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Financially Fit for the Long Run
The halfway mark for 2011 has come and gone. We’ve prayed that this would be the year we would get out of debt and get better control of our finances. Unfortunately, some of us are no better off than when the year began.But as God would have it, this year doesn’t have to end this way. We can still get financially fit for 2011.
How we handle money is a big part of character development. It can be an indicator for where we are in regard to the fruit of the Spirit. For example,“peace” can be compared to the person who doesn’t feel the need to buy the latest gadget just because“everyone else is buying it.” Just like Paul, we should be content with what we have (Philippians 4:11). It is of eternal value that we make changes today in how we treat the money God sends our way.
We can’t consider getting financially fit without first considering how we go about returning tithe and offerings. Many of us return an honest tithe, but still there are many who don’t see how they can do it. Remember that a tithe is 10 percent, and we return, not pay, this to God before we do anything with the income He has blessed us with.
Then there’s our offering that we bring to the Lord as a gift of thanks. No matter how hard things get, it is never a financially sound idea to “rob God.” Ask anyone who has tried to make ends meet by using what is rightly the Lord’s to pay bills. Murphy’s law seems to take over. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong.
In returning tithe and offerings, it’s not as much about the deed as it is about the heart. Jesus taught this lesson in Mark 12:41-44 when He pointed out the difference between all that the rich added to the treasury and the two mites that the widow offered. He looked at their hearts. The Lord loves a cheerful giver and calls us not to give with fear and apprehension, but to love and trust in the Father to supply all of our needs according to His riches and no tours (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Once establishing the habit of returning tithe and offering, one might think that all they have left should go toward paying bills. This is not the best thing to do.Proverbs 21:20 counsels us that the wise save, and the foolish spend everything they have. After you return to God, be sure to set something aside for yourself. It is imperative that savings are established for emergencies and everyday living expenses. Using credit for emergencies is frankly an issue of poor planning. The Lord calls us to be the lender and not the borrower (Luke 6:35).
It is impossible to live the life God has called us to live on credit.
How can we live without credit? Get back to basics—food, clothes, shelter, and transportation. It is easy to waste money in these areas. We can save money (and our health) by cooking at home instead of eating out. Some may find this a challenge because of work schedules, but if you could carve out some time to make simple, healthy, yet tasty meals, you will save yourself hundreds of dollars (or more) per year. Clothes are something hat we all need, but do we really need to buy more “fill in the blank”? We get con-fused about what true needs are. We have the same attitude about our homes and cars. If we get down to what a true need is, we can come to a place where we won’t feel the need to charge things because we want them. We will begin to invest in others for the building of the kingdom of God.
After tending to the basic needs of life, we have to face the debt that has accumulated over time. Making the effort to pay even a little at a time is better than nothing. One great way to go about getting out of debt is to start by paying the smallest bills and work your way up to the larger ones. This technique works and can be very encouraging. Keep in mind that discipline is key.The less you spend on unnecessary“stuff,” the more you will have to get out of debt.
Looking to be financially fit can seem overwhelming. God has given us some words of encouragement in Philippians 3:13, 14. We can forget the mistakes of the past and press toward the mark! Let’s learn from our past and begin to let God build a better future for us. He desires that we prosper, not as the world sees prosperity, but in a way that will heal the broken places and hasten His soon coming.
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