The laws of sowing and reaping are no different for Christians than for unbelievers, contrary to what some may believe. If we make poor financial decisions, we face the same types of situations that any non-believer would face, but with the salt-in-the-wound that we knew better in the first place. Although many of us are still reaping from the choices we made before we became saved, a few of us made mistakes after salvation and all of us will do so at some point during our lives. However, bad choices when it comes to money can be the most devastating to overcome in some situations, as there is a natural consequence for our actions when it comes to money.

Slaves to the Lender

Consider Proverbs 22:7: ““The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.”

This may not be a literal statement, as most countries at least frown upon slavery of this sort, but we become slaves in the sense that we must hand over a portion of every pay to the lender. We are not free to do as we wish with the money we worked so hard to earn. Whether it is the result of a loan, credit card, mortgage, or something else that causes debt, we must pay our dues.

That is not to say that we should never borrow money; in our society, it is almost impossible, and certainly very unlikely, to purchase a home with cash up front. However, we should live within our means by knowing and respecting how much we can afford to pay each month. If you’re dedicating prayer and time with God to understand what to do with your money, you won’t have to worry about over-reaching your income in this way, but those who aren’t listening—for whatever reason—will face repossession, bankruptcy, or even goal time in some cases.  Going into debt is not a sin in itself, however many sins have been committed because of debt.

Hasty Decisions Lead to Ruin

Proverbs 19:2 says, ““Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who makes haste with his feet errs.”

Rushing into a decision without forethought and planning almost always leads to ruin, especially when it comes to your family’s finances. Some investment opportunities need fast decisions, but for the most part, you should dedicate a lot of prayer to any choice that can potentially have an impact on your financial future. For those Christians who ask God to lead their steps, make sure that you are taking time to listen for His answer—and respect it even if it is no!

Spend your money wisely, never overspending just because an offer seems too good to pass up in the heat of the moment. Allow the Lord to guide your steps, even if it means missing an occasional “deal” because you are unsure of whether He wants you to proceed.  The old saying “if in doubt, go without” is worth remembering.

It is far better than the alternative—spending so much that your family’s debt is insurmountable.

No Food For Thought

Second Thessalonians 3:10 states that, “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: ‘Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.’”

Laziness is a top-three killer of finances, especially in today’s cutthroat, dog-eat-dog society where it is every man (or woman) for himself. The person willing to sacrifice the most for the biggest pay-cheque is often considered top dog, and while this thinking definitely goes against the word of God, there is a grain of truth to it. After all, those who are willing to work hard will usually be blessed with the most from a materialistic standpoint.

If you still are not sure about the meaning of this Scripture, reminding yourself that God does want to bless those who love Him abundantly, think about the fact that laziness means no pay-cheque. Without a pay-cheque, how would you be able to buy food (or anything) for yourself or your family? How could you do His work? Seek Him and find the job that He wants you to have, and then go for it with your whole heart. Remember that He is good, but He is also fair, and He will not allow you to sit idle while your family starves if you are right with Him.