Dwight Fletcher | Kingdom principles for money matters

Today, we close off the series on money matters. For the last few weeks, we’ve been discovering that money and how you use your money matters to God. The Lord wants you to live in financial freedom, and so He has shared in His Word some Kingdom principles related to money that promise abundance. This doesn’t mean you’ll drive the fanciest car or own the largest house, but you will experience abundant peace and God’s favour as you trust Him, even when it might seem like you don’t have enough.

We’ve been discussing these principles of God’s Kingdom for your money matters and today I want to talk about the most powerful principle of all. Whether you are a believer or not, applying this principle to your life always helps you take control of your finances.

First, understand that how you spend your money is a spiritual issue. The enemy attacks us financially. Satan works to convince us to spend unwisely and to live with constant dissatisfaction. He plants subtle ideas that stir insatiable desires. He tempts us to buy things we do not need with money we do not have, leading us into debt and financial bondage.

At the same time, he tries to convince us that God is not providing what we need. When we believe that lie, we grow disgruntled and begin to think we cannot trust God.

Money is not just money. It has spiritual implications. Both God and the enemy know the power money holds in our lives. The enemy wants to use it to pull you away from God. But God wants you to be financially satisfied. The God of the universe desires for you to be saved, safe, and satisfied financially.

So, He gives us a powerful strategy against the enemy’s schemes. It is called redirection.

Redirection means deciding in advance where your money will go. Instead of letting urgency or impulse determine your priorities, you establish them ahead of time.

So, how do you decide those priorities? You follow Kingdom principles.

1.RETURN 10 % TO GOD

This is the principle of tithing. A tithe is 10% of your income. You might think, “I need financial help and you’re telling me to give 10% away.” But this is not a human idea. God instructs us to direct the first 10% back to Him.

Scripture teaches that, when we honour God first, the rest is blessed. Proverbs 3:9–10 (TLB) says, “ Honour the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.”

If you want God’s help in your finances, you must put Him first. Tithing is one way we demonstrate that God is the most important part of our lives. It is also an act of gratitude for how He has already provided, and a declaration of faith that He will continue to provide.

2. SAVE 10 PER CENT FOR THE FUTURE

Another biblical principle is saving. Proverbs 13:11 says, “ He who gathers money gradually by honest labour will increase his riches.”

When you consistently save a portion of your income, you create a margin in your finances. Over time, you will be surprised how quickly 10 per cent grows. Saving prepares you for future needs and unexpected expenses.

3. LIVE ON 80% OR LESS OF YOUR INCOME

Once you tithe 10% and save 10%, you live on the remaining 80%. This means adjusting your lifestyle to match your income rather than increasing debt to support your lifestyle. Instead of borrowing more, you reduce spending and live within your means.

For many people, this may sound counter-cultural. Often, God’s ways do. But, in Malachi 3:10, God invites us to test Him in this area and promises that He will provide.

If you have tried every other financial strategy, why not try God’s way? Put Him first and watch what He does as you trust Him with your finances.