In the context of the Bible, the concept of expense is closely related to the stewardship of resources, the management of wealth, and the spiritual implications of material possessions. The Bible provides guidance on how believers should view and handle expenses, emphasizing principles such as wisdom, generosity, and accountability.

Stewardship and Responsibility

The Bible teaches that all resources ultimately belong to God, and humans are stewards of what they have been given. This principle is evident in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), where servants are entrusted with their master's wealth and are expected to manage it wisely. The faithful servants are commended for their diligence and prudent management, while the unfaithful servant is reprimanded for his negligence.

Generosity and Giving

Scripture encourages believers to be generous with their resources, recognizing that giving is an act of worship and obedience. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes, "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver." This verse highlights the importance of intentional and joyful giving, rather than giving out of obligation or reluctance.

Avoiding Materialism

The Bible warns against the dangers of materialism and the love of money. In 1 Timothy 6:10, it is stated, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." This passage underscores the spiritual peril associated with prioritizing wealth over one's relationship with God.

Planning and Prudence

The Bible also advocates for careful planning and prudent management of expenses. Proverbs 21:5 states, "The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty." This proverb emphasizes the value of thoughtful planning and the potential consequences of impulsive financial decisions.

Contentment

Contentment is a recurring theme in biblical teachings on expenses. Philippians 4:11-12 illustrates this principle: "I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need." Paul’s words reflect a mindset of contentment that transcends material wealth and focuses on spiritual fulfillment.

Accountability

Believers are reminded of their accountability to God for how they manage their resources. Romans 14:12 states, "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." This accountability extends to financial decisions and the use of material possessions, encouraging believers to act with integrity and responsibility.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not provide a detailed financial manual, it offers timeless principles that guide believers in managing expenses. These principles encourage wise stewardship, generous giving, and a focus on eternal values over temporal wealth.1. (n.) Cost; use of money, resources or time; spending or consuming; disbursement; expenditure.

2. (n.) That which is expended, laid out, or consumed; cost; outlay; charge; -- sometimes with the notion of loss or damage to those on whom the expense falls; as, the expenses of war; an expense of time.

3. (n.) Loss.

77. adapanos -- without expense
... without expense. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: adapanos Phonetic Spelling:
(ad-ap'-an-os) Short Definition: without expense, free Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/77.htm - 6k

1160. dapane -- expense, cost
... expense, cost. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dapane Phonetic Spelling:
(dap-an'-ay) Short Definition: cost, expense Definition: cost, expense. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1160.htm - 5k

1160a. dapane -- expense, cost
... expense, cost. Transliteration: dapane Short Definition: cost. Word Origin from
dapto (to devour) Definition expense, cost NASB Word Usage cost (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1160a.htm - 5k

1159. dapanao -- to spend, spend freely
... to spend, spend freely. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dapanao Phonetic Spelling:
(dap-an-ah'-o) Short Definition: I spend, bear expense, waste Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1159.htm - 7k

3011. leitourgos -- a public servant, a minister, a servant
... generally," (). That is, "a servant of the state, assuming public office
to be administered at his own expense" (, 1, 461, fn 5).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3011.htm - 8k

1479. ethelothreskia -- self-willed (arbitrary and unwarranted) ...
... This form of "worship," which is accomplished "by " (Souter), is merely a ","
exalting the at God's expense (used only in Col 2:23). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1479.htm - 7k

3800. opsonion -- provisions, wages
... 23). Word Origin from the same as opsarion and oneomai Definition provisions,
wages NASB Word Usage expense (1), wages (3). wages. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3800.htm - 7k

4027. perikatharma -- that which is cleaned off, refuse
... [4027 () literally refers to the rubbish left-over after "cleansing all ." The Greeks
used 4027 () "of criminals kept at the public expense, to be thrown into ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4027.htm - 7k

5313. niphqah -- an outlay
... 2). expense. (Aramaic) from nphaq; an outgo, ie Expense -- expense. see HEBREW
nphaq. 5312, 5313. niphqah. 5314 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5313.htm - 6k

Pelagius Glorifies God as Creator at the Expense of God as Saviour ...
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 39."Pelagius
Glorifies God as Creator at the Expense of God as Saviour. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 39 pelagius glorifies god as.htm

To the Rev. J. Jowett
... returned an answer. First, respecting the most important point, the expense
of printing the New Testament in Mandchou. I was quite ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev j jowett 9.htm

Of the Term Mass.
... For it is an old word, ordinarily employed in public civil administrations, and
signified to the Greeks public burdens, as tribute, the expense of equipping a ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 33 of the term.htm

A Brave Knight
... But the governors who were before me were an expense to the people and took
from them bread and wine and forty pieces of silver each day. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a brave knight.htm

Pagans.
... of China, who is a Manchou Tartar, does not fail in acknowledgments to him, in his
religious capacity, and actually entertains, at a great expense, in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/pagans.htm

Whether Meanness is a vice?
... This may be little or great in two ways: in one way as regards the work itself
to be done, in another as regards the expense. Accordingly ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether meanness is a vice.htm

God's Will and Man's Will
... prominently in the Christian Church by the fact that there is a class of
strong-minded hard-headed men who magnify sovereignty at the expense of responsibility ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/gods will and mans will.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book I.
... And if the departed one should have left a child, even if it be a girl, great anxiety
will be caused to the mother, although free from much expense and fear ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book.htm

"A Fine, Generous Fellow. "
... I readily consented. There were five of us, and the expense to each, if
borne mutually, would have been something like one dollar. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/a fine generous fellow.htm

Further Diplomacy
... come. "Shall I hold thee in thy position at the expense of Egypt's peace,
if not at the expense of the dynasty?" she cried. "By ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxvi further diplomacy.htm

Expense (7 Occurrences)
... n.) That which is expended, laid out, or consumed; cost; outlay; charge; -- sometimes
with the notion of loss or damage to those on whom the expense falls; as ...
/e/expense.htm - 8k

Club (7 Occurrences)
... members. 4. (n.) A joint charge of expense, or any person's share of it; a
contribution to a common fund. 5. (vt) To beat with a club. ...
/c/club.htm - 9k

Chargeable (5 Occurrences)
... with murder. 3. (a.) Serving to create expense; costly; burdensome. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CHARGE; CHARGEABLE. charj, char ...
/c/chargeable.htm - 11k

Charge (379 Occurrences)
... 25. (vt) Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines,
etc.; costs; expense incurred; -- usually in the plural. 26. ...
/c/charge.htm - 41k

Taxing (3 Occurrences)
... of government; kings, courts, ceremonials, legislative and judicial administration,
wars, diplomacy-all these institutions spell expense and, consequently ...
/t/taxing.htm - 35k

Tax (43 Occurrences)
... of government; kings, courts, ceremonials, legislative and judicial administration,
wars, diplomacy-all these institutions spell expense and, consequently ...
/t/tax.htm - 47k

Visit (97 Occurrences)
... innkeeper. "'Take care of him,' he said, 'and whatever further expense you
are put to, I will repay it you at my next visit.' (WEY). ...
/v/visit.htm - 36k

Outfit (1 Occurrence)
... a ship for a voyage, or of a person for an expedition in an unoccupied region or
residence in a foreign land; things required for equipment; the expense of, or ...
/o/outfit.htm - 7k

Joash (49 Occurrences)
... of Athaliah had been broken up in many places, plundered, and allowed to become
dilapidated (2 Kings 12:5, 12 2 Chronicles 24:7). To meet the expense of its ...
/j/joash.htm - 41k

Lystra (6 Occurrences)
... priests of Zeus"; (2) "Toues Macrinus also called Abascantus and Batasis son of
Bretasis having made in accordance with a vow at their own expense (a statue of ...
/l/lystra.htm - 14k

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