Q:
I've had a lot of money problems this year, and recently I watched a TV program advertising a book that would tell me how to become wealthy very quickly, or so they claimed. I bought it, but now they're saying I need to buy a second book from them. Am I just wasting my money?
A:
I strongly suspect you are wasting your money, and that the only person who’s going to make money quickly in this case is the author! Get-rich-quick schemes seldom work, and from what you say this one won’t be an exception.
Instead, I urge you to commit your financial problems — and your whole life — to Jesus Christ, and ask Him for the wisdom to deal with them. He knows what you’re facing — and He also knows the answer. Don’t be greedy, and don’t be misled by schemes that may only make you poorer. Instead, trust Jesus Christ to give you the wisdom you need to overcome these problems.
What difference will Christ make? First, He’ll help you get your priorities straight, so you quit wasting money on things that are harmful or don’t really matter. In addition, He’ll help you develop a realistic budget (perhaps with the guidance of someone in your church who understands finances). Christ will also help you develop the discipline of saving for the future. The Bible says, “He who gathers money little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11).
Some people think God couldn’t possibly be interested in their financial problems; after all (they say), God is only interested in spiritual issues. But God loves us and is concerned about every detail of our lives — including our money. The Bible says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Hebrews 4:13).