Money Money Matters

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  -  Luke 16:10

The lesson behind this very is that if you cannot be responsible with your worldly riches, who are you to think that you could be trusted with eternal riches.

Today I want to talk a little bit about being responsible with your finances.  It has taken my husband and I about 3 years to come to a point where things are "under control."  Now that doesn't mean we never run into bumps or don't have unexpected expenses.  I think we have learned how to better equip ourselves once we have commited our finances to the Lord seriously.  Mind you, we are not wealthy, but we have learned to be content.  We have learned to live WITHIN our means.  Here are some key points to keep in mind when managing your finances:

• Have I given back to the Lord yet?  Remember, everything we have was given TO us BY Him.
• Is my spending pattern glorifying the Lord?
• Do my finances glorify the Lord?  If not, what needs to change?
• Commit to buying what you NEED.  Be faithful with what you have and you'll realize the Lord will give you beyond what you had originally WANTED.

TIP:

Here is something really simple I do at the beginning of the month that helps us track our spending.  I get paid the last working day of each month.  The first thing I do is plot out on a calendar (actually write it out) the days the bills are due.  Then once everything is on the calendar, I total the amounts for each week, and write it at the end of each row.  For my family, it allows us to know how much money we need to keep IN the checking account, what's coming out when, and what money we have left to do what we choose.  It also allows us to see if we have needing to save up for anything (upcoming dr. appointments, oil change, etc.).  There is a variety of ways to do this.  I print a template online and fill ti in.  Sorry I cut off the right side, but that is where the totals are for the week.  As you can see, I fill in the bills and whatever is going on that week.  That way we always know if we can afford to go out that week (dinner, movies, etc.) or if we need to save.  Make yours work for you.  Here is a link where I get my calendars.

Monday Money Matters - Coming Soon

I've decided to start this little series once a week.  People come up and ask me often how we shop and save in this economy when things are rough.  We tend to have to pay more for even less.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  My main philosophy is centered around this desire.  I want to glorify the Lord in how we live and how we manage our finances.  I want others to appreciate and marvel at our faith, and come to know the Lord by how we live.  I feel bad when I do not have something to give at church.  I feel bad when we mess up and don't pay a bill on time, or accidentally overdraw our account.  Mine you, these are minor mistakes.  However, I truly believe that how we live is a testament to our faith - to what we believe.  As a Christian, a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I want others to be able to see that.

With this in mind, I plan to share on a weekly basis some tips I use to manage the finances of our family.  I am planning on posting every Monday to establish some form of consistency for me.  Without taking God's Word out of context, I'll also try my best to back up what we do with Scripture.  I'm really excited about this, as it will be a challenge for me.  I'm not an eloquent writer of any means.  However, I am hoping you'll like what I post, and benefit from it.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness

and all these things shall be added unto you....  

Matthew 6:33