4 Questions to Help Align Your Faith and Finances

Money is essential to living in today’s world. Achieving financial security and accumulating wealth are often viewed as indicators of success. However, these principles by themselves can contradict those taught in the Bible. It’s important that Christians use their finances to steward their resources, lead by example and live generously.

Our reliance on money makes us think about how we align our faith and finances. Consider that you are managing God’s finances and resources rather than your own — because you are. He owns it all. Are you stewarding your finances for yourself or the Lord?

You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm his covenant he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (CSB)

God entrusted you with money; therefore, it’s your duty to use it in a way that honors him. You can apply this by budgeting, spending, investing, saving and giving your money responsibly.

Wealth should not become your master but rather a means to advance the Kingdom.

Here are four guiding questions to keep in mind while pursuing Kingdom-minded stewardship.

1. Consider: Are you budgeting your finances responsibly?

Allocate your income to basic expenses, savings, an emergency fund, goal purchases and the ministries that are important to you.

• Develop sustainable habits by creating a budget to track your present needs while preparing for the future. For more information, read about budgeting for every season of life.
• Plan so you’re prepared for the unknown, whether it’s an unforeseen medical bill or a time of greater need.
• Ensure you factor debt payments into your budget. Striving to pay off debt quickly will allow you to allocate funds to other expenses and future savings.
• Include charitable donations in your budget to make sure you give consistently.

2. Evaluate: Are you spending and investing your money with responsible organizations?

Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (CSB)

As much as you can, engage with faith-aligned organizations and opportunities.

• Consider using Christian investment solutions to help you meet your financial goals. By advocating for the faith-based values of life, family, safety, health, stewardship and advocacy, GuideStone^® represents each of our 250,000 members in the larger conversation of faith and Christian values.
• Take a proactive approach by finding companies to do business with whose policies and actions support the faith. GuideStone encourages organizations to adopt Christ-like business practices through our corporate engagement efforts.

3. Assess: Are you saving enough for retirement?

Prepare for your future by taking the time to contribute to your retirement account.

• Save and invest through employer-sponsored retirement plans, IRAs, and investment accounts. To learn more, check out our retirement planning and guidance.
• Prioritize contributing to your retirement account and working toward financial security in the future . Financial experts generally recommend investing 10-15% of your income into retirement savings.
• Increase the amount you contribute yearly. It’s important to account for inflation, salary increases and any debts you pay off.

4. Reflect: Are you giving to your church, ministries and causes that are important to you?

Give generously to make a difference.

In every way I've shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 (CSB)

• Posture your heart to be a cheerful giver. Although it can be challenging to be generous with money, we should live charitably and support others.
• Reflect on what you are passionate about and feel led to support.
• Consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), a tax-exempt way for IRA owners to transfer funds to eligible charities directly. Contributors must be at least 70½ years old to do so.

Are you interested in learning more about aligning your faith and finances through faith-based investing? Schedule an appointment with one of our financial educators and discover how to leverage GuideStone’s unique approach to investment management.

For more information, contact us at Info@GuideStone.org or 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT.