As devout Christians, we can say that we trust God, but until we trust Him with our money, we’re just paying lip service to the idea. The Bible says that if we believe God to take care of us in the little things, we can rely on Him to care for us in the big things. In the grand scheme of things and according to the way God sees it, financial wealth is a “little thing.” The sincerity of what we’re saying shows in whether or not we’re trusting Him with our bank account.

Success isn’t Measured by Monetary Wealth

Today’s culture sees money as the ultimate sign of success. It measures status, power, and even personal worth. However, for the believer, prosperity isn’t rooted in the abundance of wealth. Having faith in God, not in money, is the cornerstone of true prosperity.

Our relationship with wealth is a spiritual barometer, revealing where we place our trust. When Jesus told the rich young ruler to give away all his wealth and follow Him, the young man’s response revealed what he truly valued. He went away sad, because he loved and trusted in his wealth too much to let go of it.

Jesus also told His disciples the parable of the steward who got in trouble with his master for stealing money from him. A steward is someone who manages and oversees someone else’s property and finances. It’s important that we have the mind of a faithful steward when it comes to money management; it’s God’s, not ours, and we must manage it wisely.

Trusting Money Can Corrupt Us

Money has a way of capturing our attention and tempting us to place our faith in it instead of in God. If we’re not careful, it can cause us to put it above everything else, including honesty, integrity, and a relationship with God. Jesus warned His followers about the spiritual dangers of this. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” (Luke 16:10, 11, NLT).

Trusting God more than money is a sign of wisdom. This is something the world lacks. “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:12). “Blessing” refers to more than just the money, the house, and the material possessions. It’s an empowerment to have success in all areas of life.

To trust God means to rely confidently on His promises, not on our personal strategies or financial stability. By contrast, Proverbs 11:28 warns that, “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall.” Proverbs 28:26 adds, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool.” Trusting ourselves and what we try to make happen isn’t a wise strategy.

Heavenly Things Are More Valuable

We’ve been entrusted with the Word of God’s grace, which is His unearned, unmerited favor. This grace—not our paycheck—is what builds us up and delivers the inheritance God has prepared for His sanctified people. The inheritance Paul spoke of didn’t refer solely to money, but to something more all-encompassing: peace, joy, healing, wholeness, success, and everything money can’t buy.

Where some people compartmentalize God and trust Him with everything but their finances, we are different. We trust God with our wealth, even when it’s uncomfortable or scary. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take… Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine” (Proverbs 3:5, 6, 9, 10, NLT). Grace and salvation have been made available to everyone who believes. The Greek word for salvation, sozo, implies total deliverance, not just financially, but also spiritually and physically.

A lot is packed into this Scripture. Even our own coins and paper currency remind us, “In God we trust.” This is a biblical commandment. However, we won’t acknowledge God if we don’t even trust Him, and He can’t direct our paths if we don’t acknowledge Him.

Keep Wealth in Perspective

It's okay to have wealth, as long as we don’t put it above God, our true source of everything. Jesus had plenty to say about physical wealth and material possessions, which carry the potential to turn our heads and inspire greed. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Money, then, isn’t the problem, but the revealer of our priorities. We don’t purchase God’s favor; we honor Him by placing Him first in our financial decisions.

Misplaced trust is a snare. Money isn’t the issue, but the wrong attitude toward it is. When we chase wealth more than righteousness, we open ourselves up to deception, heartache, and spiritual drift.

Money is a tool, not a god. When we hold onto it too tightly, we risk replacing our trust in God with trust in riches. That’s a dangerous trade we must avoid at all costs.

True Prosperity Comes from God

Abraham and David were models of trust we can learn from. After God delivered him from his enemies, Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek, recognizing that everything he had came from God. When the king of Sodom offered him the spoils of war, Abraham refused, lest the king think he was the one who made him rich. 

Likewise, David trusted God throughout his life, even after rising from humble beginnings as a shepherd to a powerful king. David wasn’t perfect and made some serious mistakes, but he had a heart of repentance after he sinned. His prosperity wasn’t rooted in his performance, but in his relationship with a forgiving, trustworthy God.       

Prosperity isn’t about a dollar amount, but about alignment with God’s purposes. Giving and managing our resources according to God's principles isn’t just practicing good stewardship, but it’s also boldly declaring, “I trust You, God, more than I trust money.” Confident faith in this area positions us to receive His best.