Have you ever wondered why money is such a persistent problem for so many of us? Both national and personal debt are at an all-time high, and most Americans don’t have reserve funds to cover a $400 emergency. Financial experts believe the solution is teaching people how to manage money, but I believe the real problem runs much deeper. After 45 years of working with all kinds of people, I’ve witnessed how both rich and poor can be enslaved by money. And whether you’re a Christian or not, the major reason people don’t know how to manage money is because they have never mastered their money; their money has mastered them. The apostle Paul understood our timeless struggle with money when he wrote to young Timothy about the spiritual principles of money. In 1 Timothy 6:6–10, Paul reveals God’s formula for true financial success: “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (v. 6, NIV). The only way to manage money correctly is to master money spiritually, and that requires three essential steps that will transform your relationship with money forever.