Generosity Changes Everything
“Money Habits”

God is keenly interested in how we handle money, because it reflects something much deeper about our character.

Luke 16:10–13
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant 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.”

Observations from what Jesus’ said in Luke 16:

•More important than the amount of money we have, is the attitude we have toward money.

•How we handle money reveals how trustworthy we are with more valuable things.

•Money has the potential to own and control us.

Immature ideas Christians can have toward money:

•“God loves me, so God will bless me financially irrespective of my decisions.”

•“So long as I tithe, God will see to it I have more than enough.”

•“If I just focus on God I can ignore money - I’ll be fine.”

When it comes to handling money, the Bible doesn’t tell us to avoid it, ignore it, or not think about it.

Proverbs 27:23-24
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

The Bible is encouraging us to be alert and attentive to our financial position.

Six Money Habits

1. Hard work

Work is not evil; we were created for work. When we work we reflect God, find purpose and earn income.

Proverbs 10:4
Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

We are not entitled to what another person’s hard work has produced.

Proverbs 14:23
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Dreams and goals are good, but nothing really gets traction until we start working.

In the Biblical view, there is one day a week of rest (Sabbath), which assumes a six-day work week.

Proverbs 22:29
Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

We have the opportunity to work hard, upskill, and increase our marketplace value.

2. Honour

Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Honouring the Lord with our wealth is a first step in bringing financial order to our lives. It acknowledges God as our maker, provider and saviour.

It takes faith to practise the habit of honouring the Lord.

As people brought the first to show gratitude for God’s provision, they also acted in faith, trusting that God would cause the remaining crops to meet all their needs.

John D. Rockefeller
“I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week."

3. Margin

Proverbs 21:20
The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

A wise person stores up part of what they earn in reserves. It’s called “savings”, which are the foundation of all financial increase.

If we don’t have financial margin, we end up borrowing which enslaves us.

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

If I’m living on a credit card, today’s decisions mean I have less freedom tomorrow. If I’m living with margin, today’s decisions mean I have more freedom tomorrow.

A slave doesn’t have options – they’re stuck. Someone with savings has options.

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. If I can’t say “no” that’s a spiritual problem.

4. Foresight

Foresight is the ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future.

Proverbs 27:12
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

A person with foresight doesn’t believe themselves to be the exception to life’s happenings. They foresee danger and protect themselves.

A habit of foresight is put into action by having insurance, an emergency fund, savings and investments.

5. Patience

Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Quick wins, overnight success and fast money are not the path to blessing. Faithful, steady, patient stewardship is the way.

Don’t wait for one big thing to change your fortunes. Instead, build “little by little” habits. Consistent habits over an extended period of time will result in blessing.

6. Contentment

Sometimes that drive to earn more and more, and the longing to own the newest and latest actually flows from a place of discontent.

Proverbs 23:4
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

How much money is enough? How many possessions are enough?

Warren Buffett
“If you aren’t happy having $100,000, you’re not going to be happy if you have $100 million.”

Proverbs 27:20
Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

There is no amount of money or number of possessions that can fully satisfy you. Because we are spiritual creatures with spiritual appetites. Money is helpful, but it’s incomplete.

Mark 8:36
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

A full bank but an empty soul is a bad trade.

3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Prosperity is more than being able to pay your bills and having some left over. It’s first and foremost having a soul that is going well.