Building Blocks
The photo above is from the lobby of our church. Printed on the wood blocks are our Core Values as a body of Christ. I'd like to share how these values can help us to be obedient and become victorious in our finances.
It's OK not to be OK - nearly everyone including myself has overspent, made mistakes and experienced significant debt along with the stress that accompanies it. Jesus said "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always got - this is graphically true in our finances, because we can measure it by our debt load, which will continue to increase - especially because of interest charges, until we have a change of heart. God will help bring that change if we sincerely ask Him to.
We are not afraid to get out of the boat - it takes faith to take God at His Word. First to honor Him by giving our tithes and offerings to Him, and in return He promises in Malachi 3 to "rebuke the devourer" and to "pour out a blessing". God even says to "test Me now by this" in His supreme assurance that He will show Himself faithful back to us.
We get off the sidelines - Next, by looking closely at our spending, making wise choices to reduce waste and overindulgence so we can pay down debt. This will move us towards being a lender and not a borrower (Deuteronomy 15:6) and for being obedient to the Lord it continues in chapter 28 to say "He will bless all the work of our hands".
He gave extravagantly, so we give extravagantly - in our finances, and also our time and talents be sensitive to the Holy Spirit speaking to you to help others in need. 2 Corinthians 9 tells us that God loves and takes pleasure in a cheerful, joyous giver whose heart is in his or her giving.
When you're green, you grow. When you're ripe you rot - as we yield to God's will in our finances, that agreement will flow towards obedience in other areas to the Lord. This aligns with Romans 8:29 that God destined those He foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son.
As a family, we go - it is key to have both spouses and families cooperating together towards eliminating debt, all rowing in the same direction. With all making some sacrifices towards this worthy goal. In our household, my father said he could see that God was blessing our efforts because of our unity together in the process.
We are serious about the discipline of joy - build into this debt-freedom effort rewards for accomplishments, like when paying off a smaller debt or a credit card. It will keep you and your family motivated, have them all provide input for the rewards. Plan for major celebrations when paying off a car or especially the mortgage!
Just because you've handled your finances a certain way does not mean that has to continue. It is written in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that any person in Christ is a new creation, the old has passed away, and the fresh and new has come. See yourself as that new creation by God in every area... including your finances.
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
