At some point or another, most of us will face a time of financial crisis. Just within the last couple of years, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, millions of people were left without jobs, wondering how they were going to go about paying bills. If you’re facing a time of financial crisis, it’s important that you understand how to take a Godly approach to it. God is with you, even when your money isn’t.
According to a study published by the American Psychiatric Association, 72% of Americans report feeling times of “extreme stress” about money within the last 30 days. That’s a huge number! It also means that financial stress isn’t relegated to those who hold low-paying jobs. Instead, almost everyone is stressed about money in some capacity.
Unfortunately, as Christians, we are not exempt from the feelings of financial stress. We need money to live. Additionally, we need money to do the things that we enjoy. No one wants to exist only to pay bills and die. We know that we need money, but we also want money.
Contrary to what you may have heard, the Bible talks a lot about money, and most of it is not negative. You may have heard it said that God hates money, and that He doesn’t expect us to stress about it. That’s simply not the case. In fact, of the 36 parables that are recorded in Scripture, 11 of them involve money or possessions. That means that Christ spent roughly 1/3 of His teaching time discussing money, possessions, and how He wants His people to manage them.
So, what are you supposed to do when you don’t have enough money at the end of the month? The old saying goes, “I have too much month at the end of my money.” Maybe that’s a reality for you. Perhaps you’re reading this today while you’re trying to navigate the choppy waters of a financial crisis. If that’s the case, take heart. Perhaps you’re not currently facing a financial crisis, but you should be aware that they can come out of nowhere. Every year, millions of people file for bankruptcy protection, most of whom didn’t see it coming. There are several Biblical principles to consider when facing a financial hardship.
God Loves Our Faith
Hebrews 11:1 (TPT)
Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.
Our hardships have a way of pushing us closer to God. When we realize that He is all that we have, we usually realize that He is all that we need. If you’re facing a time of financial difficulty, it may be easy to allow the stress in your life to pull you farther from God. When all you focus on is what you don’t have, it’s easy to start doubting God’s goodness. That isn’t faith.
There are very few things in our lives that test our faith the way that money does. We have no problem trusting God with our health, with our protection, and with all of the other things that we ask for. However, when it comes time to start trusting God with our money, things get a bit harder.
Take a faithful approach to your financial crisis. No, this won’t come naturally. Everything inside of you will tell you that you need to fix things on your own. You may be tempted to reel in your giving and start focusing more on what you want or need. If you’re facing financial pressure, let go of it. You can hand all of your stress to God and rest assured that He cares for every aspect of your life, especially your money.
God Cares About Your Money Problems
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Sometimes our money problems are our own doing. However, there are other times where we don’t have anything to do with it. You probably had no control during the height of the pandemic in 2020 when millions of companies downsized or shut down completely. However, there are other times where we make our own bad decisions and are left to face the consequences. Perhaps you bought a vehicle that you couldn’t afford, and now you’re trying to juggle the new budget.
Guess what? It doesn’t matter why you’re stressed about money, God cares about your problems! He doesn’t withdraw Himself from our presence when we make our own financial mess. Instead, He runs to us, eager to help us clean up our mess, just like a good Father does.
When facing any kind of hardship, especially one that involves money, it’s easy to assume that you’re on your own. That’s simply not the case. The Bible says that you can cast every one of your anxieties onto God because He cares about you.
God Owns It All
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV)
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember, the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not God hates wealth, this verse should calm your fears. God is not anti-money. In fact, God is not against His people making a lot of money. However, He is passionate about His people keeping money in its proper place.
We have a tendency to look at our money as ours. We use “our” money to go buy “our” homes, “our” cars, pay for “our” vacations, and everything else. This is a completely backwards way of thinking, and it results in a great deal of financial stress.
Nothing that you have belongs to you. Your name may be on the deed or the title, but it’s not really yours. Your name is on your bank account, but the money in it is not yours. Instead, as a child of God, you have embraced the fact that everything in your life belongs to your Father.
When you recognize that God is the owner of everything that you have, and He’s just letting you use it, it’s easier to stress less about it all. After all, it belongs to Him!
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to handle the stress of my financial crisis in a way that is filled with faith. I know that You care about every detail of my life, including my finances. Even though I don’t see a way out of this present situation, I know that You have already gone into my future, and that everything I have belongs to You. In Christ’s name, I believe and ask these things, Amen.