Managing Your Finances As A Believer
Work for money
I am looking right at Paul’s words, “… and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one (1 Thes 4:11-12)”. My key words there are the “with your hands” part “…so that you depend on no one.” You see friends, unlike that race from overseas, most of us African children are born with no financial foundation whatsoever. And it’s true that black-led governments only care about feeding their own relatives than they are with improving the lives of their citizens. Therefore, we all have a huge hill to climb in terms of improving our living conditions. We have to be willing to work. Yes, we can rightly blame increasing unemployment and rising inflation. Yet at the end of the day, there needs to be food on the table. We must work dear believers. What I am contending against is the spirit of laziness and the attitude of entitlement among Christ’s disciples. You must be that kind of a believer who is not afraid to hustle. Be serious with that job that you have, or that small business that you do. There is something honourable about honest, hardworking hands. “Whatever your hand finds to do,” says the preacher, “…do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going (Eccl 9:10).”
Be responsible with spending
I have noticed that some people are indeed blessed with good profits, however, they often are let down by their bad spending habits. You see friends, being good stewards of money means you must know what you need (what you can’t survive without) and what you want out of desire for pleasure and comfort. Hence you must make it a habit to cut down any pleasure buys as much as you can. For example, it’s not really necessary to buy a new smartphone now and then. Perhaps there is no need to pay for that expensive DSTV package. Maybe you can still look good in that cheap shoe without a top label. Oftentimes, we pursue expensive lifestyles just to impress our family and friends. Hear from me, a life lived trying to impress others is not a life but financial slavery. Start spending like an adult. If possible, write down all your basic necessities so that you will be guided on your spending habits.
Pay bills, debts on time
Nothing embarrasses my eyes than to see a Christian brother being evicted for not paying their rent on time. Even more, nothing stirs my spirit than to hear unbelievers complain about a certain born again man who borrows people’s moneys but does not want to pay back. Please learn this and learn it well: whenever you uphold someone’s money that you borrowed, guess what? You are contributing to that man’s poverty, because he was already counting on that owed amount for his basic needs (Deut 24:15). Therefore, before you do anything else with your money, pay everybody – in time! If for any reason, you are finding it hard to pay, communicate with that person and inform them about your situation, then you set a date of repayment and fulfil your promise.
One more thing: beware of bad financial habits like gambling. That kind of lifestyle is the reason why many people's financial problems never end. Get out of it!
Lend a hand to others
By no means am I suggesting that you must start a charity organisation with your hard-earned income. Nonetheless, what I am aiming at is that as we live among people, there is always someone, somewhere, who needs help with finishing their rent payment, or a relative who is short on school fees, or a friend who doesn’t have enough transport cash. It is within the Christian conscience to help in such situations. Again, it doesn’t mean that you must always break your bank account trying to help others, but it means after you have covered your side, whatever little that remains, help someone who might need it.
Support the work of God
We can debate the tithe principle until the Lord comes. However, the truth remains that every believer is responsible to support the Gospel cause. It means in all your cash flows, surely there must be something you have reserved to give to your local church. Cheerfully and willingly. Unwillingness to do that is to say to the good Lord, “I only care about my selfish needs with the money you give me, I don't care about the proclamation of your Gospel.”
Save for your future
I am aware that our incomes and profits are already chocked by many responsibilities, yet I believe there is nothing as critical as this one; the future. That is, a good financial manager must think long-term. There will be a time when your working strength will be gone. Or it could be that you will be affected by a medical emergency of some sort one day. You will need a good investment. And that investment will not come from some donation from USAID, but must be a product of your sweat and blood. You must save! It doesn’t matter how little your monthly profit is, you must still make a plan and put something aside. It’s not really important how little it is that you keep; over time, it will accumulate into a big sum – guaranteed. Come tomorrow you will have something for the future of your children. If you are finding it hard to keep the money yourself, ask some trusted someone to keep it for you. Just save something and start now!
Friends, financial accountability and responsibility is a critical aspect of the Christian life. You must be able to properly manage your own personal wallet before you can be qualified to deal with the finances of God’s Church. May we all make new resolutions about this. That is, make it your aim that whatever little cash that the Lord graces you with, it will be handled with wisdom, integrity and maturity. I thank you.
Sinothi Ncube
Are You In Any Way Edified By Our Content? Consider supporting us
Related Content...
Comments
Post a Comment