A Biblical Perspective on Financial Planning

If you’re working on building a strong financial plan, you’re likely looking into personal finance books, videos, and websites. For a well-rounded view of how to handle finances, you should also consider reading and studying the Bible for financial assistance. 

Financial planning Christian begins with starting with a biblical framework for understanding finances, which will help you spend and invest money wisely while honoring God. 

Read more to learn three fundamentals the Bible teaches about financial planning as a Christian.

Save for Future Needs

Some Christians believe saving for retirement or other future plans while other people are in need is selfish. Others believe that they don’t need to worry about saving at all since God will take care of them. These people usually spend almost everything they earn in their lifetimes.

It may surprise you that the Bible actually encourages saving for future needs. Saving and investing wisely for the future can also allow one to serve God with a full and open heart. We should also keep in mind that we’re called to “lay up for yourself treasures in heaven” (Matthew 16:19). 

While we should save and spend money wisely and avoid incurring debt, it’s preeminently important to keep our eyes on Christ and the things of heaven. This is ultimately what will help us secure our future in Christ.

Set Priorities

According to the Bible, you’re called to “prepare your fields before you build your house” (Proverbs 24:27).

A modern reader might wonder why the construction of the house ought to come after planting the field since both are necessities, not luxuries. But fields are a strong base of survival. A farmer’s livelihood depends on his crops. Therefore if your field isn’t adequately planned and prepared, you won’t have enough money to build a house or meet your other needs. 

In today’s world, few people earn their living from actual fields. For them, employment is their main grounds of survival. But you cannot live in a house unless you can feed yourself, pay your rent, or pay your mortgage.

This proverb signifies that you should prioritize wise spending of time and money no matter what your occupation is. Avoiding spending your time and money on worldly comforts until you’ve saved enough to cover your basic needs.

Procrastination Is a Mistake

Many people tend to put things off. However, you’ll lose out on one of the most powerful financial forces by not saving early, including earning compound interest.

For people who do save, many wait for a greater income before starting to save anything at all. However, the more you put off saving and investing, your retirement savings will have less time to grow. Years from now, you’ll have to put in much more money to reach the same amount as if you had started today. Start now and increase your efforts gradually over time.

Conclusion

The vast majority of Christians understand the importance of saving and investing for retirement. However, many people find it challenging to adopt a practical theology to manage their earnings, especially while investing and saving for the future. 

The Bible says a lot about investing your money properly so you don’t feel burdened as you age and can give your children a secure and respectful life. This is according to Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Above all, when you make money, save, invest, and give, do so with a mind toward honoring God. You’ll be well prepared to become a good financial steward for yourself and your family.