Key #1 To Successful Money Managing

Key #1: Understand that everything in the world belongs to God.

I’m not sure what it is, but when I see a paycheck with my name on it, next to an amount of money, it is so tempting to think that that money belongs to me. After all, I’ve worked hard the previous week or two and I’ve earned that paycheck. And besides, it isn’t as big as it should be, especially with the government taking their cut! :)

But does that money really belong to me? Deuteronomy 10:14 seems to point to a different owner:
"Look, the highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the Lord your God."

Psalm 50:9-12 emphasizes this point as well:
But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.

Maybe instead of thinking of myself as an owner of my money, I ought to be thinking of myself as God’s money manager. It’s his money; I’m just making sure what is done with that money is pleasing to him.

The question is: Can he trust me to use his money in ways that pleases him? Or am I a person who will take that money and spend it on whatever my heart desires that week?

In Luke 12:42-44, Jesus uses a parable to explain God’s view on the matter:
And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns."

This is logical, right? Anyone who pays an investment broker should have no problem grasping the money managing concept. What would you do if your broker suddenly began using the money you gave him to pay for a trip to Europe? Exactly…you and your money would be looking for another broker who can be trusted to invest your money in a way that pleases you.

We are the brokers for God’s money. Do we invest it in ways that will bring dividends that pleases God? Or do we take that money and spend it on ourselves?

Understanding key #1 is essential to understanding God’s view of money. If we fail to grasp this, none of the other keys we discuss from here out will make any sense. This is the foundation that must be laid before we can successfully manage our, I mean, God’s money. :)


(Just to be clear…when I say ‘your money’ from here on, you and I will both know that the money really belongs to God. I’m just saying ‘your money’ to reference the amount of money God has entrusted to you.)