Believe it or not, there is a lot in the Bible about money and not just that it’s the root of all evil. (Actually, the Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil.) The Bible actually contains a great deal of practical wisdom about earning money, working for a living, managing your financial resources, and financial planning.

In fact, Jesus Himself taught a lot about money. He taught that people need to be good stewards or managers of their resources and that everybody should pay his taxes. John the Baptist once advised soldiers who came to see him that they should be content with their pay. The Biblical book of Proverbs contains a lot about money management.

Christians or those interested in Biblical principles of money management can take advantage of services offered by Crown Ministries (online at crown.org). If you’re not a regular at church or are not Christian, you may not be aware that many Christian ministries exist for specialized areas. These faith-based services are designed to approach a problem from a religious perspective. But don't expect these services to be all prayers and hope. Reputable Christian debt counselors offer practical instruction, sound financial guidance, and spiritual insights into the nature of debt.

Crown Ministries was started by a man from Argentina who felt that the Bible contained great financial wisdom that could help people all over South, Central, and North American better manage their resources and come out from the burden of debt. It’s an international ministry, and its services are available free.

Christians may also find other financial help programs at their churches including Financial Peace University by David Ramsey. Some clergyman (not necessarily all Christian) may also specialize in financial counseling. After all, financial problems affect broad sections of society and most religious organizations try to meet the needs of their congregants.

If you practice your faith, ask your clergyman about financial counseling services. Larger churches or religious groups may offer such services to the congregation, but even small organizations should be able to recommend financial counselors.

What else does the Bible say about money? The Bible encourages giving money to the poor (it’s called “lending to God”) but never giving to the point that you deplete yourself (John the Baptist said if you have two tunics, give one to somebody that needs one). The New Testament says that if you don’t work, you shouldn’t expect to eat. And in the book of Proverbs, King Solomon warns readers never to co-sign a loan!

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