Who wouldn’t want to live debt free, have the ability to provide for basic needs, be an extravagant giver and understand the power of saving? Not many people I know would say, ‘I want to live with a mountain of debt.’ Yet the average household lives with $8,000 in debt, saves less than 1% of income and gives away less than 3%! What is wrong with us? As we enter into the Easter season in two weeks, I want to take time to introduce you to four key areas of health we will be tackling through the Live Differently series. It’s about transformation against the odds.
What does financial health look like?
“But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6 ESV)
I am in the process of gathering all my financial records for 2011 and completing my taxes. Have you gone there yet? My taxes are complicated so I hire someone to assemble them and complete them for me. At the end of the process, she gives me the report and I pour over it. It is a great opportunity to reflect on God’s blessings. I review the year and see how much I owe. I see how much I paid in interest on my house and how much I gave. It’s all there and I use tax time to do a heart check on what I value. I review the year and how I spent all the money that was entrusted to me. Am I content with what God gave to me to manage? Taxes are very revealing, the numbers don’t lie! So what is our responsibility when it comes to money? Here are a few principles to get you started…
Know what you OWE – This is a non-negotiable! If you are in denial about what you owe, you will never be able to go forward on solid ground with a plan to get out of debt. It may be discouraging, but you can either pay now or pay later. Keep this verse in mind and let it motivate you as you gather your records. “The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7 ESV)
Know what you OWN- Do you own cars, jewelry, antiques, a house, any retirement funds? To go forward you need to know what you own. This will help you to understand what you might need to sell in order to get out of debt.
Know where it is GOING- You must get on a budget! A budget is just planned spending, it’s a God-inspired plan of how he wants you to spend money. Do you ask God where you should give, save and spend? The monthly inflow and out-flow of how you spend money IS A SPIRITUAL ISSUE.
Financial health is not an option, its a requirement of those who want to follow Jesus! The big target on the wall is writing a LIFE TRANSFORMATION VISION for your Financial Health…
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that (A)we may present everyone (B)mature in Christ. 29 For this (C)I toil, (D)struggling (E)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Colossians 1:28-29
How can you live more healthy spiritually, financially, physically and in your family? I believe is starts with a heart change and then a commitment to a 217group. You will grow more in a group than you will on your own. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) These next 50 days of Live Differently at 217church will be life changing! join a 217group today! How will you make the most of each Life Transformation Vision?
Can always improve! How do I sign up for a group? have a friend that would like to join same group, too. Thanks
Can always improve! How do I sign up for a group? have a friend that would like to join same group, too. Thanks
Hi Flora,
so glad to read your comment and your enthusiasm for small groups. You can e-mail Dan@217church.com for information on small groups. I have already forwarded him your comment and look forward to having you in a group. He will help you from here! Blessings!