With so many personal finance books out there, one often-overlooked treasure trove of wisdom is the Bible. What may do not realize, beyond its spiritual significance, the Bible offers timeless principles that extend into the realm of personal finance. Exploring the scriptures reveals a wealth of guidance on money management, stewardship, and ethical financial practices. In this article, we delve into why the Bible stands out as the best personal finance book.

Foundational Principles

The Bible serves as a foundational guide for ethical living, including financial matters. Principles such as honesty, integrity, and diligence lay the groundwork for sound financial practices. The emphasis on treating others with fairness and generosity creates a solid foundation for building wealth with a purpose.

Stewardship Mentality

A prevailing theme in the Bible is the concept of stewardship. The belief that all resources, including wealth, ultimately belong to God fosters a sense of responsibility and accountability. This stewardship mentality encourages individuals to manage their finances wisely, considering the impact on their own lives and the well-being of others.

Contentment and Avoidance of Greed

The Bible cautions against the pitfalls of greed and emphasizes the importance of contentment. Learning to be content with what one has is a fundamental principle that counters the consumer-driven mindset prevalent in modern society. This perspective fosters financial discipline, reducing the temptation to accumulate debt or make impulsive purchases.

Debt Management

Biblical teachings provide valuable insights into debt management. Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” This warning underscores the importance of avoiding unnecessary debt, encouraging financial freedom and independence.

Generosity and Giving

The Bible places a strong emphasis on generosity and charitable giving. Proverbs 11:25 states, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Incorporating a spirit of generosity into personal finance fosters a mindset of abundance and opens doors for unexpected blessings.

Planning and Wisdom

Biblical wisdom emphasizes the importance of planning and making informed decisions. Proverbs 21:5 states, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” This principle encourages individuals to set financial goals, budget effectively, and make wise investment decisions for long-term prosperity.

Hard Work and Diligence

The Bible promotes a strong work ethic and diligence in one’s pursuits. Proverbs 10:4 states, “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Applying this principle to personal finance encourages individuals to work hard, be resourceful, and seize opportunities for financial growth.

Risk Management

While encouraging diligence, the Bible also acknowledges the importance of calculated risk-taking. Ecclesiastes 11:1 advises, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” This principle encourages individuals to take measured risks in pursuit of financial growth and diversify their investments wisely.

Long-Term Vision

The Bible emphasizes the importance of having a long-term vision rather than succumbing to short-term gratification. Proverbs 13:11 states, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” This principle underscores the value of patience, consistency, and disciplined saving over time.

In a world saturated with personal finance advice, the Bible stands out as an Checkenduring and unparalleled guide. Its principles transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, offering timeless wisdom for those seeking financial success with integrity and purpose.

From stewardship mentality to debt management, generosity to hard work, the Bible provides a comprehensive framework for personal finance. By integrating these principles into their lives, individuals can navigate the complexities of modern financial challenges while building a legacy of responsible and purposeful wealth. Ultimately, the Bible’s teachings offer not only a roadmap to financial prosperity but also a guide for leading a fulfilling and meaningful life. Remember, the Bible is not only timely, it is timeless. Go pick up your Bible and start reading it… it is not only a book for devotion, it is also a book of instructions. Instructions to what? Instructions towards righteous living.

Check out my latest book called Money By The Book, a book I wrote about having a biblical perspective on wealth.

If you want to get a copy of Money By The Book, it’s only P350.00 per copy.

Here’s how you can order:

1. Pay P350.00 per book or only P3,000 for 10 books via GCash 09998837273, BPI 0249111309 or BDO 006440069496 (QR Code available upon request)
2. Add deliver fee of P85.00 for Metro Manila or P180.00 for Provincial addresses.
3. Take a screenshot of your deposit or payment advice and email to michael@randelltiongson.com along with your name, complete address and contact number.

We each have work to do. Everything we do — from the way we work to how we talk — is an act of worship to God.

One of the reasons we work is to experience happiness in God (Ecclesiastes 3:22). When we exert energy to complete a task, there is joy from accomplishing something. God is the source of all work; our meaning is found in Him, no matter what work we’re doing.

Work also gives us the financial means to meet our needs, help others and worship Jesus. By working toward something and earning a living, we are building a life of freedom. Freedom is the ability to live according to God’s directions rather than according to the restrictions of our debts or obligations. Working is how God has designed us to live in this freedom.

God wants to do work in you, not just make you accomplish tasks. Perhaps you’re in a difficult job with challenging co-workers and impossible tasks or maybe your business is experiencing difficulties. It may be a chance for you to grow in faithfulness, dedication and overcoming conflicts. When we work, our character is built and we’re better equipped to do more work God calls us to in the future (whether it’s in a career, running a business, serving others or anything else).

Ultimately, our jobs are about stewardship. We’ve been given great opportunities to use our minds, bodies, creativity and attitudes that God has allotted for us. Be responsible and grateful for the resources and abilities you have. Work because you’ve received a task from Jesus, not just income.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ”.

Colossians 3:23-24, ESV

Over the years, I have had the privilege of mentoring and discipling a number of people that has grown leaps in bounds with their profession and their life in general. I believe that teaching others is something we should all be espousing and investing in others will truly bring exponential returns in one way or another.

One of the people I was privileged to meet just a few months ago whom  I was at awe seeing his passion and drive to have a positive impact on others — Ian Dilla, the founder of Wise Peso. I have been reading a lot of his posts and they are truly insightful. I also have the privilege of now being a good friend to Ian and I asked him to do a guest post for my site. Enjoy Ian’s thought provoking and heart warming post…

Where should my focus be?

After going through the first No Nonsense step of Mr. Randell Tiongson, improving cash flow, the tendency for a lot of us is to abandon our focus on it and shift to investing for the future

It is the first step for a reason, and it is not something that we should abandon. It is, even, not something that can be finished

When God created man, He put him in a garden to cultivate it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

Work is part of God’s design for man, and in the Bible, it is mentioned right after the creation of the first man, Adam. So, to cultivate and keep the garden He planted for us and put us into is to fulfill our purpose.

I used to think that when I pray, God answers it by giving me what I specifically prayed for. But when I realized that God planted a garden for each and every one of us, I understood that God answers prayers by giving us everything that we need to realize what we have been praying for.

When God planted the Garden of Eden, it had everything that Adam and Eve will ever need. The only thing they have to do is cultivate it and keep it. We can see here how God is a very practical God. Cultivating and keeping the garden is not a prerequisite that God gave Adam and Eve before He sustains them. Cultivating and keeping the garden is necessary because, simply if they don’t, the garden will die and will eventually be unable to give them sustenance.

We pray for financial freedom, a good retirement, a huge house, or a nice car. These are our goals. God does not just give us what we asked for, he answers our prayers by giving us everything that we need to realize our goals. The moment I understood this, I prayed and asked God, “What is my garden?”.

What did He give me or where did He put me to realize my goals?

His answer to me is my job and the organization I am part of…

Each one of us is currently working in the organization we are with or on a business we put up for a reason

It is not a coincidence that the first No Nonsense step, improving cash flow, is the direct result of being excellent in our job or business. Improving cash flow is the direct result of cultivating and keeping the garden God has given us

If you ever had the chance to visit provinces around the Philippines and countries around the world, you will know that there is no standard size for a place before it can be called a garden. Your backyard and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay are both classified as a garden.

All gardens are not made equal, just like your “garden” is not as big or glamorous as your friend’s. But this doesn’t mean that your friend is better than you or God is biased towards blessing him more. This only means that God is still dealing with something in you to prepare you for your next garden. Cultivating our garden also means being excellent gardeners by improving our abilities and character.

God gives us what we need, but He also only gives us what we can handle. Imagine if you are given a huge garden but you are simply not ready for it, the pressure might destroy you and God is protecting you from that. After all, God will not keep us within the confines of our current garden if we have proved our abilities and character ready, fulfilled our mission, and cultivated the garden for Him. He Gives us a bigger Garden which also entails more challenges, but because He gave it to us, He knows that we are ready.

This is how we should approach improving cash flow. We should not abandon it when we feel like we’ve done it once or a few times. We should keep improving it by cultivating the current garden given to us by God.

Getting out of debt, setting up emergency fund, getting protected from life’s risk, and Investing for the future are all what God wants us to do. These are also found in the Bible. But improving cash flow is the product of excellent work, and work is one of God’s first and main design for man.

Ian Dilla is a Financial Adviser from Cardinal Buoy Financials and founder of the Facebook page Wise Peso. The Facebook page was able to accumulate over 20 Thousand followers in less than a year because of Ian’s distinctive and pragmatic view on personal finance.