A God’s Eye View of Money With Howard Dayton | FaithFi
May 18, 2022
A God’s Eye View of Money With Howard Dayton
Faith & Finance with Rob West
“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8. Don’t think that excuses us. We can know more of what God thinks by studying His Word... especially about money. Rob talks about that with Howard.
Isaiah 55:8 says “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord.” That’s a profound statement that certainly puts us in our place. But don’t think it lets us off the hook. We’ll discuss on MoneyWise, we’ll discuss a “God’s eye view of money.”
Howard Dayton is a MoneyWise contributor and the founder of Compass — Finances God’s Way. He’s also the author of several books on biblical finance.
We can’t manage money wisely unless we understand God’s perspective on it. Howard Dayton says he’s convinced Jesus said so much about money for two reasons:
How we handle our money impacts our fellowship with Him.
He wants to help us handle money wisely.
Jesus revealed a direct relationship between how we handle our money and the quality of our spiritual lives. In Luke 16:11, He asks a penetrating question: "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
Every time you apply one of God's financial principles, you will find yourself drawn closer to Christ. On the other hand, if you are unfaithful, your fellowship with Him suffers.
But there's another reason why Jesus taught so specifically on the handling of money.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY AND HANDLING IT CORRECTLY
He knows that money plays a big part in our lives. We spend much of our time working for it, deciding how to spend it, grappling with debt, thinking about where to save and invest, and praying about giving. The Lord knew money would be a challenge, even a source of conflict for many of us.
So God wants us to manage money wisely, and that’s why He’s given us clear, practical truths in the Bible that really work. They are His roadmap to guide us on our financial journey.
GOD'S ROLE AND OUR ROLE
God has certain responsibilities, and He has given other responsibilities to us.
Most frustration in handling money comes because we don’t realize which responsibilities are ours and which belong to the Lord. It’s helpful to understand this division as you evaluate your current situation.
God’s responsibility is that of the Owner. He created all things and owns everything.
Psalm 24:1 tells us, "The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it"
Scripture gets even more specific. Leviticus 25:23 identifies God as the owner of all the land: "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are ... my tenants."
Haggai 2:8 says He owns all the mineral riches of the earth: "'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord Almighty."
HOW DOES OUR VIEW OF MONEY CHANGE WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE GOD'S OWNERSHIP?
Every spending decision becomes a spiritual decision. No longer do we ask, "Lord, what do You want me to do with my money?" The question becomes, "Lord, what do You want me to do with YOUR money?" When we have this attitude and handle His money according to His wishes, spending decisions are just as spiritual as giving decisions.
The word that best describes our responsibility is “steward.” Stewards manage someone else's possessions or money. Our responsibility is summed up in 1 Corinthians 4:2, "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful."
Before we can be found faithful, we must know what we are required to do. Just as the operator of a complicated piece of machinery studies the manufacturer's manual to learn how to operate it, we need to examine the Owner's manual—the Bible—to determine how He wants us to handle His possessions.
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them to Questions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website at MoneyWise.org where you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app.
