In this episode, Krisan and David John Marotta present a biblical perspective on money, arguing that it all belongs to God and that we are called to be stewards, not owners. Drawing from Scripture and their extensive experience in financial management, they blend theological insights with practical advice to guide listeners in using money wisely for God’s purposes. They challenge the reluctance to discuss money openly and emphasize intentionally aligning financial decisions with faith.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

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• The biblical principle of stewardship, showing how everything we have comes from God and belongs to Him.
  
• How to use financial resources to fulfill the responsibilities and calling God gives us.
  
• The importance of work to meet those responsibilities, with practical encouragement for starting your career.
  
• Common pitfalls like overspending or over-giving, and how to avoid them through balanced planning.
  
• Practical strategies for spending, earning, and saving/investing, including budgeting tips and the power of compound interest.
  
• The virtues of justice, mercy, and faithfulness in handling money contrasted with the sins of pride, greed, and fear.
  

Listeners will gain a clear framework for integrating faith and finances, moving beyond taboo to purposeful stewardship. You’ll walk away with actionable steps—like setting up a budget that reflects your values or starting a Roth IRA—alongside a renewed understanding of how generosity and gratitude can transform your relationship with money. Whether you’re a recent graduate or seasoned professional, this episode offers wisdom to navigate wealth with confidence and align your financial life with God’s calling.

Krisan and David John Marotta gave this seminar to University of Virginia college students at the Center for Christian Study on February 6, 2018. The original title was Wealth Wisdom: A Biblical Perspective on Stewarding Money.

Seminar Handout

A Biblical Perspective on Money Key Points
Money belongs to God. We are His stewards.

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• God claims ownership of all wealth, as Deuteronomy 8:17-18 reminds us: “It is He who gives you the power to get wealth.”
  
• We act as stewards, managing God’s property like a servant reflects a master’s wishes, not as owners drawing lines between “mine” and “His.”
  
• Temptation creeps in after college when we earn money and think, “I worked for this—it’s mine,” forgetting God provides the ability and opportunity.
  
• Stewards choose between faithful management and embezzlement—using money for God’s goals or selfishly taking it for ourselves.
  

God gives us money to fulfill His calling

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• God entrusts us with money to support the path He sets, such as providing for basic needs, a spouse, children, or elderly parents.
  
• Money serves a purpose beyond happiness or comfort—it equips us to fulfill our God-given duties.
  
• We receive varying amounts, big or small, but each portion aligns with the responsibilities God assigns us.
  

Work is a biblical mandate

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• Paul urges Christians in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 to “work with your hands” to live quietly, behave properly, and avoid dependency.
  
• In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul declares, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat,” addressing idleness in the church.
  
• We should take any job God provides, even if it’s not ideal, and do it for His glory while trusting Him to open new doors.
  

Avoid financial pitfalls

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• Spending 100% of take-home pay neglects future needs like retirement or emergencies and limits generosity to others.
  
• Giving everything beyond basic expenses sounds noble but proves foolish.
  
• God expects us to prepare for known and unknown future responsibilities.
  
• Abundance brings greater responsibility, not just luxury; we must balance saving and giving to steward well.
  

Learn to spending, earning, and save wisely

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• Budget lifestyle at 65% of take-home pay, allocating 15% to retirement, 10% to unknowns (like car repairs), and 10% to charity—adjustable based on values.
  
• Use the “Automatic Millionaire” method: deposit paychecks into a brokerage account, transfer only lifestyle needs, and let raises build savings.
  
• Earn through exploration—try careers, even start a business, which reflects your calling and employs others as an act of charity.
  
• Save 15% for retirement via a 401(k) match, then a Roth IRA ($5,500 in 2018), leveraging compound interest (e.g., $5,500 yearly at 7% from age 20 grows to $1.6 million by 65).
  
• Invest in low-cost funds like Vanguard’s VT, diversifying to meet goals, not chase stock market game wins.
  

Virtues and Sins of Money

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• Matthew 23:23: Jesus highlights justice, mercy, and faithfulness as key to handling money, contrasting them with pride, greed, and fear.
  
• Justice values people equally, not by wealth; pride elevates the rich over the poor (James 2:4).
  
• Mercy gives to those in need; greed hoards out of fear of losing what we have (James 2:13).
  
• Faithfulness trusts God’s provision; fear drives us to store up treasures for ourselves (Matthew 6:19-20).
  
• 1 Timothy 6:17-18 ties it together: avoid arrogance, be generous, and hope in God, not wealth.
  
• Giving reveals God’s blessings and connects us to His kingdom work, sparking gratitude.
  
• God promises to make us cheerful givers, opening our eyes to think like Him over time.
  

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

The 2018 image used to advertise this seminar:

This work is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Copyright © 2025 · Krisan Marotta, WednesdayintheWord

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New Testament Studies
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Bible Study 101

Season 25, Bonus Episode 25