Hope abounds throughout the Bible. When life is challenging, the Psalms often bring comfort. We all face difficulties and even financial challenges. It’s important for us to dig into Psalms of hope when money is tight.
It seems like just yesterday that my paychecks were insufficient to pay all of my bills. Life was tough. The bills were merciless and my ability to earn a decent wage was severely challenged.
If memory serves, I was earning $6.25 per hour back then and living in a mobile home.
I needed an infusion of hope. We all will face financial hardships at some point in our life. Wallowing in the mire of the problem will solve nothing.
God’s wisdom is hidden in the scriptures for us, not from us. Renewing our minds to the truth of the Bible is our best option.
When the “blues” invade my life and I feel like giving up I often turn to the Psalms. Hope is found throughout the Psalms.
Can reading Psalms really help when money is tight or things are going wrong financially? YES! The Psalms contain raw & emotional truth that was birthed during some of life’s toughest moments.
Reading Psalms produces peace during times of financial pain. Meditating in the Psalms empowers us to overcome envy and jealousy when experiencing economic discomfort. Singing Psalms generates great hope even in the midst of monetary misery.
Here are some of my favorites.
1) The Green Monster of Jealousy
Most of us never really grow up. Yes, we pay bills and have stopped throwing temper tantrums in the supermarket (at least most of us) but we still act like children.
The Grandpa from The Princess Bride taught me that life was not fair. Some people have never learned that valuable life lesson.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:3
“Good” people do not always come out on top (financially) on earth. Very few Christians are on the Forbes 400 list. Tithing does not guarantee a pain-free financial existence.
Life is not fair but God is just. I’m persuaded that our monetary mishaps are helping us yearn for heaven and to spurn this sin-stained planet.
The wicked will prosper here on earth — big whoop. We do not serve God for temporal monetary rewards. God is worthy of our praise irrespective of our situations or circumstances.
2) The Fear of the Lord
You should never be ashamed of the blessing of God. If God has truly blessed you financially then walk in His blessing with humility and the fear of the Lord.
Praise the Lord! Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
Psalm 112:1-3
God is God. He is not our homeboy or the man upstairs. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
The Psalmist states that the person who fears the Lord is blessed. He also indicates that wealth and riches will be in their houses.
We cannot muster up the fear of the Lord so that we can win at wealth. The fear of the Lord is a natural outflow of our relationship with Him.
Don’t seek wealth and riches — seek God!
Here’s a link to an article that I wrote on The Fear of the Lord — enjoy!
3) The Righteous Are Not Forsaken
As a young Christian, I heard dozens of scriptures quoted loudly, proudly and without a hint of doubt. One such scripture was concerning begging bread. It really didn’t make much sense to me.
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.
Psalm 37:25-26
We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Our righteousness originates through the precious Blood of Jesus. We are a royal priesthood and a holy nation. God has adopted us into His family. Yet, many of His children are financially challenged.
Denying money problems does not make them go away. Quoting Psalm 37:25-26 louder and louder doesn’t alter the fact that our cupboard might just be bare.
Earlier in Psalm 37, the writer admits that the righteous might have just a little but it’s superior to the abundance of the wicked (Psalm 37:16).
Refuse to allow money burdens to get into your spirit. We’re neither beggars nor ungrateful! God is our Father and we are triumphant irrespective of our circumstances.
4) Financial Blessing in Unity
God has a sense of humor. I think sometimes that His sense of humor is strange. He seems to always get the last laugh in our lives.
Opposites attract. My wife and I are different in more ways than the anatomically obvious.
I am incomplete without her. She is everything that I am not and vice-versa. God made Adam & Eve in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). He then formed Adam from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). Then God “separated” Eve from Adam (Genesis 2:20-22). Finally, He reunited them (Genesis 2:23-24).
Money fights are legitimate, painful, and can be devastating. It’s important for us to understand that it’s our differences in our marriage that give us strength. We need one another!
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Psalm 133
God commands and bestows His blessing in the place of unity. If you’re experiencing financial pain don’t war against your spouse. Pray before budget sessions. Don’t react in anger or accusation.
It’s not easy working together in unity. However, it’s God’s plan for us and in order for our family to be financially faithful, we must walk together in unity.
5) Should Christians Meditate
Is it proper for Christians to meditate? Are there any spiritual dangers to consider when meditation is encouraged?
Biblical meditation is antithetical to worldly meditation. When a believer meditates, the idea is to fill one’s mind and not empty it. We are to mutter, muse, and to constantly repeat something until it gets deep into our hearts.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates in His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it’s fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Meditating in the Word of Almighty God generates the wisdom of God! We can attempt to do well using worldly methods but those will end in disaster.
6) Buck Nekkid
We all arrive in this world in the same manner: Screaming and crying and naked as a jaybird. We bring nothing with us.
When it’s time to leave this world we don’t leave screaming, crying or naked (hopefully). No, we are typically silent and clothed. However, we can take nothing with us.
We show up without anything and we depart the same. Everything we strive to obtain here on earth remains behind for others. Solomon often referred to this as vanity.
“Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live they count themselves blessed — and people praise you when you prosper — they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.”
Psalm 49:16-19
It’s easy to compare ourselves with others financially but that is a fool’s errand. Admiring a person’s home is perfectly normal. It becomes dangerous when we become discontent and envious.
There will always be another person richer than you and poorer than you. It’s vital that we become eternity-minded and not put our hopes on the temporary things of this earth.
I learned a valuable lesson about striving a couple of years ago. We moved from Michigan to Illinois in 2014. The home we purchased in Illinois cost a considerable amount more than our home in Michigan.
How Rude!
About two years ago we considered selling our home in Illinois and downsizing. I called a couple of recommended realtors to conduct a brief phone screening. Most were perfectly fine but one was condescending and rude.
He called my house a great “starter home”. I immediately realized that I would never do business with this guy despite what Dave Ramsey thought of him.
Despite his rudeness, I learned a valuable life lesson from him. As humans, we’re always striving to increase our comfort and to keep score financially. I could have sold my home and purchased one that was five times more expensive and still be out of the financial league of many families.
I’m perfectly content with where God has me. I trust Him implicitly.
7) God Is a Great Secret Keeper
Do you ever feel as though God is withholding information? At times I feel totally lost when I’m reading the bible and other times I feel as though God has opened my eyes to His great secrets.
“The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him and He will make them know His covenant”
Psalm 25:14
Another translation of Psalm 25:14 indicates that friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him. We typically only tell secrets to our friends and apparently, we learned that from God.
We’ve spoken previously about the fear of the Lord. Now we understand there are even greater benefits to operating in the fear of the Lord.
Moses was known as a friend of God. God spoke to him face to face. The children of Israel were able to see God’s miracle-working power but Moses was aware before it even happened (Psalm 103:7)!
Wouldn’t it be awesome for God to trust us enough to share secrets with us?
8) Shout for Joy!
There will always be a contingent of Christians who deny God wants His people to win at wealth. Ironically, many of them will attempt to grow their wealth in a secular manner. They are what I call Deuteronomy 8:17 disciples. It’s a dangerous place.
Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Psalm 35:27
Others will indicate that the word “prosperity”, as used in Psalm 35:27, doesn’t mean money. While we certainly do not serve God for financial benefits we also do not attempt to thwart them either.
Trust me, if God wanted you broke there would be nothing that you could do to stop the pain and misery.
I will stick with this Psalm and shout for joy and be glad and favor His righteous cause! On top of all of that, I will say, “Let the Lord be magnified who takes pleasure in my prosperity!”
9) Does Your Cup Runneth Over
God wants us to have enough to meet the needs of our family (I Timothy 5:8) and to be radically generous. When we’re struggling with money issues it’s difficult to position ourselves to accomplish that ever-elusive feat.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23
In the book Thou Shall Prosper, Rabbi Lapin discusses a Sabbath Day ceremony. In it, according to the author, wine is poured into a cup until it overflows. This signifies the importance of meeting family needs (the cup filled) and excess to bless others (the overflow).
I encourage you to spend considerable time in Psalm 23. For most of us, it is like an old blanket — it feels good and brings back awesome memories.
It’s also probably deeper than you remember.
10) A Daily Dose of God’s Benefits
Financial increase does not prove God’s favor. Money problems are not a sign of God’s disfavor. Not all benefits are monetary.
“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah”
Psalm 68:19
Most of us can earn more money, budget our existing money, and live a totally secular life — and appear to be successful. We can do all of this without God’s help or intervention.
However, there are so many things that we cannot do on our own. There are hundreds of blessings that only God can provide for us. He does this, often imperceptibly, on a daily basis.
God’s grace is a constant in our life. We are saved by grace through faith. It’s impossible for us to satisfy the standards of perfection and God’s grace is required. He freely infuses grace into our life. It’s not earned or deserved but through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we get it!
I loathe the term “self-made millionaire.” God, on a constant basis, allows us to breathe His oxygen. Our bodies, despite the impact of the fall, operate in a fascinating manner.
When money is tight and the pressure is on, think about the small things that God does for us moment by moment.
He daily loads us with benefits that cannot be earned or purchased.
11) Made a Little Lower Than the Angels
Few will argue that God made us in His likeness and in His image (Genesis 1:27). What exactly does it mean when we say that we’re made in the image of God?
The truly “humble” Christians do their best to distance themselves from such heresy. Genesis is crystal clear that we were created in His image. I don’t believe that He is a failure, a reject, so why do we struggle with those things?
The writer of Psalm 8 stirred the pot of controversy, even more, when a certain word was selected for us. The word choice was so scandalous that it’s often changed in most Bible translations.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:3-5
The word “angels” is actually the Hebrew word Elohim. Many people state that Psalm 8 is a prophecy about Jesus. I have a tough time with that view because in Hebrews 1:4, Jesus is said to be much better than the angels.
We are not “little G” gods as some preachers have proclaimed. It’s not possible for us to create a new universe with our words. Maybe indicating that you’re a little lower than Elohim is a bit much for you. Let’s pretend that you simply cannot wrap your brain around that idea.
Kings Kids
Could you entertain that you’re a little lower than the angels? If so, would that help you embrace how God really views you? When Gabriel and Michael showed up great things happened.
We are more than conquerors and a Royal Priesthood! God has adopted us into His family.
It is time for us to begin acting like children of the King!