Happy New Year! May you find peace and prosperity this year! And here are a few thoughts about financial prosperity.

Ironically, most men think money will do what it can’t—and that God can’t do what He will.

Jesus said a man cannot love both God and money. John said a man cannot love both God and the world. Money is God’s chief competitor. Every man must decide which one he will serve.

Money, however, is not evil. In fact, money is often a hand of God’s providence. Not the only hand, but one of the primary ways God directs the affairs of men. By giving it to us—or taking it away—God guides us into His best plan and purpose. Men must feed their families, so God uses money to move us into work that tends the culture.

Beyond exhorting us to share with the church and the poor—and to not make money a god—the Bible gives us remarkable freedom over money and possessions. While all things may be permissible, not all things will make a man happy or free.

Here are three ideas to help you think through your own theology of money and possessions.

First, don’t own things you do not use on a regular basis.
For seven years we owned a weekend lake house just outside of town. Nearly every Friday afternoon we would “kidnap” our children and spend the weekend doing country things. When our daughter turned eleven, her in-town friends became more important, and we only used the house once that entire year. So we sold it.

There was nothing wrong with owning it. There was no requirement to sell it. There was no special virtue in owning it or not owning it. But selling it kept us lean and responsive to God’s leading.

This idea is not for everyone. Nor does it make one man more spiritual than another. But it can free a man tremendously. Why? Everything you and I own requires maintenance, worry, insurance, money—and represents an opportunity cost.

Second, don’t own things just because you can.
A neighbor owned a beautifully restored mahogany 1957 Chris Craft Sportsman boat. After admiring it for several years, I had the opportunity to buy it. I could afford it. I wanted it. But during that season I kept asking myself whether I should buy it simply because I could.

One day the thought came to mind: Why not deny yourself this boat?
That question was a jolt. After several days of prayer, I decided it would be a good exercise in self-restraint and personal discipline to pass. At the same time, I went ahead with other purchases and felt completely at peace about them.

The issue wasn’t money. It was mastery.

Third, the more you give away, the happier you will be.
Over the years, I’ve developed close friendships with many generous men. Here is an iron law I have repeatedly observed: the greater the proportion of a man’s income he gives away, the happier he is. Scripture bears this out clearly.

Ironically, for some men, the more money they have, the more afraid they are that it will run out. If that fear sounds familiar, the Bible’s promise is simple and reassuring: if you are generous toward others, God will be generous toward you.

You are not going to run out.

Money is a wonderful servant—but a dangerous master. Choose carefully.

Always on your side,

Pat