By Doug Hanson
We hear it from the pulpit: “Trust in God.” We hear it from others: “Trust in God.” We see it stated on our dollar bills: “In God We Trust.” But what does it mean to trust in God with our finances? It is an important question since money is an integral part of our daily lives. For answers, let’s take a journey through Psalm 104.
God’s Preeminence. Psalm 104 begins with an acknowledgment of God’s glory. “Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty” (v. 1). God is the ultimate authority in the universe, unmatched in every way, and is worthy of our highest praise. There is no better place to put our trust than in the sovereign ruler of the universe.
God’s Power. The psalmist continues with an example of God’s power over creation. God covered the earth “with the watery depths as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains then.” But at His command “the waters fled” to never again cover the earth (vv. 5-9). Since God has this magnitude of power, He can certainly be trusted in our everyday finances.
God’s Provision. In the next nine verses we see the myriads of ways He sustains His creation (vv. 10-18). He provides rivers for the “beasts of the field” to “quench their thirst.” He provides trees for the “birds of the sky to nest” and “sing among the branches.” He provides plants “for people to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth.” He provides refuge for His creatures, “the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.” The universe continues because God sustains it. He is the provider of all life’s needs and therefore the one we can turn to in our finances.
God’s Plan. He provides darkness at night when “all the beasts of the forest prowl” and daylight when “people go out to their work, to their labor until evening” (vv. 19-23). There is no detail that God overlooked in His creation, creating night and day for specific benefits to His creatures. If God, in His plan, causes the sun to rise every morning and the moon to come out every night, He can be trusted to help us in the ebb and flow of our finances.
God’s Wisdom. The next stanza highlights the wisdom of God (vv. 23-26). “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” In God’s wisdom, He made us. In His wisdom, He cares for us. And, because of His wisdom, we can rely on Him to guide all aspects of our lives – even our dollars and cents.
God’s Timing. This section (vv. 27-30) begins with “All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.” We learn that God, in His timely provision, satisfies us “with good things.” And God is in the process of continually renewing the earth to provide for our needs. Just as nature has seasons, we too have financial seasons of life in which God can be trusted.
God’s Glory. Psalm 104 began by acknowledging God’s glory and the psalm ends the same way (vv. 31-35). “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works.” The writer of the psalm encourages us to sing praises and rejoice in the Lord through meditation. If God is worthy of our praise, He is worthy of our financial trust.
As we trust in God, let’s keep Paul’s words in mind: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound” (Philippians 4:11-12). Whether we have little or much, God can give us contentment. Just ask Him! He is trustworthy.
Doug Hanson is an investment advisor with Christian Wealth Management in Boise, Idaho, providing biblically responsible investment advice to Christians. For more information, visit investforthegloryofgod.com or contact him at doug@christianwm.com or (208) 697-3699.
Investment advisory services provided by Creative Financial Designs, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities are offered through CFD Investments, Inc., Member FINRA & SIPC. 2704 South Goyer Road, Kokomo, IN 46902, (795) 453-9600. Christian Wealth Management, LLC is not affiliated with CFD Investments, Inc. or Creative Financial Designs, Inc.
