Best Financial Guide

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Are you a frugal person ?

I was recently astonished when I realized that the jacket and the scarf that I was wearing were both purchased in the 20th Century (1999) !

This is evidence that I am generally frugal, although I have made some unnecessary internet purchases from the comfort of my lounge chair overlooking the sea. There was the time I bought cinnamon sticks from Sri Lanka…

The Bible is the world’s most comprehensive financial guide.

It contains over 2,000 references to money, including the importance of saving, budgeting, preparing for retirement, and giving to the poor.

Jesus even talks about investing money, which was a new concept for his Jewish audience.

The Bible also warns about avoiding debt whenever possible, since the borrower is a slave to the lender.

It is folly to think that we ‘own’ anything. Everything belongs to God, and when He enables us to acquire money, He expects us to be good stewards of what we have received. He also expects us to serve Him, rather than to be focused on material acquisition.

We are told in the book of Malachi, that God expected the Jews to give a tithe, or ten percent of their income to God’s work.

I was looking at some recent statistics on how many Christians give a tenth of their income to their local church, and I found that between three and seventeen percent of people actually do this. This may explain, in part, why many churches are struggling to remain open. Technically, Christians are no longer expected to tithe, although some denominations still encourage this practise.

A quick examination of our bank records will reveal where our spending priorities lie.

In the pocket of my leather jacket I carry a sheckel, from Israel.

It reminds me to be careful with the money that God has entrusted to me.

Let us be thankful to the Lord for his care and provision for us.

Photo by Sally

Published by Sally

I am a retired Sociologist/Educator from Ontario. I now live at the very edge of the North American Continent. I spend my time in contemplation, spiritual reading , intercessory prayer, and maintaining a spiritual garden grotto as a place of prayer in my backyard by the Atlantic.

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31 thoughts on “Best Financial Guide”

  1. Why would we not be “required” to tithe?

    In both the Old & New Testaments the Bible talks about giving our first-fruits &/or 10% as a minimum requirement. I would NOT be involved with a church that didn’t hold these beliefs.

    BTW – the 10% should be on your gross earnings (including gifts & tax refunds) not the next. Any less is withholding from God what is God’s!

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    1. Hi Barb !
      I agree with you on the issue of tithing, and giving our first fruits to God. I think that we should give at least 10% of our income to the church.

      I have seen, in my own family, how God supernaturally enriches the lives of those who tithe.
      You make a very good point.
      My husband has been an usher at our church, and has commented on the number of people who only put coins into the collection basket.
      You give us a great reminder about the importance of tithing. Thanks. 🤗⚘

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  2. We must be cut from the same cloth Sally, I still have jumpers from when I met my wife! 😁
    You are spot on sister in stating that all we have belongs to God, and must be very discerning in how to use our money. As a Scotsman I am not easily parted from cash, but my excuse is that I try every time to ask myself “what would Jesus do?”
    Hope you are well and being blessed in His Heavenly riches Sally.

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    1. Hahaha…We have much in common, Alan. 😄😄
      I have only one small purse, which I bought in 2004. It still looks brand new, and I cannot imagine buying another one.
      We always look to Jesus as our example concerning money.
      Although he is traditionally depicted in artwork wearing long robes, this likely is not accurate.
      As a poor man, he would have worn a tunic, reaching just below the knees. Only rich men wore long robes.

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  8. Thank you for addressing this topic. The way we spend our money reflect what we value. The statistics you provided are alarming.

    May I never see tithing and giving to the Church as a burden or favor to God.

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  9. “He also expects us to serve Him, rather than to be focused on material acquisition.”
    This is so true. When one is just getting by, the focus is on survival. But as material possessions increase, it’s easy to develop a “more must be better” mentality. I know this because it happened to me. Remembering that everything belongs to God is a good way to counteract this. Blessings.

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  10. Thank you for this. It is such an important reminder for us to be wise stewards, overseeing what belongs to God in the first place. Whether it be time, money, talents, etc.
    I do tithe. It is priority before I pay my bills.
    I am also a work in progress, praying and working on being a better steward in general.

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    1. Thanks, Petrina for your comment. I tithe as well. Thanks for reminding us of the importance of being good stewards of our time and talent as well. God has richly blessed us. Let us thank Him and praise Him. 🤗

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  13. I don’t remember who it was, but someone much smarter than I am did the math and stated that if everyone who calls himself/herself a Christian were to just tithe – no more – the Church would be able to take care of the homeless, the poor, the sick, etc. We wouldn’t need any government programs. I get annoyed that the government taxes us so much to redistribute the wealth, but then I realize that if the Church were doing its job, the government wouldn’t have to.

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