Since birth we have been spending money. If money is in our possession, are we a steward of the money or the owner of the money?

Money is a powerful tool, yet it has limitations too. Consider some of the things that money can and cannot buy. With money you could buy: a luxurious bed but not peace of mind; a gourmet meal but not your appetite; medicine but not your health.

Money in itself is good. But loving it too much or giving it too much emphasis is evil. After all, the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Let me share some principles of handling money which I learned from the Bible.

Wealth rots—so, do not hoard money. If you have to, spend every dime, otherwise, save every cent. This may seem to be a contrasting statement. Actually, it is not. If you need to spend a fortune in exchange for your health, do it. However, if you see sale items at the store, think twice. Chances are, once you purchase a sale item, it will become an additional piece of junk. On the other hand, if you have to give some of your money for a worthy cause, do so cheerfully. God loves a cheerful giver.

Learn to be content. The Bible says that whoever loves money will never have money enough. And as goods increase, so do those who consume them.

Learn to Budget. Proverbs speaks about the characteristics of a noble woman. She wakes up in the morning to provide for her children and her maidservants as well. Since our resources are limited and everyone has to be provided for, then some calculation should be done. Invest. In Proverbs, the noble woman invests her excess money. Then in a parable, the Lord rewards the servants who were able to make money entrusted to them increase. The Lord punished the one who buried the money and commented that he should have kept the money in the bank to earn interest.

Use the interest from your investment to make improvements. This was what the woman of noble character did. That was what kept her investments growing.

Invest wisely. Not all investments are good. To be successful, we should be prudent in choosing what we invest in. Do research and ask for advice.

Since money seems to be so indispensable, the sooner we learn how to handle it, the better. Attitude is important too. Will you be the owner or a steward?