Prayer

Whenever a believer asks me what they should do, whether it is how much to save, or where to make an investment I always think to myself, “Why don’t you pray about it?” Often when I help believers and non-believers alike with their finances I frequently experience the Moses dilemma. When the people were following Moses out of Egypt they clearly saw God working and they desperately desired to have Moses go to God on their behalf (Exodus 20). When people bow down at the altar of their money, they want someone else to do the planning and directing for them. They do it because they want to hold the adviser responsible for their money. But, somewhat similarly to God, the market doesn’t always do what the eager worshiper desires. Unlike God, it isn’t always for their best.
For the believer, however, they have an infinitely more powerful way to deal with their financial insecurities. Instead of worrying about their finances and hoping a professional can keep them on the straight and narrow, they can trust God. Instead of growing rich in worldly things, they can grow rich in the things of God. Both of these require the believer to be knowledgeable of what scripture says about how we should treat our money and that the believer ask God what he should be doing. The first part is rather straightforward, and the second part, too, but in a much more faith demanding way.
It takes a lot of faith to hear that still small voice that speaks to us when we ask. It takes a lot of faith to ask and believe He will answer instead of not asking because one is afraid of whether He will answer or not. This is only compounded when we take something our culture puts so much emphasis upon and has an effect that is as palpable as being the oil that keeps our lifestyle functioning. We wonder when we pray if God will tell us to do what we fear the most, as he commanded the rich young ruler to do and give it all away. Of course it is possible that God would call a person to do it but we have to trust the character of God – namely that He desires what is absolutely the best for us and He is by His very nature good.
So while it is difficult to approach the throne of grace confidently when we ask for discernment regarding what we should do with our earthly blessings that is exactly what we should be doing. Sure there is a role for trustworthy advisers in your life but it is most important to ask the one whose stuff it really is before deciding to spend it or even give it.