What Money Habits Tell You About Yourself

Many people go about their everyday financial lives spending money on food, Starbucks, clothing, children, and a variety of other things. Oftentimes, we don’t give much thought to what we’re spending money on, but what if your financial decisions revealed more than just your individual preferences? Specifically, what if your financial decisions revealed the orientation of your heart and gave you a clue into what you worship.

Our hearts and worship

You see, worship is about so much more than singing a song during a church service. Worship is about what we truly value and prioritize- it’s the orientation of our hearts. And whether we realize it or not, our hearts are constantly worshipping something. We were designed to worship and serve our Creator, but so often we redirect our worship to created things, including money and what it can buy. This happens because of the sin in our hearts, which can make our priorities about ourselves and lead us away from worshipping God. Even if we’re redeemed and following Jesus, we’re constantly in a process of sanctification, working to bring our hearts into alignment with God’s desires.

Money is a tool

This is where money becomes a revealing tool. It’s not the only indicator of what we worship, but it can be incredibly insightful. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, addresses this when He speaks about laying up eternal treasures rather than earthly ones, concluding, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Our spending patterns can help us see where our treasure lies- whether we’re prioritizing temporary or eternal things.

As you review your spending - whether for the first time or as a part of your regular practice - pay close attention to what your purchases reveal. Are you spending excessively on yourself, elevating your own sources of comfort or trying to find fulfillment in material belongings? Are you devoting resources to serving others, giving generously to your local church or supporting ministries? Ultimately, is your heart aligned with God’s call to live generously?

Aligning our hearts and habits

For believers, our goal is to bring our financial habits into alignment with God’s desires. This may involve inviting others into our financial lives for accountability and guidance. If you struggle with budgeting, consistently overspend, or just want an outside perspective, don’t keep your financial life a secret. Finances are deeply personal, and it can feel vulnerable to share them, but there is great value in finding a trusted accountability partner (or even a Certified Christian Financial Counselor) to help keep you on a path of honoring Jesus with your money.

Here are a few questions for your reflection:

1. As you review your recent spending, which categories receive the most attention and resources? What does this reveal about your priorities?
2. Is there an area where you find it challenging to exercise self-control with your finances? Why do you think that is?
3. How could generosity become a greater focus in your spending? What small change could you make today?
4. Are there trusted people in your life who you could invite to help keep you accountable in your financial journey? If not, who could you reach out to for support?