Photo by Max Fischer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-shopping-bags-5868127/

Struggling with impulse shopping or overspending? You're not alone. Here's how Scripture helped me shift from short-term satisfaction to lasting stewardship.

For me, breaking the idol of shopping began with a tough realization: I didn’t have a money problem. I had a heart one.

A couple of years ago, I prayed for God to increase my finances when money was tight.

“Lord, if I just had more money, I could afford all the obligations coming up ahead,” I pleaded.

In that quiet moment of prayer, I felt a gentle rebuke from the Lord:

"I have given you raises, promotions, and bonuses. The issue isn’t what I give you. It’s what you do with what I give you. If I gave you a million dollars, you would find a way to spend a million and one."

Yikes.

It hit me hard. God had faithfully provided for me—sometimes in miraculous ways. But instead of managing those resources well, I often spent on things I didn’t need or truly enjoy. That’s when I realized: my problem wasn’t income. It was stewardship.

Whether you’re in a financially tight season or simply unsatisfied with how you’re spending your money, you’re not alone. The good news? God’s Word offers practical wisdom to help us walk in freedom and honor Him with our finances.

Recognizing the Root: Impulse and Identity

We live in a culture of instant gratification.

It’s so common it’s become comedic. We laugh at the videos of wives hiding Amazon packages from their husbands—because we relate. But beneath the humor is a habit we don’t always question.

We scroll and shop because we feel anxious. Because we’re bored. Because we saw someone else post it.

There’s nothing wrong with loving a good review or treating yourself once in a while. But when shopping becomes a coping mechanism or a way to prove our worth, we’re chasing a short-term high that always leaves us hungry.

Many of us are filling spiritual or emotional gaps with earthly goods. But as Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, our treasure reveals our heart.

And if we’re honest? Most of our treasure is piling up in closets while our spiritual life feels neglected.

Let’s shift that.

When we buy things we don’t need and quickly stop caring for them, it’s usually for that initial dopamine hit.

According to research done by the Cleveland Clinic, dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical, is released not just when we make a purchase but even earlier in the process, such as when browsing or anticipating the item’s arrival.

This creates a cycle of excitement and reward that drives impulse shopping.

Additionally, research shows that stress can trigger cortisol release, leading people to shop as a way to regain control, which can further fuel impulsive purchases(Cleveland Clinic)(Big Think).

To be clear, I love shopping, and it is a good thing.

It’s beautiful to enjoy the things we purchase with our hard-earned money.

But like any good thing, when you begin to idolize it, it becomes dangerous and leads to destruction.

It’s the old saying that a fire under control is excellent for warmth, but it can be destructive if it gets out of control.

I suggest you consider your relationship with shopping.

Do you shop to fill something in you? To get some sort of release? Has this led to financial despair?

Don’t worry, you are not alone. But what can we do about this? How do we turn all of this around?

Five Stewardship Shifts That Changed Everything

Each of these principles helped me reframe how I shop and spend. They’re rooted in Scripture and designed to bring lasting peace, not just temporary pleasure.

1. Analyze a Week’s Worth of Purchases

Proverbs 21:20 – "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down."

Take an honest look at every purchase from the past week. Include all accounts, cards, and even cash.

Then ask:

How did each purchase make me feel?
Was it a need or a want?
Did it align with my values?

Track what you spent, journal what you felt, and look for patterns. Sometimes we’re not overspending because we lack discipline, but because we haven’t stopped to reflect.

Takeaway: Stewardship starts with awareness. Reflection helps us move from regret to responsibility.

2. Try Curbside Pickup to Avoid Temptation

Proverbs 25:28 – "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control."

Stores are designed to encourage spending. Music, lighting, and shelf placement are all intentional.

Curbside pickup has been a game-changer for me. It limits exposure to impulse items and gives me space to rethink unnecessary extras before checkout.

Takeaway: Protect your self-control by reducing your exposure to temptation.

3. Limit Amazon Purchases

Hebrews 13:5 – "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have."

Amazon makes it dangerously easy to buy without thinking. I used to have packages arriving weekly. Not because I needed them—but because I needed a feeling.

Now, I place fewer orders and pause before every purchase.

Takeaway: Contentment grows when we pause, pray, and purchase with intention.

4. Make a List and Wait

Proverbs 21:5 – "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Write down the things you want. Then wait.

For small items, wait 2 weeks.
For bigger ones, wait at least a month.

If you still want it later, buy it—guilt-free. If you don’t? You just saved your peace and your money.

Takeaway: Patience helps us spend with purpose and keeps us from filling spiritual hunger with material things.

5. Turn to Scripture When the Urge Hits

Matthew 6:21 – "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The next time you’re tempted to buy impulsively, pause and open your Bible.

Here are a few verses I return to:

Psalm 23:1 – "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
1 Timothy 6:6-8 – "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

I started praying these verses when I wanted to shop for no reason. Slowly, I felt my desires shift from things to Him.

Takeaway: Scripture renews our minds. When we let God speak into our spending, we experience freedom, not guilt.

Stewarding for the Future

True stewardship isn’t about deprivation. It’s about alignment.

Jesus' Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) reminds us that God wants us to use what we’re given—not bury it in fear or blow it in haste.

Whether that means building savings, giving to others, or being mindful with our budget, financial wisdom honors the Giver.

Your spending can serve a bigger purpose. It can build a legacy, bless others, and show the world Who you trust.

A Final Word: Trust His Provision

God is a generous provider. But He also invites us to be faithful managers.

When we spend wisely, we reflect His wisdom. When we pause and pray, we reflect His patience. When we give, we reflect His heart.

This week, choose one principle and try it.

Ask God to help you grow in contentment, wisdom, and self-control. Not from shame—but from the freedom He offers.

You don’t have to be perfect to honor Him with your finances. You just have to start.

And when you do, you’ll discover the peace that no purchase can provide.

Take the First Step

Take time this week to reflect on your spending habits.

Commit to trying one of these principles, whether it’s analyzing a week’s worth of purchases or waiting before buying something.

Trust God to guide you in your financial decisions as you grow in wise stewardship.

Breaking the Shopping Idol: Biblical Wisdom for a Healthier Heart and Wallet

Struggling with impulse shopping or overspending? You're not alone. Here's how Scripture helped me shift from short-term satisfaction to lasting stewardship.

Recognizing the Root: Impulse and Identity