What is the Formula for Christian Finance?

I often get asked something along the lines:  What is the formula for Christian finance?  Oh, if only it were that easy!   The simplest answer I can come up with off the top of my head is this: “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives.” (Prov. 16:2)  The New Testament does not give specific and literal instructions for Christian’s financial lives in the same manner as the Mosiac Law.  I believe this can be summed up most simply with the proverb above.  There is freedom under the new covenant to live differently in regard to financial matters, but the believer must understand that his motives will be called to judgement. 

 I believe that God does this for two reasons:  1. He desires us to seek Him, His wisdom, His word, and His presence in a living and active relationship to gain insight for our financial decisions.  2. He desires our heart to follow His Spirit in our decisions not a lifeless, legalistic submission to any sort of “formula.”

While the New Testament does not give nearly as concrete instruction regarding financial decisions as the Old, it does give clear instruction.  A Christian is called to be radically generous, content in all circumstances, free from the love of money, and so on and so forth.  We should not let the New Testament’s lack of “formula” be an excuse to live thoughtlessly, irresponsibly, or irrationally.  Instead, it should drive us to prayer–to a living relationship with Christ that sharpens all facets of life, not merely the financial.