The second fruit of the Spirit listed is joy—a word often associated with gladness and delight. While joy is frequently tied to specific events, such as a parent celebrating their child’s graduation, this type of joy tends to be temporary, fading as circumstances change.
True joy, however, is different. It is internal, unshaken by life’s ups and downs, and is a gift from God. As Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
When it comes to finances, joy plays a critical role in how we handle money. Let’s explore a few ways joy connects to our financial lives.
Joy in Knowing God Is Our Provider
Knowing that God is our provider should bring us great joy. Jesus reminded His disciples not to worry about life’s necessities, assuring them that God would meet their needs. As He said in Matthew 6:25-26, “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
During times of financial stress, it’s easy to let worry steal our joy. But in these moments, remembering God’s past faithfulness can restore our peace. I can personally attest to this—when my husband was laid off, and our income dramatically decreased, my first thought was that God would provide. Even in uncertainty, I felt joy and peace knowing He was in control.
When you face financial challenges, take your needs to God in prayer. Jesus promised, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).
Joy from Helping Others
There’s also joy in sharing our resources with those in need. Acts 20:35 teaches, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” If you’ve ever helped someone less fortunate—whether providing a meal for the hungry or offering relief after a disaster—you’ve likely experienced the satisfaction and joy that comes from easing someone else’s burden.
God calls us to care for the poor and promises to bless those who obey. Deuteronomy 15:10 says, “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” This promise should fill your heart with joy, knowing that your generosity brings blessings.
Furthermore, God delights in those who give with a cheerful heart. As 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 reminds us, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Future Joy for Faithfulness
We also look forward to the joy of future rewards in heaven for our faithfulness in giving. Jesus taught that we should store up treasures in heaven by being generous on earth. As He said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
When we care for others, we are building treasure in heaven. Jesus further emphasized this in Matthew 25:31-36, explaining that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and care for prisoners, we are serving Him. These acts of kindness lead to eternal rewards and deepen our joy in Christ.
Finding Joy Through Generosity
As we trust God to provide for our needs and follow the Holy Spirit’s direction in giving, we experience true joy. This joy is not found in accumulating wealth, but in living out God’s call to be generous and compassionate. When we honor God with our finances, we discover contentment and peace, no matter our circumstances.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
As Christians, we’re called to grow closer to Jesus, allowing His life and teachings to shape every part of our lives—including how we handle money. The way we manage our finances can reflect Christ and influence those around us, especially in a world where many are struggling with financial stress.
Money is simply a tool—it helps us navigate life and conduct business—but it should never be the focus of our lives. Your worth is not determined by how much you have in the bank; it’s rooted in the truth that you were created by God, who loves you deeply. The way we handle money, however, should reflect God’s heart, shining His light in a world full of need.
In this blog, we’ll explore how the Fruit of the Spirit can guide us in our approach to money. Think of this post as an overview—a beginner’s guide or refresher on how these biblical qualities intersect with our financial lives. Over the coming weeks, I’ll dive deeper into each characteristic, offering more insights and practical tips for applying these principles in your finances. This series can serve as a personal study, a group discussion for Sunday school, or a home group study to help you grow in both your financial stewardship and your walk with Christ.
Love
When you accept Christ, God’s love fills your heart. In fact, He calls us to love Him with all that we are: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Desiring money isn’t sinful, but loving it can be. When we place too much emphasis on acquiring wealth, we risk letting it take God’s rightful place in our hearts. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 6:24: “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.”
When we love money more than God, it can lead to destructive behaviors like theft, fraud, or worse. As 1 Timothy 6:10 warns: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
We all want joy, but it’s different from happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances—it’s temporary, like the joy you feel when you receive good news. Joy, on the other hand, is deeper and more lasting. It comes from knowing our sins are forgiven and that we are part of God’s eternal family.
Romans 15:13 tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” This kind of joy isn’t dependent on money or possessions.
While an unexpected windfall may bring a moment of happiness, it can’t provide the lasting joy that only comes from Christ. As Jesus reminds us in Luke 6:23–24, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
True peace comes from knowing we are secure in Christ. As Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). No amount of money can provide that kind of peace.
Even the wealthiest people often feel insecure. Studies show that even multi-millionaires regularly feel that they need even more money to feel “secure.” King Solomon understood this when he wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:10: “Whoever loves money never has enough.”
True peace comes from trusting in God, not in wealth.
Patience helps us avoid rushing into poor financial decisions. It allows wealth to grow over time and teaches us to wait before making big purchases until we can afford them. Without patience, we might impulsively invest in get-rich-quick schemes or fall into debt by buying things we can’t afford.
Proverbs 13:11 teaches, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” And Proverbs 22:7 reminds us, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a servant to the lender.” Patience and self-control in money management are key.
Kindness means treating others as family—especially those in need. As God’s people, we’re called to show kindness by helping those less fortunate, both with our resources and our time. True kindness eases others’ burdens and points them to Christ.
Job 6:14 says, “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” Jesus also taught that when we serve the least among us, we are serving Him (Matthew 25:31-46).
Isaiah 58:6-7 explains that true fasting is about meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed. “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the poor who are cast out into your house?”
Goodness is about using what we have to fulfill God’s purpose, especially in helping others. James 4:17 tells us, “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” When we fail to care for others, especially the poor, we miss an opportunity to show God’s love.
1 John 3:17-18 challenges us: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Proverbs 21:13 warns that if we ignore the cries of the poor, God may not answer us in our own time of need. “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”
God is faithful to provide for us, and we are called to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us. This includes being faithful to give—whether through tithing or supporting others in need. Malachi 3:8-10 reminds us that failing to tithe is like robbing God, and that He will bless those who are faithful in their giving.
Jesus also promises rewards for those who use their resources wisely. In Luke 19:17, the faithful servant is told, “Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”
Gentleness compels us to help others without making them feel ashamed. It’s easy to judge those in financial trouble, but the Bible calls us to restore them gently. Galatians 6:1 reminds us, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.”
As we help others, we must remember that our fortunes can change. Today, we may be the ones in a position to give, but tomorrow, we might need help ourselves (Proverbs 23:5). We should offer assistance discreetly and with humility, following the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).
Self-control is essential for avoiding impulse spending and debt. It also applies to giving. While it’s important to be generous, we must be careful not to give beyond what we can afford, trusting that God will meet our needs (Philippians 4:19).
Jesus warned against giving to be seen by others. “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Self-control in giving, just like in spending, helps us maintain balance.
Proverbs 21:17 reminds us that “He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.” We must practice self-control in all areas of life to manage our resources well.
A Personal Bible Study on Money and the Fruit of the Spirit
As you reflect on the principles of money and the Fruit of the Spirit, I encourage you to take a moment to think about how each characteristic applies to your own financial life. The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t just a list of qualities to admire—it’s a call to live out the very nature of Christ in every area of life, including how we handle our finances.
Would you like to make this a personal study? Consider printing out this blog and keeping it in your Bible as a reminder. You can use it for daily reflection or as a study guide with family or friends. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your financial life where you can grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ask God to give you wisdom as you apply these principles, and trust that as you do, He will bless your efforts and help you reflect His character in all you do.
“I hate my job,” a friend told me recently. Her feelings reached beyond a typical bad day scenario. She dislikes the work that she is doing and the people at work. A study by the Pew Research Center in the spring of last year revealed that half of workers are highly satisfied with their jobs. That means that the other half are not. And 19% of workers reported being miserable in their careers. My friend fell into that 19% of people who are miserable in their jobs.
For many people, like my friend, their work is just a paycheck to provide for themselves. She can not articulate what she would enjoy doing, complicating her situation. She is not alone.
If you do the work God has called you to do, you will not be miserable. Of course, you will have stressful days, but generally, you should feel fulfilled by your work. If you are miserable, you can take steps to figure out what God created you to do.
God demonstrates through stories in the Bible that He has a plan for each of us. God created us with unique abilities, temperaments, interests, and talents. In Exodus 31, God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle, and He provided the names of two specific artisans whom He had filled with the knowledge to do specific jobs. The craftsmen had different skills, and they could oversee all the specialized work together. When God set the Levites apart to be priests, He assigned different jobs to different Levite families. In the New Testament, Paul tells us that God created some people to be evangelists, some to be prophets, and some to be teachers, among other callings.
God also created you to do specific work. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
To help my friend, I turned to “The Purpose Drive Life” by Rick Warren. He suggests several questions that a person should ask themselves to help them determine their purpose. I made a list of the questions from the book to help my friend consider other job options as she prays and seeks the Lord’s guidance.
Here are 6 questions Rick Warren suggests to help you determine your purpose:
What were your favorite family experiences? Favorite memories?
What were your favorite subjects in school?
What jobs have you had that you enjoyed or found meaningful?
What are the most memorable times you have had with God?
What Christian service/ministries have you enjoyed?
What have you learned from your life’s problems, challenges, hurts, and trials?
God wants you to get up excited to face each day. Your job should be more than a way to get a paycheck. It should give you joy and satisfaction knowing that you are where God intended you to be, doing the work He created you to do.
The path to finding your purpose is not an overnight journey. It would help if you took the time to answer the questions and also ask your closest friends and family to help you evaluate what you enjoy. Ultimately, it is for you to decide with God’s help.
Now is an excellent time to begin searching for a new path.
I read this stirring poem tonight. It was written by a good friend Steve Weber. In Steve’s own words, “God gave me a poem that came faster than I could write it for my sermon this morning based on the “silent” 400 or so years before Jesus’ birth. the title of the poem is, “T’was the Years Before Christmas”. Hope this provokes you to realizing that when God appears to be silent in your life it may very well be because He has something climactic planned.”
I am reprinting here with Steve’s permission. I hope it blesses you and helps you to keep your focus on the true reason we celebrate Christmas–the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!
Twas the years before Christmas and all through the land
The people were restless under Rome’s command
God’s silence was deafening in every home
His voice not heard for centuries as His people groaned
Who would deliver, who would set free
These people who once had such vic’try
When would God come to set His people free
When would the King Jesus return for you and me
As each voice rose up with a clatter, Lord Jesus knew what was the matter
The sheep needed their Shepherd so to the throne He did go
Dear Father they need me down below.
The time has come, all is in place, though they know not now, they will soon see my face
So to a young girl did Gabriel arrive, to deliver a message no man could contrive
“Dear daughter of the king, you shall carry His seed, that the world may know I am indeed…
The One whom the prophets spoke of before, the King, the Messiah, the Jesus of lore..
Fear not my dear girl, for you have been chosen, for with God the impossible is what has been spoken
The world as you know it will not be the same, your sins forgiven, no more shame
But He will not come as a prince or a King, but the Savior wrapped in clothes bearing “the Name”.
To Shepherds will I announce his arrival in time, and you will be called blessed because you are mine
Though the world may mock and your heart will be broken,
fear not my dear daughter, for your God has spoken”
Then turning away from heaven above, the seed entered Mary with tremendous love…
Now they shall know, now they shall see, T’was the years before Christmas prepared just for thee.
Now receive Him my friend, do not turn away
Let His love lift you as you surrender each day.
Though the journey be long and troubling at times
I am with you dear child because you are mine
Steve and I moved recently into a home that, while relatively new, needed some renovations, particularly in the master bathroom. We had hoped to have the master bath remodeled before we moved in, but for reasons beyond our control, that did not occur. Thus, we find ourselves in the midst of a major renovation project.
Home remodeling projects are never fun, easy, or inexpensive. We have tended to buy newer homes and have generally limited home upgrades to cosmetic changes, such as painting or changing the floor coverings. Our largest projects prior to the current one involved converting a screened porch into an office and finishing a portion of a basement. Neither of those projects inconvenienced us much.
Renovating the master bathroom, however, is a totally different story. Naturally, we had to remove all of our belongings from the bathroom and relocate them to the small guest bath down the hall. Since the closet is accessed through the bathroom, we had to empty the closet. Our clothes are distributed among the closets in the three extra bedrooms. Unfortunately, for the sake of time, we did not perform this task in any organized manner. Getting dressed in the morning requires a search through all the closets for the desired clothing.
The existing tub and shower had to be gutted. At the end of the first day of demolition, construction dust coated every piece of furniture in the master bedroom. That night we vacuumed the carpet, dusted the furniture, and washed the bedding. Then we covered every inch of the bedroom with plastic drop clothes. Again this was done without proper forethought. I wish I had retrieved clothing I would need from the dresser, but alas I did not. At least I know where the desired items are as I fight my way through the yards of plastic covering the dresser. The first time we had to access the answer machine on the night stand, we moved it into the guest room, as well.
More plastic is adhered to our staircase and upstairs hall. It keeps the debris off the carpet but not off our feet. I avoid going upstairs as much as possible because I don’t like getting bits of plaster stuck to the soles of my feet. No matter how much we sweep, we cannot get it all up. I look forward to the day we pull the plastic up and I feel carpet under my feet again.
Remodeling is messy, it’s inconvenient, it’s time consuming, and it’s costly. So why are we putting ourselves through this process? We do it for the end result, of course. We are expecting to have a beautiful master bathroom that meets our needs when the remodeling is complete. And although it feels like the remodeling has been going on forever, the entire project should be completed in only a few weeks. We are willing to endure a short period of unpleasantness in order to achieve the desired finished product. We look forward to the day very soon when our master bathroom will be completed to our specifications and will once again be a usable part of our home.
As I have watched the bathroom transformation, I have been reminded of the way God moves in us to transform our hearts and reform us to be useful for His needs. Our old bathroom was operational but it didn’t meet our needs. The old fixtures had to be demolished and the space cleaned of all the debris before the workers could install the new fixtures. God has to rid our lives of everything that hinders His work before we can be fully useful to Him. Sin has to go, of course, but also bitterness, pain, and unforgiveness. When we give those things to God, He removes them from our hearts and fills the empty spaces with His love, peace, forgiveness, and understanding. The old has to give way to the new. The process is often messy and painful but the end result is more beautiful than we could have imagined.
I’m looking forward to the day that my bathroom renovation is complete and even more so to the day that my personal renovation is complete and I stand in the presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If your life needs a renovation, Jesus Christ is the answer.
Today is Good Friday. It marks the celebration of the greatest act of love that the world has ever known. Jesus Christ, the son of God, paid the price for my sins on the cross at Calvary. Without Jesus’ sacrifice, I could not have forgiveness for my sins.
Thankfully, Jesus’ death was not the end of his life. Jesus battled Satan and overcame death and the grave. On Sunday we will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. How wonderful it is to serve a Saviour who not only bore my sins but who is alive forever more.
In celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I am sharing one of my favorite Easter hymns. I hope that each person who reads this has received Jesus’ free gift of forgiveness of their sins and the promise of eternity in Heaven. If you have not done so, please consider doing it today. Your life on Earth will be happier, fuller, and more satisfying, and you will get to look forward to a future in Heaven.
May you have a blessed Easter weekend.
He Lives
I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Verse 2:
In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that His with me, thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.
Verse 3:
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
The Beatitudes from Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only than can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being “care-full,” you’ll find yourselves cared for.
You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
You’re blessed when your commitment to god provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
Not only that–count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens–give a cheer, even!–for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Matthew 5:3 – 12 (The Message)
May your life be truly blessed this week in all the ways that matter. May you feel God’s presence in your moments of grief, disappointment, and weaknesses. May you know that God loves you far more than you can comprehend and that He will never leave or forsake you. May you bask in His presence as you read His word and spend time with Him in prayer.
The world offers no peace, no contentment, no satisfaction compared to what God has offered mankind through His son Jesus. If you haven’t taken the time to know Jesus and to make Him your Lord and Savior, please consider doing so today. Only when you do so will you be truly blessed.
Yesterday I learned that Kristi DeVore Shores’ life on earth had ended. I was saddened by the news that this beautiful, vibrant thirty-nine year old woman had lost her brief battle with stomach cancer. She was diagnosed with the illness less than three months ago. As she fought her brave battle, family members and friends interceded with God on her behalf. On Tuesday God healed Kristi. It was not the healing we had hoped for, yet it was an answer to our prayers. When Kristi’s eyes closed, her soul was transported into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My heart aches for the family she left behind: her loving husband Ryan who dreamed of growing old with her, three precious children who are young enough to need a mother’s daily care, godly parents who set a wonderful example for their children in their marriage and their daily walk with Christ, and three siblings who have stayed close despite busy lives of their own. From their Facebook posts, I know the family members are sad, but they are also happy that Kristi is pain-free and they are secure in the knowledge that they will see Kristi again when their time on Earth comes to an end.
There are hundreds of posts on Kristi’s Facebook page and web site. Some friends share the many ways Kristi touched their lives, while others tell funny stories about her. Most offer words of condolences to her family. All loved her and were better off for having known her.
Those of us who knew Kristi have perfect assurance that Kristi is in Heaven. Kristi is not in Heaven because she was kind or loving. She didn’t earn her way into Heaven through generosity or good works. She isn’t there because she was a loving wife, a caring mother, a dutiful daughter, and a precious sister. Kristi was all those things and many more. Yet, Kristi knew that she could never be good enough to get to Heaven on her own. Many years ago Kristi acknowledged what is true of all of us, that she was a sinner in need of a Savior. Kristi believed that Jesus Christ died for her sins and she confessed Him as her Lord and Savior. And because she did, she is spending eternity in Heaven.
Perhaps you’ve been told that there are many roads to Heaven. It sounds nice and many people believe that. However, God’s Word teaches us that Jesus is the only way. “There is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.
Where will you spend eternity? If you haven’t accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation, I urge you to do so today. The rest of your life on Earth will be better, and you will receive the promise of an eternity in Heaven.
Susan's Reflections 
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