Money is a Tool

Most of us do not wake up intending to serve money. Yet financial pressures, ambitions, and fears can quietly begin shaping our choices. Before long, money may influence where we find security, how we measure success, and what we believe will bring us peace.

Jesus speaks directly to this danger in Luke 16:13: “You cannot serve God and money.”

Money was never meant to be our master. But when it is placed in its proper role, it can become a useful tool for serving God, caring for our families, and blessing others.

So, what does a biblical approach to money look like?

Money Is a Gift to Receive With Gratitude

The Bible speaks frequently about wealth, possessions, generosity, and stewardship. One of its clearest principles is that money is not the goal. It is a resource entrusted to us by God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 says:

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them…this is the gift of God.”

God is not opposed to provision or the appropriate enjoyment of what He provides. His gifts should be received with gratitude rather than guilt.

We see a picture of God’s abundant provision when Jesus feeds the five thousand in Matthew 14. Christ not only meets the immediate needs of the crowd, but the disciples also collect twelve baskets of leftovers. The point is not indulgence or excess. It is that God is a generous provider who delights in caring for His people.

Everything we possess ultimately comes from Him. Recognizing that truth allows us to enjoy His provision without believing we own it independently of Him.

Money Reveals What We Trust

Although money can be a gift, it also carries spiritual significance because it reveals the condition of our hearts.

1 Timothy 6:10 warns that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Paul does not say that money itself is evil. The danger arises when we love money or look to it for something only God can provide.

Money cannot give us lasting security, establish our identity, or bring genuine peace. When we expect it to do those things, a useful tool begins to take the place of our faithful Provider.

Every financial decision can reveal something about our trust. Our spending may expose what we value. Our saving may show whether we are preparing wisely or attempting to control an uncertain future. Our generosity may reveal whether we believe God will continue to provide.

The question is not simply, “What am I doing with my money?” It is also, “What is my money doing to my heart?”

Money Is Meant to Serve God’s Purposes

Ephesians 4:28 gives us a broader vision for our work and resources. Paul instructs believers to work honestly “so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

We do not earn merely to accumulate. God enables us to work so that we can provide for our responsibilities, prepare wisely for the future, and share with others.

That perspective transforms the purpose of our financial lives.

Work becomes more than survival or personal advancement. It becomes one way we participate in God’s generosity. Saving becomes thoughtful preparation rather than an attempt to eliminate every uncertainty. Investing can become an act of stewardship when it supports future responsibilities and generosity.

This purpose often expresses itself through ordinary decisions: choosing to give even when the budget feels limited, avoiding unnecessary debt, setting aside money for future needs, or creating enough margin to respond when someone needs help.

Those individual choices may feel small, but over time they shape both our finances and our hearts. Money becomes especially useful when it flows outward in service rather than being gathered inward as a source of identity or control.

Money Must Remain a Servant

When Jesus said we cannot serve both God and money, He was establishing the proper order of our allegiance. Money must remain a servant rather than becoming our master.

In his sermon “The Use of Money,” John Wesley described money as a valuable gift when it is used in the hands of God’s people. It can feed the hungry, provide clothing for those in need, and offer shelter to the traveler and stranger.

That is a beautiful picture of money placed in its proper role. It is not worshiped, feared, or pursued as an end in itself. It is directed toward purposes that reflect God’s love and generosity.

Money may help us accomplish many good things, but it is never qualified to lead our lives. Only God deserves our trust, devotion, and obedience.

Money Is Temporary, but Its Use Can Matter Eternally

1 Timothy 6:7 reminds us, “We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”

Every dollar we manage is temporary. Homes, accounts, investments, and possessions will eventually pass from our hands. Yet the way we use those temporary resources can have lasting significance.

When we remember that money is temporary, we can begin to hold it more loosely. We can enjoy God’s provision without being controlled by it. We can plan wisely without placing our hope in wealth. And we can give generously because we know that God—not our bank account—is our ultimate provider.

Before your next decision about spending, saving, investing, or giving, consider asking a different question: Lord, how can this money serve You and others?

Money is never the destination. It is simply a tool God places in our hands to accomplish purposes greater than ourselves.

This is a central theme of Our Ultimate Treasure, a 21-day devotional designed to help you treat money as a tool rather than a treasure so that it can find its proper place in your life. You can order a copy—or copies for your church or small group—at FaithFi.com/Shop.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• My father gave me $75,000 after my mother passed away. My husband and I are nearing retirement with no emergency savings, about $140,000 in personal-loan debt from his failed business, plus a mortgage and car loan. We spend nearly $10,000 a month. After giving, should we use the money to build savings, pay down debt, or invest some of it?
• My husband and I are approaching 65, qualify for Social Security, and plan to keep working. I’m also eligible for a teacher pension. Should I claim Social Security now, delay it, or rely on my pension first? Would a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®) be the right person to help us evaluate our options?
• My father-in-law recently passed away, and I’m helping my mother-in-law with her finances. She has about $11,000 across six credit cards. Some issuers have offered to freeze the accounts and stop the interest while she repays them. Should she accept those arrangements or consolidate the balances into one loan? Her Social Security benefit is small, and my father-in-law’s check has stopped. Could she qualify for a survivor benefit based on his record?

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• Christian Credit Counselors
• FaithFi Field Guide: How Much Money is Enough? 
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.