Managing
money wisely means making informed and strategic decisions about how to earn,
save, invest, and spend your money to achieve financial stability and growth.
Proverbs 21:5 emphasises the importance of careful planning and
diligence in financial matters to achieve prosperity and avoid financial
difficulties. There are several key practices that can ensure wise money
management and promote financial peace in a household. Some are discussed here:
Practice Discipline: The practice of discipline must be the
responsibility of both of you. Given that God owns everything, we must be
mindful of how we manage the resources entrusted to us. Our faithfulness in
handling these resources will determine if God will entrust us with more, as
noted in Luke 16:11. A wise man once said, “prosperity in the kingdom is
entrusted,” meaning that God provides according to what He can trust us with.
Additionally, achieving growth and wealth demands discipline in managing
resources effectively.
HOW TO SHOW DISCIPLINE:
- Avoid
Borrowing: Romans 13:8
advises, "Do not owe." Therefore, you must spend within your
means, as borrowing can lead to financial bondage. Proverbs 22:7 states,
"The borrower is servant to the lender." You cannot serve both
God and your lender as if they were your masters.
- Avoid
Waste: In John 6:12,
Jesus instructed His disciples to "gather up the fragments that
remain, that nothing be lost" after feeding 5,000 men. This was
likely to ensure that leftovers could be used to help others later the
same day. Cultivating prudence is essential for maximising your resources.
As Proverbs 18:9 notes, "A lazy man and a waster are brothers."
- Control
your spending: Proverbs 21:20 says, "There are precious
treasures in the home of the wise, but the greedy will always be in
need." This implies that consumers will always be in want. To achieve financial success, you need to spend
less than you earn. As Ron Blue, author of Master Your Money, puts
it: “Spend less than you earn, do
it for a long time and you will be financially successful.”
A
study conducted in America found that true millionaires "live well below
their means." They do not spend for immediate gratification but instead
defer pleasure to a later time. Key characteristics of these individuals
include:
- Their households
operate on a budget.
- They set
financial goals and plan for their financial future.
Why are your spending habits
important?
True
wealth is measured by your net worth, not by your income. When it comes to
building wealth, your income is less important than your spending habits.
Therefore, it's crucial to practice wise and prudent spending. Remember: DO NOT
SPEND WHAT YOU HAVE NOT EARNED!
How to improve your spending
habits:
1)
Maintain a budget: A
budget is a plan for distributing your available money over a specific period.
As advised in Luke 14:28, wise individuals sit down and plan their resources
carefully. So, creating and adhering to a budget helps ensure that your
spending aligns with your income and financial goals. Understanding the
difference between wants and needs will help you create a practical budget.
Advantages of budget:
- A budget helps you manage your spending and
provides freedom, as you can decide in advance what you want and how much
you’ll spend.
·
It promotes savings
and investment, enhancing your ability to steward your resources effectively.
2) Be Accountable: Just as God keeps
records, it’s important for you to track your spending. Ecclesiastes 7:27
says, "Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one,
to find out the account." Similarly, Romans 14:12
states, "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
God."
By
keeping records, you can evaluate the quality of your stewardship as your
spending habits reveal a lot about you. As a couple, you both need to be
mindful of your spending to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Tracking
your expenses is crucial as it helps prevent waste, and by monitoring where your
money goes, you can identify spending patterns and make necessary adjustments.
Invest in your future. You can build a solid foundation for your financial
future. However, this will require the adoption of the necessary strategies,
which include the following:
·
Define your financial
goals: Define what you want to achieve financially, whether it’s saving for
buying a home, or funding education etc.
·
Cultivate the habit
of saving: Set aside a portion of your income as savings as a habit. This can
be used for emergencies, future expenses, and long-term goals of investment.
Some Christians may wonder if saving is scriptural. Yes, it is, as Proverbs
6:6–8 illustrates this "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its
ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its
provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.".
The
ant's behaviour of storing provisions during the summer and gathering food at
harvest illustrates the importance of planning ahead. Similarly, saving money
helps prepare for the future. Savings, therefore, are an act of wisdom in
preparing for times of scarcity, unexpected expenses or future capital
expenditure. Adopting a proactive approach to savings reveals the importance
of foresight and personal responsibility in financial management.
The
issue often lies in distinguishing between saving and hoarding. Saving involves
planning and preparing for future needs, which is an act of faith in God.
Hoarding, on the other hand, stems from fear. According to Romans 14:23,
whatever is not done in faith is a sin.
· Allocate funds toward
investments: Create reserve accounts and determine how to fund the accounts
periodically. Begin investing as early as possible to take advantage of
compound interest and long-term growth. Spread your investments across
different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and mutual funds,
to reduce risk.
· Stay informed about
investment options, market trends, and financial principles to make informed
decisions. Periodically review your investment portfolio and financial plan to
ensure they align with your goals and adjust as needed.
·
Consult with a financial advisor to develop a
personalised investment strategy and receive expert guidance.
By managing money wisely,
you can build a solid financial foundation, achieve your financial goals, and
maintain financial health and security as a family.
CALL TO ACTION:
• Act now to build a secure and prosperous financial future!