What The Bible Can Teach You About Budgeting

Before there was Dave Ramsey, there was the Bible. This American financial advisor will suggest many options for handling money — except reading what the Holy Bible has to offer.

Make room for charity

Trying to live on a budget is often difficult because of it requires strict planning, foresight, and self-discipline. When unforeseen expenses get thrown into the mix, it often gets tossed aside as we scramble to restore order. However, God has asked us to set aside part of our budget to give to charity, as stated in Leviticus 27:32; "And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord." He tells the reader, and believer, to trust in Him and give Him a tenth of their earnings and they shall prosper. Many people struggle with money woes because they do not adhere to the Word of God. We have not because we give not to God. When we make room to give Him 10%, we make room for His wisdom in our finances.

The Bible teaches a plan for saving

God only wants His people to be obedient. Malachi 3:10 states: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house...If I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive." If we want to life a better life, we must obey the Word of God. Once we give Him His tenth, then we can divide what is left of our earnings. As there needs to be meat in God’s house, we need to build our own storehouses, which means setting aside another part of the budget for savings. The Bible asks: can a man rob God? The answer is yes, in neglecting tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8) It can be argued that neglecting our savings robs ourselves.

The Bible warns of the dangers of debt

When we do not adhere to the God’s teachings, we mismanage our finances. Most often, this is reflected in giving in to the temptation of debt. The Bible warns of debt many times, including Proverbs 22:7 — “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Severe lack of responsibility toward one’s finances can lead to a downward spiral which eventually ends in filing for bankruptcy — especially when we borrow beyond our means. A bankruptcy remains on your credit record for a number of years, and will label you for even longer. During the procedure, you stand to lose various possessions such as car, home, etc. This sounds a lot like the warning given in 1 Timothy 5:8 — “But if any man does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” When we fail to manage our finances responsibly, we fail to provide for our families, and they suffer unnecessarily. ***rnWhen we read and heed the Bible faithfully, we learn the things we need to do in order to live abundantly. The Bible is filled with important information for our daily living, including how to budget and sustain our families.