A New Way to Think About Your Spending
Earn, save, give, and avoid debt. These are the general finance guidelines for someone who wants to chart a successful financial course. Spending, however, is rarely included in these conversations, even though, when done right, it brings happiness and lasting impact. This article will explore how Kingdom values should influence our spending habits and how spending the right way is a vital part of biblical stewardship.
Spending as a Spiritual Discipline
When we think of spiritual disciplines, we usually think of praying, reading the Bible, or attending church, but not shopping. Spending is one of the most frequent decisions we make in life, and, like every other decision, it too belongs to God. Every purchase is an opportunity to either reflect His values or ignore them.
In Matthew 6:21, Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This isn’t just about giving as we normally view it; it’s about what we treasure, and our spending reveals that. The way we allocate our money tells a story about what we believe has worth. If we truly believe that everything we own/have comes from God, then we need to see spending as a sacred act, not just a financial decision.
This mindset of spending as a spiritual discipline means we pause before we click “Check out.” It shifts our identity from consumers to stewards. It helps us avoid impulsive spending, find deeper contentment, and build habits that align us more fully with God’s purposes. Every transaction is an opportunity to practice faithfulness.
Ethical and Faith-Driven Consumption
What we buy and who we buy from matters. Every purchase supports a system or a set of values, whether you realize it or not. As followers of Christ, we are called to pursue righteousness and justice in every aspect of our lives, including what we spend our money on.
Ethical and faith-driven consumption means making purchasing decisions that align with biblical values. It means choosing to support businesses and leaders that treat their employees with respect, care about God’s creation, and reinvest profits into communities and social good. It’s also choosing not to support companies and organizations that have core values that conflict with the Bible.
Faith-driven spending is not about being perfect; it’s about being alert. It’s about asking: Does this purchase help create the kind of world God wants? Even small shifts in our spending habits can have a big impact when done with intention and love.
Supporting Kingdom Work Through Business
Every business has a mission, but not every mission reflects values that honor God. That’s why one powerful way to create Kingdom impact is by supporting businesses that have a mission that reflects God-honoring values. Whether it’s a local coffee shop, a restaurant, or even an online business, your spending can fuel Kingdom work beyond traditional tithing.
However, this isn’t an act of charity – it’s an active partnership. When you buy from a business run by believers or mission-driven founders, you’re helping them expand their impact. Many Christian entrepreneurs see their work as more than just a paycheck; they view it as a calling. They employ others, create a positive culture, and oftentimes give generously from their profits.
Many Christian consumers seek out businesses not only for their products but also for their purpose. They ask: “How can I spend in a way that also furthers the Kingdom?” You don’t have to redo your entire budget to fulfill this calling. Start with small things:
Find a local business owned by a believer and support them regularly.
Choose products from companies that donate to missions or ministries.
Use services from stores that invest in their communities.
When we connect our spending to God’s mission, we transform ordinary purchases into purposeful acts of worship.
Teaching the Next Generation
If we want to build lasting impact through our finances, we can’t focus only on ourselves; we have to pass our values on to future generations. Teaching our children and future generations after them how to approach money with faith, wisdom, and purpose is one of the most powerful ways to positively impact the Kingdom beyond our lifetimes.
It starts not with a financial seminar or lesson but with consistent conversations and intentional modeling. Children and teens are always watching how we talk about money, respond to needs, pray about big purchases, and give cheerfully (or grumpily). These little behaviors shape their internal story of money much more on what they observe than any budget app or financial coach ever could teach them.
Here are a few simple ways to instill faith-based financial values into younger generations that come after you:
Talk openly about needs and how you trust God to provide.
Let them in on giving decisions (if they are old enough).
Model restraint and contentment. Show them that more isn’t always better.
Encourage generosity early on, even in small ways.
Celebrate impact, not just income.
Passing on a Kingdom vision for money isn’t about raising financial experts – it’s about raising future faithful stewards who understand that every dollar has a purpose far beyond themselves.
Faith and Finance Perspective
In God’s economy, no dollar is wasted when surrendered to Him. Whether we’re earning, saving, giving, or spending, every financial decision has the potential to impact the Kingdom. As citizens of that Kingdom, we need to make sure we don’t only see our giving as spiritual but our spending as well.
Jesus spoke extensively about money because he knew how closely it’s tied to our hearts. As believers, we’re not just consumers; we’re stewards. Every purchase is an opportunity for us to reflect God's love and compassion. From the clothes we buy to the businesses we support; from the way we teach our children to the way we use our homes, we can build lasting impact by living with financial intentionality and spiritual sensitivity.
The apostle Paul reminds us:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” – Colossians 3:17
That includes how we spend.