Among all the people in the world, Christians should be the most effective at making and using money. I am not saying all Christians should be wealthy by the world’s standards. There may be times we go through trials or God calls us to make sacrifices. Sometimes Christians suffer financially because of their faith. Recently in the USA, several followers of Jesus have lost their businesses and sustained lawsuits because of their convictions. The apostle Paul felt the full spectrum of financial situations. He knew what it was like to go through seasons of “abundance and suffering need” (Phil 4:12 NASB).

But then he also said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13 NASB). There is a powerful secret in those words. Even during lean times, the God to whom Paul fervently prayed always provided. He would always enable Paul to bless others. The great apostle had “learned the secret” of how never to be in lack no matter the situation. Financial “abundance” and “strength” do not always require Christians to have tremendous wealth at our disposal. Under God’s mighty touch, we have the ability to bless others even during difficult times.

So believers should lead the way in financial wisdom and prosperity. We operate in our Father’s favour and power. His Word gives us potent insight, and promises financial blessing to those who walk in His ways. There should be no group of people who are more successful, creative and generous in their use of money than followers of Jesus Christ.

But this is often not the case, and Jesus recognized that disparity. He told His disciples that the people of the world are often wiser in their stewardship than those in His Kingdom (Luke 16:8). Jesus even used a dishonest business manager to make His point. Even though the manager was unrighteous and wasted his master’s money, he still understood his God-given potential to use money for his future advantage. He had no integrity. But at least he had the sense and creativity to use wealth as a powerful tool for a higher purpose – even if that purpose was selfish. How much more, Jesus said, should His people use money in the same way, but for God’s righteous purposes.

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever” (Luke 16:9 NCV). In other words, Jesus tells us to invest temporal wealth into God’s eternal purposes. How remarkable! Even though the world’s money cannot purchase eternal things (1 Pet 1:18-19), we can still use the world’s money for Kingdom purposes. Such usage will then yield eternal dividends for us in the coming age. What greater investment could there be? According to Jesus in the story of the unrighteous steward, we actually can take the financial resources of this world – the same wealth sometimes used on earth for wicked purposes – and redeem it for eternal purposes!

So if that is true, shouldn't Christians be the very best at using money? Shouldn't we work the hardest, be the most generous and invest our money with the greatest wisdom – the wisdom of eternity? Yet some Christians disregard this powerful tool out of some kind of false spirituality. They feel they can avoid hard work because they are “trusting God,” or they can disregard God’s holy purpose for finances because of all the “greedy preachers on TV.” Yet these are really just excuses.

Jesus was right. “The people of this world are often shrewder in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” (Luke 16:8 NVI). But He gives us hope in that same story. “I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9 NASB).

We can learn our identity as Christian stewards and begin to fulfil our potential. If we choose to adopt the King’s ways, we can become more prudent than the world with our finances. God’s wisdom is available to us. He offers us His wisdom, as well as His blessing. We can walk faithfully in His ways and He will empower us to prosper for Him. We can invest our resources prudently into the works of God’s Kingdom. As disciples of Jesus Christ, it is time to fulfil our potential as “sons of light.” It is time for Christians to experience financial freedom and supernatural abundance. Then we would be able to finance God’s works around the world and lead the way for others to follow.

This is why God wants us free from debt and blessed financially. It is for His purposes and testimony, not for our selfish interests. Of course, it is wonderful when we enjoy the benefits of God’s financial blessings – and there is nothing wrong with this. When water flows through a pipe, the pipe also gets wet as the water travels to its destination. But we must remember that we are not the terminus. God always blesses us so that we can be a blessing in turn. We want to support His purposes in this world, and “train to reign” in the future! Jesus desires the central place in our finances. His Kingdom should rule every part of our lives – including our wealth.

So here is the key to financial freedom and abundance: Make Jesus Lord of your finances. That may sound simple and obvious, but it’s actually a profound truth we must hear again on a whole new level. Jesus’ lordship unlocks every other promise in Scripture about our wealth. We must deliberately give Him “free reign” as King of our finances. His Kingdom should govern our physical resources, just as it should govern our speech, relationships, thoughts, appetites, time management and devotional lives. How do we do that in our finances? The same way we make Him Lord of these other areas. We surrender all to Him, search the Scriptures for His wisdom, apply that wisdom through obedience, declare His promises and dare to trust Him for everything. He will lead the way out of debt and into financial freedom and abundance.

This booklet will help you do these very things. Rather than offer a systematic study or technical guide for budgeting, we are giving you a treasure trove of biblical passages, principles and promises. We present the raw materials of God’s Word to build a financial life that is free of debt and full of abundance. The thirty-one declarations for breakthrough are themselves worth the price of the book. Take this powerful resource and use it to make Jesus Lord of your finances, and to experience His abundance in your life today.