Conclusion: A Rule of Life for Money

We began with a door. Money is the last private room in the house, the place where many Christians quietly keep Jesus out. This book has been an invitation to open that door.

We have seen that everything belongs to God and that we are His managers. We have looked at the heart behind the wallet: covetousness, worry, contentment and the danger of riches. We have thought about everyday money: honest work, planning, debt and providing for a family. We have explored generosity: firstfruits, cheerful giving, the poor, and giving all we can. And we have looked ahead, to faithfulness in little, the mission of God, the next generation, and the day we hear “Well done.”

Now what?

A rule of life

In the history of the church, many Christians have found it helpful to write down a “rule of life,” a simple set of commitments that shape how they live. It is not a set of laws to earn God’s favour. It is more like a trellis that helps a plant grow in the right direction.

Here is a suggested rule of life for money, built on John Wesley’s three rules and the teaching of this book. Read it slowly. Change it to fit your own situation. Then pray over it, and consider writing your own version and putting it somewhere you will see it.

I will remember that it all belongs to God.
Everything I have is His. I am a manager, not an owner.

I will gain all I can, honestly.
I will work hard, as for the Lord. I will deal fairly. I will not cheat, lie or harm others to make money.

I will give first.
Before I spend anything else, I will give a planned proportion of my income to God, starting with my local church, and I will grow that proportion as God allows.

I will save all I can.
I will live simply and avoid waste. I will plan my spending, keep some money aside, and know the state of my flocks.

I will stay free.
I will avoid unnecessary debt, repay what I owe, and work toward owing nothing but love.

I will provide for my own.
I will care for my family’s real needs, including my ageing parents, and plan wisely for the future.

I will give all I can.
I will set a limit on my lifestyle, so that when my income grows, my giving grows. I will give cheerfully, regularly and quietly, to the poor and to the mission of God.

I will guard my heart.
I will fight covetousness with gratitude and generosity. I will learn contentment. I will bring every money worry to God in prayer.

I will pass it on.
I will teach the next generation, by word and example, to handle money God’s way.

I will live with the end in view.
I will remember that I will give an account, and I will seek to hear “Well done.”

Small steps

Don’t try to do all of this at once. Pick one or two steps, perhaps the ones God has pressed on your heart while reading. Take them this month. Then take another. Faithfulness grows one small step at a time.

And remember that you are not alone. Talk to your spouse, your friends, your small group or your pastor. Ask someone to pray with you and hold you accountable. Money is the private room, but it doesn’t have to stay private.

Treasure

Jesus said, “Your heart will always be where your treasure is” (Matthew 6:21). We began with that verse, and we end with it.

Where is your treasure? If it is in your bank account, your heart will follow it there, and one day your heart will be left with nothing. But if your treasure is in Christ, then your heart is safe. Nothing can take it away.

Jesus once told a story about a man who found treasure hidden in a field. In his joy he went and sold everything he had and bought that field. He didn’t feel he was making a sacrifice. He knew he had found something worth more than everything else.

That is what it means to know Christ. He is the treasure. When you have found Him, the rest falls into place. You can hold money loosely, give it freely, manage it faithfully and enjoy it gratefully, because your heart is already full.

May God give you grace to be faithful with little, and to hear one day the words every disciple longs to hear: “Well done! You are a good and faithful servant... Come in and share the joy of your master.”