Winning Financially Pt. 4 Be Intentional. See the Increase

Transcription

1 Winning Financially Pt. 4 Be Intentional. See the Increase When we are looking to level up financially, I believe that financial increase is 90% spiritual, 10% practical. You could have the best budget in the world, but if your,, and are opposite of what the Bible teaches about finances, you are still going to struggle, scrape by, and stay in poverty. So today, we re going to hit on the practical action steps we need to take in order to be diligent with our finances, and use them to their fullest. A budget is nothing more than a for saving and spending money. It includes where the money will come from and how much to expect, as well as what expenses that same money will be used to meet. A good budget takes care of all the regular and important bills, like rent or mortgage, utilities, food, gasoline and insurance, and allows for the unexpected or occasional expenses. With budgeting, when the paycheck comes in, the family how much of this check needs to be set aside to meet the bills coming due, and how much is available for extras, perhaps dinner out and a movie. Everything is planned for and covered. To live without a budget often leads to decisions: If I have money right now, I can spend it right now. So if I want new clothes today, and I have the money today, so why not spend it? The rent isn t due until next week, so I ll worry about that then.

2 MOST of the time we don t go crazy and buy major purchases, our money slips out undetected through. Usually in the form of fast food. A breakfast burrito here, a quick burger for lunch, add a large soda... Here are 7 principles you need to know in order to operate in financial increase: 1. is your Source: Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Proverbs 8:20,21 adds, "I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures." 2 Corinthians 9:8 says: "And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]." Whenever we need money or possessions, prayer is the answer. Look to the Lord, because He will provide it-according to His will. 2. Giving is Malachi 3:10-11 says, Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows

3 of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, Proverbs 11:24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper;those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. As the Bible promises giving freely brings wealth, the generous prosper. Not the stingy. Proverbs 3:9, reads: "Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst with new wine." 3. Live On The third principle is that of living on a margin. Living on a margin simply means allowing room for things to happen. Think of the margins on a piece of notebook paper. What are those there for? They re there in case you need a little extra room! If you have an income of $2,000 a month, don t TRY to use it all up! Don t go get $2,000 worth of monthly payments. Build in margin. I call this the gift card mentality. This is when you see how much money is on your card and you try your best to use it all up, since next month you know (or assume) that you ll get another $2,000 to start over with.

4 This mentality keeps you from getting ahead and progressing financially. This mentality is why so many people still live paycheck to paycheck. 4. Bible Backs Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." Deuteronomy 28:8 and 11 say: The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Verse 11 says, And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity.. If you don t have a storehouse, how can God bless it? Today your storehouse is a savings account. If you don t have one, go start one today. Put $20 in it. Go give God something to bless! 5. Keep Out of Debt Romans 13:8, Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another... Psalm 37:21 says "the wicked borrow and never repay..." The minute a person goes into debt, he loses a portion of his freedom. Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Think about it, when you go into debt, you serve that monthly payment. You can t do the things you want to do because you have to work, to get

5 a paycheck to pay that debt payment. You ll miss your kid s soccer games and field trips, you ll forget date night with your spouse, you ll spend all your time away from your home and family at work, to pay your debts. And the deeper in debt you are, the more of a slave you become. 6. The Secret is Hebrews 13:5 puts it clearly: "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain. Being content simply means we are happy with what we have. We don t NEED a new car to be happy. We know that things aren t what causes to be joyful. God is our source of joy. There s nothing wrong with new cars and houses and things, BUT when we are happy with what we have, and mix that contentment with godliness, THEN we will have great and abundant gain. 7. Keep, Budget By keeping good records, having a plan and being honest with oneself, a person won't get into financial trouble. I seldom see financially successful people who don't keep good records. Before buying a house, purchasing a car or just borrowing money, pray about it and seek the counsel of godly people. They can keep you from

6 making a lot of mistakes. The reason so many persons don't seek counsel is that they don't want to be told by someone an intended action is unsound-they just like to do what they want anyway.

7