What is the best purchase you have ever made?
I will say: growing up in ‘University owned properties.” Gave me a sense of ‘owning’ my own propert. This way, you could own a garden and truly own it! As opposed to feeling that if you planted a fruit tree/trees, you would not always be harvesting, eating, thanking God for His blessing those particular plants.
Understandably, this is my ‘bend’, but it is factual.
Scripture does not mandate renting or owning a home. Instead, Christian teaching views both options through the lens of stewardship, contentment, and freedom from debt. Neither a rental lease nor a mortgage is inherently “more spiritual,” but both require evaluating costs, your capacity for generosity, and how the choice impacts your kingdom focus.
The Biblical Perspective on Mortgages
Taking out a mortgage is not a sin, but it comes with strong scriptural warnings against debt and financial bondage.
- Servant to the Lender: Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender”. Christians are encouraged to avoid over-leveraging themselves, as debt can restrict their freedom to serve God or give generously.
- Stewardship: A mortgage means committing to regular payments. Good stewardship requires honoring this financial commitment while still being able to tithe, support the poor, and meet daily needs.
- Counting the Cost: Luke 14:28 advises believers to first “count the cost”. Financial experts and Christian ministries generally advise that a mortgage payment shouldn’t consume so much of your income that it creates anxiety or prevents generosity.
The Biblical Perspective on Renting
Renting is often viewed as a practical path to financial flexibility and simplicity.
- Contentment: Hebrews 13:5 teaches, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have”. Renting a modest space can protect a person from the covetousness or greed associated with “keeping up with the Joneses” or chasing luxury real estate.
- Kingdom Focus: Some Christians choose to rent to keep their lives unburdened by heavy physical possessions, allowing them to remain mobile and responsive to God’s calling. It frees up resources that can be immediately redirected to ministry and helping others.
- Moral Considerations: In modern housing markets, some Christian thinkers point out that investing in rental properties or landlording comes with a moral responsibility to not exploit those who cannot afford to buy.
How to Choose Between the Two
Financial ministries, such as Crown Financial Ministries, recommend evaluating your situation using the following criteria:
- Affordability: Will a mortgage cause financial stress, or does it leave a “margin for generosity”?
- Stability: Do you plan on living in the area for a long time to make the purchase a wise asset, or does renting fit a transient season of life?
- Wisdom & Counsel: Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed”. Seeking wise, prayerful advice is a key Christian principle before making either long-term commitment.