6 Words That Will Change Your Financial Future
If God had a Twitter account, it would be the Book of Proverbs. The Proverbs are short, memorable wisdom sayings.
They are simple, which means you're probably not going to hear anything you haven't heard before, but if you do them, you'll get results you've never had before.
They are practical. You can start immediately.
They are verifiable. The Proverbs are observations of life that people have proven in both success and failure over and over again. There are plenty of examples you can choose from. And depending on your decisions, you'll be the next one.
Best of all, the Proverbs are Biblical. As inspired Scripture, these are principles that please God and will bless you.
There are a lot of Proverbs about money. An author at Patheos counted over 100 of them. Going through the book, I find six words that summarize all that the Proverbs say about money. These six words will change your financial future.
Work
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Prov. 12:24
Work is not a bad word in the Bible, but lazy is a bad word in Proverbs. There is not only a profit but dignity in work. You won't change your future by waiting for it to change. Get to work!
Budget
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Prov. 21:5
A budget is deciding for a dollar before the dollar decides for you. Budgeting is about knowing where your money is going and making wise choices. Budgeting is not a quick fix, but without one, your finances will always be broken.
Manage
Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds. Prov. 27:23
Having a budget is one thing. Working at it is another. If you don't pay attention to your plan, it won't work.
Bankrate.com estimates that Americans spend $600 per year on subscriptions they don't use. Did you know that if you invested that $600 per year for 30 years that you could have over $47,000? Pay attention!
Save
She prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Prov. 6:8
The "she" to whom Proverbs 6:8 refers is an ant. Ants are great examples of creatures who gather when there is an opportunity and save for when there is none. We live week to week, check to check and we crash into poverty in crisis. Saving takes sacrifice. Wealthy people save money!
Give
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Prov. 19:17
You'll never outgive God. There is something you can't calculate about giving. What looks to be a minus turns into multiplication.
Counsel
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. Prov. 15:22
If you want to do better with your money, ask questions and seek the counsel of people who do well with theirs.
Bible Study and Challenge
Pick 3 of the verses above and look them up. Read the verses before and after them.
- What do the verses teach you about managing money?
- What commands do the passages challenge you to obey?
- What changes do the verses challenge you to make about how you manage your money?
Put $10 in your purse or pocket; somewhere you can quickly access it over the weekend. Ask God for an opportunity for you to use that $10 to bless someone. Either give the $10 away, pay for a meal, or purchase something that would encourage someone. Take note of the experience and thank God for it.
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