By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

People say money is the root of all evil. At the very least, it can make for some uncomfortable conversations with friends and family. It’s not easy to talk about money. Some people have more money than others. Some people stress about their budgets. How one person chooses to spend their money can be vastly different from how someone else spends money.

Money is a hot topic. So how do we, as Christians, handle money? Do we give everything to the church based on the belief that God will bless our giving and reward us? Do we cover our bills and then hoard the rest in a savings account for a rainy day? Have you already made up your mind and you’re hesitating to finish reading this blog post?

I get it. Money makes us itchy. We all believe that our approach to money is the best approach. I’m not here to tell you what you’re doing is right or wrong. How you handle money is entirely up to you. I will provide some Biblical examples to hopefully encourage you to think about money from a Christian perspective. So let’s go!

Money for Nothing

If you’ve ever been part of a congregational meeting, you’ve likely been involved in conversations about good financial stewardship. But what exactly does that look like? Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 with the parable of the talents. A man goes out of town, leaving three servants with talents or money. The first servant went out and spent the money by bartering, trading, and investing and ultimately doubled the money. The second servant did the same. The third servant, however, buried the money he was given. Though he did not lose any of the money he also did not increase it.

When we hide our money, it stagnates. It just sits there, doing nothing. But when we are willing to take a risk and spend it, we can see returns beyond our wildest dreams. That doesn’t mean we blow it all on something frivolous- we should always include God in our decision making and seek His wise counsel. But money is meant to be used in some fashion.

If good financial stewardship doesn’t mean sitting on our money, then what do we spend it on? There are the obvious things like paying the bills and buying groceries. Some people play the stock market. Maybe you need a new car or home appliance. These are some modern examples of what the two servants did in the parable: they found a use for the money they were trusted with.

It’s a Rich Man’s World

How do we use the money we have? We could spend it on stuff, people, or experiences. As Christians, we should want to spend our money to further God’s Kingdom. Well, what does that mean? Do I have to give all my money to charity or the church? Is my money tainted if I purchase a little gift for myself? Am I being selfish if I choose to spend money on a vacation?

We can get caught up in an ethical and moral quandary, spinning round and round if we allow the thoughts to take control. I want you to free yourself! Think about it this way: the items you buy were designed and built by other people. Those people have bills to pay. When you purchase the item, you are helping pay their salary. Or, if you take a cruise and you tip your stateroom host, you are giving them money to help cover their expenses. Ultimately what they do with the money is up to them, but your intentions align with loving your neighbor.

See, money itself isn’t a bad thing. The Bible tells us, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10 KJV). It’s love of money that can lead us down bad paths, not the money itself. By love of money what is meant is selfishness, like hoarding it and never spending it on anything, or spending it without thinking about the money trail and who can be positively affected by it.

Money, Money, Money

So spend your money in ways that you believe are best, friends. Be conscious of where your money goes and how the person on the other end might benefit from it but don’t get stuck in the philosophical questions around it. Consider how our Biblical ancestors spent their money and ask yourself if how you are spending your money aligns with following Jesus. It probably does, even if it doesn’t look like that on the surface.

I know some people may still judge your choices, and some may try to urge you to spend your money in other ways. Pray about it. Use discernment on how to respond to those people. Remember, we all have different paths and what God wants us to do varies from person to person, including how we approach money.