Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. It was later revealed that he, the world famous musician who was titled the “King of Pop” and had sold over 700 million records, was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.

I was shocked! It was mind-boggling that someone with so much money also had so much debt.

If Michael Jackson, the man who made more money than I have ever seen, was that much in debt, is less more when it comes to money? In some ways, yes.

Especially during America's challenging economic situation this year, it's human to think that all of our problems would be solved if we only had more money.  But that isn't Biblical thinking.

The answer to money problems is not simply having more, as Michael Jackson's finances show. One can make lots of money and have the same problems as someone making much less. Financial success lies not in how much one has but how one manages what one has.

Financial peace and hope come from following the Bible's instructions on money. You read that correctly: God's Word discusses money and has instructions that are applicable today! In fact, money is mentioned over 100 times in the Bible! That count does not include synonyms such as wealth, gold, silver, and treasure. With those included, the count is much, much higher.

If Michael Jackson was a good example of how not to manage money, the Bible is an even better source of financial advice and guidance on how we should manage our finances.  Here are just a few of the lessons I've learned from the Bible.

Tithe!

God is our provider and tithing is one important Biblical concept regarding money. The word tithe is used over 25 times in the Bible. It was a concept established in the Old Testament. Most Christians are familiar with Malachi 3:9-12 regarding tithe.

The Bible says, "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.  "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'  "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you —because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Tithing is based on the understanding that what we have belongs to the Lord. We are called to give back to Him with gratefulness for what He has given us, and there are many promises (more blessing than we have room for, good crops, a blessed nation, and a delightful land) associated with that act in the above verse.

God's Word mentions tithing 10% specifically in Leviticus. I often wonder how individual and national financial statuses would be different if 10% off of everything received was given back to the Lord and used for His work.

Work!

We must work for money.  Captain John Smith used the scriptural admonishment “...He who does not work will not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) to encourage farming when setting up his colony in Jamestown, Virginia in the 1600s. He recognized that working is how humans survive. Beginning with Adam and Eve, people have had to work for food and supplies in order to meet their physical needs.

Don't Let Money Rule Over You!

We must not let money rule over us. Money isn't the root of all kinds of evil, but according to 1 Timothy 6: 9-10, the love of it is: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  The love of money has very serious consequences, including wandering from our faith in Christ and causing “many griefs”.

Manage Well What God Has Given You!

We must manage our finances responsibly, being good stewards of what God has given us.  Luke 16:10-13 says, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

According to Luke, being faithful in what one has is more important than how much one is given. As Christians, we must choose to serve God and not money.

There's a cautionary verse about borrowing money (being in debt) in Proverbs: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7).   It is very difficult to stop being a servant to a lender. The best scenario is to avoid that situation all together. It's not easy to wait until enough money is saved that a purchase can be made without owing anything or researching enough to ensure one won't be in over one's head with various financial decisions, but it is the best case scenario.

Live A Simple Life!

Christians are instructed on how to live in 1 Thessalonians 4. Verses 11 and 12 have specific instructions that are my goals for this life on earth. They say,  “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Notice that the verse instructs us to mind our own business and work with our hands. The result of that is that we will have other's respect and “not be dependent on anybody”. God is our provider and we must manage what He has provided, specifically money.

If In Doubt, Check The Book!

At this point the logical question is, how do I apply this in my financial situation? While it is impossible to address every situation specifically, the best answer to that question is with another question.

The question is, What does the Bible say to do? There are many more verses and instructions than the ones mentioned here. It truly is our guide to finances, inspired by God in His wisdom!

While I believe it is good to have financial advisors and programs about finances, I am concerned that Christians may forget or not realize that the best resource we have regarding money is the Bible. I am amazed at how practical the verses regarding money, tithing, debt, etc are.

I finish this article with a challenge to the reader: search for those financial verses, read them, and ask the Lord how to apply His truth and instructions about money in your life. If you have a family, I encourage you to include every member on this quest.

May we as Christians not be a mirror image of the secular world of instant gratification and increasing debt, but may we be faithful examples, following the Lord's words in every aspect of life.

Mary Rediger is a published author who lives with her husband and son in the great state of Texas.  She can be reached via email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .