Overcoming Financial Anxiety

God never intended for money issues to have control of and produce negative effects in our lives. In our materialistic, fast-paced, “gotta have it right now” society we have fallen prey to “loving” money, overspending, “clamoring for more,” and “even selling our souls.” This unhealthy behavior with money causes great financial anxiety for many of us.

God encourages us to avoid these negative effects of money by adopting His biblical instructions and wisdom in managing money and material possessions. As we begin a New Year, this is a great time to free yourself from all financial anxieties regardless of your present financial state by adopting God’s wisdom and instructions on money matters.

Whatever has caused your financial challenges, you can start over and begin by forgiving yourself and others that may have contributed to your financial problems, God provides mercy whenever we are willing to come to him in prayer with a heart to change.

Choose to invest in gaining the Biblical wisdom and skills you need in order to manage money according to God’s word. God warns us to avoid loving money, to avoid trusting in money, to avoid gaining money through ungodly and unethical means, and to avoid thinking money is a witness of godliness.

Lessons from the Bible:

1. It is foolish to pursue riches versus pursuing a relationship with God and His Word (Luke 12:16-21).

2. Riches are temporal, but God’s blessing for faithfulness has eternal rewards (Proverbs 27: 24; 28:20; Psalm 49:10-12; 1 Timothy 6:17).

3. Be willing to work and avoid laziness and taking advantage of the kindness of others (Proverbs 19:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:10).

4. Set up a plan of action to eliminate debt and avoid credit card abuse (Proverbs 22:7; Romans 13:8)

5. Be faithful in honoring your financial commitments, paying creditors and taxes (Romans 13:5-6; Mark 12:17; Ephesians 4:28).

6. Elevate your relationship with God in honoring Him in His tithe as a faithful way of living and giving (Genesis 14:20; Malachi 3:8-11; Matthew 23:23).

7. Let giving to God’s work in the earth and helping the poor inspire you in being a generous giver (Proverbs 11:25; 19:17; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6).

8. Adopt an attitude of thankfulness and contentment with what you presently have (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 13:5 and Philippians 4:11).

9. Make God your source and trust Him to supply your needs (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:19).

I believe God will honor us when we honor His Word. Begin this New Year living with faith and faithfulness to Christ. Let His grace and glory operate in your money matters and free you from all financial anxieties. Join us for a dynamic worship experience at Word Alive Church on Sunday at 10:00a.m. and Wednesday for a Spirit-Filled worship and engaging Bible Study at 7:00p.m.

Contributed by Pastor Norman Curlee

of Kingdom Builders Church