The Wise Use of Money by Zac Poonen

Devotional

Day 1: Singing Hymns in Lonely Showers

The rhythm of ancient hymns carries truth into life’s cracks. When loneliness or temptation creeps in, memorized lyrics surface like anchors. These songs, learned in childhood or family worship, become companions in unseen moments. Their rhymes and theology lodge deep, offering more than nostalgia—they arm the soul. Teach children hymns not as tradition, but as survival gear for future battles. Let their cadences shape your inner dialogue when the world goes quiet. [06:48]

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: Which hymn lyric has steadied you during a recent struggle? How could singing it aloud today shift your perspective?

Day 2: Testing Preachers by Open Palms

True servants handle God’s word with hands unclenched by greed. A polished sermon means little if the speaker chases money. Jesus chose fishermen over religious elites because their palms stayed open. When evaluating teachers, watch their relationship with wealth more than their eloquence. Does their life whisper “contentment” or shout “accumulation”? The truest messages flow from those who’ve surrendered financial control. [02:01]

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
(Luke 16:13, ESV)

Reflection: When have you prioritized financial security over spiritual obedience? What would holding your resources in an open palm look like today?

Day 3: Bible Quizzes at Dinner Tables

Scripture sticks best when discovered, not lectured. Family meals become holy ground when children hunt for Joab’s lineage or David’s sisters. Let them catch adults in biblical ignorance—it fuels their hunger. Picture Bibles and playful questions turn doctrine into treasure hunts. This isn’t about perfect theology, but sparking curiosity that outlasts childhood. A generation raised on AI needs ancient stories more than algorithms. [10:06]

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: What Bible story captivated you as a child? How could you reintroduce its wonder to someone younger this week?

Day 4: Carpenter Calluses and Honest Tables

Jesus’ calloused hands built furniture before building the church. He earned wages without letting money master Him. A chipped table became a sermon—He’d rather lose profit than integrity. His carpentry shop trained Him to handle both nails and coins. True discipleship isn’t poverty, but holding work and wealth loosely. Every honest transaction prepares us for eternal investments. [21:36]

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What mundane task could become worship if done with Jesus’ integrity? How does contentment guard your heart during financial stress?

Day 5: Bank Accounts and Garbage Bins

Gratitude grows when we count concrete blessings: a fridge, literacy, peace. Most believers globally lack these. Teach children that complaining about meals insults those scavenging trash bins. True wealth isn’t stored in accounts but in thankfulness for daily bread. When trials come, rehearse the 92% without banking access. Perspective turns privilege into stewardship. [01:09:32]

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)

Reflection: Which “ordinary” blessing have you overlooked this week? How might thanking God for it reshape your worries?

Sermon Summary

God’s word calls believers to know the Scriptures, sing hymns that carry truth into the memory, and build homes where children learn the Bible in a relaxed and living way. Hymns written by men and women who loved God more than money can strengthen a person when alone, tempted, or discouraged. Scripture memorized in childhood can come back at the right moment and become an answer in a difficult situation. The Bible must not remain a book admired from a distance, because a person who says God is most important but never takes time to know God’s word is not proving that claim by life.

Hebrews 13 sets the foundation: character must be free from the love of money, because the Lord, not money, is the helper. Luke 16 corrects a common mistake by naming the two masters as God and money, not God and Satan. Money calls one way and God calls another way, and the direction a person goes reveals the real master. Jesus Himself worked as a carpenter, supported His family, dealt honestly with people, and handled earthly things without becoming their servant.

Luke 16 describes money in three plain ways. Money is “a very little thing,” though it can blind a person to Christ like a small coin held close to the eye can hide the sun. Money is false riches, while true riches are Christlike character, fellowship with Christ, fullness of the Holy Spirit, and revelation from God’s word that changes life. Money belongs to another, namely God, and therefore must be held with an open palm rather than a tight fist.

Luke 14 shows that discipleship means giving up possession, not necessarily throwing away every earthly thing. God may call a few people to leave everything in a special way, but every disciple must recognize that salary, body, home, and possessions belong to the Lord. God tests faithfulness through little things, including honesty, freedom from debt, wise budgeting, generosity, and care for the poor. Christ did and taught, and His people must not reverse that order by speaking truths they have not first obeyed.

The new covenant does not reduce giving to a fixed percentage. God seeks love, cheerful freedom, righteousness toward creditors, and proper care for a family’s real needs. Gratitude also breaks money’s power, because those with a bank account, a home, food, health, freedom to gather, and the ability to read have much for which to thank God.

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Key Takeaways

1. Money reveals the real master Luke 16 makes the issue very simple. God and money both call for a person’s obedience, and the one obeyed is the master. Money is not evil merely because it is used, but it becomes a master when security, choices, and fear are ruled by it. [18:44]
2. Hold every possession with an open palm Possession becomes dangerous when the heart says, “Nobody can take this from me.” God may leave resources in a disciple’s hand while removing the claim of ownership from the heart. Open-handed stewardship makes room for God to direct money toward real needs without inward resistance. [29:21]
3. Faithfulness with little opens true riches Money is called a very little thing and false riches, yet God uses it to test a person’s heart. True riches include likeness to Christ, the fullness of the Spirit, and revelation that transforms daily life. A person faithful in ordinary financial decisions becomes ready for greater spiritual responsibility. [43:21]
4. Scripture must change life before speech Jesus did and taught, and that order protects God’s work from empty words. Information can fill the head and supply material for speaking, while revelation exposes something that must change in life. God’s word becomes true riches when it produces obedience before it produces public ministry. [47:56]
5. Gratitude breaks the grip of complaint Thankfulness puts possessions in their proper place by remembering how much has already been given. A home, food, health, literacy, and freedom to meet with believers are not small things. Gratitude guards the heart from backsliding because it recognizes God’s care instead of constantly measuring what is missing.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Hymns That Stay in the Heart
[07:15] - Family Prayer and Teaching Children
[12:00] - Making Time for God’s Word
[15:29] - The Lord Is the Helper
[17:00] - God and Money as Two Masters
[19:34] - Jesus the Honest Carpenter
[25:52] - Money Belongs to God
[28:12] - Possessions Held with an Open Palm
[36:24] - Money: Little, False, and Another’s
[43:50] - The True Riches of Christ
[47:08] - Do and Teach Like Jesus
[49:59] - New Covenant Giving
[55:42] - Debt, Giving, and Family Needs
[60:46] - Meditating on Scripture
[68:58] - Learning Gratitude

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” [17:17]

Hebrews 13:5-6
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” [15:29]

Luke 14:33
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” [28:12]

Luke 16:10-12
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” [36:24]

Observation questions

In Hebrews 13:5-6, what commands and promises are placed together with the statement, “The Lord is my helper”?
According to Luke 16:10-12, what three descriptions of money can be seen in the passage: a very little thing, unrighteous wealth, and something belonging to another? [36:30]
What contrast does Jesus make in Luke 16:13 between being devoted to one master and serving two masters?
What examples were given of ordinary financial matters in which faithfulness can be shown, such as paying obligations, avoiding waste, planning for family needs, and helping those in need? [39:39]

Interpretation questions

Hebrews 13 connects contentment with God’s promise never to leave His people. How does trusting God as Helper challenge the desire to make money a source of safety?
Luke 14:33 does not merely speak about having possessions but about renouncing the claim of ownership over them. What is the difference between using a possession thankfully and holding it with a tight fist? [28:50]
If money is “a very little thing,” why can it still become so spiritually dangerous and able to block a person’s view of Christ? [37:34]
Luke 16:11 speaks of “true riches.” Why are Christlike character, fellowship with Christ, fullness of the Holy Spirit, and life-changing understanding of Scripture greater riches than money? [43:50]

Application questions

When financial pressure, uncertainty, or fear about the future comes, what does the heart most naturally look to for help: the Lord, savings, income, possessions, or something else? How can Hebrews 13:5-6 shape a different response?
Is there any possession, plan, comfort, or amount of money that would be especially difficult to place in God’s open hand? What would it look like to say honestly, “Lord, this belongs to You”? [29:36]
What is one specific area of “little” financial faithfulness that needs attention right now—honesty, paying a debt, making a budget, reducing waste, planning for real family needs, or generosity? [31:44]
Scripture is meant to change life before it becomes material for speaking to others. When reading the Bible this week, what question could help move from information to obedience: “Lord, what do You want to change in me through this?” [46:37]
What simple practice could help make God’s Word more present in the home or daily routine—reading at a meal, listening to Scripture while traveling, memorizing one verse, asking children Bible questions, or singing a truth-filled hymn? [13:13]
Gratitude weakens the grip of money by helping believers see God’s many gifts. What are several ordinary provisions—food, shelter, health, work, Christian fellowship, freedom, or the ability to read—for which the group can thank God today?

Sermon Clips

You know that saying that you can take a small coin and put it just a small worthless coin and put it close enough to your eye and you can't even you won't even be able to see the sun. That's how money can blind out even blot out the sun from your vision. If you put it close enough to your eyes and you bring money close enough to your heart, you won't even see Christ. Money will be everything. [00:37:33]

That's what it means, possessions. So he says you can't be my disciple if if you don't give up all your possessions that you can have it but don't possess it. You know the difference between having and possessing. Possessing I say nobody can take it from me. It's my tightfisted hand that holds it. Your salary and everything. Don't hold it like that. Keep it in open palm and say Lord it's yours. [00:29:21]

He who is faithful in a very little thing. That's money. That's the context in verse 13. Money is a very little thing. That's the first thing you need to understand. And if you're faithful in that very little thing called money, then you will be faithful in the more important things in the Christian life, you'll be faithful in much. But if you're unrighteous in this very little thing called money, you'll be unrighteous in many other things in your life. [00:36:52]

But it's very important to recognize that our money does not belong to us in our body doesn't belong to us. I can't use my body as I like. It's the Lord's. So many of you may be thinking it's my hard-earned money. Brother, sister, it is not. It's what the Lord helped you to earn. Please look at it like that. And if everything that is yours belongs to the Lord, your money belongs to the Lord. [00:27:40]

And we say that God is more important than this world. But they don't prove it by their life. If God is more important, then the one book that God has given to humanity, you don't read it. Don't ever say that God is most the most important person in your life. You're telling a lie. God is not the most important person. Your job is more important. [00:12:33]

If you want a happy life, put Christ first in your affections, not your wife, not your husband. You'll be a better husband and you'll be a better wife and you'll be a better father and a better mother if you don't put your children first. Put them next to Christ always. [00:35:25]

make sure that your character is free from the love of money. Have you taken that word seriously? Make sure your life is free from the love of money. Be content with what you have because he has said, "I will never desert you. I will never forsake you." So that we can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid." [00:15:37]

likeness to Christ, fellowship with Christ, fullness of the Holy Spirit and revelation on the word of God. What's the difference between revelation and information? Information is only goes to your head. You can preach to others. Revelation is what changes your life. [00:46:03]

And the last sentence, you cannot serve God and wealth or money. So the two masters in the world, don't forget, are not God and Satan. Satan uses money to deceive people. But God and money are the two masters. [00:18:06]

So do it first then teach it. Don't teach what you haven't done. Follow Jesus' example who did and taught. So many people are preaching fantastic things that they haven't done. [00:48:42]

children you know as churches we now encourage children to memorize one verse every week small verse that's a very good habit if you don't have it that practice in your church please develop that habit and many of our CFC churches we ask the children to come up front and repeat the verse even small children six seven years old come up and read a repeat a small verse they get into the habit of memorizing scripture. Very good habit. It'll help them later on. So many times in my life in some situations suddenly one verse comes to my mind which I've memorized. [00:14:01]

Get into the habit of memorizing scripture and read the Old Testament large sections of it and meditate on the New Testament. That's what I do. New test the Old Testament is mostly stories. read it all in great sections of it and then New Testament read a few verses a day and meditate on it. [00:14:35]

And if you're thankful to God for these blessings, you're truly a blessed man and woman because most people in the world are very unthankful and most Christians in the world are very unthankful too. I hope we have learned some lessons today that will help you and help your family to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. [01:12:56]

It's good to have family prayer times at home where you talk in a relaxed way about God's word and to ask questions particularly in the days when children are growing up. [00:08:36]

I know the hymns of the past have helped me tremendously in my life. Especially when I was young and many times lonely, I would sing hymns to myself. I sing hymns to myself when I'm in the shower and when I'm alone. Wonderful. It's good for children to learn hymns by heart and some of those hymns. And the advantage of hymns that rhyme, it's easy to remember. And the old hymns written in the 1819, they always rhymed. [00:06:38]

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