Week Six – How should a Christian approach work and financial issues?

At a Wednesday evening church meeting a very wealthy man rose to give his testimony.

"I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life.

I can still remember the turning point in my faith, like it was yesterday:

I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night.

The speaker was a missionary who told about his work.

I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God's work or nothing at all.

So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God.

I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today."

As he finished it was clear that everyone had been moved by this man's story.

But, as he took his seat, a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said:

"Wonderful story! I dare you to do it again!"

As Christians, we often told about the need to trust God regarding work and financial issues. But, on the other hand, “waiting on God” can sometimes be used as an excuse for inaction. How can we strike the right balance between deferring to God’s sovereignty and His plans, while also recognizing that God works through the world – including the skills and abilities we’ve been given, the people around us, etc.? Let's also think about what financial success (or non-success) means for a Christian.

Make sure and look at the comments section for another article that was sent in by one of our members!

Possible readings:

Crown Financial Ministries, Why People Accumulate Wealth,

Crown Financial Ministries, Finances and Your Relationship With God,

Kerby Anderson, Bible, Economics and Capitalism,

Ray Cotton, Business and Ethics,

Dan Miller, Are You Losing Your Soul?,

Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck, ‘Killer Skills’: When Success Traps You,

Margaret D. Mitchell, Motives Matter in the Workplace