Financial Fruit of the SpiritSample

Word #3: Peace

So, what does financial peace mean to you? For many it means having a plan to control your expenses and not living from month to month, having a savings account with enough set aside to meet emergency expenses, being free from debt and being able to meet mortgage payments or pay the rent.

Well, this is all true and forms the basic disciplines for financial peace, but this is not the spiritual financial fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us.

Paul wrote about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 in Greek, and we should note the meaning of the word peace in Greek. The word is ‘eirēnē,’ which means to join, to tie together into a whole, a wholeness in which all essential parts are joined together. The picture of ‘eirene’ is reflected in our modern expression "having it all together." When things are disjointed, there is a lack of harmony and well-being. When they are joined together, there is both.

‘Eirene’ is the Greek equivalent to ‘shalom’, which again means wholeness, all the parts working together in perfect harmony. ‘Eirene’ comes when we are reconciled to God and manage our possessions and finances in obedience to Him.

Peter wrote,

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.’ (2 Peter 1:2)

Grace must come before peace, and grace is a gift, an unmerited favour. Peace is given, not earned.

Jesus told His disciples,

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

The world wants to sell you happiness through buying stuff. Jesus wants you to have peace by trusting Him. Worrying about money steals financial peace. The most common problems I hear are, “Do I have enough?” “Will I ever have enough?”

Being able to determine ‘enough’ for me and my family, with the responsibilities I have, will bring financial peace. More never satisfies, it only brings more to manage.

Accepting the “grace and peace” as a gift from our Lord will produce financial peace, not matter the circumstances.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” (Is 26:3,4)