Davey Boyd

I’ve been surprised by how much the Bible actually says about money – budgeting, saving money, spending it, how to handle it, how to give and why to give and more. And to show you what I mean, have a look at Christian PF’s massive list of lists in 250 Bible Verses about Money which is conveniently categorised under many headings.

Here are my top 3 Bible Texts of late that talk about money and have impressed me (or been impressed upon me) over the last few months:

“Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.” Proverbs 6:5

In the context of having found yourself in debt, the book of Proverbs describes what our attitude should be like in regards to our debt. We’re not to be laissez faire where we gently stroll away from debt. No! I’m reading this and I’m made aware that I must flee from debt like a gazelle running away from a hunter. So if you’re up to your neck in consumer debt do something about it! Stop spending like money is going out of fashion, start saving and work harder + smarter to increase your income (which is easier said than done).

More importantly I think the spiritual application is this: once you’ve become aware of your moral + legal debt to God because of your sin (crimes against God) then you must (if you’re wise) flee to safety. Safety from the wrath of God is found in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:1).

“Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and become wise!  Proverbs 6:6

Right next door to the previous verse is the famous one about the ants. The point of King Solomon’s rebuke to the broke, lazy yobbo’s of his time was simply this – get wise (biblical wisdom, not worldly philosophy) and get busy! Get the Bible into your head and into your heart. It’ll transform your life, your outlook, you’re standing before God Almighty and it’ll propel you out into the world.

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,  just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,  it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” Luke’s Gospel 1:1-4

Huh – what has the intro to Luke’s Gospel got to do with money. Let me explain. Luke was a medical doctor, a very clever, well-learned man of gentile origin. He didn’t grow up as a Jew going to synagogue, reading the Torah, praying for the coming of Messiah but became a convert to Christ after hearing the preaching of the Apostles. Luke’s grasp of Greek is expert and his account of the life of Christ has word-for-word the most words of Christ out of the other Gospels.

Luke set out after having “followed all things closely” for some time to compile a narrative (historical accounting) of Jesus’ life – in an orderly manner. He went out so that Theophilus (and all those following afterwards) would have certainty about the things he believed in. He went out for years interviewing eye witnesses, visiting the places where the Lord had been, talking to the ministers of the word and no doubt consulting the other New Testament scriptures that had been written by that stage, making his notes as he went.

Why did he go? To get the facts and in so doing verify the truth.

So whats it got to do with money. Well you’ll notice that the Gospel of Luke (and the Books of Acts) are dedicated to Most Excellent Theophilus. That is Luke’s formal ‘tip of the hat’ to Theophilus, the benefactor of the book. Theophilus was probably a high ranked Roman governor and having come to faith, wanted to get the facts down and have it done right. So he sent Luke – a man capable to do the job.

Basically, Theophilus the rich guy GAVE his money… enough to sustain Luke’s epic journey for months and months – maybe even years – while he diligently compiled the orderly account that we have recorded for us.

In short that is amazing. The one who has much, gives freely of his own money, time and resources so that the Gospel can be written. That is really amazing. Maybe one day when you get out of debt you’ll be able to be in the role of Theophilus and give a massive chunk of money so the Gospel can go out.