Day 6: God in Real Life (Not Just Church)

Day 6: God in Your Finances

Core Scripture: Matthew 6:21 [NLT]

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

We don’t always realise how much our finances reflect what is happening in us. We tend to think of money in practical terms. It’s about paying bills, covering expenses, planning ahead, and managing what we have. Most of the time, it feels separate from our faith, like something we just need to handle responsibly. What we don’t always stop to consider is how our decisions around money are shaped by deeper things like fear, security, comparison, or control.

Finances can be understood as how we manage, prioritise, and use the resources we’ve been given. That includes not just what we spend, but how we think about money, how we feel about it, and what we rely on it for. In many ways, money reveals what we trust, because it touches areas of provision, stability, and future security. This becomes clearer when we look at the different ways we relate to money.

1. Compulsive Spending: Compulsive spending is when money is used to manage emotions rather than meet needs. It often shows up as impulse buying, where decisions are made quickly without much thought. The spending itself can bring a temporary sense of relief, control, or reward, but that feeling does not last. Over time, this creates a cycle where spending becomes a response to stress, boredom, or insecurity rather than a considered choice. At its core, it is less about money and more about what someone is trying to feel or avoid.

   
   

2. Hoarding/Over-Saving: Hoarding money is when saving is driven more by the need for security and control than by wisdom or balance. It often looks responsible on the surface, but underneath there can be a deep fear of lack or loss. Money becomes a form of protection and letting go of it can feel risky or uncomfortable, even when it would be appropriate to spend, give, or invest. Holding on to money can create a temporary sense of safety or control, but that feeling does not last. Over time, this creates a pattern where decisions are shaped by fear rather than trust. At its core, it is less about money and more about trying to create security through what has been accumulated.

   
   

3. Reckless Spending: Reckless spending is when money is used without restraint or careful thought about the future. It often shows up as spending freely, where decisions are made without considering consequences, priorities, or sustainability. You may find yourself making choices based on what feels good in the moment rather than what is wise or necessary. The spending itself can create a temporary sense of enjoyment, freedom, or satisfaction, but that feeling does not last. Over time, this creates a pattern where money is used without awareness or direction. At its core, it is less about money and more about prioritising the present moment without considering the long-term impact.

   
   

4. Keeping Up Appearances: This is when money is used to match the lifestyle of others rather than reflect what you actually have. It often shows up as spending to maintain a certain image, where decisions are influenced by what others are doing or what feels expected. You may find yourself stretching beyond your means, justifying purchases, or ignoring the long-term impact in order to keep up. The spending itself can create a temporary sense of belonging, confidence, or acceptance, but that feeling does not last. Over time, this creates a cycle where spending is driven by comparison rather than a considered choice. At its core, it is less about money and more about the pressure to measure up.

   
   

5. Buying Affection: Buying affection is when money is used to gain acceptance, affection, or validation from others rather than given freely. It often shows up as over-giving, saying yes when you should say no, or feeling responsible to meet needs that are not yours to carry. The giving itself can create a temporary sense of connection, appreciation, or being valued, but that feeling does not last. This can eventually create a pattern where giving becomes tied to how you feel about yourself or how you believe others see you. At its core, it is less about generosity and more about trying to secure love, approval, or a sense of worth through what you give.

   
   

Each of these responses looks different on the surface, but they are all pointing to something deeper. They reveal what we rely on. They reveal what we fear. They reveal where we are trying to create security or control in our own strength. We may begin to make decisions based on fear of not having enough, or we may place confidence in what we have rather than in God. We might hold on tightly, spend quickly, avoid responsibility, or try to control everything, but in each case, our approach to money is being shaped by something deeper. This is why this matters spiritually. Because finances are not just about what we have. They are about what we trust.

So what does this mean for us today?

IIt means we cannot separate our finances from our faith. We cannot manage money one way and say we trust God in another area, because what we do with money reveals what we truly rely on. God is not absent from our finances. He is present in how we earn, how we spend, how we save, and how we give. He is present in the decisions we make, the priorities we set, and the way we think about what we have. The question is what has been shaping those decisions?

• Where are we relying on money for security?

• Where are we making decisions based on fear, comparison, or pressure?

• Where are we trying to control everything instead of trusting God?

• And what would change if we started to involve Him in how we think, decide, and respond when it comes to our finances?

Because real change doesn’t come from managing money better. It comes from trusting God with what we have.

Declarations

1. I choose to trust God with my finances and not rely on money for security.

2. I will make financial decisions with awareness of God and not just based on fear, pressure, or habit.

3. I am learning to manage what I have in a way that reflects trust and not control.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to recognise what is shaping how I think about and handle my finances. Show me where I have relied on money for security instead of trusting You. Teach me to make decisions that reflect faith and not fear. Help me to manage what I have in a way that honours You and aligns with Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflections

• What’s been shaping how you think about money?

  This helps you identify whether your decisions are being driven by trust, fear, comparison, or habit.

• How do you usually respond to financial pressure or uncertainty?

  This reveals patterns in how you react and what you rely on in those moments.

• Where have you been managing your finances without involving God?

  This helps you recognise areas where you may be relying on your own understanding.

Application

Why not start a simple “financial awareness” practice today?

• Take a moment to reflect on one recent financial decision you made and consider what influenced it. Be honest about whether it was shaped by trust, fear, comparison, or pressure.

• Bring that decision to God in a short, honest prayer and ask Him to guide you in how you handle your finances going forward.

• Do this consistently, even if it is just for a few minutes. Over time, you will begin to recognise patterns in how you think, decide, and respond when it comes to money.

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