The secrets to building wealth biblically for the modern-day Chrisitan.
This article covers biblical wealth secrets for the modern-day Christian.
This article contains affiliate links for which I may receive a commission that helps support the blog.
The current landscape of money and wealth looks very different from that of prior generations. Millennials, in particular, have seen many historical events significantly impact their financial futures. These include the Great Recession of 2008, rising student loan debts, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inflation has put a significant strain on the cost of housing and food. Starting a family (I just heard about the cost of daycare) while paying off student loan debts and saving for retirement can seem overwhelming. Not to mention, many are looking back to help care for their elderly loved ones.
BUT, we are the children of God. Our Father is the epitome of wealth and we are His heirs. Today’s circumstances are no surprise to Him. He has a plan for you and it’s written in His word.
If you’re on social media, you often see others giving tips and offering services and books on building wealth and retiring early.
Well here are the not-so-secret secrets that God wants you to know about wealth.
What does God say about wealth?
There is a common myth floating around in society that wealth is evil. More money, more problems. We see people murdering, stealing, lying, manipulating, and the like all for the sake of more money and more power.
God never said that wealth is bad. He said that the love of money is the root of all evil.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10
God wants us to be wealthy and prosperous in service to His kingdom. He just doesn’t want money to be an idol in our life. Here are a few verses that proves this.
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 8:18
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”
Proverbs 10:22
The Israelites are a perfect example if we need further convincing on God’s thoughts towards wealth. He led them from poverty and slavery into a prosperous land “flowing with milk and honey.”
In fact, throughout the Bible, wealth is a divine blessing to those who are obedient to God and whom He can trust with it. Abraham, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Boaz, and the women who financially supported Jesus’s ministry are all examples of people God entrusted with wealth.
So no, having and acquiring wealth is not bad, but a blessing from the Lord. What matters most is your heart behind it and what you do with it.
And if we want to understand kingdom wealth, we must take into account biblical money concepts.
Biblical principles of money
So how does God want us to think about money? Here are some important concepts.
Adopt a kingdom mindset.
We must learn to think like God and not like the culture of today. This includes how we think about money and how we steward it.
Operating in the flesh regarding money and wealth-building will not bring peace and prosperity. It will only open the doors for selfishness and the deadly sin of pride of the spirit along with one of its cousins, greed.
A kingdom mindset helps us to be in tune with God and the needs of the kingdom. Because while we can build wealth here on earth biblically, our true treasures are within the kingdom of God in Heaven.
To do this, you need to understand what money actually is.
Money has and will always be a tool given to you by God that allows you to achieve financial freedom and further His kingdom.
See my article on adopting a kingdom vs a worldly mindset for more encouragement in this area.
Acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
Psalm 24:1
For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Hebrews 3:4
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:12
Everything on this Earth that we can see and touch belongs to God. Finances included.
It’s His sovereign hand that controls the workings of the Earth to provide for you and billions of others. Just as he orchestrates the coming of night and the dawn of day, He orchestrates companies and their success as a means for your provision. Whether it’s a faith-based business or not, His hands are there.
And for business owners, it was Him who whispered ideas in your ears and placed visions in your head to solve a problem bringing your business success. So everything we have and will have ultimately belongs to Him.
Our jobs are to steward what He chooses to give us and do it well.
Create your financial plan with God.
The best way to honor God in your finances is to take what you have to Him in prayer and lay it at His feet. Seek His wisdom and ask Him to point you to the right resources and/or people to build your financial plan according to His will.
Jesus did the same thing when He went to God with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. He thanked God for the portion, no matter how small it seemed, and trusted Him with it. In response, God multiplied it and fed thousands. In that moment God did exceedingly and abundantly and above all that was asked.
You can find the story in Matthew 14:13-21.
Proper Financial Stewardship
Jesus tells the Parable Of The Bags Of Gold in Matthew 25:14-30. In summary, a wealthy man is preparing to go on a journey. He leaves a specific number of bags of gold to 3 servants according to their abilities.
One guy got 5 bags, another 2 bags, and the last, one bag. The man with 5 bags put His to work and earned 5 more bags. The man with 2 bags did the same earning 2 more bags. However, the person who had one bag buried his.
Upon the owner’s return, he praised the servants who had doubled what He had given them. Because they were faithful with few, the owner rewarded them with more. They were invited to share in his happiness.
However, the man who buried his bag was not met with the same sentiments. He had buried his bag and returned the bag to the owner who was very displeased. Ultimately his bag was taken from Him and given to the man who now has ten bags.
Although Jesus was talking about more than finances here, this parable is a great lesson on stewardship. God gives us specific provisions and talents according to the calling He’s placed on our lives.
He watches to see what we do with them. Do we take what we get and use it wisely furthering His kingdom or do we sit with a heart full of greed, selfishness, and doubt with a scarcity mindset?
When He knows that we are capable of stewarding what He gives us, this opens the door for us to receive more as He knows He can trust us with it.
Do not make money an idol.
Simply put, an idol is anything that your heart places above God. Money is likely one of the biggest idols in today’s society.
People will steal, lie, murder, and manipulate all in the name of acquiring more money and more power. In today’s world of social media, money is displayed in people’s things and luxurious lifestyles sparing jealousy, comparison, and the want for more.
Thus, it’s easy for the love of money to take root and take people to some dark places. Paul warns about this in the Bible.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10
As you build your wealth plan with God, this is something that you will need to be spiritually aware of and guard your heart against. No worries though, the Holy Spirit is ready and willing to help you.
Honor God with what you have.
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10
When I started speaking with God about building my financial future, He started teaching me the importance of investing in His kingdom. This is also known as tithing.
This goes back to the story we discussed above where Jesus feeds the five thousand, not including the women and children.
God told me after I had invested in His kingdom, to lift what I had left and watch Him work. I’m holding Him to it with excitement. I encourage you to do the same.
Practice Generosity
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11: 24-25
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
Psalms 112:5
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 19:17
The scriptures above show that generosity is important to God. Just as He is generous with us, He wants us to be generous with others.
Avoid debt
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7
If you want true financial freedom, you must avoid debt. Avoiding debt means that you have a higher savings rate which opens doors to investing (i.e. making your money work for you), saving for a down payment or paying down “good” debt faster (i.e. your mortgage).
However, in the US, Americans have racked up a collective $1.14 trillion in credit card debt.
Here in America, overconsumption is an issue. Carefully crafted ads and social media influencers with “must-have” products make compelling cases to buy things consumers likely don’t need.
This is where you guard your heart and your wallet while exercising self-control. If you’re struggling in this area, the Holy Spirit is with you 24/7 and He’s ready to help. Pray and ask God for wisdom and strategy. Also, educate yourself.
Invest wisely
Above, I talked about investing in God’s kingdom which is an investment that offers eternal returns. To me, this is the wisest investment.
However, the Bible also provides guidance on investing while we’re here on Earth. We’ve already discussed one lesson while reviewing The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 15:14-30).
However, Ecclesiastes 11:2 tells us one of the wisest things we can do when it comes to investing and even our income is to diversify.
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Spread them out so that if one is down the other may be up and you can stay afloat.
It also tells us to seek wise counsel. Whether that be through books or seeking a reputable advisor, allow God to lead you.
I don’t have a financial advisor, but I have enjoyed learning through books. The book I’ve enjoyed and the one that’s taught me the most is Rich AF by Vivian Tu. Another book that I highly recommend is A Simple Path to Wealth by J.L.Collins.
Operate in patience, a fruit of the spirit
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Proverbs 13:11
Don’t be impulsive and don’t expect things to come overnight. For as quickly as wealth comes, it can also fly away.
Let God work on your heart as you build. Be sure to listen to His voice and instructions as you navigate your finances. It’s important to not only earn but also maintain and sustain what God has given you.
Be content with what you have.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
The Bible talks about wealth being a cruel master. Some who have it are never satisfied and continue to chase after it.
I was reading the book, The Psychology Of Money, which speaks on this. In the book, the author gives examples of those who fell into this trap. They were already rich but risked what they had for what they didn’t need (more wealth).
The moral of the story is to be happy and thankful for what God has given you. Don’t let social media and the peer pressure of others lead you to chase things and money as opposed to chasing God.
Biblical wealth secrets: How to build wealth biblically
I will preface this section by stating upfront that I am not a financial advisor. I’ve prayed, read, and learned. My goal here is to share with you concepts that I’ve learned and have put into action with great results.
Start with Prayer and asking God for wisdom:
Pray over your heart. Pray for a heart that’ll be obedient to God. Pray for a heart that will honor Him with your wealth. Ask Him to block anything that will tear you away from Him, even if it’s wealth itself.
Have a kingdom mindset about money:
Many books talk about thinking like rich people and adopting their abundant mindset. I say think like Jesus and develop a godly mindset. It’s important to steward money without it becoming our master. We can’t serve God and money.
Get in a relationship with your finances:
I mean you have to know them and not avoid them. Open up all your accounts and know how much money you have. Write out all of your debts (if you have any) noting the interest rates as well. This will help with budgeting and knowing where you stand financially.
Budget your way:
You have to budget in a way that makes the most sense to your brain. Because if it doesn’t, it’s not sustainable. Make sure you’re setting attainable goals and leaving some “fun” money for yourself. Spend on the things you love (according to your budget) and save in the areas you don’t care too much for. A budget is a plan— a strategy for where your finances are coming and going. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Control your spending:
This is super easy for the super savers but may be a thorn in the side for others. But, this is where self-discipline comes in. Everything on sale does not have to be bought. In addition, never shop your emotions/feelings. If you’re having a bad day, take it to God and not to Ulta or Best Buy. Remember, you are stewarding the funds that God has given you. If He can trust you with a little, then he can trust you with a lot.
Look for ways to reduce your expenses:
AKA live below your means, but comfortably of course. I ditched cable a while back. I paid for the basic internet subscription and Sling TV and never looked back. There are so many other options since then like YouTube TV, etc. Look for the one that gives you the most bang for your buck and fits your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a gamer, you may not want to cut back on your internet plan, but you may find you can make up for it by cutting out some subscriptions you don’t use. Remember to enjoy life too.
Save/Build an emergency fund:
According to Bankrate.com, only 48% of Americans have enough in savings to last them 3 months in the case of an emergency. Calculate your monthly expenses and work to save up for at least 3 months of emergency savings. Just as importantly, place those savings in a high-yield savings account instead of a regular checking account. The best thing you can do is have money sitting idly by until called upon to work for you.
My bank’s checking account was giving me pennies on the money I had sitting in savings. My high-yield interest account gives me dollars, with interest rates around 4.5-5% (4.5% at the time of writing this article). Needless to say, I ditched my bank’s savings account. Here is a referral link to my Marcus High Yield Savings Account. (In full transparency, I do get an incentive for referring you. But, after you sign up, you should do the same inviting family and friends) for a higher return. And they could do the same.
Using the principles above, it’s advantageous to have a high savings rate. This is because those funds could go to rectifying the situations of the past (debt) so that you can start contributing to your future (investing).
Pay off any debt as soon as feasible:
There is the avalanche method and the snowball method. I personally prefer the avalanche method as I would rather get the high-interest debt out of the way and save some money.
I have a dedicated article on debt coming soon.
Always price-check and negotiate where you can:
I remember when we bought the couch for our living room. My husband and I went into the store and found the one that we liked. As the salesperson was talking, I was flipping through the internet and their website. I was looking for their online price, especially since it was nearing the holidays and they were offering deals. Their online price was a couple of hundred dollars cheaper.
I showed it to the salesperson and walked out with my new couch on the way and “extra” money in our account to put towards something else in our home. Even the things I buy from Target or Best Buy, I will see if I can find a better price to price match. Also don’t forget that if something you bought goes on sale a week later, call the company up and get your refund for the difference. Phone bills, cable bills, etc. can all be negotiated. Do your research and then just ask.
Use credit cards to your advantage:
This is one of my favorite things to do. Credit cards are not offsprings of Satan if you know how to use them wisely. The goal is to make money off your credit cards and not have them making money off of you. You have to pay off your balance IN FULL every month. That way you do not accumulate any interest.
I only spend what I have as every dollar I charge on my credit card has to have a twin in my bank account. As you do this you build rewards. My husband and I get room upgrades at 5-star hotels, seat upgrades on our flights, and I’m able to pay for some of my Amazon purchases by using my credit card points. I rarely do this as I prefer to use them on travel as that’s where we get the most bang for our buck. There are also other perks too, such as, our Global Entry being paid for, etc.
Invest for your future:
Step 1: If your employer offers 401k or 403b retirement plans. I would recommend contributing up to the company’s match if you can. The employer match is the money (usually a percentage) that your employer will also contribute to your account—so free money.
Step 2: Once you become debt-free, you can consider maxing out the account. As of the writing of this article, the maximum limit is $23,500 for the year 2025.
Step 3: If you still have extra funds available, you could consider opening a Roth IRA. This is another type of retirement account where the money grows tax-free. As of the writing of this article, the cap for contributing to a Roth IRA is $7000 for the year. There are income limits, so be aware of those. If you make too much, look into a backdoor Roth which is completely legal.
Step 4: Contribute to your HSA aka health savings account. I list this as step 4, but it could honestly be step 2 or 3. A health savings plan usually comes with your high deductible medical insurance plans. The money is contributed pre-taxed and you don’t have to pay taxes on the gains nor do you have to pay taxes upon withdrawal for qualified medical expenses. This is why this account is known to have triple tax benefits.
You can learn more about HSAs here.
Step 5: If extra funds are available, consider putting those funds into a taxable brokerage account. I personally use Vanguard for my taxable brokerage account and my Roth IRA. Other reputable companies include Fidelity and Charles Swabb. I use these accounts to invest in low-cost index funds.
The above is meant to give you an overall idea of how you can tackle investing. But, personal finance is just that….personal. Do not feel discouraged if you cannot get to “step 4 or 5.” Having an emergency fund in today’s economy is an awesome feat in and of itself.
Also, if this all made your head spin, be sure to read the books I recommended above. This article and those books will give you a start and have you going in no time.
Remember you cannot save your way to wealth. Investing is a key strategy that is also noted in the Bible.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor:
Make sure you budget for the things you enjoy. If you like collecting every shade of lipstick under the sun, traveling, photography, or food, make room in your finances for it. Live your life boldly and unapologetically with God’s instruction.
Never stop learning:
I’m currently reading books to help me change my mindset. But, I’m also checking with God and what He says about money. While we want to be successful on this earth and obtain what God has for us, it means nothing if we aren’t aligned with Him. We live in the world, but we are not of it. Continue to seek God and educate yourself. I believe we’ll be amazed at what He does.
Take care of your health:
I struggled with putting this at the top of the list. The old cliche of health is wealth is nothing but the absolute truth. Your health is your greatest asset. What is the point of building all of this if you’re too debilitated to enjoy it and have to spend it all on healthcare? Move your body with regular exercise and get or stay consistent with a healthy diet.
Here are some other money-saving tips
Rakuten
You’re online shopping anyway, so you might as well earn while you’re shopping. Rakuten allows you to earn cash back on the purchases you’re already making. Sometimes the percentage is small, but it’s something. I’ll take it.
You can sign up for Rakuten here.
Do you know how some items are marked up and then struck through with a “sales price?” Well, this website allows you to see the historical prices of your items on Amazon. Thus, you’ll be able to easily see if you’re getting a good deal or not.
Check it out, I use it all the time. You can even set price alerts.
Final Thoughts on Biblical Wealth Secrets
In this article, we’ve answered the question of whether wealth is godly or not, gone through some biblical principles of money, and talked about some tips on how to get good with your money and build wealth with God.
I’ve prayed during the writing of this post as I want to make sure that I’ve provided sound advice and given you what God wanted you to have through me.
Remember, that it’s ultimately God who orders your steps and He is the giver of life and everything i
Until next time,
Dr. Jay
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