Financial crisis – what’s a Christian to do?
What are Christians supposed to do when we’re hit by a national or personal financial crisis? How we handle a financial storm depends mostly on our attitude about whom the money belongs to in the first place. Do we view our money as ours? Or do we view it as coming from and belonging to…
What does the Bible say about being poor?
The Bible has a lot to say about being poor, and we have many examples of poor people in Scripture. Since material wealth is not a sure indication of God’s blessing, being poor is not necessarily a sign of God’s disapproval. In fact, it is possible to be poor in material things but rich in…
Should a Christian get insurance?
Christians sometimes struggle with the question of whether or not to get insurance—does a Christian with insurance demonstrate a lack of faith? This is a healthy struggle, and believers need to examine the Scriptures and come up with an answer they can defend biblically. First, let us agree that insurance for Christians is not specifically…
Should a Christian mortgage a home?
A mortgage is a legal agreement in which a person borrows money to buy property (such as a house) and pays back the money with interest. Most homes in America are obtained through mortgages, since the purchase price of most livable houses is far outside the financial means of most home buyers. So people who…
Should we tithe off our gross or net income?
The tithe is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were to give 10 percent of everything they earned—or the crops and animals they grew—to the tabernacle or temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5). Believers in Christ are not commanded to give…
What does the Bible say about playing the lottery?
The word gamble means “to risk something of value on an outcome that depends on chance.” Because the outcome of a lottery “depends on chance” and playing it involves “risk,” then, by definition, playing the lottery is gambling. The Bible has no examples of a lottery, but it does contain instances of gambling: Samson’s wager…
Should a Christian use a credit card?
Credit vouchers in some form have been in existence since the 1800s, but in a private, limited capacity. Plastic credit cards as we know them have only been used since the 1960s. In 1946 a banker named John Biggins invented a bank card called “Charg-It,” but it was only used locally through his bank. In…
What does the Bible say about giving?
The Bible has a lot to say about giving! First, Jesus declares that our attitude toward money is indicative of the focus of our hearts: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). It is helpful to look at our various financial accounts and observe how we spend our money.…
How should a Christian respond to a bad economy?
When faced with a bad economy that threatens job security and savings accounts, it is natural to feel trepidation and some degree of insecurity. That said, a Christian can be at peace during times of economic downturn. Here are three good ways for Christians to respond when the economy is less than ideal: Continue to…
What does the Bible say about feeding the hungry?
The Bible says we are to care for the poor, which involves feeding the hungry. God is pictured as feeding the hungry. “He has filled the hungry with good things,” Mary sings (Luke 1:53). “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry,” the psalmist sings (Psalm 146:7). If we are…