Discerning Between Trusting in God Versus Trusting in Wealth: A Christian Reflection on Stewardship and Faith
For Christians who have accumulated wealth—whether through diligent work, wise planning, or God’s providential blessings—the question is not merely how to manage it, but how to relate to it. Financial success can open doors to generosity, influence, and legacy. Yet it also presents a subtle spiritual challenge: Am I still trusting in God, or has my security quietly shifted to what I possess? Scripture does not condemn wealth, but it does repeatedly warn against the spiritual dangers of misplaced trust.
Stewardship or Misplaced Faith?
It can be spiritually challenging to discern where stewardship ends and misplaced trust begins. Wealth can easily masquerade as wisdom, security, and even blessing—yet without vigilance, it can quietly displace dependence on God. The distinction lies not in the presence of wealth but in the posture of the heart.
- Trusting in God means acknowledging that everything we possess ultimately belongs to Him. It is a posture of surrender, recognizing that He alone provides, sustains, directs, and redeems. It leads to generosity, peace, and a willingness to let go when God calls us to.
- Trusting in wealth, by contrast, reveals itself through subtle patterns: anxiety over losses, pride in achievements, reluctance to give, or a belief that one’s future is secured more by spreadsheets than by God’s promises.
Jesus offers a sobering warning in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” This isn’t merely a moral teaching—it’s a spiritual diagnosis. When money becomes a master, it begins to demand our loyalty, shape our decisions, and define our sense of security. Even good stewards can fall into the trap of functionally relying on wealth rather than walking by faith.
True stewardship flows from trust in God, not fear of financial insufficiency. It seeks His Kingdom first and views resources as temporary tools for eternal impact—not as a foundation for personal identity or invulnerability.
Questions for Honest Self-Examination
If you’re concerned that you are placing too much trust in wealth, read these questions and give yourself honest answers.
- Where do I turn first in times of financial uncertainty—God or my balance sheet?
- Am I using my resources to build my kingdom or God’s Kingdom?
- Does my giving reflect gratitude and dependence on God, or is it limited by fear of not having enough?
- Would a sudden loss of wealth shake my faith or change my sense of identity?
- Am I inviting God into financial decisions through prayer and wise counsel?
- Have I placed boundaries around wealth accumulation that foster contentment, not excess?
Scriptures That Redirect the Heart
Focusing on what God says about wealth and integrating scripture into our finances is a great way to redirect the heart to God.
Matthew 6:19–21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Ask: Where is my treasure? What am I most afraid to lose?
1 Timothy 6:17–19 – “Command those who are rich… not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God…”
- Ask: Where am I placing my sense of security—on the uncertainty of riches, or on the God who provides richly and reliably?
Proverbs 11:28 – “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
- Ask: Is my trust producing peace and fruitfulness or fear and isolation?
Luke 12:15–21 – The parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns but died that night.
- Ask: Am I building more to preserve myself, or to serve others and honor God?
Psalm 62:10 – “Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
- Ask: Am I more emotionally attached to growing my wealth than growing in faith?
Practices to Cultivate Godly Stewardship and Trust
Regular, Generous Giving – Tithing or generous giving cultivates a heart of dependence on God and detachment from money.
Fasting or Simplicity Practices – Periodic abstention from purchases or comforts can recalibrate our desires and dependence.
Financial Review with Prayer – Invite God into your budget and financial planning. Before looking at any numbers, ask, “Lord, how would You have me steward this?”
Accountability – Share financial goals and struggles with a spiritually mature friend or advisor who can ask hard questions.
Meditative Journaling – Keep a journal to reflect on questions like, “What does enough look like in this season?” or “Where am I experiencing contentment or anxiety financially?”
Stewardship Flows from Relationship
At its core, discerning between trusting God and trusting wealth is not merely a financial question—it is a relational one. God is not asking us to renounce resources, but to reorient our hearts. Wealth is a tool, a trust, a test, and a testimony. Our job is to manage it faithfully, not worship it subtly.
When we see ourselves not as owners but as stewards, we are freed from the anxiety of accumulation and the pride of self-sufficiency. We begin to live in joyful dependence on God—ready to give, serve, and rest as He leads.
“Father, You are my Provider. Help me to trust not in riches, but in You. Teach me to steward what You’ve entrusted to me with wisdom and joy. Guard my heart from pride and fear. May my treasure always be in heaven, and my hope always in You. Amen.”
For more on what the Bible says about money, check out What the Bible Says About Money.