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God’s View of Spending Money


The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.—Psalms 24:1 (NLT)

How we use the money entrusted to us as God’s stewards or managers of this resource is always a

decision that reflects what or Who we truly value.

10-10-80 Plan:

  • the first 10% of our income goes to God,
  • the second 10% goes to savings, and
  • we live on the remaining 80%.


I. LEARN TO SPEND MONEY

.

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?—Proverbs 17:16 (NIV)

Some Wise Insights To Spending:

  1. Don’t spend than you earn.
  2. A dollar spent on one thing can’t be spent on .
  3. The use of can fool us into thinking we can spend the same dollar on two different things.
  4. the differences between needs, wants and desires.
    • Needs – those things to living
    • Wants – choices about the of needs
    • Desires – else

II. CREATE A

PLAN.

Jesus: But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?—Luke 14:28 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Spending plans are also called

, and they’re based on your priorities and the funds you have, not the funds you you had.

Plan carefully and you’ll have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough.—Proverbs 21:5 (TEV)

Financial freedom is not based on how much you earn, but on how you

what you earn and your willingness to experience God’s contentment.

III. BE CAUTIOUS WITH

.

… the borrower is the slave of the lender.—Proverbs 22:7b (ESV)

Overspending and excessive debt aren’t the real problems but symptoms of deeper issues, including a lack of

, which only Jesus can give.

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.”—Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Signs Of Too Much Debt:

  • One credit card is used to pay another.
  • One bill is delayed so an overdue bill can be paid.
  • Paying only the minimum amount due on charge accounts.
  • Getting a new loan or extension to pay your debt.
  • Unable to save or tithe.
  • Unable to pay taxes.
  • Using savings to pay bills.
  • Depending on overtime to make ends meet each month.
  • Focused on finding get-rich-quick schemes.

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.—Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

Some kinds of debt can prove to be helpful, but only when we can repay that debt based on our

financial condition.

Four Major Areas Where Borrowing Money Can Be Reasonable:

  1. Housing
  2. Transportation
  3. Education
  4. Business

Debt is not inherently good or bad, but it can be

as it uses tomorrow’s money to pay for today’s purchases, when no one knows what will happen in the future.

God calls us to step back from focusing on money for its own sake, because He understands us and what we ultimately

.

Jesus: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.—John 10:10 (ESV)

We’re constantly being torn between the cares of this world and the Kingdom of God, and Jesus wants us to understand, because God created each one of us, that He knows how life works

for us.

Jesus: 24No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.—Matthew 6:24-33 (NLT)


Next Week: Redeemed: Lessons from the Life of Joseph