Love is a word we use frequently, but often in different ways. We say “I love that!” when we talk about food, clothing, or even our favorite vacation spots. While these may reflect strong preferences, they’re far from the deeper, more self-sacrificial love we’re called to show our family, friends, and ultimately, God.
In his paper The Fruit of the Spirit: Love, James Hernando defines love as a relationship term within the context of redemption. He writes, “Love…defines our relationship to ourselves, to God, to our neighbor, and to the members of God’s body.” God’s love is self-giving, intimate, and requires personal involvement. It’s the kind of love that drives us to share our resources—especially our finances—to meet the needs of others.
Love and Giving: A Call to Action in Christian Finances
We demonstrate love in tangible ways when we open our pocketbooks and share the financial blessings God has given us. The Bible is clear about this. In the Old Testament, God commands the Israelites to care for the poor: “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore, I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’” (Deuteronomy 15:11) Similarly, in the New Testament, John reminds us that the love of God isn’t just a feeling; it’s actionable: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
You might be thinking, “I work hard for my money. Why should I sacrifice my earnings for others?” The answer lies in understanding the depth of God’s love for you. He loved you so much that He gave His only Son to die for you. Jesus’s love was sacrificial—it cost Him everything. Our love should reflect that same generosity, both spiritually and financially, as we strive to honor God with our money.
Intimacy in Love: A Heart Connection in Financial Stewardship
God’s love is intimate. Hernando writes, “Intimacy involves close personal interaction resulting in commitment, emotional bonding, and mutual care and concern.” Jesus modeled this intimacy with His disciples—He spent time getting to know them, understanding their needs, and responding with love.
As we grow in love, our relationships deepen, and we naturally start to care for others, not just emotionally, but practically, including financially. This was evident as the early church met daily to pray, fellowship, share meals and meet one another’s needs. “Now all who believed were together and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” (Acts 2:44-45) Christian stewardship means being generous with our resources to help those around us.
Avoiding the Love of Money: A Biblical Warning
As we mature in the Fruit of the Spirit, we become less attached to money and more devoted to loving God and others. Jesus warned that it’s impossible to serve both God and money: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24, NIV)
The love of money can harm our relationship with God and create all kinds of problems. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Money, when idolized, becomes a barrier to a relationship with God and others. It can even destroy relationships, as people prioritize wealth over love and well-being.
Loving money leads people away from God and into many types of sin. “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.” 2 Timothy 3:2 The sins depicted in this verse are attitudes that destroy relationships with God, family members, and friends. As these attitudes take root in a person’s heart, he or she may go to great extremes to get more money. For some this involves sacrificing their families and relationships to seek promotions and raises in order to earn larger salaries and achieve more status. Others violate the law to gain more money. Stealing, fraud, tax evasion, identity theft, and robbery are just a few of the ways that greedy people try to gain more money. No matter how much money they obtain—either through hard work and ingenuity or through theft and crime—lovers of money will never be satisfied.
Despite what culture tells us, money can never fulfill our spiritual and emotional needs. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11, ESV) Biblical stewardship teaches us that contentment comes not from accumulating wealth, but from trusting God to provide all we need.
Loving Others: A Practical Application of Financial Stewardship
Romans 12 offers practical instructions for loving others, many of which tie directly into how we handle money. Take your Bible or open your Bible app and look up Romans 12:9-15 & 20-21. Discover how some of the instructions apply directly to our use of money:
- Entertain strangers
- Demonstrate hospitality
- Feed and give drink to our enemies
- Provide for the needy
These actions often require us to spend our resources—time, energy, and yes, money. Christian hospitality doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it does require sacrifice. We are called to share freely, not to impress others, but to genuinely care for their needs.
As you grow in your relationship with God, your heart for others will deepen. Be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, and seek opportunities to love others with your finances, just as Christ loves you. In doing so, we demonstrate biblical generosity and honor God with the resources He has entrusted to us.
Final Thoughts on Stewardship and Love
As we reflect on how love impacts our finances, we are reminded that it’s not about the amount we give, but the heart behind it. True love—God’s love—compels us to be generous, sacrificial, and intimate in our care for others. Let that love guide your financial choices today, and trust that God will bless your generosity.
Susan's Reflections 
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