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Money is perhaps the most recognizable of all boundaries. Most of us have been in a situation where we have felt the constraints of not having enough money to do what we wanted or even needed to do. The Bible has a lot to say about money and how we use it – not because God needs our money – but because money and how we think about it is so deeply connected to our spiritual well-being. Join us for part five of Boundaries where we explore what the Bible teaches about financial boundaries and how God can use them to guide and provide.

Passage (Read it):

1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Generosity is a guardrail against Greed

Humility is a guardrail against Pride

Gratitude and Contentment are a guardrail against Envy

Compassion is a guardrail against Division

Daily Reading:

Sunday: Psalm 16
Monday: Matthew 6
Tuesday: Luke 12
Wednesday: Matthew 25
Thursday: Luke 16
Friday: 2 Corinthians 8
Saturday: 2 Corinthians 9

Other Resources:

Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns
How to be Rich by Andy Stanley