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The Word On Finances
Every Bible verse on finances, all in one book
In a world of shifting economic realities, few financial equations last very long. In the marketplace, countless writers, analysts, and con artists clamor for the public ear. Whose voice can we trust? Which financial principles will stand the test of time?
The Word on Finances sorts through the clamor of advice, plans, and ideas to bring us back to the final word we most need to hear: God's.
Author Larry Burkett has organized an invaluable collection of relevant Scriptures into one easy-to-reference volume. Topically arranged New American Standard Bible passages and a concordance focus attention on 70 areas of finance and stewardship, all grouped under 8 headings:
Right attitudes
Wrong attitudes
Credit
Giving and providing
God's blessings and curses
Investing
Work and Wages
Government
Borrowing, bribery, planning, saving, taxes, and more-if the Bible mentions it, it's in this book. With Burkett's practical wisdom opening each topical selection, The Word on Finances is a go-to guide for spending money wisely and in a way that honors God.
In a world of shifting economic realities, few financial equations last very long. In the marketplace, countless writers, analysts, and con artists clamor for the public ear. Whose voice can we trust? Which financial principles will stand the test of time?
The Word on Finances sorts through the clamor of advice, plans, and ideas to bring us back to the final word we most need to hear: God's.
Author Larry Burkett has organized an invaluable collection of relevant Scriptures into one easy-to-reference volume. Topically arranged New American Standard Bible passages and a concordance focus attention on 70 areas of finance and stewardship, all grouped under 8 headings:
Right attitudes
Wrong attitudes
Credit
Giving and providing
God's blessings and curses
Investing
Work and Wages
Government
Borrowing, bribery, planning, saving, taxes, and more-if the Bible mentions it, it's in this book. With Burkett's practical wisdom opening each topical selection, The Word on Finances is a go-to guide for spending money wisely and in a way that honors God.
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 1994
17 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Larry Burkett
306 books56 followersLarry Burkett was an American radio personality whose work focused on financial counseling from a Christian point of view.
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May 3, 2017
A topical reference of over 1,000 Bible verses on over 70 financial topics. The chapter for each topic has a brief commentary, then quotes the relevant verses (from the NASB), with the applicable parts of the verses bolded. A few verses struck me as irrelevant, but the vast majority are on point. This book helped me think though the Bible's teachings on financial principles.
The author says there are over 1,000 references to money in the Bible, second only to the subject of love.
Notes
Right Attitudes
Contentment doesn't mean complacency. We change the things we can, and accept and are content with things we can't. Luke 3:14: Acts 20:33-35; Phil 4:11-14.
Trust God to provide what you need. Matt 6:25-34; 7:9-11; Luke 12:29-34; Phil 4:6.
Wrong Attitudes
Don't be proud about, or trust in, wealth. Job 31:24-25; 36:19; 1 Tim 6:17.
Bible says we shouldn't sue believers, but just because it doesn't say we shouldn't sue a non-Christian, doesn't make it right. Isa 59:4; Matt 5:40; Luke 6:29-31; 1 Cor 6:1, 7.
Credit
God doesn't prohibit using credit; He simply gives 3 guidelines
1. Credit shouldn't be normal.
2. Credit shouldn't be long-term.
3. Don't sign surety (take on an obligation to pay) without an absolutely certain way to pay.
There are few verses about paying interest, but many telling us not to charge interest. Ex 22:25; Deut 23:19-20; Ps 15:5; Prov 28:8; Ezek 18:7-9, 12-13, 16-18; 22:12-13.
Don't sign surety (deposit a pledge for future payment) without a sure and certain way to pay in full. Otherwise you presume upon the future and God's will. Instead, collateralize debts. Prov 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27.
Don't charge usury (exorbitant or abusive interest). [Author defines this as more than 1% per month, but doesn't give Bible reference for this.] Lev 25:35-37; Neh 5:7-10; Prov 28:8.
Giving and Providing
To give first fruits means to tithe on gross (pre-tax) income. Tithe profit from sale of home, inheritance, insurance income, dividends, interest. Ex 34:26; Num 18:12-13; Deut 18:4; Neh 10:37-39; Prov 3:9-10; Ezek 44:30.
3 levels of giving in OT
1. Tithe (minimum 1/10)
2. Offering (giving above tithe, to meet specific needs)
3. Sacrificial giving (giving up what we want)
We should have short term plans (budget) and long term plans. Gen 41:34-36; 47:24; 1 Chron 22:5, 14; Prov 21:5; 27:23-24; 30:25; Luke 14:28-30.
Jews gave 3 tithes, totaling an average 23.5%
1. Annual, to storehouse
2. For Jewish widows and orphans
3. For Gentile widows and orphans (every 3rd year)
God's Blessings and Curses
Material blessings: Gen 15:14; 24:35-36; 26:3, 12-14; 39:2-6; Deut 28:8, 11; 30:8-11; Josh 1:8.
God sometimes disciplines His people by withholding or removing material things. Gen 34:29; 2 King 14:14; 24:13-14; 25:15; 2 Chron 12:9; 26:5; Neh 2:8; Job 36:11; Ps 25:12-13; 128:5; Prov 10:22; 13:25; Isa 39:6; Jer 10:21; 15:13; 17:3; Ezek 26:12; Zeph 1:12-13; Luke 12:30-31.
Bible says wealth includes salvation, peace, creative abilities, health.
Investing
Bible says a lot about investing, but it's always to satisfy future needs for self, family, body of Christ.
We must buy what we need rather than what we want. That doesn't mean God won't allow us to have material things beyond basic necessities, just that we must be good stewards.
There's nothing wrong with multiplying assets, so long as it's done to benefit the kingdom. Matt 25:14-30.
We may save, but not hoard. Prov 6:6-8; 21:20; Ecc 11:2.
Work and Wages
We may enjoy our earnings. Ecc 5:18-19.
The author says there are over 1,000 references to money in the Bible, second only to the subject of love.
Notes
Right Attitudes
Contentment doesn't mean complacency. We change the things we can, and accept and are content with things we can't. Luke 3:14: Acts 20:33-35; Phil 4:11-14.
Trust God to provide what you need. Matt 6:25-34; 7:9-11; Luke 12:29-34; Phil 4:6.
Wrong Attitudes
Don't be proud about, or trust in, wealth. Job 31:24-25; 36:19; 1 Tim 6:17.
Bible says we shouldn't sue believers, but just because it doesn't say we shouldn't sue a non-Christian, doesn't make it right. Isa 59:4; Matt 5:40; Luke 6:29-31; 1 Cor 6:1, 7.
Credit
God doesn't prohibit using credit; He simply gives 3 guidelines
1. Credit shouldn't be normal.
2. Credit shouldn't be long-term.
3. Don't sign surety (take on an obligation to pay) without an absolutely certain way to pay.
There are few verses about paying interest, but many telling us not to charge interest. Ex 22:25; Deut 23:19-20; Ps 15:5; Prov 28:8; Ezek 18:7-9, 12-13, 16-18; 22:12-13.
Don't sign surety (deposit a pledge for future payment) without a sure and certain way to pay in full. Otherwise you presume upon the future and God's will. Instead, collateralize debts. Prov 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27.
Don't charge usury (exorbitant or abusive interest). [Author defines this as more than 1% per month, but doesn't give Bible reference for this.] Lev 25:35-37; Neh 5:7-10; Prov 28:8.
Giving and Providing
To give first fruits means to tithe on gross (pre-tax) income. Tithe profit from sale of home, inheritance, insurance income, dividends, interest. Ex 34:26; Num 18:12-13; Deut 18:4; Neh 10:37-39; Prov 3:9-10; Ezek 44:30.
3 levels of giving in OT
1. Tithe (minimum 1/10)
2. Offering (giving above tithe, to meet specific needs)
3. Sacrificial giving (giving up what we want)
We should have short term plans (budget) and long term plans. Gen 41:34-36; 47:24; 1 Chron 22:5, 14; Prov 21:5; 27:23-24; 30:25; Luke 14:28-30.
Jews gave 3 tithes, totaling an average 23.5%
1. Annual, to storehouse
2. For Jewish widows and orphans
3. For Gentile widows and orphans (every 3rd year)
God's Blessings and Curses
Material blessings: Gen 15:14; 24:35-36; 26:3, 12-14; 39:2-6; Deut 28:8, 11; 30:8-11; Josh 1:8.
God sometimes disciplines His people by withholding or removing material things. Gen 34:29; 2 King 14:14; 24:13-14; 25:15; 2 Chron 12:9; 26:5; Neh 2:8; Job 36:11; Ps 25:12-13; 128:5; Prov 10:22; 13:25; Isa 39:6; Jer 10:21; 15:13; 17:3; Ezek 26:12; Zeph 1:12-13; Luke 12:30-31.
Bible says wealth includes salvation, peace, creative abilities, health.
Investing
Bible says a lot about investing, but it's always to satisfy future needs for self, family, body of Christ.
We must buy what we need rather than what we want. That doesn't mean God won't allow us to have material things beyond basic necessities, just that we must be good stewards.
There's nothing wrong with multiplying assets, so long as it's done to benefit the kingdom. Matt 25:14-30.
We may save, but not hoard. Prov 6:6-8; 21:20; Ecc 11:2.
Work and Wages
We may enjoy our earnings. Ecc 5:18-19.
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