how much time you spend thinking about, planning, or recovering from gambling. Check your screen time. Track your thoughts. Are you more fluent with betting lines than with Scripture? Are you more emotionally affected by a win or loss than you are by a worship song, a sermon, or time in prayer?

God hasn’t stopped loving you but you may have stopped listening. When you stop listening, your soul grows numb. Not dead—but distant. You’re not abandoned. You’re just distracted. And distractions are the enemy of intimacy with Christ.

The good news is this: God’s love is not performance-based. You don’t have to earn your way back. You just have to turn toward Him, and He will meet you there, every time.

A hidden tax on the soul

What’s the real cost of gambling (and no, it’s not just losing money)? The real cost is the hidden tax on your soul—the constant emotional drain, the broken relationships, the silence between you and God. These costs don’t show up on a balance sheet, but they add up fast and they leave you depleted, ashamed, and exhausted.

If you’ve reached that place—or if you’re headed there—you don’t have to stay there. There is a way out. Proverbs 28:20 doesn’t just warn against rushing after riches; it points toward something better: faithfulness. Faithfulness may not feel flashy. It won’t give you the same adrenaline as a hot streak but it gives you something that gambling never will—peace: peace with God, others, and yourself.

Faithfulness develops slowly. It’s not about winning big; it’s about walking daily—in repentance and with integrity and humility before God. It’s about choosing honesty over secrecy, trust over control, and surrender over striving.

Gambling promises life but delivers loss. Jesus promises rest—and he delivers every time. He doesn’t call you just to avoid sin. He calls you to a new way of life—a better and free life with himself at the center. The door to that life isn’t locked. It opens the moment you decide to tell the truth, bring your sin to God in repentance and place faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus died the death you and I deserve to die. And he rose to offer new life to all who believe in him. You don’t have to carry the weight of your sin anymore. Jesus already paid the price.

Reflection Questions

1. Where have you seen gambling impact your emotional, relational, or spiritual life most clearly?

2. What patterns of hiding or avoidance have you noticed in yourself?

3. What might change if you trusted God with what you’ve been trying to manage on your own?

A Prayer to Begin

Father, I have tried to live life my own way and be my own god and savior. Please, help me to surrender everything to You and walk in Your truth. I don’t want to hide anymore. Teach me to walk in light and live in freedom. Amen.

Part Three: Turning from Idols—Repentance and Renewal

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The idols we don’t recognize

When we think of idols, we might picture statues or ancient altars. But in our world, idols are far more subtle. An idol is anything—good or bad—that begins to take God’s rightful place in our hearts. It’s what we run to for comfort, control, validation, escape, or identity. For many of us caught in the trap of gambling, this activity isn’t just a habit—it’s a god.

Slowly and quietly, gambling becomes more than entertainment—it becomes a master. Every master other than Jesus will eventually lead us into ruin.

Idols demand everything and give nothing in return. They entice us with control but enslave us to outcomes we can’t guarantee. They offer meaning but steal our peace. They whisper promises of a better life while slowly draining the life we already have.

Romans 12:2 calls us to something entirely different. Instead of being conformed to the world’s patterns—chasing pleasure, performance, and quick fixes—we’re invited to be transformed by renewing our minds. That transformation begins with repentance: turning from idols and turning back to the God who created us, loves us, and offers true life.

The illusion of control

One of the most deceptive aspects of gambling is the illusion of control. You study the lines, analyze the trends, build a system, and convince yourself that this time it’s going to work. Occasionally, it does—for a while but no amount of strategy can overcome a system built to take you down.

The deeper issue isn’t the system itself—it’s what we’re really trying to control. For many, gambling isn’t just about money. It’s about self-worth, stability, or the fantasy of finally proving we’re not failures. It becomes a way to fix something that feels broken inside.

Here’s the truth: no amount of success at the tables, on the apps, or with a bet can fix what only God was meant to heal. We’re not just looking for wins—we’re looking for peace, purpose, and identity—which cannot be found in odds or outcomes. God invites us to lay down the illusion, to surrender the need to control everything, and to stop trying to fix ourselves through idols that cannot save. Instead, God calls us to be transformed by his truth and grace.

A story from the end of myself

The last time I walked into a casino, I was 20 years old. I drove for over four hours by myself to Windsor, Canada. I don’t remember the exact time I arrived, but I remember how quickly I lost control. Within 30 minutes of walking through the door, I had lost $2,000. I wasn’t just disappointed—I was depressed.

I drove back across the border to Detroit, found a branch of my bank, and withdrew more than $5,000—money that had just been deposited to pay for my next college term. All my credit cards were maxed out. I had no other legal way to get more money. I wasn’t thinking clearly and I was desperate to hit it big. So, I drove straight back to Windsor and before I knew it all $5,000 was lost.

As I started the long drive home, I barely had enough gas in the tank to make the trip, and then, about two hours from my front door, I got a flat tire. I pulled over onto the shoulder, completely broken. I didn’t just feel stuck—I was stuck. I had nowhere to turn or hide while on the side of the road, out of money, out of options, and out of hope.

There I was—literally on my knees, changing a tire in the dark, realizing I had nowhere to go and nothing left to give. I was empty. You know those memory flashes that hit you in moments like that? I remembered a few times I had been invited to church when I was younger. I used to think church was boring and Christians were weird. I mean, I believed in God, and Jesus sounded good—so I figured I was good, right? But in that moment, I had nowhere else to turn.

By the time I got home, it was just early enough that I could make it to the morning service at the church I once wrote off. That day, God radically changed my life.

I couldn’t explain everything I felt in words but I knew I was a sinner. That part was easy to admit. I knew I wanted something different—something real. I wanted to live for a Father who loved me and a Savior who died for me. That day marked the beginning of a new life. Not because I fixed myself, but because Jesus met me in my brokenness and paid my debt in full.

It hasn’t always been perfect. There are still moments I wrestled with shame. At times I feel the pull to gamble again. Through it all, God has been patient, gracious, and faithful. He didn’t just forgive me—He walks with me, and I know I will never be the same.

Even now, 17 years later, writing this still brings tears to my eyes. Not because of how far I fell—but because of how far he reached to bring me home. What God did in me; he is ready and willing to do for you.

Real repentance is possible

Repentance is more than just regret. It’s more than feeling sorry. It’s turning away from sin, and turning toward God. It’s not just about stopping bad behavior—it’s about letting God renew your heart, mind, and desires.

Gambling is a sin—a particularly destructive one. If you’re addicted to gambling or tempted to start, I urge you—repent of your sin and trust in Jesus.

Romans 12:2 doesn’t tell us to just avoid the patterns of the world. It invites us to be transformed. That transformation doesn’t happen through willpower—it happens through surrender. Through soaking in the truth of God’s Word, confession, and trusting in His mercy more than your mistakes.

You don’t need to be perfect to repent; you just need to be honest. You don’t have to understand everything right now. You just have to bring your brokenness to the One who can heal it. Repentance is how we turn away from the idols that enslaved us—and how we return to the God who loves us. In that turning, everything begins to change.

The lie of “one last time”

Maybe you’ve thought, “Just one more time. Then I’ll quit.” That is the voice of addiction. It speaks softly but deceitfully. “One more time” never comes.

Once, in the middle of a desperate stretch, I bet $900 on a horse. It wasn’t even a good horse. I knew it didn’t have a real shot (this horse basically only had three legs). But the idea that maybe—just maybe—this would be the win that changed everything was too strong. I spread $300 across the board on this longshot, hoping for a miracle.

The horse broke before the race even started…That day I felt crushed. Not just because of the money, but because of what it revealed in me. I wasn’t chasing fun—I was chasing fantasy. Hoping a bet would fix what was broken. That somehow, if I could just hit the right ticket, everything in my life would be okay.

But idols don’t rescue. They destroy. They make promises they can’t keep, and when everything falls apart, you’re left carrying the shame.

Transformed minds, transformed lives

God doesn’t just want to clean up your behavior. He wants to give you a new heart, mind, and identity. When you’re saved, you’re adopted into his family. You become a new creation—indwelt by the Holy Spirit, made for fellowship with the living God, and called to worship and grow in Christlikeness. You were not created to live in secrecy and shame; you were made to shine the light and truth of Christ to all those you come into contact with.

Renewal begins when we stop trying to fit into the world’s patterns and start allowing God’s truth to reshape the way we think. It’s not about religion. It’s about transformation. You may still feel a draw to gamble and hear the lies whispering in your head, but you don’t have to listen to them. God’s Word is louder, and his grace is stronger.

He can change your story, and he will—if you let him.

Reflection Questions:

1. What idols—such as control, success, approval, or escape—has gambling created in your life?

2. What has been your understanding of repentance, and how might that need to grow?

3. Where do you sense God calling you to surrender and trust Him more deeply?

A Prayer for Renewal

Father, I confess that I have chased after things that can never satisfy. I don’t want to conform to this world any longer—I want to be transformed by You. Change my heart and help me walk in the freedom that comes through Christ alone. Amen.

Part Four: Walking in Freedom—New Habits, New Heart

 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”—Galatians 5:1

Walking out what God has worked in

Freedom is not just something you feel in a moment—it’s something you live out day by day. By now, you’ve recognized gambling for what it really is: a destructive counterfeit that promises excitement and reward but leads to bondage, brokenness, and despair. You’ve also taken a hard look at what it has cost you emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. In the last session, you saw that real repentance means turning from false gods and returning to the living God who calls you to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus.

This final session is about moving forward—walking in freedom. It’s about learning to live as someone who’s been adopted by God, set apart by him, and empowered by his Spirit to live a new kind of life. It’s not about being perfect overnight. It’s about practicing new habits that flow from a new heart. This is the path of sanctification, the ongoing journey of becoming more like Jesus.

You may still feel vulnerable. You may still be tempted. You may still hear the lies whispering to you when life gets hard. But take heart—God is not done with you, and He’s not asking you to walk alone.

Stand firm—don’t go back

Paul’s words to the Galatians are urgent, “Do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” These early Christians had been set free by the gospel, but they were being tempted to return to rule following in order to merit God’s love rather than freely receive it in Christ. Paul saw it clearly—this was just another kind of bondage, and he pleads with them, “Don’t go back!”

For you, slavery came in the form of gambling. It may have begun as harmless entertainment, a game, a thrill but soon it became a chain. If you’re not careful, the pull to return will resurface—often when you’re tired, discouraged, or lonely.

You may think, “I can handle it this time. I’ve changed. I’ll set limits. I’ll just bet a little.” But that’s the same lie that trapped you before. Freedom in Christ means drawing a firm boundary. Not because you’re trying to earn God’s love, but because you already have it. You’re not trying to prove yourself anymore—you’re guarding what God has already given you. You’re free. Don’t submit again.

Remove the temptation

If you’re serious about walking in freedom, you have to create space for that freedom to grow. That means removing the bait that once hooked you.

Start by deleting every gambling and sports betting app from your phone—do it right now. Don’t wait until the end of this session—do it immediately. While you’re at it, clear your browser history, block access to gambling sites, unsubscribe from the “betting experts,” and set restrictions if needed. Most importantly, ask someone to help with accountability. You may even have them set a password protected restriction on gambling sites on your browser in order to make it harder for you to bet. 

Some people might think that all sounds extreme but Jesus said, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30). He wasn’t being literal—but he was deadly serious. If something is pulling you away from him, you shouldn’t try to manage it—you must remove it and fast. After all, your soul is on the line.

This isn’t about legalism. It’s about freedom. You are choosing to eliminate what enslaved you so you can walk in the fullness of life God intends. You’re not depriving yourself—you’re protecting your soul.

Empowered by the Spirit—you’re not alone

One of the greatest lies the enemy tells us is that we’re on our own, and once we leave the casino or close the app, we’re left to figure out this new life by sheer willpower but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

When you surrendered your life to Christ, you weren’t just forgiven—you were filled. The Holy Spirit now dwells within you. He’s your Helper, your Guide, your Comforter. He convicts you when you stray, empowers you to obey, and reminds you of your identity as a beloved child of God.

Galatians 5:16 tells us to, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Walking in freedom isn’t about trying harder—it’s about yielding more deeply to the Spirit’s work in you.

Start your day with a simple prayer: “Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to walk in Your way and not my own.” You’ll be amazed how He gently redirects your thoughts, renews your strength, and reshapes your affections over time. You’re not alone. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you.

Placed in a family

One of the remarkable things about becoming a Christian is realizing that being united to Jesus means being united to his people. Having God as your Father means having his children as your siblings. There is nowhere where this reality is made more clear for Christians than in the context of the local church. Sure, local churches aren’t perfect. But if they’re biblically ordered and healthy, the church stands as one of the best way for saved sinners to walk in the light.

Whether it be through hearing encouraging sermons, experiencing loving accountability from your fellow members, seeing corrective discipline exercised and rightly fearing the consequences of sin, or receiving rebuke from one of your elders, the local church is Jesus’s plan to help you grow to look like him. If you’re recovering from a gambling addiction, consider being honest with one of your elders or a few friends in the church who can walk alongside of you. If you don’t have a church, consider going to “www.9Marks.org/churchsearch” to find a church that is healthy and ready to help you grow in Jesus.

Practice new habits

Breaking old habits isn’t enough—you need new ones. You don’t just stop gambling; you start living differently. This is where sanctification becomes practical. Sanctification is the process by which God makes you more like Jesus. Yes, you are sanctified now but sanctification is ongoing on this side of glory. It happens as you train your heart and mind to walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh.

Here are some key habits to begin building:

1. Renew Your Mind Daily

Romans 12:2 reminds us to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” That means replacing the lies of gambling culture with the truth of God’s Word. The more you read and meditate on Scripture, the more your desires begin to change.

You might begin with Psalms or the Gospels. Use a reading plan or devotional guide. Even ten minutes in the Bible each morning can re-center your mind on what truly matters. The battle is won or lost in your thoughts—so equip yourself.

2. Pray Honestly and Often

You don’t need polished words or to sound like a thesaurus; just speak to your loving Father in a humble and reverent manner. Share everything with him: your thoughts, fears, victories, and temptations. Prayer is the lifeline of freedom.

Daniel prayed three times a day, even in exile. Jesus rose early to commune with the Father. The early church prayed in the midst of suffering. When prayer becomes your habit, you begin to see yourself and your circumstances through God’s eyes—not just your own.

3. Tell the Truth—Stay Accountable

You weren’t meant to fight this battle alone. Whether it’s a friend, pastor, small group, or support program, you need people who know your struggle and speak truth to you.

Isolation is the playground of relapse but community is where healing grows. Choose someone who will ask the hard questions. Be honest, and if you stumble—run toward accountability, not away from it.

4. Invest in What Lasts

Gambling trained your heart to seek quick hits and fast wins but God teaches us to value faithfulness, patience, and long-term fruit.

Start small—invest in your relationships by calling a family member regularly, volunteering at your church, serving someone in need, or writing someone a letter sharing how much they have meant to you in your life. Every small act of faithfulness builds a foundation for joy.

Don’t underestimate the power of consistency. You don’t need a jackpot—you need a harvest, and a harvest comes with time.

Growth takes time—think long-term like a strong stock

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen all at once. It’s more like a long-term investment than a quick return. Think of sanctification like a strong stock in the market. Day to day, the price might rise or fall, have ups and downs, moments of doubt, struggle, and even failure. However, when you zoom out over five, ten, or twenty years, there is an upward trend.

That’s what the Christian life is like. You may fall or stumble but if you keep seeking Christ, walking in the Spirit, and practicing new habits, the trajectory of your life will have an upward trend toward Christlikeness. Don’t obsess over the daily fluctuations—focus on the long-term trend.

When you fall, get back up

Let’s be honest: even with new habits, strong boundaries, and deep desire, you might still stumble. Freedom in Christ does not mean you’ll never face temptation or failure. It means you know where to run when you do.

If you fall, don’t give up. Don’t spiral into shame or try to hide it. Confess it to God, bring it into the light, and reach out to someone. Repent quickly and start again. God’s grace is not a one-time offer—it’s a daily invitation.

Proverbs 24:16 says, “The righteous falls seven times and rises again.”

Your freedom isn’t dependent on a perfect record. It’s dependent on a perfect Savior.

Keep your eyes on Jesus

Ultimately, walking in freedom is not about behavior management—it’s about heart transformation, and that comes by keeping your eyes on Jesus.

When you remember what He did for you on the cross. . .
When you see how he walked out of the grave to give you a new life. . .
When you grasp how deep and wide His love is for you. . .

. . .you’ll stop chasing lesser thrills. Your heart will no longer be satisfied with counterfeit hope.

This is the Christian life—not a life of sterile rule-following, but a life of vibrant love and joy in Jesus Christ, and it’s what you were made for.

Reflection Questions

1. What practical steps have you already taken to remove access to gambling? What else needs to go?

2. Which new habit (Bible reading, prayer, accountability, service) do you feel most drawn to begin cultivating this week?

3. What lies about your identity still try to define you? What does Scripture say instead?

4. How can you remind yourself daily that sanctification is a process, not a race?

Prayer to Begin

Father, thank You for setting me free in Christ. Help me walk in that freedom every day—strengthen my heart, reshape my desires, and lead me by Your Spirit. Help me grow in Christlikeness for Your glory. Amen.

Conclusion

Freedom in Christ is not just about walking away from something destructive—it’s about walking into something far greater. Throughout this life skill guide, you’ve taken a serious look at the hidden costs of gambling: the emotional highs and lows, the deceptive belief in a system, the spiritual erosion, and the relational damage. However, you’ve also seen the powerful invitation of the gospel—an invitation to return to the Father, to live as a beloved child, and to walk in newness of life.

Maybe your journey has been marked by deep regret. Maybe you’ve lost money, relationships, or years you can’t get back. Here’s the truth: no matter how far you’ve gone, you are not beyond the reach of grace. Jesus didn’t come for the cleaned-up and put-together—he came for the broken, the desperate, and the enslaved. He came for you if you would repent of your sin and trust in him for salvation.

You’ve learned that repentance is more than behavior change—it’s a heart turning back to God. You’ve been reminded that sanctification is a process, not a perfection contest. You’ve also been challenged to build new habits rooted in God’s Word, prayer, accountability, and service. None of this is easy but it is worth it because Christ doesn’t just set us free—he teaches us how to stay free.

There will still be moments of weakness. There may even be setbacks but you’re not the same person you were when you started this journey. You’re learning to live as someone who is adopted, chosen, filled with the Spirit, and being transformed. The old patterns don’t define you anymore—Christ does.

You may not see all the fruit yet and that’s okay. Growth takes time, just like a long-term investment. If you keep walking with Jesus, keep renewing your mind, and keep surrounding yourself with truth and accountability.

If you’ve walked through this life skill guide alone, I want to encourage you—don’t stay isolated because freedom flourishes in community. Find a church, a small group, or a trusted mentor who will walk with you, and don’t be afraid to share your story. Your experience—your struggle and your healing—may be the very thing God uses to help someone else break free.

The path ahead won’t always be easy but you’re not walking it alone. Christ goes with you, his Spirit lives in you, and his promises will never fail you. So, take the next step—not perfectly, but prayerfully—not with fear, but with faith. The chains are broken and the door is open. Walk in freedom—fully and freely, as a beloved child of God.

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
—Romans 8:15

Bio: Luke Rininger is a high school teacher in Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife have three boys. Luke has degrees from Ohio University (Math Education), Grand Canyon University (Master of Education), Southern Seminary (Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Educational Ministry).

About the Author

Luke Rininger is a high school teacher in Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife have three boys. Luke has degrees from Ohio University (Math Education), Grand Canyon University (Master of Education), Southern Seminary (Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Educational Ministry).

#35 What Does Generosity Mean: A World of Abundance or Scarcity

Part 1: Understanding Generosity

Generosity shapes how we respond to pride and self-centeredness. The way we handle these extremes matters deeply—not only for our spiritual well-being, but also for our relationship with the Creator and our ability to care for others. In Christian teaching, generosity is rooted in the very character of God, while greed reflects a self-focused impulse that pulls us away from spiritual life.

At its core, this invites us to pause and ask an honest question: what does generosity mean in the life of a believer? Is it simply about giving something away, or is it about a deeper posture of the heart?

Defining Both from a Biblical Perspective

The Bible highlights the importance of generosity clearly. In 2 Corinthians 9:6–7, Paul writes: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

This passage helps us arrive at a clear generosity definition from Scripture. Generosity is not forced, reluctant, or driven by pressure. It flows from a willing heart that trusts God and delights in giving.

From a biblical standpoint, generosity is not limited to money alone. It reflects our trust in God’s provision and our willingness to live with open hands. When we understand what does generosity mean in this way, we begin to see it as a lifestyle—expressed through time, encouragement, hospitality, forgiveness, and financial support.

Just as our Creator gives freely and abundantly, we are called to do the same. This is the essence of Christian generosity: giving not out of fear of lack, but out of confidence in God’s faithfulness.

Greed, by contrast, reveals a different posture of the heart. It is an unending desire for more—more control, more possessions, more security apart from God. Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Greed convinces us that we never have enough and that fulfillment lies just beyond our reach. Over time, it shifts our trust away from God and toward material accumulation. This is why Scripture repeatedly cautions against it, reminding us that misplaced desire can quietly replace devotion to God (Colossians 3:5).

So again, the question returns: what does generosity mean for us personally? It means choosing trust over fear, openness over hoarding, and obedience over self-protection.

Understanding generosity in this light also guides us in learning how to be generous in everyday life—not perfectly, but intentionally. It starts with recognizing that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and that giving is not a loss, but an act of worship and freedom.

Having Generosity: Putting Your Trust In God

Generosity means giving God all your possessions and trusting Him with them.

When we are benevolent, we declare that God is our provider, therefore, we further declare that he will meet each one of our needs. As stated in Philippians 4:19 that “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Greed deceives us into thinking what we have is never enough, driving us to pursue wealth instead of deepening our trust in God. This makes us selfish, dissatisfied, and entitled.

Greed never satisfies because it incites a tireless pursuit for more. It leads to envy and comparison, turning one’s heart cold towards those who are in need. Even worse, it prevents others from appreciating the joy of giving and trusting in God’s providence.

Jesus’ Teachings on Generosity

Jesus spoke often about money, not because wealth itself was evil, but because it reveals what the heart truly values. Again and again, He used generosity as a lens through which His disciples could examine their love, trust, and priorities.

In Mark 10:17–27, a rich young ruler approaches Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. After affirming that the man has kept the commandments, Jesus responds with a challenge that exposes the deeper issue of the heart:

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

This moment forces us to ask a difficult but necessary question: what does generosity mean when following Christ? Jesus was not simply asking this man to give away his possessions as a rule to obey. He was inviting him into a deeper trust—a willingness to loosen his grip on wealth and place his confidence fully in God.

The issue was not the amount the man owned, but the power his possessions held over him. True generosity shows itself in how lightly we hold what we have and how readily we place the needs of others above our own. In this sense, generosity is not merely an action, but a reflection of surrender.

The young man walks away saddened, unable to part with his wealth. Jesus then turns to His disciples and says:

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
(Mark 10:23)

Jesus is not condemning money itself. Rather, He is warning how easily wealth can become an idol—something we trust more than God. When our security rests in possessions, generosity becomes difficult because surrender feels like loss. Scripture echoes this warning elsewhere, reminding us that the love of money can quietly replace devotion to God (1 Timothy 6:10).

This brings us again to the heart of the matter: what does generosity mean in the kingdom of God? It means trusting God more than what we own. It means believing that His provision is sufficient, even when giving feels costly.

Later, in Mark 12, Jesus gives a contrasting picture—one that reveals God’s generosity at work in the lives of ordinary people. As He watches people place offerings into the temple treasury, He draws attention not to the wealthy donors, but to a poor widow:

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:43-44)

This moment reframes generosity entirely. It is not measured by amount, but by trust. The widow’s gift mirrors God’s generosity—a giving that holds nothing back and expects nothing in return. She gives not because she has excess, but because she trusts God with her whole life.

So when we ask once more, what does generosity mean, Jesus’ teaching makes the answer clear: it means giving from a heart anchored in trust, shaped by God’s character, and freed from fear of loss. It means reflecting the generous heart of God Himself, who gives not sparingly, but abundantly.

The Blessings of Generosity

Key Scripture: Luke 12:15

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

A Story of Two Lifestyles

Envision two individuals. One is constantly pursuing more money, more success, and more goods, but they still always feel an internal emptiness. Everything they have is never enough. They hoard what is unnecessary through the naively optimistic belief that happiness stems from material gain.

Now imagine someone who is vividly different. This person freely gives away not just their money but their kindness, time, and love as well. They possess profound joy because they choose to see life as a means to bless others instead of serving themselves. These two contrasting kinds of mindsets bring about a world of difference. In life, both greed and generosity exist, which are at times referred to as ‘the two ends of the spectrum.’

In Luke 12:15, Jesus states, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” With this, He cautions us against being consumed by the pursuit of more and calls us instead to a life of generosity and care for others. So, how does one compartmentalize greed and understand the true meaning of generosity and its underlying blessings? Let’s head towards the answer.

Why It’s Never Enough

Greed is not simply about wanting money. A person becomes greedy when they constantly want more—more possessions, more recognition, more control. It is a mindset shaped by the belief that what they have will never be enough.

Scripture consistently warns us about this danger. These bible verses about generosity and greed reveal how easily desire can become destructive:

– “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
– “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
– “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

These verses help us understand a core truth found throughout generosity in the Bible: greed is never satisfied because it is rooted in fear and self-reliance rather than trust in God.

Why greed is dangerous?

Greed quietly reshapes the heart and affects every area of life:

1. It makes us selfish. Greedy thinking places personal gain above the well-being of others.
2. It leads to stress and worry. The fear of losing what we have consumes our thoughts.
3. It creates a false sense of security. Money replaces God as the source of peace.
4. It damages relationships. Greed often leads to dishonesty, mistrust, and isolation.
5. It distracts us from what matters most. Faith, family, and love are replaced by endless pursuit.

Desire does not stop growing simply because someone has more. A greedy heart is never filled, no matter how much it acquires. This is why Scripture continually redirects us toward a better way—biblical generosity, which frees us instead of trapping us.

The Benefit of Giving Money Goes Beyond Its Surface Value

True generosity shapes the whole person. It is not only about money, but about how we use our time, attention, compassion, and resources. At its core, generosity is an act of trust—choosing to rely on God rather than tightly gripping what we own.

This is where many people begin to ask an important question: what does generosity mean from a biblical perspective?

The biblical definition of generosity is not giving out of excess, but giving from faith—believing that God is faithful to provide. Scripture promises blessing to those who live this way:

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)

Blessings of generosity

Living generously produces fruit far beyond material outcomes:

1. It brings joy. Giving lifts the heart and loosens the grip of fear.
2. It builds strong relationships. Generous people attract genuine connection.
3. It teaches trust in God. Giving shifts our dependence from possessions to the Lord.
4. It leads to true wealth. Not just financial, but a life rich in purpose and peace.
5. It impacts others deeply. Generosity transforms lives—both the giver’s and the receiver’s.

Being generous does not mean living without. It means using what we have to glorify God and bless others. This contrast between greed and generosity is visible everywhere in modern life.

Greed in the World Today:

– People stepping on others to advance their careers
– Businesses prioritizing profit over honesty
– Wealth hoarded while others suffer
– Families divided by money rather than united by love

Generosity in the World Today:

– People giving to churches, charities, and those in need
– Strangers helping one another in times of crisis
– Parents teaching children to share and serve
– Churches actively caring for their communities

Greed fractures communities and drains the soul. Biblical generosity, however, reflects the heart of God—bringing people together, restoring trust, and extending His blessing far beyond what we can see.

How To Make A Shift From Greed To Generosity

Facing greed challenges does not mean we need to feel ashamed because we can ask God to assist us in giving more generously. Here are a few ways to start:

1. You Should Recognize That Everything in Life Belongs to God

God gave us what we have for us to maintain it temporarily. Our hands stay open when we recognize God owns our money and possessions.

2. Be Thankful for What You Have

Feeling we do not possess sufficient resources triggers greed within us. Gratitude shows us that we have already received everything. Express appreciation to God each day for His gifts.

3. Start Giving—Even in Small Ways

Begin your giving with easy actions like purchasing a coffee for others or giving minimal amounts. Volunteer whenever possible, too. As we release our resources regularly, giving feels easier to accomplish.

4. Trust That God Will Provide

Our fear of lacking resources stops us from reaching our goals, yet God ensures our supply.

5. Search for Opportunities Every Day to Make Others Happy

Your generosity does not have to depend on cash because opportunities for good deeds come in many forms. Each day explore ways to bless others through action and words.

—

Discussion: How Do We See Generosity in Today’s World?

1. When giving, have you ever felt a deep sense of happiness? What was that like?
2. Why did Jesus speak so frequently about money and generosity?
   What methods can we use to help the next generation become generous in their giving?

—

Our lives become unforgettable when we demonstrate our love through service and generous giving.

Our giving actions reveal what we believe about God’s nature. Trust God in giving, and he will provide us with freedom, happiness, and contentment. This week, ask yourself how your choices impact people by feeding a generous heart or protecting a fearful one. And what actions can you take today to show generosity like God? Our most significant life path comes from giving to others while trusting God while sharing God’s blessings.

Part 2: The Heart Behind Giving

Giving as an Act of Worship and Obedience

Key Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What Does Giving Have To Do With Worship?

Most people think worship is singing at church or praying. Did you know that giving is also an act of worship? Giving isn’t solely financial. It begins with an active faith in God, love for Him, and prioritization of Him in our lives. Remember, as Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). This quotation reminds us that our spending reveals what we truly value. Then, some are so protective of their wealth that they fear ever letting go of it. This explains why money is valued more than God. However, in giving freely, we reveal that our trust lies with Him, not our available funds.

Why Do We Offer Expenses for Worship?

God does not necessitate financial assistance—He, undoubtedly, owns everything. Some individuals think that God requests us to give as if He depended on us for money.

The reason He calls us to give is for our benefit, not His. Giving helps us turn over a new leaf from greed and selfishness. It becomes easier to trust in God for all your needs. We bless others and show God’s love by giving without expecting in return.

Giving comes from the heart, an act of obedience, serving as an opportunity to draw closer to God while keeping our fists open rather than closed.

The Correlation Between Giving and Obedience

Obedience can pose a challenge, especially in regard to financial matters. I recall working for an hourly wage, thinking, “I worked hard for this money,” and wanting to keep it all for myself. Little did I realize, every single thing I own is a gift from God.

The Bible reveals the many different ways that God’s people can act out His command to be generous.

For example, In the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to set aside the first ten percent of their income as a form of honoring and supporting Him (Malachi 3:10). When Jesus came in the New Testament, he shifted focus away from a rigid 10 percent and instead told the people to give out of their hearts.

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus commends the widow who, out of all her money, decided to donate two small coins. Her gift, although small, was sacrificial and that has the greatest value. It was not the amount she gave, but the sacrificial heart behind it, that Jesus commended.

Let’s be honest—giving can feel frightening, especially when we wonder, ‘What if I don’t have enough? What if an emergency arises?’ These are valid concerns. Yet Scripture reassures us that when we prioritize God and His Kingdom, He faithfully provides for our needs. In Matthew 6:31–33, Jesus tells us not to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear. Instead, He calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and assures us that all these needs will be provided. Whenever we bless others, we say, God, I trust You more than my income.” I have faith that You will meet my needs.” And God is eternally loyal.

Giving Is More Than Just Money

The only thing that comes to mind when people hear the word ‘giving’ is the money they donate or the funds they provide to a particular church. But generosity is so much more than that.

We can give in many ways:

Time: To serve others, to do volunteer work, and to assist the needy.

Encouragement: Helping people grow by offering kind words and support.

Resources: Providing food, clothing or anything that can help another person.

Sometimes, it is easy to provide cash. However, providing love, time, and energy is also important; a giving heart will seek opportunities to bless others in every area of life.

The Lord’s Blessings through Giving

God never asks us to give without promising to bless us in return. But here is the thing— we do not give just because we want something back. We give as a token of our love for God and whatever blessings come later are just an extra.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

When we give cheerfully:

– God provides for our needs. He knows what we need before we even ask.
– We experience joy. Helping others is incredibly satisfying.
– We expand our spiritual life. Giving makes us depend on God more, which in turn helps us and stretches our faith.
– We create an everlasting difference. Our generosity goes a long way in serving those in need and spreading the gospel.
– Giving is not losing in any way, it is about enriching our relationship with God, and gaining a true sense of direction in life.

What Keeps Us from Giving?

Even when we want to give, fears and doubts often hold us back—whether it’s the fear of not having enough, or the tendency to wait until we feel more financially secure.

Giving when you have extra does not mean giving. But giving regardless of your situation is a true act of giving. If we are always waiting to have enough, we may never start. But when we give first and trust that God will provide, that is where His faithfulness shows. It is not just about giving, the goal is to make giving a custom, something natural in our journey through life with God.

Giving as Devotion

Giving comes down to trust and worship. By giving we say, “God, You are more important to me than whatever I own.”

By giving, we are investing in things that money, possessions, and success cannot overshadow as they fade away in the future. A generous heart always leaves behind an eternal impact.

So, the question is: What or where do you treasure?

This week open yourself up to more powerful acts of generosity. Let them be joyous acts of worship to God, like serving, or giving a helping hand to someone in need. After all, the treasures of considerable worth are not those that we keep to ourselves, but the ones we share with others.

Overcoming Fear and Selfishness in Financial and Personal Giving

On the surface, giving seems simple—all one needs to do is hand over what they have. But in practice, it is rarely that easy. When we pause to give, deeper questions often arise: Am I giving too much? Can someone be too generous? What if my kindness is taken advantage of? These honest concerns lead many people to quietly wonder, what does generosity mean when real-life needs and limitations are involved.

Beneath these questions are two common obstacles: fear and self-centeredness.

Fear tells us, “If you give, you might suffer lack.”

Selfishness whispers, “You worked hard for this—it’s yours.”

Scripture consistently challenges these inner voices. The Bible reminds us that generosity is not rooted in abundance, but in trust. When we begin to understand what does it mean to be generous, we see that it is less about the amount we give and more about the posture of our heart—choosing faith over fear and love over self-protection.

God calls us to give without fear because He is our provider. When we give, we are not losing security; we are placing it back into His hands. Time and again, Scripture affirms that God sees our needs and is faithful to care for those who trust Him.

So what keeps us stuck? Often, it is not a lack of resources, but a lack of trust. As we move forward, let’s take time to identify the obstacles holding us back and explore how faith can free us to give with confidence, wisdom, and peace.

Obstacle: The Fear of Not Having Enough

Money tends to be one of the largest sources of worry for people. Bills, unexpected payments, and day to day expenses can make everything feel tight and make us not want to spend anything at all.

Thinking this way is easy: I can start giving, but only once I have more to spare. The sad reality is if we continue to wait, we will never end up giving at all.

Jesus challenges this mindset in Matthew 6:25-26, where He says:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

God is telling us to trust Him and that He will take care of us. If we refuse Him money, it is like feeling He cannot do it. However, whenever we choose faith over fear and give, we imply that our finances are not in control but God.

The Implicit Selfishness of Grasping

We can be honest – at times, we may just not feel like giving. Our own ambitions, wants and needs are personal—we have put in all the hard work to get all that. Thus, it feels like “others may give—I’ll look after myself.”

This mindset is spiritually dangerous because it places confidence in self rather than in God, our true provider. It teaches that security comes from riches instead of its original source which is Jehovah.

Jesus advises against this behavior in Luke 12:16-21 when he shares a story about a rich man who saved a lot of money for himself but never thought about helping others with it. The rich man believed his wealth guaranteed him eternal life until God said, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.”

The lesson? Hoarding wealth does not lead to true security. Trusting God does.

Overcoming Fear and Self-Centeredness

We cannot live generously until we learn to release fear, selfishness, and control.

How do we go about letting all those go?

First, we remember that God is our provider. If we genuinely believe that, there won’t be fear in giving.

Second, giving needs to be practiced despite any discomfort. The more generous we are, the easier it becomes. And third, we need a change in mindset. Rather than, “How will this impact me?”, we need to consider “How can I be a blessing?”

Why We Choose to Give Or Not to?

Everyone has different reasons for giving—or for holding back. Some give out of obligation. Others give because they genuinely want to help and make a difference. Some hesitate because of fear, while others hold back because they feel uncertain or unprepared.

At the heart of these choices is an important question we often avoid asking ourselves: what does generosity mean in our daily lives? Is it simply giving when it feels comfortable, or is it trusting God even when giving stretches us? Scripture shows us that generosity flows from the heart and reflects who—or what—we trust most.

Making Generosity a Habit

If you want to overcome fear and selfishness in giving, start small. Generosity grows through practice.

Give something—anything—this week. It could be a small amount of money, a few minutes of your time, encouragement to someone who is struggling, or a quiet act of kindness. What matters is not the size of the gift, but the willingness behind it.

Set aside time for prayer and ask God to grow your trust in Him. Invite Him to open your eyes to opportunities to bless others. When those moments come, choose to respond with faith rather than hesitation.

A Prayer for a Generous Heart

Here is a simple prayer of generosity you can return to often:

Lord, everything I have comes from You. Teach me to hold my resources loosely and to trust You fully. Help me see the needs around me and respond with compassion, wisdom, and love. Remove fear from my heart and replace it with faith.

As you continue this journey, let this also be your prayer to be generous—not only with your possessions, but with your time, your attention, and your heart. True generosity is not just about what we give; it is about who we trust and how deeply we believe that God will provide.

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Discussion: What Motivates Us to Give or Not Give?

1. What fears prevent us from giving?
2. How do we change our mindset from selfishness to generosity?
3. Have you ever experienced joy from giving?
4. How do we teach the new generation to trust in God with all they have?

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Because of the Fall, fear and selfishness are natural to our sinful flesh. But through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, God cultivates faith and generosity in us—virtues that free us from bondage to self and lead us into joyful obedience.” This week, challenge yourself to release something you have been holding onto. Trust God with what you have. Give with joy, no hesitation. Pick generosity, and watch how God changes your life.

Part 3: Stewardship and Trusting God

Using God’s Teachings For Managing Finances

Key Scripture: Proverbs 3:9-10

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Stewardship is more than just managing what you have. It all started with recognizing that everything provided to me was a gift from God. A firm believer in God’s word will trust the Almighty in providing more than what they gave to others. However, in this process, many start to act as if they are the ones solely responsible for their provision. We soon forget that God has commanded us to live freely.

Generosity requires faith, and that in itself makes it an extraordinary act. The Scripture encourages us to think differently: surrendering what we have is not a loss, but an act of faith that opens the door to God’s abundant provision and blessing.

Stewardship — The Symbol Of Devotion

Managing our resources carefully is an economic responsibility. Stewardship is not just a financial term; it is a biblical principle that shapes how we manage all of God’s gifts.

It makes us realize that our worldly possessions belong to God. Our money, skills, and even the opportunities provided to us are all divine gifts. Stewardship provides a new lease on life as this mindset allows us to observe things with a new perspective. Instead of being over-possessive by our wealth and worldly possessions, we turn toward God as the provider.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalms 24:1)

Accepting this fact makes managing wealth easier. God is the owner of all things, so our responsibilities are easy to understand. We are called to faithfully manage what God has entrusted to us.. Instead of behaving as owners, we must act like faithful and affectionate managers.

What Is Expected Of A Responsible Steward

Stewardship is not simply about overseeing finances. It is about treating others with kindness and respect while being generous. This is one of the ways to showcase our belief in God being the one true provider. In 2 Corinthians 9:6, He reminds us: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

Putting God first when dealing with money is what makes generosity real. It is not dealing with what remains of finances but actively pouring into his Kingdom. Supporting ministries, giving to the needy, and offering assistance to those who need it are traits and attitudes of individuals who are not consumed with material wealth.

Avoiding The Pleasures of Worldly Possessions

Worldly possessions are tempting, and they can easily make one obsess over having more money, purchasing the latest devices, or even buying a bigger house.

Jesus warns us about this. He says,

“Then he said to them, Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

As we prioritize gaining wealth, we fear losing money. Money comes and goes, but our actions will forever have an impact. Rather than thinking about becoming wealthier, we should be focusing on setting an example for others by following God’s teachings and helping others.

Ways To Becoming A Responsible Steward

It is crucial to plan ahead for finances. Be proactive about how you spend, save, and give your money.

– Spend Less Than You Earn: Do not go into needless debt. Proverbs 22:7 warns us, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Therefore, make wise decisions and do not go beyond the means that God has provided for you.
– Purposeful Savings: While preparing for the future is a good idea, it is not ideal to accumulate wealth out of anxiety. Proverbs 21:20 states, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil but fools gulp theirs down.”
– Be Generous: Use your finances, resources, and time to bless others. 2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
– Don’t Trust Money, Trust in God: One true security is not in the amount of money they have in the bank, but rather found in God. 1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.“

Stewardship is not about how much we have; it is about how much we have been blessed with and how well we manage His divine favors. It is about having faith that God will take care of our needs while using our resources for the advancement of His Kingdom. God says:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Stewardship is an act of worship. It’s a physical expression of our trust in, honor of, and recognition of God as the owner of everything we possess. When we practice wisdom and faith in resource management, we not only experience spiritual enlightenment.

Believing that God will always provide for us and not focusing on increasing wealth or pursuing worldly desires is a powerful spiritual journey in our outlook on life. In a world where success is still measured by how much one has, adopting this type of perspective needs faith and a shift in values.

Trusting God’s Generosity – The Golden Ticket To Self-Satisfaction

We are living in a world where success is associated with income and wealth. This could easily lead people to question God’s promise of providing for the people.

Abandon The Pursuit of Worldly Rewards

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly urges His people to trust Him as their reward. He reminds us that true security is not found in possessions, savings, or status, but in His faithfulness. When we understand this, our perspective begins to shift—we stop striving to accumulate and start learning to trust.

One of the clearest teachings on this comes from Jesus in Matthew 6:25–26, where He says: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25–26)

This passage reveals God’s generosity toward His creation. If God faithfully provides for the birds—creatures that neither plan nor store—how much more will He care for His children? These are some of the clearest Bible verses about God’s generosity, reminding us that provision flows from His loving character, not from our ability to control outcomes.

The False Sense of Wealth Security

Many people believe that once they achieve financial stability, their worries will disappear. Yet Scripture consistently warns that wealth can create a false sense of security. Paul writes:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:9–10)

Money itself is not condemned, but trusting in it is dangerous. When wealth becomes our refuge, it slowly replaces our dependence on God. Jesus addresses this directly when He says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21)

These teachings challenge us to reflect on what does generosity mean in God’s Kingdom. It means loosening our grip on earthly security and placing our trust fully in Him.

Giving from a Generous Heart

True generosity flows from trust, not fear. Scripture emphasizes that God values the heart behind the gift more than the size of the gift itself. This is why Paul encourages believers:

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
(2 Corinthians 9:7)

This verse captures the essence of a giving from a generous heart Bible verse—giving that is joyful, willing, and rooted in faith rather than obligation.

Discovering Satisfaction and Trusting God’s Provision To Ease All Hardships

Instead of chasing wealth, followers of Christ are called to pursue contentment. Paul reflects on this hard-earned lesson when he writes:

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances… whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:11–12)

Contentment does not mean a lack of ambition or effort. It means recognizing that God alone is our provider. When we trust Him fully, anxiety about provision begins to loosen its grip, and generosity becomes a natural response rather than a fearful sacrifice.

Understanding what does generosity mean in this light reshapes our priorities. Generosity is no longer about losing something—it becomes an expression of confidence in God’s unfailing care and abundant grace.

The Happiness In Generosity

Generosity stems from trusting God and His blessings. Acknowledging that everything belongs to him instills feelings of generosity among us.

God says in 2 Corinthians 9:7-8: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Charity stems from faith. It is a recognition that God is the one we should turn to for sustenance. When we give to the needy, we put trust in God that He will keep providing. The Scriptures assures us that God will always look after our needs.

God’s blessings are never-ending, while wealth is not. We are showered with peace, joy, and a better relationship with our Heavenly Father when we turn to God instead of riches. True security does not rely on how much we have but on knowing that God will always be there to provide and look after us.

—

Discussion: How Does Stewardship Reflect Our Trust In God?

1. What is refraining us from helping others?
2. How can you turn a new leaf by donating to the needy?
3. Have you ever experienced happiness when giving?
4. How do we encourage good stewardship among youngsters?

You do not have to fear anything if you have strong faith that God is looking after you. Generosity becomes all too real when we help someone, and God rewards us for being a good steward by providing us with more than what we spend. Push yourself to release what you have been holding on to, be it money, time, or resources, and give with joy.

Part 4: Living a Generous Life

Serving Others With Time, Talents, and Resources

Key Scripture: Acts 20:35

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”

When we say generosity, we don’t just mean giving away money. It includes giving your time, skills, and resources to help others. Helping individuals and the community selflessly helps us mirror God’s love, rejuvenates our faith, and helps society altogether.

Serving the people isn’t just a duty; it is a chance to take part in something for the greater good. In the Bible, God calls us to help others not because they have to but because it reflects the goodness in their hearts.

How Generosity Reflects Your Faith

We can all live generously by helping others with their time, talent, and resources. The assumption that generosity is all about financially supporting society is wrong.

We can help others with everything at our disposal, be it listening to a lonely person, providing food to a homeless person, or helping a student study for their exams. You can use the skills provided by God to uplift others in need. These actions depict faith and love, something that is loved by Him.

Why Giving Time To Others Is A Precious Gift

Being present with someone who is lonely is a precious gift—especially in an age where life moves at a relentless pace and most people are preoccupied with either earning a living or pursuing self-care.

Listening to someone or being present for them requires actual effort. Galatians 6:9-10 reiterates: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

You can spend time helping others in many ways. It can be in the form of mentoring youngsters, volunteering in church, assisting a friend, or even going out of your way to talk to someone who is by themselves. With the time in our hands, the efforts we make to help others actually count. Generosity circumvents the negative impact while helping others during that span of time.

Using Our Talents For God’s Work

God has blessed us with some talents. Some are gifted teachers and musicians, while others are great leaders, handymen, or a strong orator. Serving people with these skills is a way of glorifying God.

1 Peter 4:10 states, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.“

Use something you are good at and observe what you are able to do without too much trouble. If you are great at event management, you can organize church functions. If you are a musician, then help bless people during worship. If you are a gifted carpenter, then use your skill and help people who can’t afford certain repairs done to their homes.

There’s no skill that can’t be used to serve humanity.

Helping others with our talents makes it easier for us to show thanks to God for His blessings. God has given us the ability to do things not for ourselves so that we might help those who are in need of it.

Sharing Resources – Shining Quality of A Compassionate Soul

People often mistake generosity for financial assistance. However, generosity entails more thoughtful and considerate actions. This doesn’t mean that we should expect something in return; Instead, it’s realizing that things are different in the eyes of God. The more we trust Him and share what we have, the more He trusts us and provides for us.

Here are some practical ways to interact with personal resources for a more generous touch:

– Donating food or clothing to the hungry or homeless
– Assisting local ministries or missionaries during charitable campaigns
– Offering your home as a shelter
– Buying groceries and other essential items for financially struggling families.

The notion of financial freedom is caring deeply about others. True generosity seeks to honor God and bless others, not to gain recognition or status.

Rewards For Helping The Needy

When we help others with our time, talents, and resources, we are following God’s command and experiencing His blessings. Acts 20:35 states: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Serving others brings us closer to God. It takes our focus off of ourselves and makes us compassionate towards others in the same way Christ loves us. We begin to see people through His eyes. People who are in need of love, kindness, and care.

The life of Jesus Christ Himself is a shining example of serving others. Mark 10:45 states: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If Jesus showed so much humility, how much more do we need to adjust our attitudes to support others?

Having A Generous Heart

Living generously isn’t a one-time act; it’s a lifestyle shaped over time. Developing a generous heart begins with a willingness to notice others and respond with compassion, not obligation. True generosity flows from love, not from the expectation of recognition or reward.

One practical way to grow in generosity is to look for opportunities to serve your community and be present for those who need encouragement, support, or care. When we give freely—whether through time, attention, or resources—we reflect God’s own kindness. As we pray for God to open our eyes, He also shapes our motives, helping us give with sincerity and humility.

When generosity becomes part of daily life, it brings joy, purpose, and spiritual growth. God often works through generous hearts to bless others, reminding us that it is not the size of the gift that matters most, but the love and faith behind it. As we yield to Him, He multiplies what we offer and uses it in ways far greater than we can see.

How Generosity Becomes A Path To Spiritual Growth

Being generous is not just about waiting until you have more time, talent, or resources; it is about serving God with what you already have. When you serve others, you reflect the love of Christ to grow spiritually. As 2 Corinthians 9:11 states: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Now, we can appreciate lifestyle changes by embracing generosity and giving our time and talent to make a difference. It is not about what we have but what we can give away that shows great love beyond reason. And that is the true essence of living a generous life.

Practical Steps To Cultivate A Generous Heart

When we hear the word “generosity”, we often associate it with money, but it also represents a lifestyle where human beings are kind, selfless, and ever-ready to help those around them. The Bible has commanded followers to practice generosity in every aspect, as God’s love is manifested in the most authentic manner through these actions.

But let’s face it; we at times tend to get so lost in our schedules and responsibilities that we don’t have time to perform acts of kindness. So, how do we develop habits that create harmony in a world that is bent on self-preservation? Let’s try to figure out some of the ways we can help the needy.

Develop Compassionate Mindset

Before action comes a certain attitude that needs to be accepted. Generosity starts off with the heart. If we wish to feel like being generous, chances are it might not happen. The Bible says:

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)

When we decide to be generous, we are not only helping others but it helps ourselves as well. Generosity allows us to observe the needs of those around us and prepare our hearts to help those in need.

Take Out Time From Your Daily Routine

Sometimes, the best gift you can provide someone with is your time. In today’s world, time is one of the most valuable things.

From reaching out to a friend in need of company to volunteering at a local shelter to listening intently when someone speaks, these deeds go a long way.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

Look for ways to assist those around you. Even less than a minute of simple words of encouragement can change someone’s entire life.

Being Kind With Your Words

Being generous doesn’t only come from giving gifts; it also comes from generosity with words. Since words have the ability to build or destroy, one can be generous by giving compliments, appreciation, or any type of encouragement.

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

So, Next time you go out, think about speaking kindly. Simple, yet powerful words such as “thank you” and “I appreciate you” may be heart-touching for someone.

Sharing What You Have In Abundance

One form of generosity is sharing what you have in abundance. This doesn’t mean giving more than you are able to, but acknowledging that everything we have is from God, and we have a responsibility to manage it well.

As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

For others, this might mean treating someone to a meal they cannot afford, donating clothes that are no longer used, or funding charity work that helps people.

Be Gracious With Your Forgiveness

The most difficult form of generosity is being gracious and forgiving others. We are living in a world where grudges are super common; we have to keep in mind that Jesus had a higher standard for us.

Colossians 3:13 has an instruction for us: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.“

Forgiveness allows us to let go of useless bitterness and live freely. Extending grace helps us embody Christ’s wish for us and his generosity as well.

Pray For Everyone

Always remember that thinking kindly of others and lifting them up before God is a powerful act of love. When we pause to pray for people—even those we don’t personally know—we begin to understand what does generosity mean at a deeper level. It is not limited to what we give with our hands, but also includes how we give our hearts, our attention, and our compassion.

James 5:16 reminds us of the power behind such prayer: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Prayer is one of the most accessible and sincere expressions of generosity. A prayer for generosity asks God to expand our hearts beyond ourselves, helping us care about the burdens, struggles, and needs of others. Each day, we can choose to pray for friends who are hurting, co-workers facing challenges, and even strangers we hear about in the news. These prayers may seem small, but God uses them in meaningful ways—often far beyond what we can see.

Don’t Expect Anything In Return

Real generosity comes with no strings attached. In Luke 6:35, Jesus says: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”

Jesus urges us to be compassionate to everyone, even those who may never acknowledge our kindness or repay what we give. This kind of generosity releases us from bitterness and entitlement and reshapes our hearts to look more like His. It shifts our focus away from personal gain and toward genuine love.

So, what does generosity mean in the end? It means giving because God first gave to us. It means choosing kindness even when it costs us something. It means trusting that God sees every unseen act and values every quiet sacrifice. When we understand what does generosity mean from a biblical perspective, we realize it is not measured by how much we give, but by the heart with which we give.

Throughout this journey, we have seen that generosity is not limited to finances. It includes our time, our attention, our prayers, our forgiveness, and our willingness to serve. Asking ourselves repeatedly what does generosity mean helps us pause before acting out of fear or selfishness and instead respond with faith and love.

As you move forward, let generosity become part of your daily walk with God. Give freely, love deeply, and trust fully. Let your life reflect the grace you have received, knowing that God is faithful to provide all that you need.

May God bless you for your generosity, strengthen your heart to give with joy, and use your willingness to bless others as a testimony of His love.

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Discussion: How Can We Nurture A Generous Mindset?

1. Has there been a time when giving made you deeply happy? What was that experience like?
2. Why did Jesus focus so much on money and giving?
3. What steps can be taken in order to make the next generation more generous?

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Expressing love through serving and giving is life-changing not only for others but for ourselves. It is the physical reflection of God’s love for His children. Be generous towards others, and He will bless you with liberty, joy, and satisfaction. So why don’t you reflect on your life decisions after figuring out how you can set an example for others?

About the Author

The Christian Lingua Team is the world’s largest Christian translation agency offering translation and overdub services for video, audio, and media projects worldwide.

#23 The Spirit of Sports: Athletics in the Christian Life

Part I: Offense

There is no question that sports bring certain benefits to society, and I would argue to the Christian community as well. The Apostle Paul himself uses the athlete as a positive illustration of one who strives for a prize. Alongside the farmer and the soldier, the athlete is presented as a worthy picture; a model of discipline, fortitude, and determination. True, the eternal prize is the far better reward, and the pursuit of Christ is the far more important race, but the athlete is not shamed by Paul, but rather put forward as an appropriate picture.

Why is this, and would Paul recommend athletics for the believer today? While I’m not certain what Paul’s recommendation would be when it comes to sports, I believe there are at least three significant areas where athletics offer benefits in the life of the Christian: a believer’s health, character, and witness.

Health

The first and perhaps most obvious benefit of athletics is the boost in health. There is no question that our culture is becoming less and less active. We are far more stationary than our ancestors ever were, and the change has come quickly. Even a generation ago kids played outside, couples walked, and more and more people exercised as a part of life, not an addition to it. Obesity rates have skyrocketed, and the dependence on medicine is at an all-time high.

Technology has added countless comforts to our lives, but the tradeoff is an out of shape and unhealthy society. Children and adults alike are spending less time in activity and more time off their feet and in front of a screen. Even as I type I can feel my body collapsing.

The Apostle Paul tells the church at Corinth that he “disciplines (his) body and makes it (his) slave.” The same mentality should hold true for all who follow Paul as he follows Christ. Our bodies are not neutral in this life, and if we are to walk well spiritually, we will need to do some regular walking too.

Science has long been fascinated with the connections between our physical and our mental health and, as believers, we understand that our spiritual health is inextricable from our mental health as well. Secular studies have shown that regular exercise decreases depression, distraction, anxiety, and gives an overall boost in mood. Our physical health influences our mental health, and our mental health is directly tied to our spiritual health as well. If our bodies are not healthy, it affects the way we think, and the way we think drives our spiritual walk. 

Sin is not absent when people are physically well, but being physically sick makes it all the more difficult to be spiritually faithful. In general, people need to exercise, and sports can help.

Sports give us reason and opportunities to better our health. I have learned that I am not alone when it comes to exercise. Most people prefer to exercise in a sport, or in preparation for a sport. The regular buffeting of my body becomes a lot easier when a ball and a team are involved. Working toward a more defined and concrete goal, such as a triathlon race or trying to make the high school football team adds much needed motivation to early morning workouts or discipline with dessert. There is also the added accountability and encouragement of others around us to push us out of bed or through that extra rep in the weight room, or to run that extra lap.

Not only do sports assist in physical health, recreation itself is a helpful break from the regular weights of the responsibilities of school, work, and family, and provides a time to reset and recharge mentally for what lies ahead. Whether recreationally or competitively, sports help disciples of Christ pursue a healthy life.

Character

The second and arguably most substantial strength of athletics in the life of the believer is the character it exposes and the character it builds. Sports provide unique stressors and stages that life outside of sports often does not, and if one is purposeful, these stages can accelerate our growth into the image of Christ. We must anticipate and not be surprised by the sinfulness that will be exposed in training and in the heat of competition. Sports raises the temperature and exposes the impurities, and we must be ready and willing to address them. The range of character traits that athletics engage is broader than this guide has space to examine, so we will focus on just three of the most impressive sets of traits highlighted in sports.

• Humility and Selflessness

The first character trait that is easily visible and incredibly helpful is selflessness. The Bible calls us to prefer others in life, and team sports gives ample opportunity to expose our natural resistance to such preference and great practice in deferring. A good player is one who does what is best for the team’s success; this translates well into the home and the church as we are all called to look out for the good of others and to see others as more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:3–4). 

This outward expression of selflessness comes from an inner place of humility and a resistance to pride. Pride is a sin common to all mankind; one could even argue that pride is in fact the mother of all sins. Pride and humility are often cloaked and quiet in everyday life, but in the arena of athletics they do battle in plain sight. 

We tend to think about pride in its more visible and vocal form. We think of the beating of the chest, the shouts of “I’m the greatest” and trash talking. But pride is far more pervasive than that. It is not relegated to the extrovert or the diva. Pride, at its core, is our desire to see or present ourselves in a better light. That can be accomplished in at least two ways. We can seek to draw attention to ourselves when successful, or we can run from the spotlight in fear of failure. A young basketball player who shoots too much may be driven by his or her desire to be seen, but the other young player on the court who shoots too little is often driven by his or her desire not to be seen when they fail. One shoots so everyone can see them make it; one doesn’t shoot so no one will see them miss. Both athletes are caught in the grip of worldly comparison and the fear of man. Both are hindered by pride, and sports can expose it in ways other areas of life cannot.

In fact, there may be no better place than on the court, field, or pitch to expose this cancer rooted within us. But a common and unintended casualty in the battle against pride is confidence, as if the answer to arrogance is a denial of ability. But the believer should know better. Pride is not merely the mistake of overestimating one’s ability, but misidentifying the source of that ability. Pride says “look at me” when I hit a homerun, while humility says, “Everything I have is a gift, why should I boast?” Pride finds the source of success within, while godly confidence sees everything — from speed, to hand-eye coordination, to even a strong work ethic — as a gift from above. Sports doesn’t allow someone to simply back away from his or her abilities, or downplay it with a measure of false humility. It requires people to use their abilities and skills for the betterment of the team. An arrogant and self-centered athlete is a detriment, and to become a great athlete one must be confident but not arrogant. The same is true in life outside of sports. Confidence is critical and arrogance is destructive in work, in the home, in the church, and in the community. If we can learn this on the field we will be much better in the family. The home doesn’t need a father who lacks confidence, but it does need a man who has humility. The church doesn’t need members who believe they have nothing to offer, the church needs members who use their gifts and thank God for giving them.

We would all do well to take Paul’s words to heart when he reminds us, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Cor. 4:7). Sports is a great training ground to learn confident humility, and that humility will produce selflessness, and selflessness will bring success whether on the field, in the church or in the home.

• Leadership

Another fantastic feature of team sports is the opportunity for men and women to practice and grow in leadership. This is true even in the case of youth sports. Young men and women often lack environments in which to lead, and sports can provide a venue in a less serious situation. A ten year-old little leaguer may have no young sibling or no occasion to take the reins, but when playing in the nine and ten year-old division he has opportunity to encourage, exhort, and model for the younger players.

As athletes grow older and the stakes grow higher, leadership becomes more and more important. Good coaches see this as an opportunity to instill lifelong leadership lessons in their players, so that when they are off the field they are better able to lead in life.

While much of leadership is found in modeling the right attitude and effort, there are communication skills and other soft skills learned in sports that are invaluable to the Christian walk. Learning to communicate in such a way that people respond well and want to follow is an essential element of good leadership. Listening to input or frustrations from teammates before making decisions prepares one to lead in the home, the church, and the community. Leadership in the church and the home requires much of the same patience and sacrificial preference that one can learn on the field. The truth is, leadership isn’t easy, and it is a huge asset to be able to practice difficult decisions and the daily grind of setting a good example when failure has fewer consequences. Good teammates make good leaders.

Sports not only fosters leaders in the athletes that play, but in coaches as well. Coaching is a great place to learn important leadership skills and to expose some of our own sinful tendencies that often appear dormant in everyday life. Not only that, Christian men and women can have incredible influence in the community and can be beacons for godliness and the gospel when they grab a clipboard and take up coaching. Few roles outside of the home and the church have more influence than a coach. How many times has a coach said the same thing as mom or dad, and yet the young athlete hears and responds better to the coach than the parent? Coaching is a powerful privilege, and Christian coaches can capitalize on this reality to make an impact not just in the community, but in the kingdom.

• Perseverance and Discipline

Discipline and delayed gratification are at the core of almost all athletic training. Workouts and skill development are rigorous, monotonous, and often alone. The ability to do hard things without immediate reward is a quality fundamental to a fruitful life. These are qualities all young men and women need to develop, and in our culture it often has to be manufactured. Few of us are rising before the sun to milk cows and plow fields, and even fewer young children are forced into the kind of discipline that much of mankind faced naturally throughout history. Instead, we have learned instant gratification, food delivery, and comfortable ways of life. So how do we fight against such softness? What better way to build perseverance in children (and adults for that matter) than through sports? On countless mornings, my children have risen with the sun to go to the gym, the weight room, or the practice field. With sleep in their eyes and comfort left under the covers, they face hard things over and over and over again.

The believer benefits not only from the training and preparation necessary for athletics, but the grit and perseverance in the midst of competition is incredible training for life outside the lines.  The commitment to get up and compete again after a loss or a major setback has direct application to the Christian walk. While Paul ranks growth in godliness far above physical progress, he does acknowledge that physical training is beneficial (1 Tim. 4:8). In fact, Paul describes his overall approach to self-control and self-discipline in athletic terms: 

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:25–27)

The Christian life is a tough one, and learning how to do hard things and the willingness to press on despite disappointment and failure are critical marks of those who want to be like Christ.

There is another aspect to physical training that is especially beneficial for young men. The physical contact and strength training in some sports that was originally designed to mimic battle, is good preparation for man, since he is called to protect his home and those who cannot protect themselves. This is an often overlooked advantage, but communities need husbands, fathers, and sons to stand up against evil and to protect the innocent. Sports gives men an appropriate environment to develop and maintain the physical abilities to be the protectors and providers God expects. 

Relationships 

One of the great assets of athletics is the opportunity to be with people. Whether gospel opportunities or Christian fellowship, sports puts us with people in a way much of life does not. Many Christians find it difficult to engage the lost in their communities. Neighborhoods are less and less neighborly, and there seem to be fewer opportunities to build relationships for the gospel. Sports, however, can be an effective way to engage the community around you. People from different walks of life and different faiths come together when it comes to sports. 

It is far easier to strike up a conversation sitting in the bleachers watching an hour-long soccer match than it is catching your neighbor walking the trash to the curb. This goes for the athlete as well. If a believer is playing on a team with unbelievers, there are scores of opportunities between bus rides, workouts, and team meals to have meaningful conversations. 

Christians should see local athletics as fields white for the harvest and should prayerfully consider how to best engage the lost. Start by praying for the families on your team’s roster and consider hosting a team meal or an end-of-season party. Having families into your own home not only demonstrates hospitality and deepens friendships, it allows them to have a glimpse into a Christian home. In this setting, you can pray for the meal, model serving, and often ask more personal questions than you can in the bleachers.  

Many of these relationships extend beyond one season, and it is not strange for players to spend years together. This provides the evangelist extended time and opportunity to develop friendships and demonstrate the love of Christ in a variety of ways. Christian coaches have even more occasion to model Christlike character and to point athletes to the goodness of God’s ways. As a coach of a baseball all-star team, I have preached the gospel to players, parents, and grandparents in hotel lobbies and conference rooms on more than one occasion. 

Time with other believers can also be a side benefit of sports. It is impossible to build strong relationships without time together. Christian athletes or families that play together can truly expedite discipleship and better facilitate true biblical fellowship because of the time together that comes with athletics. I have witnessed men in my own church use a round of golf or innings on the bench in church softball games to engage other men in discipleship conversations. Whatever the relationships, Christians should be purposeful and take full advantage of the time and conversations that accompany our sports culture. 

Whether you eat a hot dog in the stands with a brother in Christ or pray over pizza in the parking lot with a group of unbelievers, do all to the glory of God.

Discussion and Reflection:

1. What would you consider to be the greatest advantages of sports?
2. What is the difference between confidence and arrogance, and how would the Bible help us navigate the mindset for success?
3. What are creative ways to capitalize on the opportunities that sports present?
4. What are some ways that you have seen Christians take advantage of athletics?

Part II: Defense 

I wish that sports were only positive, but like most things this world offers, athletic competition has inherent dangers as well. The power and ever-present nature of sports makes it an incredible tool, but one that, if not handled carefully, can cause serious damage. The Christian athlete should be keenly aware of the threats and temptations that sports present so as to avoid them while taking advantage of the benefits athletics bring.

Identity

Perhaps the gravest danger in sports is misplaced identity. Whether being picked last in kickball, or trying to make the hall of fame, the temptation to find our value, worth, and even our identity in a game we play is a strong one. As children made in the image of God and being conformed into the image of his Son, anchoring our identity in anything or anyone other than the one who made and saves us is the foundation of foolishness. 

The amount of time and resources given to sports creates a natural gravitational pull for identity. Surely this is not only true of sports, but whatever it is that draws your time, money, and attention is dangerously close to drawing your identity. But with so much investment in athletics and so much attention given to it in our society, the pull is overly strong. Countless hours of practice, training, and travel gives sports a boost in lobbying for the throne. Our money not only reveals what is important to us, Jesus says where we invest actually moves our hearts in that direction: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). 

Not only does the investment in sports create an enormous temptation to find one’s identity in athletics, the competition itself does too. Competing is comparing, and as such, comparison is ever present in sports. From batting averages to PRs in swimming, the competitive nature of sports brings with it constant evaluation against others. We know from Scripture and from experience that comparison all too often leads to pride. Even the most mature disciples struggle with the pride found in comparison. James and John argued over who was the greatest disciple. People in Corinth argued over who was the greatest preacher, and as absurd as it sounds when you say it out loud, we can take great pride in being a better pickleball player than our neighbor. 

On the flip side, comparison can also lead to depression and heartbreak when we fail. If our identity is rooted in the sports we play, when our individual or team performances don’t meet our expectations, we are rocked to the core and have no anchor to hold. Some athletes put in thousands upon thousands of hours in training and make serious sacrifices in diet and social engagement only to fall short of their intended goal. This can be devastating, and if the athlete’s identity is in that sport, their joy and satisfaction goes missing along with the goal.

In fact, even in victory an athlete often encounters the vanity of worldly gains. So common is this letdown that terms like “Post-Olympic Depression” have been coined to describe the disappointment of gold medal athletes after the anthems play. Over 27% of medal-winning athletes in the Olympics have reported severe depression following the games. From Missy Franklin to Caleb Dressel to Michael Phelps, gold medal swims did not satisfy like they thought. Dressel, after winning five gold medals in Tokyo in 2020, found himself dwelling, not on the victories, but on the times he did not make: “And that’s not fair to myself. That’s not fair at all…Like, I just won five gold medals on the biggest world stage in sports, and I’m thinking about how I wish I would’ve gone faster in certain events.” Athletes whose identity is linked to the sport they play will ultimately realize that the sport is not strong enough to hold their identity and purpose. Like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, the little league trophy and Olympic gold alike will be gone with the wind. Sports not only tempt us in the moment, but they tempt us over time. Statistics are relentless reminders of our performance in comparison to others. Attach your identity to a shooting percentage, 100-meter time, or win total, and you are creating a monster that cannot be satisfied. 

In light of this, sports psychology has become a big business, as coaches and general managers try to help players handle success and failure in sports. But this is a difficult if not impossible task if one’s identity is found in the sport itself. However, a Christian athlete is best suited to weather the ups and downs of competition as his or her identity is firmly rooted in Christ. Interestingly, many Christian athletes display Philippians 4:13 on their person during games, making public testimony to their trust in the strength of Christ. We must be careful, however, to recognize that the strength mentioned in that passage isn’t applied to winning in life, but to handling the wins and losses. The text is on contentment and as such is a great reminder for the Christian athlete, that win or lose, our joy is secure in Christ. 

Investment

As mentioned above, the heavy investment in sports can make it challenging not to put one’s identity in them, but there is a more direct danger in the dollars and days spent on sports. Our money and our time are given by God as a stewardship and we are called to manage them well. It is an enormous challenge to find a faithful balance in athletics when it comes to our resources. Both time and money are limited commodities for everyone on the planet, and sports will cry out for more of both.   

Sports take time. While games only require a set and usually short amount of time, the preparation and training for those games is far more. Hours upon hours are given to practice and training before the bright lights even come on. We must be careful to consider and to stay in control of the time spent on athletics and weigh it in light of our other responsibilities. Our schedules and the investment of our time reflects our priorities and if not diligent, sports can eat up our entire calendar. Sports take time and if one doesn’t stay strong, it will take too much.

Sports also take money. Most sports entail some sort of financial investment to simply participate. Whether registering for a softball league or green fees for a round of golf, most sports aren’t free. In fact, many sports can be expensive, and the expense around travel ball is at another level altogether and will be discussed later.    

Beyond registration, new equipment also offers a chance for athletes to spend money. That new driver or swimsuit promises to help you hit it farther and swim faster. The athlete is always tempted to invest more and more into the sports they love and, if not careful, will spend an inordinate and unhelpful amount on the equipment to play. This is true from tee-ball to the senior tees. We never age out of the lure of new equipment. We should regularly remind ourselves that last year’s model worked really well for athletes just last year. The old adage “it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian” holds true. Rarely is the new equipment the difference maker it promises to be. Far more important is the skill of the one holding it. That being said, even if spending on sports makes one better, the believer should ask if the cost is worth it.

The Christ follower should regularly evaluate time and financial investment when it comes to sports and be willing to shift priorities if and when they get out of line. We are to be stewards of what we have been given, and the time and treasures we have are not our own but should be used to glorify God.

Influence

While sports offer us opportunities to engage with the world in evangelism, it also creates an occasion for the world to influence us as well. Unless we are talking about church softball, the numbers are normally stacked against believers when they participate in sports. In this world, such interaction is inevitable, and if we are going to engage faithfully in the Great Commission, it is a must — but it does create a field for danger. Immature believers can often be swayed by the negative culture around them, and the locker room is just such a place. To guard against this, followers of Christ should remember whom they represent and be prepared for the world and its ways. Simple acknowledgment and readiness is often enough to minimize the corruption that comes from worldly company, but other measures can be taken in addition to guard our walks. 

It will help tremendously if the follower of Christ can see sports as part of his mission rather than something separate from it. Seeing the community of sports as a field ripe for the harvest is not only good for evangelism, it helps us stand against the culture the world brings.

In youth athletics, the influence of a dugout or locker room can have disastrous effects. Parents must be intentional and proactive when it comes to discussing matters with their children and should ask tough questions about what is being said and done. Parents need to be aware of the immense amount of time and exposure young athletes have to the world and must counter that with quality (and quantity) time in the church and the home. Parents tend to be naïve about the amount of sinful influence on their children and the age it begins. This problem has only increased with the introduction of smartphones and social media. Parents and players alike should be vigilant to look for, flee from, and protect from earthly temptation at all costs. 

Not only is there danger in direct sinful influence when it comes to sports culture, the battle for priorities is relentless as well. It is an uphill battle to make the home and church the child’s community when so much time and energy is spent with the team. This is a particular problem with travel sports, but that will be discussed later. Parents cannot be neutral when it comes to the significant influence the sports environment brings and must plan regular discussions and evaluations with their sons and daughters. 

One means of mitigating against this influence is to have godly parents coach and help lead youth athletics. From six-year-old basketball to Friday night lights, my kids have had the privilege of playing under many Christian coaches who took the responsibility of influence seriously, and my kids are far better for it. Pray for and seek out godly coaches for your children, and if none are available, consider coaching yourself. I have coached dozens of seasons in multiple sports through four children and it has afforded me more time and influence than if I had handed them over to someone else. 

Whatever the choice, the follower of Christ must recognize and plan according to the influences that are around them. Jesus did not intend for us to be removed from the world, but he does expect us to live differently than the world. Without an active and biblical approach, the world will be more of an influence on us than we are on the world. 

Discussion and Reflection:

1. What would you consider to be the greatest weakness of sports?
2. Why should the believer carefully consider the time and financial commitments related to athletics?
3. How does one guard against putting too much of their identity in the sports that he/she plays?
4. How can we protect ourselves and our children from the ungodliness that flows naturally in the world?

Part III: Special Teams 

Travel Ball

As the parents of athletes you will immediately be faced with the question of travel sports. “Travel ball” has developed into a $39 billion dollar industry and continues to grow each year. The teams get younger and younger and the scope of play grows bigger and bigger.

After my third son finished his first all-star tournament at seven years old, I knew what was coming. The team was an exceptional group of kids, and the core of that team went on to come in second in the Pony League World Series at ten years old. As another father and I walked over to talk with the coaches, I told him, “they are going to want to start a travel team with this bunch,” and sure enough, not five minutes into the conversation of how well these young men played, the idea of a travel team was born. I shook my head and smiled at the other dad. 

The appeal of travel ball is obvious. It offers more opportunity for improvement, more time with friends, more time for parents to watch their children play, often better competition, and down the road more visibility to college coaches. There is no doubt that travel sports offer these benefits and more, but what is less obvious perhaps are the downsides. The risks aren’t necessarily different than with sports in general, just amplified immensely. For instance, the investment in a little league rec season might be $150 and two or three nights a week during a three-month season. But travel baseball financial commitment is in the thousands, from initial team registration to multiple uniforms, swag and parent merchandise, to the gas, tickets, meals, and hotels associated with the individual tournaments. This significant financial investment then begs for more time investment as well. If you are going to spend all that money, the team better be good.

Multiply this investment in multiple kids and you have a tectonic shift in the home. Youth athletics now has the greatest gravitational pull and all other activities and responsibilities take a back seat. Without serious preventative measures, this makes children the center of the home and creates an unhealthy and unbiblical structure for the family. With most travel tournaments on the weekend, church involvement is set aside not only for the player, but the parents as well. Sunday after Sunday is spent on the field or in the gym instead of gathering with God’s people. I have watched many good and faithful parents frustrated at this pull away from fellowship, and have heard many say they would have committed to much less travel ball if they could do it over again.

One final caution when it comes to travel ball is actually related to performance. Even if athletic success was the only goal, I caution parents about the net gain of travel sports. Experience and testimony of college coaches has informed me that years of travel sports can actually have adverse effects on performance. Injuries increase when the same sport is played over extended periods of time, especially through key growing years. Pitchers only have so many throws in their arm, and many have been exhausted before finishing high school. It’s not just physical fatigue but competitive fatigue as well. The sheer number of games and the abundance of swag that comes with travel sports makes high school athletics far less exciting and can temper players’ competitive fire. Add to that the very nature of travel sports, which encourages players or parents who are not satisfied with their role or playing time to simply switch teams instead of compete for their spot. Travel sports definitely provides additional reps and experience, but that experience does not come without a cost.

To be clear, there are positives to playing on travel teams, but the believer should carefully evaluate the costs before jumping in. Each family needs to make its own decisions when participating in sports in general, and travel ball is no exception.

Chasing Scholarships

One of the common assumptions of travel sports is that the payoff at the end will be worth it. Yet I cannot quantify the amount of disappointment I have seen at the end of high school careers. Not because of poor individual performance or team failure, but because of a lack of collegiate attention or scholarship offers. Parents and students alike are discouraged and even embarrassed by unmet expectations in the recruitment process. The main part of this problem goes back to the concept of identity. Parents should not anchor their son’s or daughter’s identity, and players should not place even their athletic identity in the ability to obtain an offer or scholarship to play collegiate athletics.

Scholarships are rare, and your young athlete is probably not good enough. I don’t say this to be mean, but mathematical. Most of the people reading this guide are not or do not have children who are college level athletes and that is okay. Let them enjoy little league, middle school, or high school sports without the burden of making the next level. 

For those who do get college offers, rarely are they to the school or division level that they desire, or for the amount they expect. Most scholarships are partial and very, very few athletes make division one sports, where the money is. However, since the pressure of evaluating one’s athletic career is foolishly gauged by their playing at the next level, athletes and parents will embrace a school they never would have apart from sports. I have regularly watched athletes go to colleges they’d never heard of before recruiting or to schools with much smaller crowds and lesser facilities than high school offered.

Now, there is nothing wrong with going to a small school to play sports and obtain an education. Just be careful that the motivation is not to validate some unspoken assessment or misplaced value in college athletics. I know the temptation is to say, “But my Johnny is different,” and maybe he is, but we should at least acknowledge that we all have a strong temptation to view ourselves or our children as better than they are.

I remember to this day being called out of class to come to talk with a recruiter. Now keep in mind, I was only an above average high school football player, nothing special. But in my mind, I walked to the office expecting to see the Alabama coaching staff, when in reality it was an eighty year-old local scout for the Merchant Marine Academy. I say this not to disparage the merchant marines or their football program — it is actually a great school and good football program — I say this to expose the delusion that was in my mind and at some level lives in the minds of most student athletes and their parents.

The Christian should have a better and more honest perspective and be able to trust a good and sovereign God even with his or her athletic future. Work hard and see what the Lord has, but be content. Trust me, tee ball will be more fun for you and your little one if you aren’t worried about scouts.

Blurring Genders

The Bible is clear that men and women are different. While both are made in the image of God, his designs for male and female are distinct. In recent years, the cultural push for transgender acceptance has forced its way into the locker room. Biological men are now competing against biological women. The culture is not only denying God’s design in gender, but threatening privacy, undermining fair play, and in certain sports even putting women in physical danger. This field guide does not have the time or space to dive into this issue further; however, this danger warrants the believer’s utmost attention.

But even separate from the transgender issue, the reality of men and women competing poses an interesting and often overlooked danger in athletics. Many who would adamantly fight for the distinct beauty and goodness in God’s design in gender often overlook the call of sports to compete. No matter the sport, men must compete with masculinity and women must fight to maintain their femininity as well. Certain sports make this more difficult than others, and in some cases it may be prohibitive. Whatever the case, the believer has an obligation not only to maintain, but celebrate God’s distinct design in men and women.

Fantasy Sports

What happens if you can’t play professional sports? You play fantasy! That’s right. Not only do we have to consider actual athletics and the Christian life, but because of its incredible popularity, we must take a moment to consider the spectator sport of speculation: fantasy football, basketball, and baseball.

Fantasy sports has grown exponentially in the last ten years even though it was introduced as early as the 1950s. The advent and prevalence of the internet and the smartphone have boosted fantasy sports into one of the biggest and fastest growing pockets of our society. More than fifty million participants in fantasy sports now fill our homes, our offices, and our churches. 

Now, many of the warnings against physical sports hold true to the fantasy world as well. We must not find our identity in our drafts or our finishes, and we should watch out for the company we keep and its influence on us in our various leagues. But the danger of time and money is of particular concern with fantasy. Due to its online nature, it is available twenty-four hours a day. Mock drafts, research, and trading, not to mention the pull to watch each and every game and check on hundreds of performances each and every week, opens the doors to hours upon hours of time devoted to a make-believe competition. Christians must be diligent to make the most of their time and to be disciplined with their schedules.

The danger of money is also a feature of fantasy sports that the follower of Christ should watch. While many fantasy leagues are free to enter and have no wagers involved, fantasy sports has become part of the backbone of the gambling world. There is a consistent temptation to put money on it and make a quick dollar. Gambling is not a new danger in the sports world. From the Black Sox Scandal in 1919 World Series all the way back to the Olympic Games in the seventh and eighth centuries B.C., where there is sport, there is gambling. However, with the development of fantasy sports and the proliferation of the internet, sports betting has spread to every corner of the sports world and continues to grow at an alarming rate. The Christian should practice wisdom by knowing and avoiding the temptation of quick riches (Prov. 13:11) and recognizing the addictive nature of gambling that has bankrupted far too many families.

With these warnings in place, the Christian must also recognize that some of the values of sports do show up in fantasy sports as well. It does create a community and comradery across the demographics of the church. It is a natural boost for people of all ages to engage and start conversations and build relationships. Our church has hosted a league the last few years with participants from their teens to their seventies. A high school junior laughing with a retired man in the church over his draft picks lays groundwork for other more significant conversations in the future. 

Not all church communities will find fantasy football a helpful tool, but some may. Regardless, the Christian must be aware and proactive in his engagement with sports, even the make believe ones.

Church Softball

One final consideration is sports in the church. I titled the section Church Softball, but this would apply to basketball, flag football, or even kickball (which our church competed in recently). As we have noted many times already, sports are a tool and can be used to build or tear down. If your church sports program is merely an opportunity for young kids or “legends” to lace it up once a week, you are probably missing a great opportunity and may in fact be unhelpful in the long run.

Church sports leagues can have a reputation for quick tempers, trash talking, and an overall lack of godliness. As a result, many churches have considered them taboo. But as mentioned earlier, one of the advantages of athletics is that it exposes sinfulness in ways that other life does not. Pride, self-centeredness, and a lack of self-control are under pressure when the competition kicks in. Instead of spurning this opportunity, I would suggest the church make use of such environments both in evangelism and in discipleship.

Below are a few tips for making the most out of a church sports team:

1. Have a more mature and seasoned believer give oversight to the team, whether coaching or simply serving as a monitor and mentor.
2. Talk about the elephant in the room. Understand that competition exposes things we need to work on and make it part of the goal of the team to grow in those areas.
3. Encourage the rest of the church to come and cheer on the team. This will add to the joy of it and also helps temper the tantrums and trash that is talked.
4. If unbelievers are on the team, put in place follow-up conversations with believing players to engage them with the gospel.

Conclusion: Play Ball

Back to the beginning. Do sports have a place in the life of the Christian? Absolutely. It provides a great environment to exercise and improve one’s health, it encourages growth and development of character, and it allows the believer relational opportunities with believer and unbeliever alike. Many of these benefits are difficult to glean elsewhere in a society filled with so much ease and comfort, and the believer should strongly consider incorporating sports into his or her life for the glory of God.

Do sports also have inherent dangers and intense temptations? Most definitely. So, like many aspects of life, the believer must learn how to walk in wisdom when it comes to athletics. 

Often, the more effective the tool, the more careful one must be when using it. Sports is no exception. Like a sharp knife or a powerful saw, sports can serve Christians well, but if careless or cavalier in our handling of sports, people are sure to be injured and the benefits certain to be lost. So consider the arena by all means, ask God how he would have you engage in the world of athletics, and when you do, play ball to the glory of God.

About the Author

Daniel Gillespie is pastor of Eastwood Community Church in his hometown of Wilmington, NC. He and
his wife have four children, Jacob, Josiah, Ellie, and Judah. Daniel has degrees from NC State (Math Education), The Master’s Seminary (Master’s of Divinity), and from Southern Seminary (Doctorate of Educational Ministry).is pastor of Eastwood Community Church in his hometown of Wilmington, NC.
He and his wife have four children, Jacob, Josiah, Ellie, and Judah. Daniel has degrees from NC State
(Math Education), The Master’s Seminary (Master’s of Divinity), and from Southern Seminary (Doctorate
of Educational Ministry).

#22 Vocation: A Practical Guide to Glorifying God at Work

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord… Colossians 3:23

Part I: SDG

Latin lesson time. As mentioned, the English word vocation comes from the Latin word vocatio or, in the verb form, vocare. Its root means “calling.” It appears that William Tyndale, in his English translation of the Bible, first used the word in English. All Tyndale did was bring the Latin word directly over into the English language. 

This Latin word vocatio had a technical and specific meaning. For a time, leading up to Luther, the word only and exclusively applied to church work. Priests, nuns, monks — they each had a calling. Everyone else in medieval culture, from merchants to peasants, from nobles to knights, simply worked. They watched the shadow move across the sundial and waited for the hours to pass away.

In the Middle Ages, however, this hadn’t always been the case. Especially in the early days of monasticism and in several monastic orders, work was viewed with dignity. Ora et Labora was their motto. Translated, this phrase means, “Pray and work.” Monks also knew how to reward themselves after their work. They invented, among other things, the pretzel, which came from a Latin word meaning “gift,” and more specifically “small gift.” Pretzels were the little rewards monks enjoyed and passed on to children after the completion of a hard task or menial labor. After the duties were done came the reward. These monks placed value on work and they placed value on play and leisure. Many of these monks recognized work as one of the good gifts from the gracious hand of God. They also invented champagne. And, while they didn’t invent beer — the Ancient Sumerians did that — they sure did move beer’s development along. Liquid rewards for hard work well done. 

But by the latter centuries of the Middle Ages, roughly from the 1200s to the 1500s, work had fallen out of favor. It was viewed as a lesser thing, as merely putting in time. Those who had callings were exclusively in the direct service of the church. All other work was trivial at best, and it certainly did not qualify as something to be done to the glory of God. You trudged through it.

Then came the Reformers of the sixteenth century. The Reformers challenged many practices and beliefs of latter medieval Roman Catholicism. Here we trot out the five solas of the Reformation: 

Sola Scriptura Scripture alone

Sola Gratia Grace Alone 

Sola Fide Faith Alone 

Solus Christus Christ alone

Soli Deo gloria For the Glory of God Alone

This last one, soli Deo gloria, factors into our discussion of work and vocation. Playing off this idea, Martin Luther breathed new life into the word vocation. He applied the word to being a spouse, a parent, or a child. He applied the word to the various professions.

Granted, the professions were limited in the 1500s and not nearly approaching the types of specializations we have today. But doctors, lawyers, merchants — these were all vocations, callings (one profession Luther didn’t care much for was banking, but that’s for another time). Luther also applied vocation to the work of the peasant class, to the farmers and servants. To Luther, all work and all the roles we play were potentially holy callings, which could be fulfilled for the glory of God alone.

A few generations later, another German Lutheran, Johann Sebastian Bach, illustrated Luther’s teaching perfectly. Whether Bach was writing music commissioned by and for the church or whether it was for other purposes, he signed all his music with two sets of initials: one for his name, and the other, “SDG,” for Soli Deo Gloria. All work — all types of work, not just the work done in the service of the church — was a calling. We can all glorify God at work.

We can be quite grateful to the Reformers for making a number of contributions to Christian beliefs and practices. Near the top of the list should be their contribution to restoring the word vocation. In his book The Call, Os Guinness speaks of calling as meaning that “everyone, everywhere, and in everything lives the whole of life as a response to God’s call.”2 He quickly points out, however, that this holistic and comprehensive view often gets distorted. The time leading up to Luther was one of those instances of distortion. But as Guinness also points out, distortion comes at other times and places, too.

Certain pockets of contemporary evangelicalism revert to limiting calling to church work only. I remember, during college, interning in a youth ministry program. One of the adult lay leaders expressed to me how he wished he could do what I was doing, heading to seminary and preparing for a life of “full-time Christian work,” as the saying goes. I remember thinking how he would benefit from a different perspective on his own life and work. He was an undercover state police officer — which greatly increased his “cool quotient” among the teens. He was a husband and a father to three daughters, and he was quite an active leader in the church. His impact was great, yet he had been conditioned to think that he was settling for something lesser, that his work wasn’t as important as my future work would be.

I think what makes this story tragic is that it is no isolated story. Many, far too many, feel the same about their work. What is called for is a different perspective on work. Rightly understanding vocation can provide just the perspective we need.

The Reformers did us a great service by recovering the biblical teaching on vocation. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say on the matter.

Discussion & Reflection:

1. How might your view of your own work change if you saw it more as a vocation in the sense of the Reformers?
2. How can you glorify God with the work you have right now, whether it’s as a student, parent, employee, etc.? 

Part II: Working the Garden

The first place to look for a biblical teaching on work is in the beginning. Theologians have referred to Genesis 1:26–28 as the cultural mandate. As image-bearers, we are given the task of exercising dominion over and subduing the earth. A great deal has been said about how best to understand this text. The first challenge is grasping the idea of the image of God. Some have pointed out that this should be understood substantively. The image of God is part of our essence — our being — and as humans this image of God differentiates us from the rest of created beings. It is the source of the dignity, even the sanctity, of life.

Others put forth the idea that the image of God is functional. Drawing on parallel ideas in other ancient Near Eastern cultures, those who hold this view point out that the mention of the image is sandwiched between commands to have dominion and subdue the earth. They further point out that in other ancient Near Eastern cultures and religious texts, kings were hailed as the image of their gods on earth, carrying out the duties of the gods. The term used to describe this is vice-regent — the kings were vice-regents.

In the Genesis account of creation, this idea is modified quite a bit. It’s not simply a king who is vice-regent. Rather, all of humanity, both male and female (Gen. 1:27), is collectively functioning as the vice-regent. It’s interesting to see how this theme is developed in the pages of Scripture. By the time we get to the end of the story at Revelation 22, we find that we are in the new heavens and the new earth, with the description in Revelation 22:2 looking a lot like the garden of Eden. Then we read in Revelation 22:5 that we “will reign forever and ever” with God and the Lamb. The ultimate purpose for which we were created will have come; we reign with God in his kingdom.

While we long for the celebration that is to come, for now we work in this world. We have to return to Genesis 3 and see what happens to the image of God and the consequences for image-bearers. Adam’s fall in Genesis 3 is really the fall of all of us. It has the effect of severing the ties that bound us to God, not to mention ill-affecting the ties that bind us to each other and to the ground — to the earth itself (Gen. 3:14–19). Immediately, Genesis 3:15 provides the solution and remedy to this tragedy. The promised seed in Genesis 3:15, who turns out to be Christ our Redeemer, undoes what Adam did and reunites us to God and brings in the kingdom, the consummation of which is portrayed in Revelation 22:1–5.

What does this big biblical picture have to do with our work? The answer is: everything. This biblical storyline of creation, fall, and redemption is the theological framework in which we begin to understand our purpose in life. It is also the context through which we understand work as vocation. Without it, work is just work — just putting in time. And without it, living is just putting in time.

God’s command to Adam and Eve to subdue and have dominion is his creational purpose for humanity. We call this the creation mandate or the cultural mandate. God himself “worked” in creating — and he “rested” too (Gen. 2:2–3), but more on that later. Then he charged his special creation, humanity, to work in sustaining and cultivating his creation.

You’ll notice the word cultivation. I find this word helpful in understanding the cultural mandate — the command to subdue and have dominion over the earth and its inhabitants. There are different ways in which one can subdue. You can subdue by beating into submission. But such an approach, while initially effective, can be counterproductive. The fact that this command was given in a garden, the garden of Eden, is instructive. You don’t subdue a piece of land by beating it; this much I have learned from my former Amish farmer neighbors in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They could grow crops in the middle of the road, it seemed. I learned from them that you subdue a piece of land by cultivating it. You cultivate it by supplying it with nutrients, by protecting it from erosion, and by giving it occasional rest.

These Amish farmers had powerful draft horses, massive, thick creatures of brute strength. They plowed their fields standing on plows pulled by a team of draft horses. When these horses were not attached to a plow they would stand three or four abreast in the pasture. They moved in unison without bit or bridle. They were finely conditioned like elite athletes. They were subdued over time, cultivated to perform. Dominion is best exercised by cultivation not subjugation. 

It’s not only farmers who can cultivate God’s creation. We all can. In fact, we all are commanded to subdue and have dominion. We need to realize that the fall and the presence of sin in the world makes this task difficult. None of us likes to admit it, but in our role as image-bearers, marred by sin, we can get it wrong. This is a fallen world — or, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer once put it, a “fallen-falling world.” And we are fallen-falling creatures. But then comes the good news of redemption in Christ. In him, our fallenness and brokenness can be set right. Though Adam blew it, and though we blow it, through Christ alone we can get it right.

Now we can see why the psalmist calls on God to establish the work of his hands (Ps. 90:17). Work is God’s intention for us. He made us to work, and ultimately he made us to work for him. Let’s not miss the type of work that Adam and Eve were doing. It was physical labor, tending animals, tending the garden — its trees and vegetation.

As humanity has progressed and developed, work has expanded to entail all sorts of things. I spend hours in meetings or punching away at a keyboard — not at all the kind of work in which Adam and Eve engaged. But all of us are God’s image-bearers, tasked with cultivating the particular piece of his garden in which he has placed us. We do this under the full sun of the realities of the fall. We sweat and we have thorns to deal with (being allegorical here, can tech issues be likened to thorns?). But amid the sweat and the thorns, we are still commanded to work.

This theological framework raises work to a whole new horizon of understanding. As we think it through, we begin to see that our work is in the service of the King, making work both a duty and a wonderful privilege. We are not, harking back to Dolly Parton’s lyric, merely rungs on the “boss-man’s ladder.” We are image-bearers of the King, tending his garden.

There’s one further piece to this. If God designed us this way — and he did — then it makes sense that when we are doing what God made us to do, we will be fulfilled and satisfied and happy. Work, then, is far more than a duty; work can actually bring pleasure. It doesn’t have to be the drudgery that it so often gets painted to be.

I don’t think this is a question of surrounding your workplace with inspiring slogans or having employee meetings with gurus presenting seminars on self-fulfillment by being a team player. Those techniques can become manipulative, turning workers into pawns. Or they can lead to short-term but not long-lasting results. Instead, it’s a matter of adopting a theological framework of what God is doing in the world and how you fit into the picture. And it’s also a matter of applying that theological framework to your work, day in and day out, hour after hour. Living out the Christian life, what theologians call sanctification, is about renewing and transforming the mind, which then works itself out in our behaviors. That applies to all areas of life, even work. We need to pray for and cultivate a renewed and transformed mind about our work.

Let’s stick with this for a bit longer. What you do from 9 to 5 (or whenever you work) is not disconnected from your Christian life and walk. It is not somehow outside the parameters of things that are a service and are pleasing to God. Your work is squarely in the center of your devotion and service and even worship of God. Even work that now seems meaningless or trivial may come to have far greater significance. Many times it’s only after the fact, as we reflect back on our lives, that we can see how God used us and our work for his glory.

Take this quiz. It’s only one question:

True or False: God only cares about what I do on Sundays.

We know the answer is false. And what accounts for much of my time Monday through Friday or Saturday? Work. If God cares about all seven days of all the weeks of my life, then certainly God cares about my work. So, here’s the point:

My work is part of my calling, part of my “reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1), part of my life’s aim and purpose — which is to worship God in all of life.

This theological framework applies even if your work is for a company that treats you like a machine from which it can extract the most productivity possible. It applies in situations in which those above you have no such theological framework even remotely in place. It applies because, ultimately, we are accountable to God for all that we do — not companies or bosses. The Blues Brothers said it jokingly in the movie, but each of us is on a mission from God.

There is one final piece to this theological framework of work, and it concerns rest. God himself set the pattern by working for six days to create the universe and then resting. The biblical teaching of God’s method in creating probably has more to do with us than it does with God. Let me explain. God didn’t need six days to create. He could have done it instantaneously. And he certainly didn’t need to rest. Since God is omnipotent, the act of creation did not deplete him of even an ounce of energy.

What we may very well have in the creation account is a pattern for us, a pattern of work and rest. The pattern of work, God creating in six days, teaches us that things take time. Farmers prepare soil, sow seeds, and then harvest after a long wait. So it is with our work. Building and making things — especially things of substance and beauty — takes time. But there is also the pattern of rest. This comes at the end of the workday. And it comes at the end of the workweek. The discussion of the Sabbath in Exodus 20:8–11 draws directly from the creation week. Six days we are to work and on the seventh we are to rest: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day” (Ex. 20:11).

In the aftermath of the French Revolution, the seven-day week was supplanted by a ten-day week, as part of the program to rid France of its religious identity and tradition. One should say attempted to supplant, for it was a failure. We have our own version of attempting to supplant the Sabbath, as evidenced in the phrase 24/7. In our connected world, we are always available, always working, all day long, every day of the week. At the very least, a Christian should consider saying only 24/6. God has established a day of rest for us. We shouldn’t think we are wiser than God. But even to say 24/6 may be pushing it. Machines work around the clock. People can’t.

Many have pointed out that people nowadays, especially those of us in Western cultures, play at our work and work at our play. This is yet another way in which we have distorted the biblical pattern of work and rest. We have lost the true meaning of leisure likely because we have lost the true meaning of work. 

In giving us the pattern of six days of work and a day of rest, God is teaching us to establish boundaries and to establish healthy rhythms of life. A colleague of mine recently moved some distance away from our place of work. He was finding that in living so close, he was there a great deal — at night, after a long day, and on the weekend. He and his family made this move in order to develop, in his words, “healthy rhythms of work, time for family, and rest.”

Moving might be too drastic for you. But there is a lesson to be learned here. We can be influenced by the  24/7 or by the “work at play, play at work”’ cultural pariahs that plague us. We’re not immune to these influences as Christians. Finding yourself checking your email on Saturdays and Sundays, or during dinners with your spouse or family, can be a symptom of an unhealthy pattern of work. Rather, we need to pay attention to the boundaries God has ordained for us. We need to be attuned to the healthy rhythms of work and rest.

If you’re at work, work. When you step away from work, rest and turn your energies elsewhere. That principle will make you a better worker and a better person. While we may not be able to follow the principle 100%, we could all likely do better at it. 

We need to recognize that we are merely stewards of God-given resources and further realize that our most precious resource is our time. When we seek to honor God with all of our time, we can learn to glorify God at work, at rest, and at play. We may not always get it right. Hopefully, we’ll mature over time in our stewardship of time and glorify and enjoy God in all of life.

The Bible not only provides this big picture for work as our role as image-bearers and the pattern of work and rest. Scripture also offers a lot of specifics about our work. In fact the Bible not only helps us to understand how to work, but also how not to work. God knows that the negative can sometimes vividly point us to the positive. Learning how not to work, in other words, can be the first step toward learning best how to work.

Discussion & Reflection:

1. How can your current work be an expression of the cultural mandate? In what ways does it call you to exercise dominion and bear fruit?
2. In what ways have unhealthy work or rest (or lack thereof) habits affected you? How can you seek to do your work and rest increasinging to the glory of God?

Part III: How Not to Work

In Oliver Stone’s 1987 movie Wall Street, ruthless investor Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas, delivers a speech on greed before the Teldar Paper shareholders at their annual meeting. Gekko is there to launch his takeover. “America has become a second-rate power,” he tells fellow investors, pointing to greed as the answer. “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right,” adding that greed in its raw and full essence marks the upward evolutionary climb. Then he crescendos, “Greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.” The Gordon Gekko “Greed is good” speech has become famous not only among the readers of Forbes magazine but also in broader reaches of culture as an American icon. The speech is, however, a classic case of art imitating life.

Any of the handful of high-profile corporate raiders arrested during the 1980s could have served as the inspiration and the template for the character. But it was Ivan Boesky who delivered a 1986 commencement speech at the University of California-Berkeley School of Business Administration and told would-be graduates that “greed is all right,” adding, “greed is healthy.” The next year, just after the release of Wall Street, Boesky was sentenced to three and a half years in a federal prison and fined $100 million.

The problem with such glaring examples as the fictional Gekko and the real-life Boesky is that they mask the less obvious and less glaring greed that operates in all of us at least some of the time, and in most of us more often than we’d like to admit. Of course, there is a difference between greed and ambition. Ambition can be a good thing. Employers like ambitious employees. Teachers like ambitious students. Parents like ambitious children. And pastors like a congregation of ambitious parishioners. As a side note, it was a British pastor who helped us understand that the English word ambition can be a good thing. Charles Spurgeon was the first to use the English word in a positive sense. He was ambitious for his congregation to be ambitious in their service of God.

But ambition can quickly get carried away with itself. The issue may be posed by asking, “Ambitious for what?” Christ clearly tells us to seek first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). If we are ambitious for anything else, we do things, even good things, for all the wrong reasons.

For these reasons, ambition can easily turn into greed. And greed, once it has run its course, consumes. We can work very hard, which can be a good thing. But we can also easily and quickly work very hard for the wrong reason, the reason of self-advancement and self-promotion. The fictional Gekko may be right after all. Greed marks the upward evolutionary climb. It’s just that for those who are disciples of Christ, the law of the survival of the fittest, fueled by greed, is a lie — and a damning lie at that.

The opposite of greed is one of the other deadly sins, sloth. One of the most colorful, if not comical, descriptions of sloth in the Bible comes from Proverbs 26:15: “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.” And this was written before we had christened the couch potato. Here’s a person who is so lazy that, once he has put his hand in the dish, he hasn’t the energy to bring it, along with the food it grabbed, up to his mouth.

There are indeed as many glaring examples of laziness in our culture as there are examples of greed. The remote control, not to mention all the other technological gadgets we have made for ourselves, reveal that we as a culture are against effort, against sweat, against work. This laziness can affect our professions and our relationships. We want instant success, without work or any investment of time. We become conditioned to appreciate only easy experiences and to dread the routines of hard work. These cultural malpractices can spill over from our professional and personal lives into our spiritual lives. On that score, too, we can look for shortcuts to spiritual maturity. But such shortcut-taking is in vain.

Just as we need to point out that there is a difference between ambition and greed (though that line is a fine one), so there is a difference between laziness and rest. Rest is healthy for us, even necessary. But habits of rest can easily and quickly become unhealthy. Again, just as a healthy view of work can be overcome by ambition and then overcome by greed, so too our rest, which is both necessary and God-ordained, can be overcome by laziness and sloth. Whereas ambition is a race to the top, sloth is a race to the bottom. Both take us down the wrong path. Proverbs overflows with warnings about playing out this dance with greed and with sloth. And Proverbs wisely shows how both partners lead to death and destruction.

It’s worth contemplating these two ways of ambition and laziness. Many people see these as the only two options in thinking about work. Either work becomes all-consuming or it is to be avoided at all costs. The solution lies not in finding a balance, but rather in thinking differently about work and about rest. We saw this briefly in the biblical passages we considered above as we constructed a theological framework for work. It’s time to turn once again to that framework, this time looking for practical application of how to work.

Discussion & Reflection:

1. Can your work be described by any of the above? Do you tend more toward laziness and sloth or toward unhealthy ambition?
2. What needs to be changed in your thinking and believing to address any unhealthy work habits?

Part IV: How To Work — and Find Meaning

In our technological culture, we find ourselves, for the most part, rather far removed from the things we wear and use and even eat. In cultures of the past, especially in ancient cultures of biblical times, there was much more of a connection between one’s work and the fruits or products of that work. As we shifted from agrarian economies to industrial economies, that divide widened. As we shifted from industrial economies to our current technological economies, that gulf widened further still. This has had a net effect on our twenty-first century sensibilities of making us think quite differently from people in previous centuries about the value of work and its products. Some of this has had a negative impact. We are numb to the factory conditions of foreign labor that produces the things we use and throw away. And we are numb to what happens to those products we throw away as they end up in landfills. These disconnects, so much a part of our consumer culture, cause us to lose touch with each other and with the world God has made.

We have a further disconnect when we consider the imbalanced scale of wages. Professional athletes earn more in a year than factory workers — who make the baseballs and basketballs and athletic shoes — earn in lifetimes of work. And let’s not even mention other celebrities.

In light of these disconnects, it’s all the more urgent that we think biblically and theologically about work. This is true for both employees and employers. Christians who find themselves in either role are under an obligation to think and live biblically at work.

As to the Lord

One text that can help here is Ephesians 6:5–9. In this passage, Paul is addressing slaves and masters. These verses have too often been a source of misinterpretation, so in an attempt to avoid any landmines, I will simply regard this passage as contributing something to what it means to be an employee and an employer. As for employees, Paul points out that they ultimately work for God. We are to render “service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man” (6:7). This relates directly to calling. When work is understood as a calling, it is understood as a calling from God. He is ultimately the one for whom we work.

This understanding can be seen in some of the sculpture work in medieval architecture. Way up in the high reaches of a cathedral, the attention to detail equals that in the sculptures down at eye level. Now, no one could ever possibly see the fine details of the sculpture way up there. Cutting back on these details would not have negatively influenced the soundness of the structure in any way, nor would it have impeded the worship of those on the floor below. So why did the architects draw it and the craftsmen carve it? Because they knew it was work in the service of God.

Much of what we do at work could be glossed over; much of what we do won’t be scrutinized (I find myself thinking this when I’m painting inside a closet or weeding the flowerbeds behind my house). We can all too easily coast through our work, caring very little about what we do. It is precisely at this point that Paul’s words come into play. Our work, even the unseen or the less seen, is ultimately work before God.

My grandfather stepped away from the family business of a local newspaper and its print shops to work at Roebling Steel Company, along the Delaware River in New Jersey, as part of the home-front war efforts during World War II. The plant made steel cables, mostly for bridge construction. But during the war it made steel cables for tank tracks. It was complicated work. As the cables were machined they could easily twist in the wrong way, becoming unusable. Due to the scarcity of resources during the war, incentives were offered to those who could skillfully untwist these steel cables that had gone awry. Before long, my grandfather began to notice that workers around him were starting to twist the steel on purpose so that they could then fix it and receive the extra compensation. All that dishonesty did not sit well with him. He remembered it decades later and shared the stories with me. I admired his honesty as a worker. He taught me how important it is to work with both skill and integrity. 

There is a certain urgency to our lives. Maybe it is not quite the palpable urgency of wartime, but as people who work before God, we have a high and holy calling. Honest work done with integrity is the type of work that honors God and is fitting for the occasion. Dishonesty is all too easy and comes far too naturally. We need to guard against it.

With a Sincere Heart

This leads Paul to also say something about motives: we are to serve our employers with “a sincere heart” (Eph. 6:5). Motive is always a difficult test. We easily do the wrong thing for the wrong reason. It’s marginally harder to do the right thing for the wrong reason. Hardest of all is doing the right thing for the right reason. God cares not only about the work that we do, but also about why we do the work that we do. Motive matters. Admittedly, right motives are hard to pull off every day and at every task. It’s good to know that God is forgiving and gracious. But we should not let the level of difficulty keep us from making the attempt.

Employees are not the only ones with standards to attain — Paul also has some things to say to employers. One is that employers need to live by the same code of right motives: “Masters, do the same to them” (Eph. 6:9). It turns out that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Paul then adds, “Stop your threatening” (Eph. 6:9). Manipulation and threats are not the way to run a company or to treat employees. We are back to cultivation versus subjugation, aren’t we? Power needs to be handled responsibly and with a sincere heart 

The ground of good relations between employees and employers is our equality before God: “There is no partiality with God” as he looks at employers and employees (Eph. 6:9). A superior position in a work environment does not reflect a superior status as a person. When employers recognize employees as bearing the image of God, possessing dignity and sanctity, respect and fair treatment follow. When employees recognize employers as image-bearers, respect follows.  

With Humility

One of the many virtues the Bible commends also relates directly to work, and that is the virtue of humility. Humility is sometimes misunderstood as thinking of ourselves as slightly more than a doormat. That’s not humility. And sometimes we think humility means hiding our talents or downplaying them. Humility means, instead, thinking of others as having value and contribution. It means being concerned to use the best of me for the best of others. It means not always seeking the credit, not always seeking the best position or the seat of honor. It means caring enough about the other person to know that I have something to learn from them. 

True and genuine humility is best illustrated in the incarnate life of Christ. In Philippians 2, Paul uses the example of Christ and his “humiliation” in the incarnation as the standard for how we are to treat others in the body of Christ. Humility is essential to being a faithful church or a godly family. 

Humility is also essential for workers and the workplace. Ronald Reagan had a slogan on his desk in the oval office that was in gold foil stamped on burgundy leather. It read:

IT CAN BE DONE.

The obvious emphasis on the word can was a counter to what he so often heard his advisors and lieutenants tell him that various projects or initiatives “can’t be done.”

There is, however, another of his sayings that is key to this short definitive saying that simply declares that it can be done. This longer saying gives us a valuable insight: “There is no limit to the amount of good you do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” 

I imagine in a room full of generals, heads of departments, and brilliant, accomplished people, that a saying like that is not what they’re used to hearing. Nevertheless, Reagan saw humility as an essential ingredient. Of course, we need to be wise to less scrupulous coworkers who may steal ideas or resort to underhanded practices to get ahead. But, we often care more about the Ego than the team. And, again, when we work “as unto the Lord,” God knows. These accolades we seek are fading, like the olive leaves on the ancient olympic wreaths placed on the victor’s head. 

Too often we care more about who gets the credit than simply getting something done. Sometimes, when we think or say it can’t be done, it’s because we have sought self-promotion instead of practicing the virtue of humility. We will get far more accomplished by working together and bringing out the best in each other than by jockeying for our own self or posturing for personal recognition. Humility is an essential Christian virtue and is essential in the workplace.   

For a Good Reward

Aside from Paul, the place where we probably learn the most about work is the book of Proverbs. Here we learn not only of the ways of the sluggard, but also the type of work that honors God. Proverbs 16:3 commands, “Commit your work to the Lord,” adding that “your plans will be established.” This is one of the many helpful overarching principles offered in the book of Proverbs. It reminds us that God is at the beginning, the middle, and the end of our work. He is sovereign over our work, just as he is sovereign over all of his creation and creatures. This proverb is calling us to do nothing more than acknowledge what is already the case. This reminder is nevertheless necessary, for we often forget to do what comes as a natural result of acknowledging what is the case. We must honor God as the source and means and end of our work, because he is the source and means and end of our work.

Other proverbs delve into specifics. Many speak of the rewards of work. Proverbs 10:5 informs us that “he who gathers in summer is a prudent son,” while conversely, “he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” A few chapters later, we find similarly that “whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense” (12:11). And not to be missed is the rather direct approach taken in Proverbs 14:23: “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

Proverbs also has a way of expressing this concept of reward on a much deeper level than the motive of profit. One proverb in particular stands out in this regard: Proverbs 12:14. Here we are told, “From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.” The reward spoken of here is fulfillment, a satisfaction. Ultimately it’s not a satisfaction that comes from accumulating wealth or the things that wealth buys. It’s a satisfaction that comes from fulfilling our purpose of working in service to God.

The author of Ecclesiastes picks up on this. There we are told, “Everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man” (Eccl. 3:13). Some take this to be sarcastic, believing that the author of Ecclesiastes is the most jaundiced and jaded person who ever lived. But this text, coupled with various passages from Proverbs, seems to be pointing to something quite true. God has made us to work, and as we work we find contentment, satisfaction, and happiness. This is one of the many good gifts from God to us.

With Skill

Returning to Proverbs, many of its teachings address the issue of skillfulness. Case in point is Proverbs 22:29, which states, “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” A similar idea is expressed in one of the psalms of Asaph concerning David. Asaph tells us that David “guided [Israel] with his skillful hand” (Ps. 78:72). We see other examples of skillfulness elsewhere in Scripture. Bezalel and Oholiab were skillful craftsmen who oversaw the design and construction of the tabernacle. These were people filled with “skill” and “craftsmanship” who devised “artistic designs” (Ex. 35:30–35). Bezalel and Oholiab were joined by many other “craftsmen in whom the Lord [had] put skill” for the work on the tabernacle (Ex. 36:1).

Here we learn that any skill we have is derived from God; he gives it to us. But even those who have been given gifts need to cultivate them. From time to time I have worked on home projects. We’ve remodeled bathrooms, put in wood floors, put up trim. I find, however, that most times skilled carpenters, electricians, and plumbers are so much better than I and it’s far more prudent to step aside and let a professional do it. When I do projects, I come under the school of thought whose motto is, “Do your best and caulk the rest.” Then I watch professionals. They can make a perfect cut and fit a perfectly squared corner. 

It’s true of watching elite athletes, concert musicians, artists, and carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. Skill is impressive. Those who have it make it look effortless. It’s not. It comes by practice, practice, and more practice. Actually, I am reminded of the words of my high school swim coach. Through my water-plugged ears I could hear him say, “Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” A tall order? Yes. But then we remember we are working “as unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). It gets no taller than that.

There are some things I’m (somewhat) good at, and some things I’m not. God has given all of us gifts and has called us all to certain tasks. If we understand our work as calling, we will approach it like Bezalel and Oholiab and the many others as they built the tabernacle for God. We will do our work with skillful hands. And even when we’re doing home projects, we’ll be reminded to do our work as unto the Lord.

The Work of Christ

The last piece of this biblical puzzle is to consider Christ and work. We turn here to the incarnation, where we see Christ as fully and truly human, as well as fully and truly divine. In his humanity Jesus took on certain roles. He was a son and a brother. He was even a citizen in an occupied state of the Roman Empire. And he was a carpenter’s son and, presumably, a carpenter himself. In fully living in these roles, Christ demonstrates the value and integrity of the roles for us, and the value and integrity of our work. But more than this, Christ through his redemptive work undoes what Adam did in the fall. And he restores to us the ability and the capacity to be image-bearers as God intended us to be (see 1 Cor. 15:42–49, along with 2 Cor. 3:18 in its surrounding context).

we learn how to work — and how to live — when we look to the incarnate Christ and as we seek to be transformed and conformed to his image in all areas of our lives. While work takes a lion’s share of our lives, it does not define our lives. Who we are in Christ defines our lives and the spokes go out from that hub of the wheel. Our relationships, our service, our work, our legacy — those are the spokes. They all matter and they all have significance. And as we live in our union with Christ and rest in our identity in him all of these good things matter and have significance for all of eternity. 

When we see our work, our calling, from this perspective, it is as if we have climbed high upon a mountain and can look out over the long and broad horizons of the meaning and value of our work.
We should not be surprised to find that Scripture has something to say about our work. In light of many wrong-headed notions about work encircling us, we should be quick to turn to its pages for guidance and direction. As we look to it, we begin to understand and appreciate vocation. Above all, our work is to be done “as unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). That overarching truth needs to be before us in all our work.

Discussion & Reflection:

1. In what ways can you grow as seeing and doing your work as unto the Lord? 
2. Which of the above categories is a strength for you? Which is a weakness?
3. Who are some people around you who are good examples of working unto the Lord? What can you learn from their example?

Conclusion: Building a Legacy

Two hours north of Los Angeles, under the sweltering heat and upon the sands of the vast Mojave Desert, lies a place where airplanes go to die. Not all the planes in the Mojave Air and Space Port are there to die. The dry climate provides a perfect place for planes to avoid corrosion while they are parked and awaiting restoration or refurbishment. Once properly repaired and outfitted they go back into rotation doing what they were made to do. But hundreds are lined up nose to tail and will be stripped for parts and left to die. These planes were once marvels of modern engineering. They defied gravity as massive bodies of steel carrying tons of payload lifted off, soared the skies at 36,000 feet, and touched down safely. No matter how many times you fly, you feel like a kid again at the thrill of taking off. You feel the power. You feel like you can conquer anything. These machines flew through storms and turbulence. They towered over mountain ranges and logged countless hours flying over expansive seas, avoiding collisions as they followed invisible highways through the skies. 

They were built by geniuses and expert technicians, from the complicated electronics to the rivets on the seams. They were flown by highly trained and disciplined pilots and staffed by skillful attendants, hundreds of ground crew, baggage handlers, ticket and gate agents, and other airline employees contributed in one way or another to every flight they logged.

These are breathtaking machines, conveyors of great people to do great things. And now they are sinking slowly into the sands with nose cones removed, instruments stripped, and seats removed. They are dying a slow death in the Mojave site of “Death Valley.”

These dying planes are a symbol of how fleeting our legacy is. Even great and intricate work has a lifespan. Magnificent and monumental things done today will be forgotten tomorrow. How does the book of Ecclesiastes put it? Vanity of vanities. All is vanity. Someone once commented that the best way to understand that biblical word “vanities,” is the word soap bubbles. Poof and gone.

How do we respond to the inevitability of the fading of our legacy — no matter how great it may be?

First, we need to realize that our work and what we accomplish in this world is fleeting. The grass withers, the flower fades. We will be replaced. And, as built on the work of those who came before us, those who come after us will likely accomplish greater things than we. My former boss, R. C. Sproul, used to remind us that the graveyard is full of indispensable people. It is vain to think otherwise.

I remember returning to the YMCA pool in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, to see if my old swimming records still stood. At one time, one did. Then none. Then the whole building disappeared along with the trophy cases and the record wall. The new, shinier pool had come. 

What we do in this world has a shelf-life. That does not mean, however, that a legacy eludes us. Again, we return to that singular principle to govern our work: “As unto the Lord.” When our work is done unto — meaning by, through, and for — the Lord, it will have a legacy. 

Moses expresses the vision for our work that this guide has sought to lay out: “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Ps. 90:17). It would be enough for Moses to simply say it once. But he says it twice. This repetition is a poetic device used for emphasis. God, in his sacred Word, declares not only once but twice that he desires to establish the menial, earthly, finite labor of our hands. He takes our feeble accomplishments and stamps them with his approval and establishes them.

When we find this kind of meaning in our work, we find something permanent, something that lasts beyond us. As we get older, we tend to think more and more about our legacy. The psalmist asks clearly for God to establish the work of his hands — for God to make something permanent, something lasting. The extent to which we see our work as a calling to serve and ultimately to glorify God will be the extent to which our legacy lasts, a legacy of good and faithful labor done for the glory of God.

John Calvin once said, “Each individual has his own calling assigned to him by the Lord as a sort of sentry post so that he may not heedlessly wonder throughout life.” It is the place and the work to which God has called us. God asks of us but one thing: to be faithful stewards of the callings he has entrusted to us and to be faithful stewards of our sentry posts.

In addition to Moses’ Psalm we also have Psalm 104 to help us understand our work and our legacy. 

Psalm 104 considers both the greatness of God in making the creation and creatures as well as the greatness seen in the work in creation and by creatures. The psalmist celebrates the young lions who “roar for their prey, seeking their food from God” (Ps. 104:21). The psalmist even speaks of the springs, which “gush forth in the valleys” and “flow between the hills” (Ps. 104:10). The whole Psalm well repays study and meditation as we consider what it means to work — to glorify God on the job. But verses 24–26 bring a particular focus to the work done by the only creatures created in the very image of the Creator. These verses declare:

24: O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

25: Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.

26: There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

Clearly the sea and sea creatures testify to the greatness, majesty, and beauty of God. When we consider the blue whale, the length of a third of a football field, we can only stand in awe. Or, who’s not impressed by sharks? But look closely at verse 26. The psalmist puts two things in parallel: ships and Leviathan. The poetic books, like Psalms and Job, and even the occasional prophetic book, refer to this creature, Leviathan. There has been no shortage of speculation over the exact identity of this creature. Is it a great whale? Is it a dinosaur? A giant squid? What we know for certain is that Leviathan takes our breath away. We likely use the word awesome far too often and have depleted it of its rhetorical punch. But in this case the word fits: Leviathan is awesome.

Leviathan also likes to play. We can’t miss that. Jonathan Edwards, in writing of the flying spider, noted that when this spider flew it had a smile on its face. This led Edwards to conclude that God provided “for the pleasure and recreation of all sorts of creatures, even the insects.” Even Leviathan. And then there is the other creature in verse 26. This creature is man-made: “There go the ships.” God’s creation and our creation are put side-by-side, right next to each other in parallel. The psalmist marvels at Leviathan, and the psalmist marvels at ships. Let that sink in. How gracious is God to us that he stoops to see our work as having true and real value?

We find, as we keep reading this psalm, that there is more here than natural and man-made giants crossing seas and playing in the waves. Verse 27 tells us: “These all,” referring to all of God’s creatures, “look to you, to give them their food in due season. …When you open your hand, they are filled with good things.” We get pleasure, we get fulfillment, we get meaning from our work. We acknowledge our God-given gifts, our God-given resources, and then we go to work. And then we are satisfied. Wine gladdens our hearts (v15). Our creations, the works of our hands, amaze us. Planes, trains, automobiles, and ships. And books and records and sales deals and businesses, buildings, schools and colleges, churches, and ministries — all these works of our hands amaze us and bring us deep joy. All are a gift of God. If you are looking for motivation for your work, you have found it.

These are all results of our work. But none of these is the chief end or the ultimate result of our work. The chief end of our work comes in verse 31: “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.” Our work has meaning. Our work points to the one in whose image we are made. As we work, we bring glory to God. As we work, God is delighted with us. Now we have stumbled upon our legacy. “There go the ships!” Ships we built and will keep building. To God be the glory. 

Paul says it clearly: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). That certainly applies to our work. We should, like Johann Sebastian Bach, be able to attach two sets of initials to everything we do: our own initials and the initials SDG, Soli Deo Gloria. And as we do, we’ll find that the words of the psalmist become true. We will find that God’s favor is upon us, and that he is, by his grace and for his own glory, establishing the work of our hands.

About the Author

Stephen J. Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries. He has written over thirty books, including R.C. Sproul: A Life and A Time for Confidence. He’s the general editor of the Church History Study Bible. He hosts the podcast 5 Minutes in Church History.

#10 Work as Worship: Biblical Teachings on Labor and Purpose

Part 1: A Theology of Work (Why It Matters)

The First Worker

To understand our work, we must look at the very beginning of the Bible.

We often skip past the first few verses of Genesis to get to the story of Adam and Eve. But if we slow down, we see something remarkable in the very first sentence:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

The first thing the Bible tells us about God is that He is a worker.

He is not sleeping. He is not playing. He is working. He is creating. He is building. This is one of the most foundational biblical perspectives on work, showing us that productivity, craftsmanship, and creativity come from God Himself. It is also one of the clearest examples of labor in the Bible, demonstrating that work is woven into the fabric of creation from the very beginning.

In the creation account, we see God taking chaos and turning it into order. He separates light from darkness. He gathers the waters. He plants a garden. He forms animals.

God gets His hands dirty, so to speak. He is an architect, a gardener, a zoologist, and an artist.

And at the end of each day of work, He steps back. He looks at what He has made. And He says, “It is good.”

God finds satisfaction in His work. He enjoys the fruit of His labor. This is a blueprint for a biblical work ethic, showing us that meaningful labor is not simply about efficiency or profit-it is about reflecting the God who labors with purpose and delight.

This is the foundation of a Christian view of work. Work is not beneath God. Therefore, work is not beneath us. When we labor, we reflect His image. Whether we work with spreadsheets, tools, textbooks, or care for children and gardens, we reflect His creative nature.

That is why Scripture gives us Bible verses about work, such as Colossians 3:23 (“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”), reminding us that every task can be sacred when done for God. There are even motivational Bible verses for work, like Proverbs 16:3 (“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans”), encouraging us to see daily tasks as a place of faithfulness and trust.

When we begin to see our jobs and responsibilities through this lens, we understand work according to the Bible as far more than a way to earn a paycheck. Our labor becomes worship. Every task-big or small-can be work as worship, especially when we offer it to God with diligence, gratitude, and integrity (see 1 Corinthians 10:31).

This also protects us from separating our faith from our vocation. The Bible and work are not two unrelated subjects. Scripture shapes how we show up in the office, how we use time, how we respond to mistakes, and how we treat coworkers. Understanding this allows us to pursue healthier rhythms, including work-life balance in the Bible, modeled by God Himself in Genesis, where He worked six days and rested on the seventh.

Ultimately, the more we study Bible verses about working hard, such as Proverbs 13:4 or 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the more we see that excellence, honesty, and perseverance are not merely corporate ideals-they are spiritual disciplines. Our daily labor becomes a sacred opportunity to glorify God, serve others, and live out our calling in the world He created.

The Creation Mandate

After God creates the world, he creates human beings. And immediately, he gives them a job description.

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).

Theologians call this the “Creation Mandate” or the “Cultural Mandate.”

It is God’s command to the human race to take the raw materials of the world and make something of them.

He put Adam in the Garden of Eden “to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15).

Please notice when this happens. This is Genesis 2. This is before sin enters the world.

This is a crucial point for us to understand. Many Christians believe that work is a punishment for sin. We think, “If Adam hadn’t eaten that fruit, I wouldn’t have to go to the office today. I would just be sitting on a cloud playing a harp.”

That is false.

Work was part of paradise. God designed humans to work. He designed us to be productive.

God made us in his image. Since God is a worker, we are workers. When we build, organize, clean, fix, or create, we are reflecting the character of God. This is where the idea of work as worship becomes deeply meaningful-our labor is not merely economic, but spiritual. A biblical view of productivity is central to understanding Christian work ethics.

Imagine a child watching his father fix a car. The child picks up a plastic wrench and mimics his father. He wants to be like his dad.

That is what we do when we work. We are mimicking our Father.

Whether you are writing code, painting a wall, or negotiating a contract, you are bringing order out of chaos. You are exercising dominion over a small part of God’s creation. When seen through a Christian work ethics framework, even ordinary labor reflects the dignity of God’s design and becomes an act of worship.

This gives our work profound dignity.

It means your work matters, not just because it pays the rent, but because it is part of what it means to be human. You were built for this, and work as worship helps us see that choosing excellence, integrity, and service in our vocation glorifies God.

The Brokenness of Work

If work is so good, why does it feel so bad?

Why do we struggle with burnout? Why do we have bad bosses? Why is the work often boring, repetitive, or frustrating?

To answer that, we have to turn the page to Genesis 3.

Adam and Eve rebelled against God. They sought to be their own gods. Sin entered the world, and it broke everything.

It broke our relationship with God. It broke our relationship with each other. And it broke our relationship with work.

Listen to the curse God pronounces in Genesis 3:17–19:

“Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you… By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.”

Notice carefully: God did not curse work. He cursed the ground.

He made the environment of our work hostile.

Before the fall, Adam worked the garden and it yielded fruit joyfully. It was a partnership.

After the fall, the ground fights back. Adam plants wheat, but weeds grow instead. He works hard, but the crop fails. There is friction. There is frustration.

This is the theology of “thorns and thistles.”

Every job has thorns.

For the farmer, it is literal weeds and drought.

For the software engineer, the “thorns” are bugs in the code and system crashes.

For the teacher, the “thorns” are unruly students and endless paperwork.

For the mother, the “thorns” are the laundry that gets dirty again five minutes after it is washed.

We feel this frustration deep in our bones. We work hard, but things don’t always work out. Projects fail. Companies go bankrupt. Our bodies get tired and ache.

This explains the “Monday Morning Blues.” We are trying to do good work in a fallen world that resists us.

We are also broken on the inside. Because of sin, we tend to twist work into something it was never meant to be.

We make work an idol. We look to our careers to give us meaning and worth. We think, “If I get that promotion, then I will be somebody.” This leads to overwork and anxiety.

Or, we go to the other extreme. We become lazy. We resent work. We do as little as possible. We act like the slothful servant.

So, we have a problem. We are created to work, but work is broken. The ground is cursed, and our hearts are idolatrous.

This is why the idea of work as worship becomes so essential. We need a redeemed vision of work that lifts our eyes beyond earthly frustration and toward God’s glory.

And even more, we must see the hope Scripture offers. When we study Jesus and work, we discover that Jesus spent most of His earthly life as a carpenter, not a preacher. His example teaches us that ordinary labor can honor God, restoring our dignity in the workplace and helping us rediscover work as worship in a fallen world.

Is there any hope?

The Redemption of Work

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ has come to redeem all things.

He redeems our souls from hell. He redeems our bodies from death. And he begins the work of redeeming our labor.

Think about Jesus for a moment. He spent thirty-three years on earth. For three of those years, he was a preacher and a miracle worker.

But for the years before that, he was a carpenter (Mark 6:3).

The Son of God spent decades cutting wood, carrying timber, and likely building furniture or structures. He had calluses on his hands. He knew what it was like to sweat. He knew what it was like to have a customer who wanted a table by Friday.

By working with his hands, Jesus sanctified human labor. He showed us that ordinary work is holy and can be understood as work as worship, not just economic survival.

But he did more than just set an example. He died for our sins and rose again to make us new creations.

When we are united to Christ by faith, our work takes on a new purpose.

The Apostle Paul gives us the new marching orders for Christian work in Colossians 3:23–24:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

This changes everything and reshapes how we see work as worship.

Paul was writing to bondservants-people who had no freedom and often worked in terrible conditions. Their tasks were menial. No one thanked them.

Yet Paul tells them: You are serving the Lord Christ.

This means your boss is not your ultimate boss. Your manager is not your ultimate supervisor.

Jesus Christ is your boss.

When you file a report, you are filing it for Jesus. When you change a tire, you are changing it for Jesus. When you clean a bathroom, you are cleaning it for Jesus. This is the essence of work as worship-ordinary tasks offered to the Lord.

This lifts the burden of our work.

If we are working for men, we are crushed when they criticize us. We are prideful when they praise us. We are constantly riding a rollercoaster of emotions based on their approval.

But if we are working for Christ, we are steady. We want to do excellent work because he deserves our best. But we don’t need the applause of the world to feel valuable. We already have the love of God.

A New Motivation

Reformed theology teaches us that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, not by our works.

You cannot work your way into heaven. No amount of success at the office will impress God or pay for your sins.

But because we are saved by grace, we work out of gratitude.

We don’t work to get saved; we work because we are saved.

We work to love our neighbor. And when our labor becomes an act of service rather than self-promotion, it naturally becomes work as worship, expressing gratitude toward God.

Martin Luther, the great Reformer, spoke often about this. He said that God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does.

God does not need shoes. But your neighbor needs shoes. So, the cobbler serves God by making good shoes for his neighbor.

God does not need food. But your neighbor needs food. So, the farmer serves God by growing good crops.

This is the dignity of your job. It is a way to love your neighbor.

When you do your job well, you are loving the people who benefit from your work.

If you are a barista, you love your neighbor by making a warm, excellent cup of coffee that helps them start their day.

If you are an accountant, you love your neighbor by helping them organize their finances and keeping them out of legal trouble.

If you are a janitor, you love your neighbor by giving them a clean, healthy space to live or work.

This is not “secular” work. This is kingdom work. It is the work of caring for God’s world and God’s people. When viewed through a redeemed lens, every righteous task becomes work as worship, carrying eternal significance.

Living in the Tension

We must be honest. We still live in a fallen world. The ground is still cursed.

Even with a right theology, work will still be hard. You will still get tired. You will still have days where you want to quit.

But now, we have a bigger perspective.

We know that our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). We know that God sees what we do in secret.

We also have a promise. The Bible ends with a picture of a new city-the New Jerusalem.

In that new city, the curse is gone. There are no more thorns and thistles. But there is still activity. His servants will serve him (Revelation 22:3).

We are heading toward a world where work will be pure joy. We will create and build and serve without fatigue and without frustration.

Until then, we labor in hope. We ask God to give us strength, and we approach our daily responsibilities with the mindset of work as worship, offering every task as a way to glorify him.

We stop dividing our lives into “Sunday” and “Monday.” We bring our faith into the factory and the office.

We are God’s instruments, bringing a little bit of order and beauty into a broken world, pointing people toward the ultimate rest we have in Jesus.

Part 2: The Idols of the Office (Heart Check)

John Calvin, a key figure of the Reformation, famously said that the human heart is a “perpetual idol factory.”

He meant that we are constantly taking good things-like family, money, or work-and turning them into ultimate things. We try to make them do what only God can do. We look to them to give us safety, meaning, and happiness.

We often think of idolatry as bowing down to a golden statue. But in the modern world, our idols are usually much more subtle. And one of the most common places we build altars is in the workplace.

The office, the job site, or the shop floor is not spiritually neutral ground. It is a place of worship.

Every day you go to work, you are worshipping something. You are either worshipping God by offering your work to him, or you are worshipping something else-success, money, approval, or comfort. Viewing our labor as work as worship keeps our hearts aligned with the Lord rather than with our own ambitions.

When we worship work, we ruin it. A job makes a wonderful servant but a terrible master. If you look to your career to save you, it will eventually crush you.

We need to do a heart check. We need to look under the hood of our motivations and see what is really driving us.

Identity vs. Calling

When you meet someone new at a party, what is the first question you ask?

Usually, it is: “What do you do?”

In our culture, we are defined by our jobs. We are doctors, plumbers, teachers, or accountants. We tend to think, “I am what I do.”

This is a dangerous place for a Christian to be. It ties our identity to our performance.

If your identity is built on your career, you will live on an emotional rollercoaster. When business is good, when you get the promotion, when the project succeeds, you feel soaring pride. You feel like you matter. You feel “righteous.”

But when you make a mistake, when the deal falls through, or when you get laid off, you are devastated. You don’t just feel like you failed at a task; you feel like you are a failure. Your very self-worth is destroyed.

This happens because we are looking to our work to justify us. We are trying to prove to the world, to our parents, or to ourselves that we are valuable.

This is a form of works-righteousness. It is the opposite of the gospel.

The gospel tells us that our identity is not found in what we do, but in what Christ has done for us.

The apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:3, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

If you are a Christian, your real life is not your LinkedIn profile. Your real life is hidden with Christ.

This gives us a massive amount of freedom.

If your identity is secure in Christ, you can handle failure at work. It might hurt, and it might cost you money, but it cannot touch who you really are. You are a beloved child of God, and a bad day at the office cannot change that.

If your identity is secure in Christ, you can also handle success. You won’t let it go to your head. You realize that your talents are gifts from God, and you give him the glory.

We need to move from viewing work as our identity to viewing it as our calling.

An identity is something you achieve; a calling is something you receive. When you see work as a calling, you are not trying to create a name for yourself. You are simply trying to be faithful to the one who called you, approaching your responsibilities with gratitude and treating them as work as worship, not as a way to prove your worth.

The Two Ditches

As we try to walk the path of faithful work, there are two ditches on either side of the road. We tend to fall into one or the other.

The First Ditch: Overwork

This is the ditch of idolatry. This is the person who cannot stop working. They check emails at dinner. They work weekends. They neglect their family, their health, and their church because they are obsessed with their job.

Often, this looks like dedication. The world applauds this. But God looks at the heart.

Why are we overworking? Often, it is driven by greed or fear.

We might be greedy for more money or more status. We want to build our own little kingdom. We want to be like the builders of the Tower of Babel, who said, “Let us make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).

Or, we might be driven by fear. We are terrified of not having enough. We don’t trust God to provide, so we think we have to do it all ourselves. We work as if God doesn’t exist.

Psalm 127:2 gives a stern warning to the overworker: “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”

Work is a gift, but it becomes exhausting when we make it ultimate. The book of Ecclesiastes offers a sobering reminder about toil, rest, and satisfaction. Ecclesiastes on work teaches us that endless striving apart from God is “vanity and a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:22–23). Without the Lord, labor becomes exhausting instead of life-giving.

If you cannot rest, it is a sign that you do not trust God. You think the world will stop spinning if you stop working. But God is sovereign. He can take care of things while you sleep.

The Second Ditch: Laziness

This is the ditch of sloth. This is the person who does the bare minimum to get by. They cut corners. They kill time. They grumble about every task.

The book of Proverbs is full of warnings about the “sluggard.”

“The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!’” (Proverbs 26:13). The lazy person is full of excuses.

Laziness is not just a personality flaw; it is a spiritual issue. It is a failure to love.

Remember, work is how we love our neighbor. If you are lazy, you are not loving your neighbor.

If a mechanic is lazy and doesn’t tighten the bolts properly, he puts the driver in danger. If a teacher is lazy and doesn’t prepare a lesson, the students suffer.

Laziness is also a form of theft. If you are being paid to work eight hours and you only work four, you are stealing from your employer.

We must avoid both ditches.

The Christian Way: Diligence

The Christian way is the middle path of diligence. We work hard, not because we are anxious or greedy, but because we are grateful. We strive for excellence, but we know when to stop. We are engaged, but we are not enslaved.

Here again, ecclesiastes on work helps us. Ecclesiastes 3:13 reminds us that to “eat, drink and find satisfaction in all their toil-this is the gift of God.” Work becomes meaningful when it is received as a gift, done unto the Lord, and held with open hands instead of clenched fists.

Working for the Applause

There is a third idol that often hides in our hearts at work: the idol of man-pleasing.

Who are you working for?

It is very natural to work for the applause of people. We want our boss to like us. We want our coworkers to respect us. We want our clients to be impressed.

There is nothing wrong with having a good reputation. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1).

But the desire for approval can easily become a trap.

Scripture calls this “eye-service.” Paul warns against this in Colossians 3:22: “Obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.”

Eye-service means working hard only when the boss is watching. When the supervisor walks into the room, you suddenly look busy. When they leave, you slack off.

This reveals that you fear man more than you fear God.

The “fear of man” is a crippling trap. If you live for the approval of others, you will be a slave to their opinions. You will be afraid to make hard decisions. You will compromise your integrity to fit in. You will be crushed by criticism.

You will become a chameleon, changing your colors depending on who is in the room.

But if you fear the Lord, you are free from the fear of man.

You know that God is always watching. He sees the work you do in private. He sees the extra effort you put in when no one else notices.

And more importantly, you know that you already have his approval in Christ.

If you are a Christian, you do not work to get God to love you. You work because he already loves you. You have the only applause that matters.

This gives you a deep, stable confidence.

You can respect your boss without worshipping them. You can serve them well, even if they are ungrateful. You can handle unfair treatment with grace, because you know that your ultimate reward comes from your Heavenly Father.

Diagnosis

How do you know if you have idols in your office?

Look at your emotions. Idols always demand a sacrifice. They usually sacrifice your peace and your joy.

Are you constantly anxious about work? Do you become angry or defensive when someone critiques your work? Do you look down on people who have “lesser” jobs than you? Do you envy people who have “better” jobs than you? Do you find it impossible to take a Sabbath rest?

These are smoke signals. They tell you that there is a fire in your heart. They tell you that you are looking to work to give you something that only Jesus can give.

The solution is not just to “try harder” to be balanced. The solution is to repent.

We need to confess that we have loved our careers more than our Creator. We need to confess that we have trusted our paycheck more than our Provider.

And then, we need to look to Christ.

Jesus is the only one who finished the work. On the cross, he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

The work of salvation is done. You don’t have to earn your place in the universe. It has been given to you as a gift.

When this truth sinks into your heart, the idols begin to crumble. You can go back to work on Monday with a light heart. You are free to just do the job, love your neighbor, and go home, knowing that you belong to God.

Part 3: The Myth of “Secular” Work

Pastors vs. Plumbers

There is a hierarchy in the Christian mind that is hard to break.

We tend to think of Christians in a pyramid. At the top are the missionaries who move to the jungle. Just below them are the pastors and the worship leaders. Then, maybe, come the employees of Christian non-profits.

And then, at the bottom, is everyone else. The accountants, the truck drivers, the waitresses, the dentists.

We think the people at the top are doing the “real” work of God. They are in “full-time ministry.” The rest of us are just paying the bills to support them.

We assume that if you really loved Jesus, you would go to seminary. If you really wanted to serve God, you would quit your job and work at a church.

I want to tell you clearly: This is a lie.

It is a lie that has crippled the church for centuries. It suggests that there are two categories of life: the “sacred” (prayer, evangelism, church) and the “secular” (business, art, politics, manual labor).

The Protestant Reformation fought hard to destroy this wall.

Before the Reformation, the church taught that the only way to live a truly holy life was to become a monk or a nun. You had to withdraw from the world to get close to God.

Martin Luther, the German Reformer, looked at the Bible and said, “No.”

He taught the “priesthood of all believers.” He argued that a dairy maid milking a cow can glorify God just as much as a preacher in a pulpit.

Why? Because the work of the dairy maid is God’s work. God wants the cow to be milked. God wants the people to be fed. When she does her job, she is God’s hands, feeding his creation.

Luther wrote, “The works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks.”

Do not miss this. In the sight of God, the sermon and the spreadsheet are not spiritually different. They are different functions, yes. But one is not “holier” than the other.

Both can be done in faith. Both can be done for the glory of God. Both can be done as acts of love.

If you are a plumber, you are not a second-class Christian. You are a servant of Christ who brings fresh water and sanitation to people. You prevent disease. You bring order to chaos.

That is kingdom work.

The Sacredness of the Ordinary

We struggle with this because we tend to be Gnostics at heart.

Gnosticism was an ancient heresy that taught that the physical world was bad and the spiritual world was good. Gnostics believed that God didn’t care about bodies, food, or buildings-He only cared about souls.

We fall into this trap today. We think God only cares about “spiritual” things like Bible study and prayer. We think He is indifferent to how we build bridges or how we bake bread. But a biblical perspective on work corrects this misunderstanding by showing us that God created both the spiritual and physical realms and delights in both.

But look at the Bible.

God created a physical world. He called it “very good.” He gave detailed instructions to Moses on how to build a tabernacle-involving gold, wood, fabric, and oil. He cared about the craftsmanship (Exodus 31).

Jesus Christ took on a physical body. He ate fish. He walked on dirt roads. He touched lepers. He was resurrected in a physical body.

God loves the material world. He made it. Therefore, working with material things is a spiritual act. When a carpenter builds a table, he is working with the wood God created. When a scientist studies a cell, she is examining the work of God’s hands.

A biblical perspective on work helps us understand that the ordinary is sacred. There is no such thing as “secular” work for the Christian. Everything we do is done in the presence of God.

Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk who worked in a kitchen, famously practiced “the presence of God” amidst the noise of pots and pans. He said, “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen… I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”

You can have communion with God while you are coding. You can worship while you are welding. A biblical perspective on work teaches us to stop waiting for the “spiritual” moments and realize that the ordinary moments are where we live our faith.

The Concept of Vocation

If all work matters, how do we know what we should do?

This brings us to the doctrine of Vocation.

The word “vocation” comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “to call.”

For a long time, people thought a “calling” was a mystical experience where God told you to become a priest.

But the Reformers retrieved the biblical truth that every legitimate job is a calling.

God calls people to be farmers. He calls people to be magistrates. He calls people to be mothers and fathers.

How do you know your calling? It is usually not a voice from heaven. It is the intersection of three things:

1. Your Talent: What are you good at? God has given you specific gifts. If you are terrible at math, you are probably not called to be an accountant. If you faint at the sight of blood, you are not called to be a surgeon.
2. Your Desire: What do you enjoy? God often gives us a holy enjoyment in our work. Some people love the challenge of sales. Others love the quiet focus of research.
3. The World’s Need: What does your neighbor need? This is the most important factor. A calling is not just about self-fulfillment; it is about service.

If you have a job right now, you can assume that-for this season-this is your calling.

God is sovereign. He is the one who orchestrates the details of our lives. You are not at your desk by accident. You are not on that construction site by luck.

God has placed you there.

He has placed you there to be salt and light. He has placed you there to restrain evil and promote good.

Think about the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. He was sold into slavery. He worked in Potiphar’s house. He worked in a prison. Eventually, he worked in the palace of Pharaoh.

Joseph could have complained. He could have said, “This isn’t spiritual work. I’m just managing grain storage.”

But he did his work faithfully. And because he did, God used him to save thousands of people from starvation.

Your work has a purpose in God’s providence.

You may not see it. You may feel like a small cog in a big machine. But God uses the faithful work of his people to sustain the world.

When you deliver a package, you are helping commerce flow. When you legislate a just law, you are protecting the weak. When you paint a beautiful picture, you are refreshing the soul.

But What About Evangelism?

I can hear the objection: “But isn’t saving souls the most important thing? Shouldn’t I just use my job as a platform to preach to my coworkers?”

Evangelism is crucial. We are commanded to share the gospel. We should pray for open doors to speak of Christ to our colleagues.

But we must be careful here.

If we view our work only as a platform for evangelism, we devalue the work itself.

Imagine a Christian surgeon. Before the surgery, he prays with the patient. That is good. But then, during the surgery, he is sloppy. He doesn’t pay attention. He makes a mistake.

Is God glorified by that? No.

God is glorified when the surgeon cuts straight and heals the body.

If you are a Christian pilot, the best way to glorify God is to land the plane safely. If you preach the gospel over the intercom but crash the plane, you have not served your neighbor well.

We glorify God by doing the work well.

Our competence is often what gives us the platform to speak. Our excellence never saves anyone, but it removes unnecessary obstacles to hearing the gospel. When people see that you are diligent, honest, and skilled, they will respect you. They will wonder why you are different.

Peter tells us to “keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable” so that they may see our good deeds and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12).

Your work is the primary way you show the world what God is like.

If you are lazy, you tell the world that God is not worth serving. If you are dishonest, you tell the world that God is a liar.

But if you are excellent, kind, and trustworthy, you adorn the gospel. You make the truth about Jesus look beautiful.

So, do not despise your “secular” job. Do not wish you were somewhere else.

Stand tall in your vocation. Whether you are sweeping floors or running a corporation, you are standing on holy ground. You are a priest in God’s world, offering up your labor as a sacrifice of praise.

Part 4: How to Work Like a Christian (Practical Skills)

Excellence as Witness

We have established that work is good, that it matters to God, and that it is a way to love our neighbor.

Now we need to get practical. What does this actually look like on a Tuesday afternoon?

The first and most important way a Christian acts at work is by pursuing Excellence.

There is a strange idea in some Christian circles that because we care about the “next world,” we don’t have to care too much about this one. We might think, “Well, the world is passing away, so it doesn’t really matter if this report is perfect,” or “Jesus is coming back, so who cares if the paint job is a little messy?”

This is terrible theology.

If we serve a God of excellence-a God who designed the wings of a butterfly and the orbit of the planets with precision-then our work should reflect that excellence.

Excellence is a form of witness.

Imagine you have a coworker named Dave. Dave has a “Jesus Saves” bumper sticker on his car. He plays worship music at his desk. He invites everyone to the Easter service.

But Dave is terrible at his job. He is always late. He misses deadlines. His work is sloppy. He blames others for his mistakes.

What does Dave teach the office about Jesus?

He teaches them that Christians are lazy. He teaches them that God doesn’t care about quality. His incompetence becomes a stumbling block for the gospel. When he tries to share his faith, people roll their eyes.

Now imagine a coworker named Sarah. She doesn’t have a bumper sticker. She is quiet about her faith at first.

But Sarah is the most reliable person on the team. When she says she will do something, she does it. Her work is thorough. She anticipates problems. She is helpful.

When Sarah eventually speaks about Jesus, people listen. They respect her. Her competence has built a platform for her testimony.

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

Skill matters. Competence matters.

This doesn’t mean you have to be the CEO. It doesn’t mean you have to be the smartest person in the room. It simply means you do your specific job to the best of your ability.

If you are a janitor, be the best janitor in the building. Make those floors shine. If you are a student, write that essay with care. Check your grammar. If you are a coder, write clean code.

We do this not to show off, but to serve. Bad work burdens our neighbor. Good work blesses our neighbor.

As Christians, we should be the employees that bosses fight to keep. We should be the contractors that homeowners recommend to their friends. Our reputation for excellence should be so strong that it makes people curious about the God we serve.

Integrity in the Gray Areas

The workplace is full of gray areas. It is full of opportunities to cut corners, fudge numbers, or twist the truth.

This is where Christian character is tested.

We believe in a God of truth. Jesus called himself “the Truth” (John 14:6). Therefore, a Christian must be a person of absolute integrity.

This is easy to say, but hard to do when money or reputation is on the line.

When you make a mistake that will cost the company money, do you admit it? Or do you try to cover it up? When you are selling a product, do you disclose its flaws? Or do you spin the facts to get the commission? When you fill out your expense report, are you honest? Or do you pad the numbers because “everyone else does it”?

Integrity means doing the right thing when no one is watching.

But for the Christian, Someone is always watching.

We live Coram Deo-before the face of God. We know that God sees the secret emails. He sees the hidden accounts.

This conviction helps us resist temptation. We know that a clean conscience is worth more than a bonus check.

One specific area of integrity we often overlook is Time Theft.

If your employer pays you for eight hours of work, and you spend two hours scrolling through social media, shopping online, or chatting with friends, you are stealing. You are taking money for work you did not do.

We often justify this. “My boss doesn’t pay me enough,” we say. Or, “I get my work done quickly, so it doesn’t matter.”

But the Bible calls us to be faithful in little things (Luke 16:10).

Christians should be known as people who give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. We should be known as people who tell the truth, even when it hurts us.

This kind of radical honesty is rare. In a world of spin and deception, integrity stands out like a light in the darkness.

The Difficult Boss and the Annoying Coworker

Work would be great if it weren’t for the people.

We can handle the spreadsheets and the tools. It is the micromanaging boss, the gossiping coworker, or the rude client that makes us want to quit.

How do we handle difficult relationships at work?

We must start with our theology of sin. Reformed theology teaches that human beings are “totally depraved.” This doesn’t mean everyone is as bad as they could be, but it means every part of us is tainted by sin.

Therefore, we should not be surprised when people at work are selfish, angry, or incompetent. We are working with sinners. And we are sinners, too.

So, how do we respond?

1. We respond with Submission.

This is a hard word. But the Bible is clear.

Peter writes, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust” (1 Peter 2:18).

Peter was writing to slaves who had no rights. Yet he told them to submit-even to the unjust ones.

This applies to us today. If you have a difficult boss, you are called to respect their position, even if you don’t respect their character. You don’t roll your eyes. You don’t badmouth them in the breakroom. You do what they ask (as long as it is not sinful).

We do this because we trust God’s sovereignty. God placed that boss over you for a reason. Maybe he is using them to teach you patience. Maybe he is using them to humble you.

2. We respond with Grace.

The workplace is often a place of judgment. If someone makes a mistake, they are hammered. If someone is weak, they are pushed aside.

Christians bring grace into the office.

We are the people who forgive. When a coworker snaps at us, we don’t snap back. We assume they might be having a hard day.

We are the people who refuse to gossip. When the team gathers to complain about Susan, we walk away, or we say something kind about her.

We are the peacemakers. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

This doesn’t mean we are doormats. It doesn’t mean we tolerate abuse or illegal behavior. There are times to speak up, to go to HR, or to quit.

But our general posture is one of kindness. We treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO. We look people in the eye. We listen.

3. We respond with Prayer.

Do you pray for your coworkers?

It is easy to complain about them. It is much harder to pray for them.

But Jesus told us to “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

If you have a boss who is making your life miserable, pray for him. Pray for his family. Pray for his salvation. It is very hard to hate someone you are praying for.

We must view the “annoying coworker” not as an obstacle to our work, but as the object of our work.

Maybe God put you in that office not just to write code, but to show the love of Christ to the guy in the next cubicle who is going through a divorce. Maybe the work is just the setting for the real ministry of relationship.

Being a Non-Anxious Presence

Finally, one of the best skills a Christian can bring to work is a non-anxious presence.

Workplaces are fueled by anxiety. People are terrified of missing targets. They are stressed about layoffs. They are frantic about deadlines.

In the middle of this storm, the Christian should be a rock.

Why? Because our hope is not in the quarterly earnings report. Our hope is in the Lord.

We know that God is in control. We know that he holds the future.

When everyone else is panicking, we can be calm. We can think clearly. We can remind people that the sky is not falling.

This peace is supernatural. It comes from the Holy Spirit. And it is incredibly attractive.

People will come to you and ask, “How do you stay so calm?”

And that gives you the open door to tell them about the Prince of Peace.

Part 5: Rest and the End of Work

The Command to Stop

We have talked a lot about working hard. We have talked about diligence, excellence, and sticking with it. But if we only talk about work, we are missing half the picture. God did not just create work. He also created rest.

In Genesis 1, God works for six days. He forms the mountains. He fills the oceans. He creates man and woman. It is a flurry of activity.

And then, in Genesis 2:2, the Bible says: “And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.” This rhythm of rest is foundational to a biblical perspective on work, reminding us that labor and rest are both gifts from God rather than competing priorities.

This is shocking. God is omnipotent. He has unlimited power. He does not get tired. He does not have sore muscles. He does not need a nap.

So why did He rest?

He rested to set a pattern for us. He built a rhythm into the fabric of the universe: work and rest. Six days of labor, one day of stopping. Later, when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, He made this rhythm a law.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:8-10). This command reflects the heart of a biblical perspective on work- that our vocation is meaningful, but it is never ultimate. Only God is ultimate.

We often treat the Fourth Commandment as a suggestion: “I’m too busy to rest. I have too much to do.” But refusing to rest is not a badge of honor. It is disobedience.

Refusing to rest is actually a form of pride. It is acting like we are God. Only God can keep the world running without stopping. When we refuse to stop, we are saying, “I am indispensable. If I stop working, everything will fall apart.”

The Sabbath is a weekly reality check. It reminds us that we are creatures, not the Creator. We are finite. We have limits. A biblical perspective on work helps us see that rest is not weakness – it is worship and humility.

When we stop working for one day a week, we declare our trust in God. We are saying, “Lord, I have done what I can do. Now I trust You to take care of the rest.”

In the Reformed tradition, we view the Lord’s Day (Sunday) as a “market day for the soul.” It is the day we stop our ordinary labors to focus on worship, fellowship, and mercy. It is a day to reset our hearts.

If you never stop working, your soul will shrivel. You will become dry and brittle. You will lose your joy. You need to stop. You need to put down the phone. You need to close the laptop. You need to rest in the finished work of Christ and enjoy the physical rest He gives His beloved.

Boundaries

If we are going to rest well, we need boundaries.

In the modern world, work has no boundaries. It follows us home in our pockets. The smartphone means the office is always open. Your boss can email you at 10:00 PM. A client can text you on Saturday morning.

If you do not set boundaries, work will eat your entire life.

This destroys your ability to love your neighbor-specifically, the neighbors who live inside your house.

If you are physically present at the dinner table but mentally checking emails, you are not loving your family. You are ignoring them.

If you are too exhausted from work to serve at your church or help a friend move, your work has become an idol. It has taken the energy that belongs to God and his people.

We need to learn the holy art of saying “No.”

We need to say “No” to the phone after a certain hour. We need to say “No” to working on the Lord’s Day. We need to say “No” to the promotion if it means sacrificing our family’s spiritual health.

This requires faith. We worry that if we draw boundaries, we will fall behind. We worry we will get fired.

But remember who provides for you. It is not your company. It is God.

Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

If the Lord is your shepherd, he will make sure you have what you need. You don’t have to hustle 24/7 to survive. You can work hard, go home, and sleep in peace.

Setting boundaries also makes you a better worker.

Study after study shows that people who never rest actually produce less. They make more mistakes. They are less creative. They burn out.

God knows how he built us. He built us to need sleep. He built us to need play. He built us to need worship.

When we respect God’s design, we flourish.

The Eternal City

Finally, we need to talk about where this is all going.

What is the future of work?

Some Christians think that heaven is going to be an eternal church service. They imagine we will float on clouds, wearing white robes, singing hymns forever and ever.

If that’s your view of heaven, work seems temporary and meaningless. You might think, “I’m just enduring this job until I get to the real life where I don’t have to do anything.”

But the Bible gives us a different picture.

The Bible ends not in the clouds, but in a city-the New Jerusalem coming down to the New Earth (Revelation 21).

Cities are places of culture, architecture, and activity.

In the New Earth, the curse will be gone. There will be no more thorns and thistles. There will be no more frustration, no more sweat, no more exhaustion.

But there will be service.

Revelation 22:3 says, “His servants will worship him.” That word for “worship” is often translated as “serve.”

We will serve God. We will reign with him.

Think about what Adam was supposed to do. He was supposed to explore the world, develop it, and fill it with God’s glory. He was stopped by sin.

In the New Earth, the Second Adam (Jesus) restores us to our original purpose.

Scripture teaches that we will serve and reign with Christ-what that looks like, we do not fully know. But it won’t feel like a job. It will feel like joy.

Imagine creating art without ever running out of inspiration. Imagine building structures that never decay. Imagine exploring the universe without ever getting tired. Imagine working in perfect harmony with others, without jealousy or politics.

This changes how we view our work now.

Our work today is a “first fruit.” It is a practice run.

When you build something good today, you are echoing the future. When you bring order to chaos today, you are acting out a small parable of the New Creation.

Your work is not just about paying the bills until you die. It is about practicing for eternity. It is about developing the talents God gave you so that you can use them for his glory forever.

This gives us hope.

The project you can’t quite finish? In the New Earth, it will be finished. The justice you fight for but can’t quite achieve? In the New Earth, justice will roll down like waters. The beauty you try to create but falls short? In the New Earth, everything will be beautiful.

We work today in the hope of that coming Kingdom.

Conclusion

We have covered a lot of ground.

We started with the alarm clock and the dread of Monday morning. We looked at God as the First Worker. We admitted that work is broken by sin, but we also saw that it is redeemed by Christ.

We looked at the idols of our hearts-the desire to make a name for ourselves or the temptation to be lazy.

We smashed the myth that “secular” work doesn’t matter, and we saw that every legitimate job is a calling from God.

And we looked at how to actually do the work-with excellence, integrity, and grace-before finally resting in God’s design.

So, where do we go from here?

Tomorrow morning, the alarm will ring again.

You will have to get up. You will have to commute. You will have to deal with that difficult boss or that confusing spreadsheet.

But you go into it differently now.

You go into it armed with a theology of work.

You know that you are not just a cog in a machine. You are a child of God, placed in that specific spot to bring glory to your Father.

As you head back into your daily routine, remember that ordinary labor becomes a work of worship when it is done for the Lord and not merely for human approval. What feels small or unnoticed can be a holy offering when your tasks are done with faith, love, and sincerity.

The Apostle Paul gives us a final word of encouragement in 1 Corinthians 15:58. After writing a long chapter about the resurrection and the future hope of the believer, he lands the plane with this practical command:

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Your labor is not in vain.

It is not wasted time. It is not meaningless.

Every email answered with kindness, every floor mopped with excellence, every diaper changed with love-it all matters. God sees it. He counts it as service to him.

This is why everyday work is not separate from ministry. Your workplace can become a quiet work as ministry when you love your neighbor through the quality of your service, the integrity of your conduct, and the compassion you show to those around you.

So, go to work.

Go to work knowing that you are justified by grace, not by your performance. Go to work knowing that Jesus is your true Boss. Go to work knowing that you are loving your neighbor.

Let me pray for you as you head back to the task.

Father, I pray for the person reading this guide. I thank You that You have given them work to do. I pray that You would help them see their job through Your eyes.

Lord, when the work is hard and the thorns are sharp, give them endurance. Remind them that they are serving the Lord Christ.

When they are tempted to make an idol out of their career, remind them that their life is hidden with Christ in God. Give them the courage to rest.

And when they feel like their work is small and unnoticed, remind them that nothing done for You is ever in vain.

Bless the work of their hands, Lord. May they work with such excellence and grace that the world looks on and gives glory to You.In Jesus’ name, Amen.

About the Author

The Christian Lingua Team is the world’s largest Christian translation agency offering translation and overdub services for video, audio, and media projects worldwide.

#8 Financial Stewardship: Living Within Your Means

Part 1: Wealth That Won’t Rust

Here are a few challenging words right from the start:

“Do not lay up for yourselves…”

Okay, I have an idea for a very cool business. In fact, I’m looking for a financial partner and hope I could talk you into joining me.

Here’s the idea: Americans own so much stuff they don’t have the ability to use it. In fact, it’s so much that they’ve lost track of exactly what it is. So, let’s give them the chance to pay for a neutral place away from their home to collect it. We’ll construct buildings — small warehouses — where these people with too much stuff can put their goods away and pay us. We won’t have to do anything but give the people private access to the stuff they own but barely remember.

Crazy. Right?

In the 1950s, this idea, called self-storage, was dreamed up in America. The first storage facility where the tenant had exclusive rights to the locked storage space they were paying to use was first opened by the Collum family in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1958. This company was simply called Lauderdale Storage.

By the 1960s, the idea had spread across America. It was during this decade that a man named Russ Williams from Odessa, Texas famously founded the A1 U-Store-It storage business. Although he worked in the oil industry, he enjoyed fishing in his leisure time. He needed a place to store his fishing equipment and thought others would also benefit from a place to store things they did not use on a daily basis.⁴ He purchased several apartments and rented out the space to others for storage. That was then. Now, more than fifty thousand storage unit businesses flourish.⁵ A great idea, right?

A long time ago, Jesus warned us not to “lay up” treasures on earth. How’s this for serious noncompliance?

“ … treasures on earth…”

For the three years he walked the earth, Jesus said a great deal about money. In fact, fifteen percent of everything he said was, directly or indirectly, related to this topic. Clearly it was important to him. In the portion of the Sermon on the Mount I mentioned earlier, he calls money “treasures,” which speaks to what money is as well as what it does.

Having money allows us to live comfortably, purchase things, and go places. That’s what it does. But sometimes having money creates a sense of security. That’s the intangible part of what money does. And it can be dangerous.

As bible verses on purity and financial stewardship guide us, we must be cautious not to let our wealth become our security or idol. Jesus speaks about storing treasures on earth and the importance of focusing on eternal investments, rather than temporary gains. Living within your means can help guard against the danger of greed, as it fosters a mindset of contentment and reliance on God’s provision.

And according to Randy Alcorn in his classic, The Treasure Principle, “how we handle our money has everything to do with how we think about everything else.” He adds, “There is a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money.”⁶

For Christians, financial stewardship is more than just managing wealth. It’s about making responsible choices that align with God’s will. Living below your means is a key principle of biblical stewardship, ensuring we don’t idolize money but instead use it as a tool to serve God and others. This mindset allows us to store up treasures in heaven, where they will last forever.

For example, three different Gospels tell the story of an encounter Jesus had with a young attorney.⁷ In this account, a wealthy, educated man, accustomed to finding satisfaction through the power of what he could buy, asked what seemed like an honest question. Lovingly, but very directly, Jesus levels him by separating the spiritual from the financial. Essentially, the Messiah let him know that his riches would not be his ticket to eternal life. True then. True now.

And what about “treasures?” What exactly are they?

My late wife, Bobbie, loved garage sales. By that, I mean, she really loved them. One of the ways we were able to check the health of the brakes in our car was to challenge them when we saw a handmade “Garage Sale Here Today” sign.

So as a dutiful husband, I’d drop her off, park the car — sometimes a quarter mile down the street — and meet up in the middle of all these for-sale things. Often, they’d have little white price tags hanging by a string, announcing the amount of money the owner was willing to exchange to part with them.

When Bobbie was involved in the transaction, there was often bargaining — shades of a noisy street market somewhere else in the world. When there was agreement on the price, I would, like a good soldier, lug the booty to the car.

But, back to the little price tag. Who determines the price of an item? You know, don’t you? The owner determines the price. So, when Jesus warns his listeners about putting earthly treasures on layaway, he knows full well that it is they who determine the value of these things. It is, in fact, quite arbitrary. If it’s my garage sale and I want to sell my grand piano for twenty dollars, I can do so. The piano is mine. And if I want to sell my White House cufflinks for fifty thousand, that’s mine to do as well.

The way to avoid being controlled by my “treasures on earth” is to choose to devalue them. The better I am at this, the less likely my earthly treasures will have control of my heart. What the Bible says about lust and greed in the Bibleremind us that our hearts can become enslaved by the pursuit of wealth and possessions. The Bible calls us to be mindful of living within our means and to avoid accumulating wealth that pulls us away from what truly matters — our relationship with God and his purposes.

Bible verses about finances consistently teach us that financial stewardship isn’t about hoarding wealth for selfish gain, but about managing what God has entrusted to us in a way that honors him and benefits others. For instance, Matthew 6:19-21 reminds us not to lay up treasures on earth, where they can decay, but to store up treasures in heaven, where they will be secure forever. Similarly, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 encourages us to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for the future by doing good with our wealth. And in Proverbs 3:9, we are urged to honor the Lord with our wealth, showing that proper stewardship is a way of acknowledging God’s sovereignty in our lives.

Moths, Rust, and Thieves

Putting my treasures away in “safe keeping” gives me control of them. I can leave them where they are or come get them when I want.

But one of the things about embracing “treasures on earth” is that sometimes their safety is not in my hands. I don’t have the power to uninvite moths to feed on my old wool sweaters. I don’t control that burnt-umber-colored stuff that freezes up my tools or creates leakage from my old watch battery. And even if I install a top-of-the-line security system in my house, ne’er-do-well marauders may choose to target my house.

Over these things I have little or no control.

So because of this earthly treasure vulnerability, Jesus is warning us not to hoard or love them. Eventually, our affection will turn into disappointment. Living below your means and focusing on storing up treasures in heaven will ensure that our hearts remain secure, trusting in the eternal promises of God rather than the fleeting satisfaction of material wealth.

Treasures in Heaven

Again, here’s one of the ways our friend Randy Alcorn nails down exactly what these treasures are:

“Jesus is keeping track of our smallest acts of kindness . All of them. ‘If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because He is My disciple, I tell you the truth, ‘he will not lose his reward’ (Matt. 10:42).

Imagine a scribe in heaven recording each of your gifts on a scroll. The bike you gave to the neighbor kid, the books to prisoners, the monthly checks to the church, missionaries, and pregnancy center. All are being recorded.”⁸

These things are heavenly treasures, and they are not vulnerable to moths, rust, or robbers. This aligns perfectly with Bible verses about finances that teach us how to manage what we have in a way that glorifies God and impacts eternity.

The treasures we store up in heaven come from our faithful stewardship and intentional giving, as highlighted in Matthew 6:19–21, 1 Timothy 6:17–19, and Luke 12:33.

The sheer violence of taking a hammer to an unblemished clay or porcelain bank in the shape of a porker, always gave me the creeps. As a young boy, sliding my wealth into a slot at the top of a breakable swine and then, with a decision to extract those funds by smashing this piggy bank⁹ into smithereens, just never had any appeal.

But I did have a hiding place for my funds, stowing my money in a safe place. Since the statute of limitations has expired, I can tell you where I chose to slip my cash away.

From the time I was in the third grade, I have been commercially employed. As the only son of a farmer working for his family,¹⁰ my father expected no less. There were neither corporate engagements to attend nor business prospects, so I did not carry a business card.

If I had a card, it would have looked like this:

BOBBY WOLGEMUTH

Newspaper Carrier

“Have bike, will deliver.”

At a penny per paper, my paydays were events prime for celebration. I would jump on my faithful bicycle and speed off to the bank in downtown Wheaton. Laying a hundred dollars worth of small crumpled bills down on the counter at the teller’s window, I would ask, “Can I please have a hundred-dollar bill . . . and do you have a brand new one?”

Tellers always smiled at this and handed me the “Benjamin.”

Carefully folding it once, I’d slip the bill in my back pocket. Returning to my bicycle parked in front of the bank, the crisp note would be taken to my parents’ home where I lived. I’d walk straight to the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom my brother, Ken, and I shared. Making sure the door was closed and locked behind me, I’d shorten the toilet paper holder with the spring inside and remove it. Sliding the chrome interlocking covers apart and exposing the spring, I’d roll up the hundred and fit it inside, then return everything to where it had been. This was my secret. No one suspected. My money was safe. Forget the piggy bank.

In birth order, I was number four. Spaced out two years apart, my two brothers and older sister were motoring their way through school. Ruth was in college and my dad was feeling the tuition blues. One day he approached me with a request: “Your dad needs a loan.” He said this, speaking of himself in the third person — which he did sometimes when he was embarrassed or a little nervous. Squeezing out a thin smile, he continued, “I’ll do my best to make it up to you some day when you’re in college, but I need some help now.”

I went to my rolled-up treasure in the bathroom and handed him whatever I had in there. Until I was in high school and was able to land a more lucrative job, I provided one-penny-per-newspaper financial backup for my father. Many times.

This experience of living below your means and practicing financial stewardship at an early age taught me lessons about prioritizing and managing money that I would carry with me into adulthood. It’s not just about accumulating wealth, but about how we handle what we’ve been given in a way that honors God and reflects His purposes.

My dad never warned me when he was on his way to my room to visit and ask for “a loan.” This taught me at a very early age to hold on to my stash with an open hand. I will never forget the joy of being able to provide for my older siblings.

Now very quickly let me assure you that this attitude was not a “one and done” thing. It’s been something I have revisited and embraced many times since then.

And the older I got, the more challenging not spending my money became.

I Can Hardly Wait

Okay, now for a fastball that may come dangerously close to your chin.

I’m going to tell you something that may make you angry. Something that could make you sick to your stomach.

For good reasons, you’d likely set this field guide down right now and not read any further. You’d tell me to save this bad news and keep these things to myself.

Right? Right.

Well, since you’re still reading, I am about to say something that could be upsetting to you. Thank you for hanging on.

Ready?

“When it comes to our finances—spending our money—you and I frequently make bad choices.”

It’s true.

Are you still with me? Good.

And why is what I asserted about our spending habits likely accurate?

Because you and I live in an instant gratification culture. We don’t even need to go anywhere to “shop.” The mall is right there in our hands. If we want something, we can get it. Tomorrow. Maybe even today.

Many grownups do not get high marks in the waiting department. I’m right there. Are you? Traffic lights that take forever to change from red to green. Microwave popcorn takes too long to finish. We impatiently shift back and forth when our child or grandchild is trying to finish telling a story that, frankly, has no bearing on our lives.

So, okay, we’re impatient. Here’s one way to illustrate this: when it comes to spending, it seems to me that there are two kinds of people — flappers and eaters. I’m recommending you first be a flapper, then you will be able to be an eater. This is where financial stewardship comes into play.

Allow me to explain.

Many years ago, when I was a teenager living in Wheaton, Illinois, our friends, the Halleens, lived a few blocks down the street. A small pond was one of the features in their extensive backyard. The first time I saw this spread, we were experiencing one of the coldest winters on record in the Chicago area. The ice on their little watering hole appeared to be thick enough to safely suspend their substantial car. Wisely, they kept their car in the garage where it belonged.

Why did they keep their ride off the pond? Because half of their mini-lake was unfrozen and trying to park on it could have submerged their automobile.

I asked Mrs. Halleen why her pond was half solid and half liquid.

“It’s the wild ducks,” she answered. I listened but my brain was not computing. I could not make the connection between ducks and ice. And, unless you have a frozen pond in your backyard or have researched duck habits and diets, you don’t either.

She explained the answer to me and I haven’t forgotten. Here’s the gist: Wild ducks feed on all sorts of aquatic vegetation as well as small fish or mussles. But in order to reach these necessities in the winter, their food must be accessible. An ice-covered reservoir offers nothing to assuage these critters’ appetites. Living below your means, she explained, helps avoid unnecessary struggles — and it’s a similar lesson for our finances.

So, even on the coldest days in our friends’ backyard, the wild ducks took turns stirring the water with their wings and little webbed feet. Only when the water was perfectly still would it freeze over, so these ducks — I’ve chosen to call them “flappers” — kept the surface agitated, denying themselves the luxury of doing nothing or unsuccessfully trying to eat without waiting. Instead of chowing down, they flapped. This kept the kitchen open.

If you’ll hang on for just a few minutes, my duck buddies are a metaphor that moves us forward. Living within your means and your money have something in common. The food I’ve mentioned above was only accessible and therefore satisfying if these ducks parked their desire for instant gratification and took turns flapping. I’m sure they would have rather chowed down than flap. It’s a lot more rewarding. But if they didn’t flap, the pond would freeze and they’d starve.

Here’s the meaning: I’d far rather spend my money now — eating what it will buy me. But if I don’t hold back my impulses to just go ahead and eat now, when it’s time for dinner, my money may already be spent. Or gone. Frozen.

When I see something I want — really want — my immediate impulse is to go for it. When I was a kid, fulfilling impulses like this was a pipe dream. Now that I’m a grownup, saying “no” when I could actually say “yes” can be a serious challenge. Sadly, sometimes this impulsiveness fails to deliver what I had hoped. Maybe you can identify with my plight.

Because I grew up in a home where there was never such a thing as getting something for nothing, every deed — good as well as not good — had a consequence. If I had money in my pocket, it was earned.¹¹ Because of this, gambling was a no-no. Unequivocally.

And this is a good thing since the few times I took a crack at it, the results were awful.

As a kid, it seemed like I could single-handedly break my favorite Major League Baseball team’s winning streak by betting they’d win one more game. If you’re also a Cubs fan, I’m sorry to have been the reason, until 2016, for their perennial failure.

Here’s what happened to me: that vaccination I mentioned at the beginning. In college, I participated in a chain-letter get-rich-quick scheme using United States Savings Bonds. A forerunner to things going viral on the Internet, this was a letter that encouraged recipients to make copies, buy two more savings bonds, and sell their letter, list, and bond to two of their friends who would also make copies and pass them around to their friends. I would sell my two letters and attached Savings Bonds for a total of $75, making me whole. In this case, the letter promised overnight riches if you get enough down-line people to participate.

Just as it was really getting off the ground, Sam Delcamp, our Dean of Students, called me into his office and told me to shut it down or I’d be expelled from school. I thought about arguing with him about this draconian sentence, but the look on his face clearly informed me that there was no room for negotiation.

That night and the next few nights, I went door to door in every men’s dormitory on campus, requesting that the chain letter be stopped. I also asked each man how much money he would personally lose by stopping the letter immediately. I wrote the information down in a little spiral notebook and promised to pay the money back to every one of them. This cost me nearly all my wages from the next summer’s construction work. Thousands of dollars.

Living within your means and avoiding unnecessary risks like gambling is a principle that’s shaped my financial journey. Regular, garden-variety gambling has been very, very bad to me.

Regular, garden-variety gambling has been very, very bad to me.

And because of that “vaccination” I received as a college student, I’m not tempted to gamble with actual money. Recently, the lottery payoff exceeded $1 billion. I stood at the service desk of my local grocery store and watched people slap down twenty-dollar bills to buy tickets. Not me. As I said, there’s no temptation for me to buy a ticket.

So, on the scoreboard called gambling, I do pretty well. However, before you’re tempted to canonize me as a highly disciplined investor, let me bring you into a secret place. Actually, let’s make that plural — secret places.

Even though I have lived a life that, compared to the majority of the world’s inhabitants, is quite comfortable, I have over the years found myself fighting a sense of discontent. With no effort at all, like a wagon wheel falling into a rut on a country road, my natural bent is to compare when I see something nicer than mine — and to compete, even though no one said anything about a game to be won.

In business, this has served me well. Not a big fan of losing at the bargaining table, I have had my share of victories. But in relationships and in life, my competitiveness has always had the potential of being a nemesis. Back in the day when I played a lot of racquetball, I loved beating the daylights out of my opponent. But — and please hear me — this did not make me a better man than the other man. But the temptation to gloat was always there.

And then the Apostle Paul’s words describing Jesus come rushing like a geyser: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:5–8).

So here’s Jesus. His life proved his affection for his “competitors.” He created them with the sound of his voice. He could have uncreated them with the same. And yet he loved them.

As a broken, sinful man, can I do any less than this? Regardless of how much I may have, financial stewardship and avoiding greed in the Bible reminds us that biblical giving and caring for others takes precedence over comparing and competing.

—

Discussion & Reflection:

1. What “earthly treasures” might be calling your heart away from God? How can you (as Wolgemuth encourages) work on “devaluing” them?
2. What are heavenly treasures, and how can you invest in them in your life?
3. Consider unwise financial choices that you’ve made. What might it look like in your life to fight the desire for instant gratification?

—

Part 2: That Balance in my Checking Account

My dear friend, Ron Blue, has spent the better part of his storied career helping ordinary people understand how to treat their money in a biblically faithful way. In 1986, I had the honor of connecting Ron with Thomas Nelson Publishers, where I was serving as president. There we published his landmark work, Master Your Money.

In the decades that followed, I served Ron as his literary agent, helping him to expand his list of published titles, concluding with the book and study guide entitled God Owns It All, published in 2016.¹²

In this book, Ron summarizes a lifetime of studying, speaking, and writing about the unalterable biblical principles of finances and wealth. He writes that, since you and I must spend money to live, when you boil it all down, there are really only five uses of money. As you review these, you may wonder why I’ve taken a few pages here to address something so basic.

I can almost hear you say as you read, “These things are so obvious, Robert. I knew that. And, again, I knew that, too.” However, as I said, when a man with a reputation as singular as Ron Blue boils down a lifetime of helping ordinary people and financial professionals into these items, I determined it was worth mentioning his clear-eyed wisdom here.

Ron’s summary of the five uses for money include: living expenses, servicing debt, savings, paying taxes, and giving. And with all due and earned respect to Ron, I have taken the liberty of rearranging the order of these five.

As ironic as this sounds, one of the most important things you and I can do with our money is to get rid of it with no strings attached. As a young adult I learned about this with my own eyes.

1. Biblical Giving

His full name was William J. Zeoli, but everyone either called him “Billy” or just “Z.” And although I never had access to anything documenting his wealth, I know he was a rich man. A very rich man. Here’s how I found out.

Our lives crisscrossed many times over the years, especially during his stint with Youth for Christ where my dad served as the president. When Billy died in 2015, his obituary mentioned “his giant presence.” My experience with him absolutely confirms this. But what about the financial stuff — my certainty about this wealth?

Here’s how I know. On one occasion, more than fifty years ago, I rode with Billy in a taxi to the Grand Rapids airport. When we stepped out of the backseat and onto the sidewalk, we were greeted by the eager skycap who offered to pull our luggage out of the trunk. We agreed.

As we were getting ready to step into the terminal, Billy squeezed something into the young man’s hand. No flourish. No showing off. Even though this happened quickly, I was able to see what it was. As a “thank you” for lifting our bags and standing them up next to the car, Billy had stuffed a five-dollar bill into the guy’s hand. Let me say that again. As a “thank you” for what took this man less than thirty seconds to accomplish, Billy tipped him what back then, from my twenty-something experience, was a great deal of money.¹³

This thought washed over me: “Billy Zeoli is a rich man. Who else but a wealthy person would exhibit this kind of lavish generosity?” We were headed to different destinations, so we hugged our good-bye just a few steps inside the lobby. Trudging to my gate alone, the impact of what I had just seen was still fresh in my mind.

And more than fifty years later I’ve not forgotten that moment. Walking alone, in the quietness of my heart in spite of the frequent gate announcements blaring over the loudspeakers, I made a resolution about being generous. Silently generous. A resolve that has not expired. Loving the way Billy made me feel when I saw his generosity, I determined to grow up and be that guy. Again, I had no idea what Billy Zeoli’s net worth looked like. But it didn’t matter. Actually, it still doesn’t matter. What I had seen confirmed in my young heart that whatever uncertainty my career would provide for me financially, choosing to be generous was something I could do. Something I would do.

In the years since seeing Billy’s generosity firsthand, I’ve discovered a truth. Something that you may find helpful as you review how much you give away and to whom you give it.Generosity breaks the power of money’s influence in my life.

Here it is: Generosity in the Bible breaks the power of money’s influence in my life. Living within your means and cultivating a godly relationship with money teaches us to use our resources for good, to serve others, and to follow the principles of financial stewardship that the Bible outlines.

2. Art DeMoss

After losing my wife to cancer in 2014, I fell in love with a single lady ten years my junior. After a few months of courting, thankfully this lovely lady also fell in love with me. In meeting her, courting her, proposing, and finally marrying Nancy Leigh DeMoss, I had the honor of learning to know about her dad, Arthur S. DeMoss. Having spent my adult life in close proximity to Christian ministries, I had heard about the impact of the life of Art DeMoss, but marrying his firstborn gave me a front-row seat, learning about the life and witness and lavish generosity of this remarkable man.

The Founder, President, and Chairman of the Board of the National Liberty Corporation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Art DeMoss was a pioneer in the mass marketing of life and health insurance. His innovative methods earned him a place of prominence in the history of insurance marketing in this country.

However, the most outstanding feature of Mr. DeMoss’s life had nothing to do with insurance. Instead, it was his deep commitment to Jesus Christ. Those who knew him best remember him as a man who was always investing his time, abilities, energies, and finances to meet the spiritual needs of others.

On September 1, 1979, at the young age of 53, Mr. DeMoss was unexpectedly taken to heaven. However, his life commitments have been passed on to his children. They consider the model of his walk with God and his careful teaching about spiritual things more valuable than any inheritance, regardless of its size.

Nancy has spoken and written extensively about her dad. Here are some of his best-known nuggets of wisdom:

“I believe with all my heart that there is a strong correlation between biblical giving and spirituality. I have observed that they almost invariably go hand in hand. You say that you give as much as you can afford, after taking care of your bills. Personally, I feel we might as well not give to God at all as to give merely what little we have left over . . . the more we love him the more we want to give.”

“After Jesus saved me, shortly before my twenty-fifth birthday, I was tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and this in spite of the fact that I had been accustomed to working seven days and five nights a week. Like many other businessmen, I had the peculiar notion that I was indispensable to my business, and that, if I left for a day or two, I would return to find the business gone.”

“The Lord saved me and promised to return to me with interest all that I gave him. I am sorry to say that I was not as quick as I should have been to take advantage of his proffered goodness to me, but I can testify to the glory of God that, in spite of my frequent unfaithfulness, he has always been more than faithful.”

“He first took me out of debt shortly after my conversion. It was so effortless, so easy. I did not need to work night and day and Sundays as in the past. All I had to do was put God first. The more time and money I gave him, the more he gave me. I have not given him nearly enough. I’m ashamed of myself; he has been so good to me.”

Of all the things Art DeMoss said about generosity, I think this is one of my favorites: “Living within your means, and biblical giving, is not man’s way of raising money; rather, it is God’s way of raising his children.”

Bible quotes about money often remind us that how we handle our finances reflects our relationship with God. One verse that stands out is Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This aligns with Art’s understanding of generosity and how God calls us to steward what we have for His purposes, including managing our finances with integrity.

How good is that? Although the circumstances are unknown, Nancy is quite certain that her dad and Billy Zeoli met. Regardless of how, it’s for sure they had an identical view of giving and generosity. I long to be just like them.

3. Taxes

Ron lists this as one of the uses of money because it’s not discretionary. Try as we might, you and I cannot decide to forego paying the money due our ruling authority. Living within your means is one of the most fundamental aspects of financial stewardship.

If you want to initiate a lively discussion over dinner with friends, ask them how they feel about paying taxes. Actually, you can find some interesting quotes about taxes on the Internet. A few are cute:

“People who complain about taxes can be divided into two categories: men and women..” Anonymous

“Dear IRS, I’m writing to you to cancel my subscription. Please remove my name from your mailing list.” Snoopy

“The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” Will Rogers

“If your biggest tax deduction was bail money, you might be a redneck.” Jeff Foxworthy

Over the years, I have known people who delight in paying taxes. Although, to be perfectly candid, I don’t “delight” in stroking a check to Uncle Sam, I find myself more on the grateful side of the ledger than the resentful. In this case I’m with billionaire Mark Cuban who said: “While some people might find it distasteful to pay taxes, I find it patriotic.”

First, paying taxes means that I have a job — an income. Second, it means I live in freedom where, as a taxpayer, I can vote in or out those in authority. Third, it inspires me never to miss participating in elections. As an American, I have a stake in this transaction.

4. Paying Debt

When I was in seventh grade, Mary Jane Perry, a very popular and beautiful co-ed, approached me in the school cafeteria, asking if she could borrow a quarter to buy an ice-cream sandwich. She promised — really promised — to pay me back.

I was too overwhelmed by the chance to speak with a classmate of such stature, the thought of turning her request down did not enter my mind. Sadly, Mary Jane never — ever — paid me back. After sixty-five years it’s quite possible she’s forgotten. I have not.

“The wicked borrows but does not pay back” (Ps. 37:21). Bible quotes about money frequently warn against the consequences of debt, teaching us the importance of managing what we owe.

Recalling Mary Jane Perry’s delinquency has made me wonder: Is there anyone out there whom I owe payment for an actual debt?

If there is, I’m more eager to square up than you can imagine.

Debt comes in different shapes and sizes. There are large debts like mortgages or auto loans. Then there’s debt caused by smaller, more discretionary purchases, often charged to credit cards (which as of this writing has topped one trillion dollars in America).

All I can say at this point is an encouragement to you to avoid “buying” things you cannot pay for immediately. If you’re currently living under a heavy load of the unpaid, you get this. In the Bible on money, we’re told to avoid the trap of debt and to live within our means, as a way of honoring God’s principles for financial stewardship.

5. Living Expenses

After marrying Nancy, a Michigan resident, I moved north.

Because my work was a lot more portable than hers, I trucked a thousand miles from my home in the warm state of Florida to the often brutally cold Great Lake State. At first, since we were both single, Nancy agreed to letting me cultivate a friendship with her and then visit her home.

Our first luncheon in the early spring of 2015 was on the deck stretched across the back of her home. And even though it was just the two of us enjoying our salads, my construction bent kicked in. “If we keep our relationship going and we marry and I move here, I’d love to expand your deck,” I heard myself saying.

And sure enough, less than a year later I was living in this house with my wife. And my tools were at the ready. But before jumping into the project, we chatted about it. A very smart lady, Nancy wondered out loud if I knew enough about deck building to tackle this project. I told her I had built other decks. Her second question was about funding the expanded deck¹⁴ and how I was planning to pick up the tab for the materials.

“I’ll pay for it,” I volunteered. “That’s what money is for, right?” She smiled but did not answer.

Our marriage was too embryonic to start an argument, so Nancy acquiesced.

Less than two months later, the size of our deck had doubled. It’s not food, gas, clothing, or shelter, so some may consider this a luxury. But in the context of Christian financial advice, I’d classify this as a living expenditure. A necessary one.

And looking back, I can promise you that these thousands of linear feet of composite material have been our go-to place hundreds of times. And these precious experiences on our deck have provided the answer to the question, “That’s what money is for, right?”

Yes, one of the uses of money is to cover living expenses — putting our money to work for us. This can be a good thing.

6. Savings

As a dad, two of my favorite words — and concepts — were resourcefulness and wisdom. As often as possible, I would alert my daughters to places where these things would show up in everyday life. More times than they could ever count, I’d stop whatever I was doing to show them something that reminded me of God’s remarkable creativity and the things he imprinted into his creatures.

Even today, decades after they became adults, they’ll tell you that way back then I’d stop whatever I was doing to show them, for example, parades of tiny ants, traipsing in perfect single file across the sidewalk. Or I’d spot a flawless volcano-resembling mound of sand created by these tiny critters who would build it, single grain by single grain. “Look Missy; look Julie; isn’t God amazing,” I’d say. Then they’d “oo” and “ahh” with me.

I believe King Solomon had the same propensity. Listen to what he wrote:

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest (Prov. 6:6–8).

Quite along the same lines of the eating and flapping ducks on the Halleen pond, Ron Blue would celebrate saving as one of the uses of money. Having lived plenty of my life in very cold climates, I’ve marveled at the way squirrels busy themselves in nice weather, storing acorns and nuts in tree hollows so that when snow is blanketing the ground and dinner is covered under a comforter of white, they already have pantries full of good things to eat hiding in places only they know about.

In the same way that setting some of your money aside in savings has very little curbside appeal — you’ve never heard anyone boast to their friends — “Hey, you wanna see the balance in my savings account? Is this cool or what?”

But creating “rainy-day” funds is an essential use of your money and mine. That’s wisdom and resourcefulness plain as they can be. In fact, living within your means and setting money aside for savings are both biblical principles. Money in the Bible encourages good stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us, including saving for the future.

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Discussion & Reflection:

1. Which of the five mentioned areas for money’s use is most difficult for you to be disciplined in managing (giving, taxes, paying debt, living expenses, and savings)?
2. Why might there be a “strong correlation between giving and spirituality”? What does giving your money away say about how you view it?
3. How can you grow in following Proverbs 6:6–8?

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Part 3: Putting the Principles to Work

Snapping a different lens on Ron Blue’s experience and smarts, here’s a quick list of what he believes are principles of money management. Again, there are five:

1. Spend Less Than You Earn

One of the most powerful stories in the Bible is the one we’ve known as the “prodigal son” (I’ve always preferred to call this story found in Luke 15, as the “waiting father,” but that discussion is for a different day). The reason for mentioning this story in light of this first principle is that Scripture says the wayward man “squandered his property” in the pig pen. What he didn’t do was waste more than his substance, which is what we’re sometimes tempted to do. If the sum total of the assets we claim is the “cap” of what we feel the freedom to spend, we will be more successful. This aligns with biblical scriptures on giving, where we’re taught to manage our resources wisely. Living within your means is not just a financial principle but one that reflects godly stewardship.

This is true in business and ministry as well as in my personal life. In fact, when I married Nancy in 2015 and was introduced to the ministry she founded in 2001, I discovered that they did not spend money they didn’t have. Can you think of a more dramatic core value of an organization that embraces and teaches biblical values and wisdom? I can’t either.

2. Avoid the Use of Debt

This one is a shade of the same color. When I receive my credit card statement, there’s always a message boldly printed right there where my “current unpaid balance” is printed. This message is begging me — literally begging me — to use the “available credit” on my card. Of course, it’s MasterCard’s hope that I will spend this vapor on something concrete and treat it like it’s my own. It is not. It’s a mist. A gust of wind will come along and it will vanish.

3. Build Liquidity (save)

I am familiar with two important non-profits. If you were to ask the CEOs of these organizations to summarize their net worth, they both would tell you that they’re sound. Their balance sheets show that their assets outweigh their liabilities. This is good.

However, for one of the ministries, its assets are primarily in building and land. For the other, it is in actual cash. Even though there are times when illiquid assets are necessary for survival, your ability to quickly turn your assets into negotiable tender could spell the difference between success and failure. Like the squirrels tucking away groceries in the hollow of a tree, your ability to cover your obligations with cash will sometimes be essential for your fiscal health. Bible verses about financial blessings (Proverbs 6:6-8 & Proverbs 6:6-8) encourage saving for the future, showing wisdom in managing our resources for the long-term.

4. Set Long-Term Goals

Of all the men and women who helped shape and organize a group of renegades in the late eighteenth century into the audacious experiment that became the United States of America, I most wish I could spend an afternoon with Benjamin Franklin. Of course, school children know about the story of the kite and the key. Some know about how he invented bifocals to help weary eyes during his sunset years. Or how about the flexible catheter, an invention I can promise has almost literally saved my life. Yikes.

He was also a thinker and writer. In fact, it was ol’ Ben who first said, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.” How good is that?

One of my favorite colleagues is a man whom Nancy and I have hired to help us look into our financial past and invest wisely in our future, making certain we’re learning from what we’ve done and anticipating what is ahead. This is exactly what Ron Blue is talking about, right?

Does the Bible say anything about financial planning and stewardship? Yes. Bible verses about money and greed, such as in Matthew 6:24, warn us not to let wealth control us. They emphasize that our hearts must be set on God, not on the accumulation of riches.

During the time I was teaching Sunday School many years ago, someone asked an excellent question: “What makes Jesus mad? Is there anything that the Bible records that shows us what it looks like for God to become angry?”

If folks are familiar with the Gospels, the account of Jesus’ “clearing the moneychangers in the temple” is often referenced. But I found another. It was a time when Jesus called a man “wicked” and “lazy.” And do you remember what this foolish man had done? Or in this case, not done? Here it is: this guy failed to invest his money well. Instead of depositing it and at least earning simple interest, he buried it. For fear of losing it somehow, he hid his money. Matthew 25:26-30 illustrates how neglecting to use what God has entrusted to us can result in lost opportunities.

What else do we need to know about how important it is to God that we do the right thing with our money?

5. Give Generously

We’ve covered this one pretty extensively, haven’t we? Live your life with an open hand. Never hesitate to tip more than you think you should. Everyone who has the chance to serve you should know that your gratitude for them will always be expressed verbally and in tangible ways. Be that person.

And remember, when it comes to giving to your church and other Christian ministries, God doesn’t actually need our money, but we need to demonstrate that our money doesn’t own us by giving it away.

But this principle comes with a warning label. “Using” money to fix broken relationships, particularly inside your family, will not work. A lunch meeting with a new friend many years ago became a watershed in this important caveat to this giving principle. I’m sure books have been written about this but let me hit the high spots with a true story.

When I lived in Nashville, I became acquainted with the brand-new CEO of a very popular restaurant chain. We had lunch and he told me his story.

Kirk’s family was from the hard-scrabble, rural South. He told me that he was one of the first in his extended family to graduate from high school, much less college and graduate school as he had done.

His recent selection as the CEO of a visible NYSE entity made it above the fold in the Wall Street Journal. The story included his annual salary and listed his bonuses, deep into eight-figure territory. “What does your family say about this?” I asked him, unsuccessfully insinuating that his annual income was likely a bigger number than all the annual wages of his entire tribe combined.

“Judy and I love our family,” Kirk told me. “When they call because they’re in need of a shoulder to cry on or actual physical help, we’re always at the ready. Many times we’ve driven hundreds of miles to come alongside.”

“However,” he said, making it clear that he was about to make a radical pivot, “we never give them money.”

I was shocked. Noticeably, I’m sure. “We have done this in the past during crisis situations,” he said a moment later with a regretful sag in his voice. “When we give ‘our people’[slightly exposing the way some in the south describe kinfolk] money, it trashes our relationship.” He paused and looked straight at me, knowing I was listening carefully — and not without some wonder on my face.

We sat quietly for a few minutes. “Giving money within our family has irreparably destroyed many relationships.” Kirk kept talking. “It’s usually not enough in their minds.” Or, “When they feel like the distribution hasn’t been fair, we’ve descended into fights that were loud and coarse. Battles that had all the potential of literal fist fights.”

You may disagree with Kirk and Judy’s strategy. You may consider gifts to your own children different than currency donated to extended family. I get that. In the past, I’ve stepped across this line and deeply regretted it. What I had thought would result in love extended and love received turned into hurt feelings. Even anger.

Here are a few ideas you may find helpful: When it comes to people in your clan outside your immediate children and grandchildren, I’m with Kirk and Judy. Extending kindnesses? Yes. Making personal visits with lots of time, compassion, and tenderness? Again, yes. But money? Probably not.

What about your own kids? And grandkids?

My rule of thumb, learned the hard way by not doing what I’m about to recommend, is to never surprise with money or large gifts. Always discuss and, if necessary, secure permission. Ask more than once, especially when it involves in-laws. As I said, on one memorable and hurtful day, I did not do this and the results were predictable. Terrible.

Living within your means is crucial when it comes to financial gifts. It’s easy to get caught up in the desire to give more than we should, but the Bible encourages us to be wise in our financial stewardship (Proverbs 21:5). Before making any financial decisions, it’s important to consider the long-term impact on your family’s financial health and avoid overcommitting.

The Long View of Your Money (and Your Stuff)

East Germany (GDR) was at one point a powerful nation. Co-opting the almost immeasurable military might of the Soviet Union, this nation had to be contended with. In fact, we remember watching the extraordinary prowess of many of their athletes in the Olympics.

But in November 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the GDR ceased to exist. Gone. Kaput. Watching the news recounting the events of this historic national failure was sobering, especially seeing trains leaving their platforms with East Germans on board.

The news video I recall showed these people throwing trash from the train windows as they left their stations. Upon further examination, this trash turned out not to be trash at all, instead, it was paper money. East German currency, the Mark, was being tossed to the wind. Why? Because where these people were headed — West Germany and other European nations — this money no longer worked. As they say, the tender “wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on.”

This story reminds you and me that once we’re dead, our money will be worthless to us. Like the East Germans leaving their beloved country, where we’re headed, our money won’t mean anything. Our stuff won’t either.

Biblical giving reminds us that our wealth is temporary and should be used for eternal purposes (Matthew 6:19-21). By focusing on generosity and using money to help others, we store up treasures in heaven rather than hoarding wealth here on earth.

In my book, Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace, and Preparing for the End of Your Life,¹⁶ I challenge readers to take care of business on this side of the grave. This looks like, I argue, decluttering so your kids and other survivors don’t have to decide what to do with your teacup and knife collection and making certain that you have inquired of experts to shepherd your post-mortem decisions.

And speaking of getting your affairs in order, the first time I created a will was in 1972, soon after my first child was born. And over the years, as my life and obligations changed, this document was updated appropriately. As you probably know, far too many people my age die without a will. According to some surveys, almost seventy percent of us don’t have one.¹⁷

What this means is that, if we don’t have a will when we die, the state steps in and makes decisions about the disposal of our assets. Imagine someone you’ve never met — and, because you’re dead, never will meet — calling these shots without your input. How much better to be able to determine the destination of your money and stuff and what happens with your heirs and the charities you loved and supported while you were alive.¹⁸

• A will provides instructions for distributing your assets to your surviving mate, your children, and grandchildren at the time of your death.
• A revocable living trust allows for management of financial matters during your lifetime and then at your death. If assets properly flow through your trust, probate court administration is avoided and privacy of your planning is protected.
• Determining whether you need trust planning or not may be less about how much you have and more about what types of assets you have and your need to have control or flexibility in your planning. A detailed discussion of your family, needs, and objectives with your attorney will help you determine which types of planning will work best for you.

Living within your means is crucial when considering these matters. You can make all the plans you want, but it’s essential to start by ensuring you’re managing your finances wisely and within your budget.

Just Do It

Whoever came up with this slogan for Nike should be retired in the French Riviera, all expenses paid. Talk about a marketing slogan for the ages. In just three words it addresses a simple truth: if you’re going to make a dramatic shift in your behavior, you need to start right now.

In a Sunday morning service, many years ago, my dear friend, Rev. Colin Smith, said this: “Every life change begins with a single decision.”

With Colin’s permission, I’d add a little something: “And no one can make this decision except you.”

Once again, the obvious has been spoken, right? And it’s true.

In the past few pages, you and I have talked about some really serious things related to how we think about money. And how we spend ours. It would be an honor, if somehow you’ve been inspired by the stories and the ideas. Inspired to make a life change.

Please forgive the presumption, but unless these things have caused you to actually do something about them, the time you’ve spent reading this has been a waste of your time. Over the years I have thought about what it would have actually been like to be Jesus’ brother. Eating meals with him? Walking and playing together. Sleeping in the same room with lots of unrecorded latenight conversations. Can you imagine? This reality makes the New Testament book of James especially meaningful. Like the following he wrote:

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Knowing what we just said about the proximity of Jesus’ brother, James, makes this simple statement more of a confession, doesn’t it? James’ life would have been stacked with experiences with the Messiah and spoken truth from his lips. But the difference between knowing and doing can be vast. Again, I’m not equating what you’ve just read in this field guide with holy writ, but there are some truths tucked into these pages that have the potential of making an actual difference in your experience.

How silly it would be if Nike’s trademark slogan was “Just read about it.” Or, “Just learn about it.” Or “Just listen carefully.”

No. Instead, as I’m humbly challenging you here, like a very expensive pair of basketball shoes, the sports-wear slogan fits nicely. You and I are with James, right?

Then . . . “Just do it.”

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Discussion & Reflection:

1. Money management is difficult — why are these five principles countercultural?
2. Why should we not try to fix relational problems with money?
3. What attributes of God can guide us in how we use money?
4. What changes can — or should —can you make right now to your financial stewardship after reading this field guide?

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Epilogue: Thank You

Given a choice, you and I would rather be wealthy than poor, right? Would we rather have an open account at Neiman Marcus than at the Salvation Army thrift store?

Yep.

In the preceding pages you’ve learned a little about my family, but where I’ve crossed into the awful presumption of showing you “home movies,” I apologize. No one — stranger or friend — should ever be forced into enduring such a thing.

But before saying good-bye, there is something, with your permission, I’d like to add as an epilogue and it involves someone in my family: my wife, Nancy.

Art DeMoss was her daddy (even now, that’s what she calls him). He stepped into heaven in 1979 on Nancy’s twenty-first birthday. And of all the things she learned from him, this is quite near the very top. Wealth has a first cousin: lavish gratitude.

Your balance sheet can be overloaded with assets, but if you aren’t a grateful person, you are as poor as a church mouse. No matter what your financials look like, if you aren’t a thankful person, your life casts a tragic shadow.

In fact, to Nancy, gratitude must include a modifier: the word, “Christian.” Here are some things she says:

“Thankfulness requires a ‘you’ to say ‘thank you’ to. And to be thankful to the living God implies a corresponding level of trust in him that can only reside in a believer’s heart.”

“To send up a ‘Thank you’ in heaven’s general direction at the sudden appearance of a good parking spot, the dismissal of a speeding ticket, or a phone call from the doctor’s office that tells you all your tests came back negative is not distinctively Christian gratitude. This kind of me-first thankfulness is the sort that only kicks in when things are going well and when positive blessings are flowing our direction. It’s little more than an automatic reflex, like saying ‘Excuse me’ after accidentally bumping into someone, or ‘You too’ after being encouraged by a sales clerk to have a nice day.” “Christian gratitude, on the other hand, involves:

– recognizing the many benefits we’ve received from God and others (including those blessings that may come disguised as problems and difficulties)
– acknowledging God as the ultimate Giver of every good gift, and
– expressing appreciation to him (and others) for those gifts.”¹⁹

Wealthy or not, I want to be this guy. I’ll bet you do, too. Thank you, Nancy Leigh.

Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name (1 Chron. 29:12–13).

This aligns with biblical prosperity scriptures that remind us wealth comes from God and that financial blessings are rooted in honoring Him with what we have. It also echoes the biblical principles of financial stewardship, emphasizing the need to live within our means and use what we’ve been given wisely.

End Notes

1. You’ll read more about this vaccination further down.
2. All these verses were excerpted from The Living Bible paraphrase.
3. If you’re interested in knowing how this turned out, Julie successfully memorized these chapters and, in doing so, won the liberty of making her very own fashion selection for the beach.
4. This is a wild guess, but maybe Russ’s wife wasn’t crazy about the smelly fishing equipment hanging out in their house. Hey, it’s possible, right?
5. Each of these storage sites contains an average of 546 separate spaces for a grand total of more than 27 million personal spaces for stuff. That’s a lot!
6. Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001), 8
7. Matt. 19:16–29, Mark 10:17–30, Luke 18:18–30.
8. Alcorn, The Treasure Principle, 8.
9. If you have the slightest interest in finding out about the fascinating origins of the piggy bank, with this link you’re just one click away. You’re welcome.https:// www.paragonbank.co.uk/blog/origins-of-the-piggy-bank#:~:text=This%20 became%20the%20norm%20in,still%20use%20piggy%20banks%20today.
10. Without monetary compensation
11. Sadly, this characteristic has made it perpetually challenging for me to receive gifts without it creating a sense of obligation to even the score.
12. Ron Blue, God Owns It All: Finding Contentment and Confidence in Your Finances (Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2016).
13. Equivalent to around $40 today.
14. Her first question had to do with my ability and experience in constructionrelated things like decks. A veteran of such things, I settled that discussion.
15. Some translations call him “evil.”
16. Robert D. Wolgemuth, Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace, and Preparing for the End of Your Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2023).
17. https://theconversation.com/68-of-americans-do-not-have-a-will-137686
18. I highly recommend the book written by Ronald Blue, Splitting Heirs: Giving Your Money and Things to Your Children without Ruining Their Lives, copyright © 2008, Chicago, IL, Northfield Publishing.
19. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy (Chicago: Moody PublishersCopyright, 2011).

About the Author

ROBERT D. WOLGEMUTH is the father of two adult daughters, five grandchildren, and so far, two great grandchildren. He has been in the media business for thirty-nine years and is a former president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, he was the founder of Wolgemuth & Associates, a literary agency exclusively representing the writing work of more than two hundred authors. Officially retired from actively involved in the business world, Robert is a speaker and bestselling author of over twenty books.