I hope none of you are bored with the financial plan yet and for those of you that are following along with me I sincerely hope you are gaining something from it. After this post there will two more posts but the second one will only contain 3 days, not 5 like the past ones because there is an odd number of days in the plan.
Day 16: Broke People Can't Bless People
A Jewish man was mugged and left for dead on the side of the road. Many people saw him but walked right on by. Then a good samaritan man came to the man's rescue. He used the supplies he had on him - oil, wine, and two days wages - to help the man recover. The man was ready to bless others because he hadn't spend what he had unwisely. Not only was he able to treat the wounded man, he was able to bless him on top of it. The good samaritan took the man to an inn and gave the innkeeper two silver coins to cover the cost of the man's care. He also pledged to reimburse the innkeeper if the wounded man's expenses added up to more. The good samaritan was prepared to be generous and God blessed someone through that. We can't bless others if we aren't stewarding our own finances well. When we choose to save our money instead of spending all of it, we are equipped with tools to help others. You can't bless someone if you're broke.
Questions:
1. What could you do for God if money was not an issue?
2. Would you be able to give financially to someone who needs help?
3. How can you start saving today?
Scripture:
Luke 10:25-37
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for all the ways you provide for me. Help me to better manage the money You've entrusted to me, so I can do whatever You call me to do.
Day 17: Better Planning Means Better Choices
We all know people who are impulsive spenders - it may even be you. As soon as a paycheck comes in, they're out the door to spend everything they've earned. It's easy to get stuck in the same paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle without any thought for the future. Money can be used to make purchases, pay bills, and put food on the table. But when we spend everything as soon as we get it, we are failing to responsibly steward what God's given us. Part of being a faithful steward of God's money involves how we're saving, not how we're spending. Saving is about planning for the future. It will enable you to support yourself and your family if you lose your job or have an emergency. It also provides us the freedom to do whatever God calls us to do. Every time we get income, we should first set aside a portion to bring back to God, then plan to save. When we spend each paycheck with no money set aside, we're enslaving ourselves to our circumstances, leading no room for God.
Questions:
1. What are three examples of ways you spend money impulsively?
2. How can you start saving so you can be prepared for what God has planned for you?
Scripture:
Proverbs 6:6-8
Proverbs 21:20
Prayer:
Jesus, help me to exercise self-control in spending so I can be a wise steward of Your money.
Day 18: Fund Your Future
Studies show that as many as 90% of us are not on track to be able to comfortable retire. Too many people have bought into the lie that one day when we have more money we can start planning for the future. That kind of thinking ensures retirement never comes. Setting aside $50 one time won't change your financial future. However, setting aside a little bit of money consistently over a long period of time will build great rewards for the future. There's no amount too small to start saving and no better time then now. You may not be millionaire, lottery winner, or stock broke, but that doesn't mean you can't start saving. Jesus has an incredible future planned for us, and when we save what we've been given, we free ourselves to act on what God wants to bring us in the future.
Questions:
1. What three things would you use to describe your feelings about your financial future?
2. Saving doesn't have to mean setting aside large sums of money each month. What's one thing you can change to start saving today?
3. How have you seen steady diligence pay off in other areas of your life? Why would the outcome be any different when it comes to money?
Scripture:
Proverbs 13:8-11
Jeremiah 29:11
Prayer:
Jesus, You knew I would need Your salvation before I was even born. You were with God at the creation of the world and made a way for me to know God before I was a thought in my parents' minds. Thank You for being a planner. Help me to be a planner, too.
Day 19: Every Cent Counts
Most of us don't consider ourselves rich. But if you live in the United States, you are among the wealthiest people in the world. We have been blessed with money resources, and we are responsible or what God has given us. God commands us to bring 10% of our income back to the church in tithe. But what about the rest of our income? Just because God gives us freedom to spend 90% of His money doesn't mean there are not consequences for how it's used. God wants us to enjoy our money but doesn't want us to put our hope in it or be enslaved to it. For some of us, honoring God with everything means giving more generously. What we don't have can't own us. For some of us, the next step is learning to save. Saving breaks the debt cycle so we can start asking "What does God want me to do?" Instead of "What do I have to do?" Wealth is one of many ways Jesus blesses us with more than we deserve. There's nothing wrong with taking pleasure in the abundance God gives us, as long as we don't start worshipping the gift instead of the Giver.
Questions:
1. Do you see yourself as rich? Why or why not?
2. Are you using your other 90% responsibly? In what ways do you need to change how you are stewarding your finances to be more faithful to Jesus?
3. Do you need help creating a plan for the remaining 90%?
Scripture:
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Luke 12:42-48
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for making me rich! Show me how to honor You with all of my money, not just the tithe.
Day 20: Hard Work Always Pays Off
Big goals require focus, sacrifice, and a lot of hard work. You have to want the outcome with a passion, saying "no" to other things that are competing for you time. Breaking big goals into daily activities will help you achieve them. It's hard to say no to dinner with friends or wait until the sweater you want goes on sale. But you have to be willing to make changes to see success over the long haul. One less dinner out a month for 12 months could be the difference between going into debt for a new dryer or being able to buy it outright. We cannot expect to see our lives change or experience freedom if all we do is talk about what we can do better. We all have a next step when it comes to our finances, and we have to take action if we want to see things change.
Questions:
1. What is one thing you worked hard for to earn? What did you learn about perseverance during that experience?
2. Have you ever started budgeting and stopped? What caused you to quit and how can you prevent that from happening again?
Scripture:
Proverbs 14:23
Proverbs 10:4
Proverbs 6:9-11
Prayer:
Jesus, help me to keep going even when budgeting is hard and saving is not fun. Give me passion for managing money in a way that honors You.
Well, there you have it! Days 16-20 :)
I'll be back a day or two with days 21-25 and then one more after that and we'll be done!!
Please leave me a comment below or contact me on any of my social media sites and tell me what you've thought about this plan. Have you been following it or just reading along? Would you like me to start posting about another plan I've been doing? I started 3 more plans yesterday and I find them very interesting already.
xoxo
-k
A Jewish man was mugged and left for dead on the side of the road. Many people saw him but walked right on by. Then a good samaritan man came to the man's rescue. He used the supplies he had on him - oil, wine, and two days wages - to help the man recover. The man was ready to bless others because he hadn't spend what he had unwisely. Not only was he able to treat the wounded man, he was able to bless him on top of it. The good samaritan took the man to an inn and gave the innkeeper two silver coins to cover the cost of the man's care. He also pledged to reimburse the innkeeper if the wounded man's expenses added up to more. The good samaritan was prepared to be generous and God blessed someone through that. We can't bless others if we aren't stewarding our own finances well. When we choose to save our money instead of spending all of it, we are equipped with tools to help others. You can't bless someone if you're broke.
Questions:
1. What could you do for God if money was not an issue?
2. Would you be able to give financially to someone who needs help?
3. How can you start saving today?
Scripture:
Luke 10:25-37
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for all the ways you provide for me. Help me to better manage the money You've entrusted to me, so I can do whatever You call me to do.
Day 17: Better Planning Means Better Choices
We all know people who are impulsive spenders - it may even be you. As soon as a paycheck comes in, they're out the door to spend everything they've earned. It's easy to get stuck in the same paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle without any thought for the future. Money can be used to make purchases, pay bills, and put food on the table. But when we spend everything as soon as we get it, we are failing to responsibly steward what God's given us. Part of being a faithful steward of God's money involves how we're saving, not how we're spending. Saving is about planning for the future. It will enable you to support yourself and your family if you lose your job or have an emergency. It also provides us the freedom to do whatever God calls us to do. Every time we get income, we should first set aside a portion to bring back to God, then plan to save. When we spend each paycheck with no money set aside, we're enslaving ourselves to our circumstances, leading no room for God.
Questions:
1. What are three examples of ways you spend money impulsively?
2. How can you start saving so you can be prepared for what God has planned for you?
Scripture:
Proverbs 6:6-8
Proverbs 21:20
Prayer:
Jesus, help me to exercise self-control in spending so I can be a wise steward of Your money.
Day 18: Fund Your Future
Studies show that as many as 90% of us are not on track to be able to comfortable retire. Too many people have bought into the lie that one day when we have more money we can start planning for the future. That kind of thinking ensures retirement never comes. Setting aside $50 one time won't change your financial future. However, setting aside a little bit of money consistently over a long period of time will build great rewards for the future. There's no amount too small to start saving and no better time then now. You may not be millionaire, lottery winner, or stock broke, but that doesn't mean you can't start saving. Jesus has an incredible future planned for us, and when we save what we've been given, we free ourselves to act on what God wants to bring us in the future.
Questions:
1. What three things would you use to describe your feelings about your financial future?
2. Saving doesn't have to mean setting aside large sums of money each month. What's one thing you can change to start saving today?
3. How have you seen steady diligence pay off in other areas of your life? Why would the outcome be any different when it comes to money?
Scripture:
Proverbs 13:8-11
Jeremiah 29:11
Prayer:
Jesus, You knew I would need Your salvation before I was even born. You were with God at the creation of the world and made a way for me to know God before I was a thought in my parents' minds. Thank You for being a planner. Help me to be a planner, too.
Day 19: Every Cent Counts
Most of us don't consider ourselves rich. But if you live in the United States, you are among the wealthiest people in the world. We have been blessed with money resources, and we are responsible or what God has given us. God commands us to bring 10% of our income back to the church in tithe. But what about the rest of our income? Just because God gives us freedom to spend 90% of His money doesn't mean there are not consequences for how it's used. God wants us to enjoy our money but doesn't want us to put our hope in it or be enslaved to it. For some of us, honoring God with everything means giving more generously. What we don't have can't own us. For some of us, the next step is learning to save. Saving breaks the debt cycle so we can start asking "What does God want me to do?" Instead of "What do I have to do?" Wealth is one of many ways Jesus blesses us with more than we deserve. There's nothing wrong with taking pleasure in the abundance God gives us, as long as we don't start worshipping the gift instead of the Giver.
Questions:
1. Do you see yourself as rich? Why or why not?
2. Are you using your other 90% responsibly? In what ways do you need to change how you are stewarding your finances to be more faithful to Jesus?
3. Do you need help creating a plan for the remaining 90%?
Scripture:
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Luke 12:42-48
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for making me rich! Show me how to honor You with all of my money, not just the tithe.
Day 20: Hard Work Always Pays Off
Big goals require focus, sacrifice, and a lot of hard work. You have to want the outcome with a passion, saying "no" to other things that are competing for you time. Breaking big goals into daily activities will help you achieve them. It's hard to say no to dinner with friends or wait until the sweater you want goes on sale. But you have to be willing to make changes to see success over the long haul. One less dinner out a month for 12 months could be the difference between going into debt for a new dryer or being able to buy it outright. We cannot expect to see our lives change or experience freedom if all we do is talk about what we can do better. We all have a next step when it comes to our finances, and we have to take action if we want to see things change.
Questions:
1. What is one thing you worked hard for to earn? What did you learn about perseverance during that experience?
2. Have you ever started budgeting and stopped? What caused you to quit and how can you prevent that from happening again?
Scripture:
Proverbs 14:23
Proverbs 10:4
Proverbs 6:9-11
Prayer:
Jesus, help me to keep going even when budgeting is hard and saving is not fun. Give me passion for managing money in a way that honors You.
Well, there you have it! Days 16-20 :)
I'll be back a day or two with days 21-25 and then one more after that and we'll be done!!
Please leave me a comment below or contact me on any of my social media sites and tell me what you've thought about this plan. Have you been following it or just reading along? Would you like me to start posting about another plan I've been doing? I started 3 more plans yesterday and I find them very interesting already.
xoxo
-k
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