The Purpose of Money

Money is a means of exchange. The most prominent form today is national bank notes and coins backed by the faith and credit of national governments. There are informal types that most National Governments do not guarantee or insure value of, such as gold, silver, cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, ethereum, etc.), etc.

 

Money is most often obtained by the transference of your time and intellect and/or that of others working with you in ways that produce profit (cash flow and surplus that remains after expenses are paid). Yet, it can also be obtained via inheritance. Historically, it has been shown that anyone can increase the value or amount of it by:

 

• 1.    Increasing the desire other people have for your time, intellect, education, and/or expertise by doing things in a certain way or in a field that other people value more than what you or your employees currently do.

 

• 2.    Investing in ways that allow money to make money without you working and even make money while you sleep. Everyone can do this by consistently investing a reasonable percentage of money earned or obtained (say 10% or more) in things like entrepreneurial endeavors, stocks, bonds, real estate, and other worthwhile arenas.

 

From a biblical perspective, the purpose of money is to help you:

 

• 1.    Bring glory to the LORD. Honoring Him by tithing and offering ten percent plus of your gross income to spread the gospel at home and abroad and to make disciples of people is a primary means by which we do this. As your intimacy with the LORD grows you experience an ever-increasing desire to give abundantly for these purposes, which include missions work in your community, nation, and around the world.

 

Genesis 14:20

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

 

Malachi 3:8-12

“Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me. “‘What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?’ “You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due me. ⁹ And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in! “ Try it! Let me prove it to you! ¹¹ Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes won’t shrivel away before they ripen,” says the Lord Almighty. ¹² “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness. These are the promises of the Lord Almighty.

 

Matthew 23:23

“Yes, woe upon you, Pharisees, and you other religious leaders—hypocrites! For you tithe down to the last mint leaf in your garden, but ignore the important things—justice and mercy and faith. Yes, you should tithe, but you shouldn’t leave the more important things undone.

 

Hebrew 7:8

Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

 

• 2.    Provide for needs and some desires of your immediate family, yourself, and future generations.

 

1Timothy 5:8

But anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen.

 

2Thessalonians 3:6-11

Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by his authority: Stay away from any Christian who spends his days in laziness and does not follow the ideal of hard work we set up for you. ⁷ For you well know that you ought to follow our example: you never saw us loafing; ⁸ we never accepted food from anyone without buying it; we worked hard day and night for the money we needed to live on, in order that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It wasn’t that we didn’t have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to show you firsthand how you should work for your living. ¹⁰ Even while we were still there with you, we gave you this rule: “He who does not work shall not eat.” ¹¹ Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping.

 

Proverbs 13:22

When a good man dies, he leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren; but when a sinner dies, his wealth is stored up for the godly.

 

• 3.    Save and Invest for emergency and catastrophic situations that will occur during your life.

 

Proverbs 21:20

The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

 

Ecclesiastes 11:2

Give a portion to seven or eight, for you don’t know the troubles that may come upon the land.

 

Matthew 27:57-60

When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, one of Jesus’ followers, ⁵⁸ went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. ⁶¹ Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching.

 

Acts 4:36-37

For instance, there was Joseph (the one the apostles nicknamed “Barnabas, the encourager.” He was of the tribe of Levi, from the island of Cyprus). ³⁷ He was one of those who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need.

 

1Timothy 6:17-19

Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.

 

• 4.    Help others meet needs they may not at the moment be able to care for.

 

Leviticus 19:13

You shall not rob nor oppress anyone, and you shall pay your hired workers promptly. If something is due them, don’t even keep it overnight.

 

Malachi 3:5

At that time my punishments will be quick and certain; I will move swiftly against wicked men who trick the innocent, against adulterers and liars, against all those who cheat their hired hands, who oppress widows and orphans, or defraud strangers, and do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.

 

James 5:1-8

Look here, you rich men, now is the time to cry and groan with anguished grief because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. ² Your wealth is even now rotting away, and your fine clothes are becoming mere moth-eaten rags. ³ The value of your gold and silver is dropping fast, yet it will stand as evidence against you and eat your flesh like fire. That is what you have stored up for yourselves to receive on that coming day of judgment. ⁴ For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. Their cries have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. You have spent your years here on earth having fun, satisfying your every whim, and now your fat hearts are ready for the slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and killed good men who had no power to defend themselves against you. Now as for you, dear brothers who are waiting for the Lord’s return, be patient, like a farmer who waits until the autumn for his precious harvest to ripen. ⁸ Yes, be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

 

Matthew 25:34-46

“Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; ³⁶ naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.’ ³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’ ⁴¹ Then I will turn to those on my left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ⁴² For I was hungry and you wouldn’t feed me; thirsty, and you wouldn’t give me anything to drink; ⁴³ a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ ⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ ⁴⁵ “And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me.’ ⁴⁶ “And they shall go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into everlasting life.”

 

Acts 20:32-36

“And now I entrust you to God and his care and to his wonderful words that are able to build your faith and give you all the inheritance of those who are set apart for himself. ³³ “I have never been hungry for money or fine clothing— ³⁴ you know that these hands of mine worked to pay my own way and even to supply the needs of those who were with me. ³⁵ And I was a constant example to you in helping the poor; for I remembered the words of the Lord Jesus, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ³⁶ When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them, ³⁷ and they wept aloud as they embraced him in farewell, ³⁸ sorrowing most of all because he said that he would never see them again. Then they accompanied him down to the ship.

 

1Timothy 6:17-19

Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.

 

Even those who have not put faith in our LORD & Savior Jesus Christ find the need to engage money for purposes 2 and 3. No matter how much they may want to disbelieve who He is, they cannot avoid life and the need for a national currency or other valuable medium of exchange to purchase needs and resolve problems, whether needed currency is produced by their efforts or from someone else’s effort and generosity.

 

What motivates you to fulfill the LORD’s purpose for money?

Stewardship

Understanding the LORD owns everything causes you to manage money and resources more appropriately as you discover more about His plan for mankind and you.

 

1Chronicles 29:11-12

Yours is the mighty power and glory and victory and majesty. Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. ¹² Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength. 

 

Psalm 50:10-12

For all the animals of field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills! And all the birds upon the mountains! ¹² If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you—for all the world is mine and everything in it. 

 

1Corinthians 10:26

For the earth and every good thing in it belongs to the Lord and is yours to enjoy.

 

Revelation 4:11

“O Lord, you are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for you have created all things. They were created and called into being by your act of will.”

Vision

Daily intimacy with the LORD and bible study leads to knowledge of the Heavenly vision and to understanding the LORD’s desire for your life and the part you play in the Church’s Great Commission. This has potential to lead to wise natural actions to obtain results He desires.

 

Proverbs 29:18

Without a vision, the people cast off restraint; but what a wonderful thing it is for those who know and keep His laws.

 

Habakkuk 2:2-4

And the Lord said to me, “Write the vision on a billboard, large and clear, so anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell the others. ³ But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! “Note this: Wicked men trust themselves alone as these Chaldeans do, and fail; but the righteous man trusts in me and lives!

 

Acts 9:10-12

Now there was in Damascus a believer named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. ¹¹ And the Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street and find the house of a man named Judas and ask there for Paul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now, for ¹² I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again!”

 

Acts 16:9

That night Paul had a vision. In his dream he saw a man over in Macedonia, Greece, pleading with him, “Come over here and help us.” ¹⁰ Well, that settled it. We would go to Macedonia, for we could only conclude that God was sending us to preach the Good News there.

 

2Timothy 2:15

Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means. ¹⁶ Steer clear of foolish discussions that lead people into the sin of anger with each other. 

Grace

His unmerited favor to you as a believer and to mankind (even unbelievers) provides the framework for doors to be opened by faith to achieve the results of the good works He designed you to engage.

 

Psalm 30:5

His anger lasts a moment; His favor lasts for life! Weeping may endure for a night, but there is joy in the morning.

 

2Corinthians 9:8

God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. 

 

2Corinthians 12:9-10

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

James 4:6

But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

 

Love, Hope, & Faith

The almighty power of the Holy Spirit along with the wise actions provides supernatural power in and around you to do far above what you could achieve on natural action alone.

 

Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

 

Luke 10:27

So, he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.”

 

1Corinthians 13:13

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Hebrews 11:1-3,6

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. ³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

Action

Planting Seed, giving it Time to grow, then Harvesting the produce is the spiritual principle that works in our natural world that the LORD also uses to produce supernatural results – often above and beyond what we can ask or think.

 

Matthew 17:27

Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

 

Luke 5:4-8

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

 

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

2Corinthians 9:6

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 

 

James 2:14-17

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

You must activate the LORD’s plan for your life and the purpose of money by obedience to Bible principles (logos) and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit (rhema) that conforms with bible principles.

 

Principles have boundaries and thus Jesus could perform miracles using different methods (spit & mud, hem of garment, rebuking demonic spirits, speaking the word only, etc.).

 

In the same way, your methods and line(s) of work and endeavor could be different than everyone else’s yet should conform to the bible principles of legitimate work and good stewardship including how you manage money the LORD entrusts to you.

 

Thank the LORD you and I do not have to do things exactly the way other men say we must in order to be fruitful and successful. However, each of us need to conform to the LORD’s pattern to hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant, I make you ruler over more. Come enter into My joy!”

 

You should look for and listen to people who have walked the path of intimacy with the LORD, fruitfulness, and success to find and identify bible principles on good stewardship and to learn natural policies, procedures, and processes that align with them to help you succeed in your endeavors.

 

Never let obtaining or accumulating money be the primary motivation, because then you love money and the world. You will then compromise biblical morals, people, and things in life the bible instructs you to properly care for (spouse, children, right relationships with others, church fellowship, scriptural instruction, worship including thanksgiving, praise, prayer, giving to glorify the LORD and NOT self, etc.).

 

1Timothy 6:6-11

Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good. ⁷ After all, we didn’t bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can’t carry away a single penny when we die. ⁸ So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing. ⁹ But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows. ¹¹ O Timothy, you are God’s man. Run from all these evil things, and work instead at what is right and good, learning to trust him and love others and to be patient and gentle. 

 

Conclusion

The purpose of money is to glorify the LORD and serve Him forever!

 

Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the entire duty of man. ¹⁴ For God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad.

 

Matthew 6:31-33

So, don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, ³³ and He will give them to you if you give Him first place in your life and live as He wants you to.

 

1Timothy 6:17-19

Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.

 

Practical steps everyone and every business needs to take:

 

• ·       Draft and follow a giving, saving spending plan and consistently follow it while also allowing spontaneous giving when the Holy Spirit directs

 

• ·       Maintain reasonable reserve funds for economic downturns and emergency situations

 

• ·       Pay down, pay off, and eventually move to largely debt-free living and business operation

 

• ·       Say NO to people’s / organization’s requests that would misuse and abuse stewardship of money the LORD entrusts to you – You are not required to support the tens and hundreds of people and organizations that ask for donations daily or yearly.

 

• ·       Regularly invest a reasonable portion of profits (in your own business and also in outside concerns – stocks, real estate, etc.)

 

• ·       Diversify investments / assets as time moves forward

 

A couple of practical activities you can discuss with like-minded accountability partners to help you better develop plans and practices that glorify the LORD via good stewardship of your personal and business revenue and assets.

 

• ·       The need for drafting separate documents for personal and business that:

 

o   Help you better detail and know your income, expenses, and cash flow.

 

o   Help you better detail your assets and liabilities.

 

• ·       The need to establish savings to help you weather economic, emergency, and catastrophic storms that will come your way.

 

• ·        The need to avoid debt and develop plans to eliminate it.