Does God Get Angry When I Spend My Money Foolishly?
Answer: Does he rant and rave? No. But God does want us to be wise, and he’s sad when we are foolish. Think of it this way: God is your biggest fan. More than anyone else, he wants you to win.
That’s why he cares about how you take care of your money. If you keep wasting it and ignoring wise advice from everybody all the time, of course he will be sad, because things won’t go as well for you.
Key verse: And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)
Related verses: Jeremiah 13:17; Joel 2:13
Related question: When you buy something that you don’t have enough for but it is for a Christian use, will God bless you for it and provide?
Note to parents: Don’t use fear of angering God as a tool for getting your child to behave. Emphasize God’s care for your child, not his punishment.
Meanwhile, demonstrate what you mean by controlling your own anger when your child makes a foolish money decision. Give your child room for making mistakes without blowing your top.
How Do I Know What Is Wise To Spend My Money On?
Answer: The Bible explains that it is important to give to the church and to help people in need, to pay bills that you promised to pay, and to buy things that you need. It is always wise to spend money that way.
It is also wise to use your money for the most important things first and the least important things last. Here they are in order: (1) Giving to the church. (2) Paying for commitments you made. (3) Taking care of your needs. (4) Saving. (5) Spending for things you would like.
If you want to spend money on something you would like, make sure you have done the other four things first.
It is also wise to get a good deal. Never buy something just because it looks good, just because you saw it advertised on TV, or just because your friends have it. Buy things that are good quality and have a reasonable price.
Whenever you want to buy something, ask, Do I really need it? If you’re unsure, ask God for wisdom, and wait awhile before deciding. Ask your parents because God gives them wisdom too.
Key verse: If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. (James 1:5)
Related verses: 1 Kings 12:6-8; Proverbs 1:8-9; 12:26; 13:20; 24:3-6; Galatians 5:16; James 3:17-18
Note to parents: You may need to explain the difference between necessities and luxuries. You may also want to go over a list of priorities you use for evaluating purchases: Is it something I need? Will it last? Have I shopped for the best price? Should I save the money instead and get something of better value later?