Money Matters
Money
can be a very special blessing, as sweet as honey to the lips.
But then again, it can leave quite a sting and
become the root of all evil.
I believe that everything we have in life, including life itself is a precious gift from the Lord. This includes every dollar and possession we will ever have. It is our duty to wisely care for the financial gifts given to us by giving a portion back to the Lord (tithing), spending wisely, and saving for the future.
A. Tithing
The very First thing we should do is to set aside the Lord's portion to be donated to a church, ministry or wherever the Lord leads you.
The Tithe is generally referred to as 10% of your gross income. If this seems like alot to you, think of it from God's perspective. He gave you 100%, you can surely give 10% back. God is more concerned about the condition of our hearts, than the amount of dollars you are able to place in the offering basket. It is perfectly acceptable to step up to tithing, by increasing a little at a time, until you are where the Lord wants you to be. That doesn't mean you need to stop at 10% either. You should keep going until the Lord tells you that you are where he wants you to be.
Leviticus 27:30
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
B. Debt Free Living
Money & material things will not buy you love or happiness. So why do we spend beyond our means? We are impatient, and sometimes jealous. Often we are looking to fill empty holes in our lives that "things" simply can not do. Whatever the reason, as long as you are in debt, you will be serving or in bondage to you lender.
Get rid of those credit cards, start living on a budget and you will will be free of the stress, and anxiety that debt can bring.
Here a few scripture quotes that seem to fit well with this topic.
Proverbs 22:7
The
rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Psalm 37:21
The
wicked borrow and do not repay,
the righteous give generously.
There are several books on this topic to help those of you with this problem. Sometimes even counseling help is necessary. But have confidence that you can become debt-free in this life. Your first step will be a desire to be free of owing people what you have borrowed .
Larry Burkett: Author of Debt-Free Living: How to Get Out of and Stay Out of Debt
Mary Hunt: The Complete Cheapskate: How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out and Break Free of Money Worries Forever
Both books are available on line at these two places.
C. Spending Wisely
Simply said: Why pay more for something than you have to?
Check my page of Frugal Living Links
The Dollar Stretcher Weekly Email Newsletter (Free)
D. Saving for the Future
It is important to save for your future, so you are prepared for unexpected emergencies, college bills, retirement etc.
I don't have any real facts on how to do this, my hubby handles this department for me. You will want to look into IRA's, CD, stock & bond purchases.
Prepaying mortgages is also recommended as it will save you a tremendous amount of money in interest. You will need to be disciplined to do this regularly, but the benefits are worth it.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.
A few stories about how needs can be met by extra-ordinary means
The Widow's Miracle Supply of Oil
Some Great Resources
In Touch- Bible Study on Financial Stewardship
In Touch- What the Bible Says about Financial Stewardship
You
are listening to "Great is the Lord"
by Michael W. Smith
This page was last
updated on 05/22/04.
If you encounter any problems with this page
send email to the Terri