Financial
"Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship
with My Finance"
The rich King Solomon says in Ecclesiastics 10:19, “money answers all things.
It’s money that makes the world go round.” There is a whole lot of truth in this statement. We must learn to manage our money well or else we can become a part of the following statistics.
- The average American family owes S8, 400 in credit card debt.
- 50% of the marriages that end in divorce site financial problems as the number one contributing factor. No money, no honey.
- For the first time in the history of this country, student loan debt out stripped credit debt.
Believe that God wants you to prosper.
He is not opposed to us having money; He is opposed to money having us. “The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. (Proverbs 10:22; Psalm 35:27 Matthew 6:33; 3 John 2)
Believe that God has given me the ability or power to accumulate wealth.
“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18. Do you believe that you have the God-given ability to accumulate wealth?
God wants me to be a lender and not a borrower.
“The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Deut. 28:12 Prov. 22:7). Avoid debt like a plague. According to 2 Kings 4:-7, what was the effect of debt upon the woman and how did she get out of debt? Can you identify with her?
Learn to manage your money.
This is one of the most important secrets of healthy finances.
Return a faithful tithe and give liberal
offerings to God.
“Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10. “ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, 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; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:10-11
Know your money blueprints.
You relate to money based on your blueprints. These blueprints were developed unconsciously from what you heard about money, how your parents handled money, and your early experiences with money. Did you hear things like rich people are greedy, money is the root of all evil and don’t live beyond your means? Money does not produce happiness. Save for rainy days. You need to go to a good school, get a good education, get a good job so you can make money. You cannot be spiritual and have lots of money. You cannot have your cake and eat it. These statements and many others can influence how you relate to money.
Be a cheerful giver. Givers gain.
Giving is like planning a seed it will return a harvest. “There is one who yet increases more: and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. “Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” (Proverbs 11:24; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:7) Give not just to your church or God but gibe to family and friends.
Learn to be content in every situation.
“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” Philippians 4:10-13. God is the source of my total supply. He supplies my need through many different streams, like my job, investments, pension plans or inheritance. A stream may dry up but God, my source, will not dry up. God promises to supply all my needs ‘My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)
