I used to do a lot of speaking on college campuses, and as I worked with college students over the years, here’s something that made a strong impression on me: Among students who are committed followers of Christ, many don't see the connection between their use of money and their faith. In fact, some seem uncomfortable tying finances to faith.
A lack of faith?
I even had several college students ask me whether saving money shows a lack of trust in God’s provision. I actually really like that question and the heart behind it. Without wanting to dampen their enthusiasm, I would show them Proverbs 21:20 (TLB), where it says, "The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets." It usually led to good discussions about where the line is best drawn between foolishly using up all that we have vs. foolishly saving too much (Luke 12:13-21).
No one older than a college student has ever asked me whether saving money shows a lack of trust in God’s provision.
A college student-like faith
To a degree, it’s understandable that college students would be more focused on their faith than their finances. They simply don’t have many of the financial responsibilities that they will have after they graduate. But I also wonder if those of us who are a few years beyond college age have tilted the faith/finance scales too much toward the financial side.
Reflecting on my time on campus, two verses came to mind. The first is from the Parable of the Sower.
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. – Matthew 13:22
The second is from the most misquoted financial verse in all of Scripture — the one many people think says that money is the root of all evil.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:10
The cautions here are to guard against allowing money to become too much of a focus in our lives. As we follow the news about market-moving events, is our first concern about the impact on our finances? Or do we pray for our leaders and renew our minds with the truth that God has not given us a spirit of fear?
It’s a balancing act, isn’t it? We’re called to live by faith, and we’re commanded to provide for our families. We’re called to trust in God’s provision, and we’re taught to maintain a reserve. We’re called to be attentive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and we’re taught to plan.
Finding the right balance
When I started working with college students, I worried that I might be too old to connect with them (I often looked around to see who they were talking to when I heard, “Mr. Bell” or, far worse, “sir”!), but I found them authentically appreciative about learning from one who’s gone before them, especially when I talked about financial lessons I learned the hard way.
By the same token, I have to admit that when I first started speaking on campuses, I thought the lessons would flow in one direction. It didn't take long to realize it was a two-way street — that I learned as much from the students, especially through the freshness of their faith.
Do you ever struggle with trying to strike the right balance of living by faith and wisely managing the financial responsibilities you’ve been entrusted with? What steps have you found helpful?
