We are inspired by a Biblical understanding of God’s economy as a balance between the gift of Divine abundance and the limits that we as humans exercise in relation to that gift. Therefore, we seek to reclaim a more faithful way of life that reflects this balance.

As individuals, we make economic decisions and take actions at the “household” level. The seven household practices offer concrete ways for engaging with the economic discipleship practices envisioned in scripture. By committing to ourselves and with our community to take positive steps in each of these areas, we can grow together to better reconcile our faith with our relationship with money.

The concept of household economy is expressed in the work of Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries, which highlights seven specific areas of daily life. These include:

I. Surplus Capital

Some of us have more money than we need to meet our basic needs. It could be put to work for justice, without giving it away. But how?

II. Negative Capital

Debt is a burden to most people—a crushing burden to some. It sometimes profits predatory lenders and always narrows our potential to focus on our mission. Freedom depends on breaking our cycles of debt.

III. Giving

In recognizing that everything is God’s, we can learn to relax our grip on what we have and keep God’s gifts circulating.

IV. Environment and Green Living

People of faith are claiming our responsibility to honor God’s creation, our natural world. Where do we find motivation for life changes required to live more sustainably? What’s your next step?

V. Consumption

Sometimes we try to fill our spiritual holes by consuming another material product or one more cool experience. But our hyper-consumption hurts the natural world, takes resources from the world’s poor and leaves us empty in the end. There are other ways to live, despite what our consumer culture may tell us.

VI. Solidarity

We may recognize that the growing gap between rich and poor is not God’s vision for how people can live together, but our lives separate us from people who are poor. Solidarity is intentional connection to the poor and the marginalized.

VII. Work and Sabbath

A period of suspending our efforts to supplant God by providing for ourselves reminds us that God provides what we need. Our spiritual health—to say nothing of our physical, mental and relational health—depends on it.

Faith and Money Network offers several special topic retreats related to these household practices.