Drawing Closer to God

Faith & Finance

All your relationships—with your spouse, family, and friends—are important but temporary. Your only eternal relationship is with God.

The bonds of family and friends help us thrive in this world, but they pale in comparison to the significance of our relationship with the Lord. Today, I’ll share some practical ways you can draw closer to God.

Connecting Faith and Finances: Why Your Relationship with God Affects Your Money

You might wonder, "What does my relationship with God have to do with finances?" After all, this is a blog about money, right? Yes, but it’s also about faith. For Christians, faith and finances are deeply intertwined, and the Bible provides three key principles that connect the dots between the two.

Principle 1: God Owns Everything

The first principle is foundational: God created everything, and therefore, He owns everything. Colossians 1:16 makes this clear:

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

This means that everything we possess is ultimately God’s, not ours.

Principle 2: God Has Entrusted Us with Resources

The second principle is that God has given us everything we possess. James 1:17 says:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

While God owns everything, He has entrusted us with resources to use temporarily as His stewards.

Principle 3: God Desires a Close Relationship with Us

The third principle is that God is not distant or detached—He desires a close relationship with each of us. James 4:8 says:

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

We draw near to God by obediently following His Word. With over 2,300 verses about money and possessions in Scripture, God has made it clear that He wants us to manage money according to His principles.

The Spiritual Impact of Money Management

In Luke 16:11, Jesus indicates that God uses money as a test:

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”

Jesus is saying that how you handle money affects your spiritual life. When you manage it well—according to biblical principles—you naturally grow closer to Christ. But if you don’t, your fellowship with the Lord suffers.

Obstacles to Financial Faithfulness

Biblical money management is a practical way to improve your spiritual life, but obstacles can get in the way. Two types of disobedience can prevent us from handling money God’s way and growing closer to Him.

• Passive Disobedience: This is simply laziness. Some people don’t want to take the time to organize their finances, create a budget, or track their spending. While these tasks might only take a few hours a month, it’s often too much to bother with. Sadly, the same person might spend more time than that watching TV every night, and as a result, their intimacy with God suffers.
• Active Disobedience: For others, money and possessions actively compete with Christ. Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Some people believe they can surrender every part of their lives to Christ except for their finances. They might excel at making money, paying bills, saving, and investing, but they refuse to give Christ lordship over their finances. This resistance often centers around tithing or giving to God’s Kingdom, leading to a weakened relationship with Christ.

Finally, there are those who don’t follow biblical financial principles yet believe their relationship with the Lord is just fine. To them, we might say, “What you don’t know will hurt you. What are you missing out on?” If that’s you, commit to the Lord in earnest prayer and follow through by managing your money and possessions according to His principles.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to align your finances with your faith, start by downloading the free FaithFi app. It will help you set up a budget based on the envelope system and provide you with the best Christian financial content to grow closer to God. Commit to following His financial principles for three months and see if your relationship with the Lord becomes more intimate.

Aligning your finances with God’s Word is not just about managing money; it’s about deepening your relationship with Christ. By faithfully stewarding the resources God has given you, you’ll experience the true riches of a closer walk with Him.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• My kids are buying their first home, and I've offered to help them with the closing costs. Is giving them a loan or a gift better? What are the tax implications of each option?
• I just retired about three weeks ago, and I have a mortgage balance left on my house of about $26,000 with a 15-year term. We've been making extra payments, so we could pay it off in the next three years by continuing our regular payments. I have enough money in a Roth IRA to pay off the $26,000 mortgage. Should I keep the money in the Roth IRA or use it to pay off the mortgage?
• My daughter was in the hospital and had surgeries. The hospital pressured her to pay, so she paid the full balance with her credit card. Then she lost her job. Last week, we got a summons for her to appear in court because the credit card company is pursuing legal action. We just don’t know what to do.

Resources Mentioned:

• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)
• FaithFi App

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at [phone]. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.