Ethics, Greed, Optimizing Life, Proverbs

Resist When Sinners Entice You

There are right ways to increase your wealth and wrong ways. The truth of what is right and wrong is not determined by whether or not you gain money but rather by the standards God has provided us in His written word. It is better to be poor in finances and walk with God than to be rich in finances and live without Him.

Proverbs 1:8-19

The Enticement of Sinners

      8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

      9Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck.

      10My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.

      11If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait for blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

      12Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

      13We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with spoil;

      14Throw in your lot with us,
We shall all have one purse,”

      15My son, do not walk in the way with them.
Keep your feet from their path,

      16For their feet run to evil
And they hasten to shed blood.

      17Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any bird;

      18But they lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.

      19So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;
It takes away the life of its possessors.

Many people profess that they can help you on a path to having more money. Not all of the paths are righteous according to God’s standards. Choose carefully with the Bible as your guide. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you make the right choices, even when the situation seems dire and there may seem to be no easy way out.

It is better to be poor and dwell with God than to be rich and dwell without Him. Even in matters of life and death, it is better to choose the path that leads to heaven than the one that leads to hell… no matter what earthly wealth you may be promised in order for you to take the wrong path.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Generate Income, Optimizing Life

Wealth Gained Through Righteous Effort Should Not Be Condemned

Using God’s gift of wisdom to achieve wealth and financial gain is not wrong if done in a righteous way in which you plan and invest wisely, avoid deceit and trickery, and live according to God’s commands. Joseph was a man who was faithful to God throughout his life in good times and in bad. God blessed him with the ability to interpret dreams and then God used that gift to place Joseph in a significant leadership role as governor over all of Egypt. Through Joseph, God blessed the descendants of Israel (formerly known as Jacob) and he also blessed Pharaoh, making him very wealthy and protecting his people from famine.

Genesis 47:1-27

Jacob’s Family Settles in Goshen

      1Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” 2He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. 3Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” 4They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.” 5Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6“The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”

      7Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many years have you lived?” 9So Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.” 10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from his presence. 11So Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had ordered. 12Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to their little ones.

      13Now there was no food in all the land, because the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the grain which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone.” 16Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent, and the cattle are my lord’s. There is nothing left for my lord except our bodies and our lands. 19“Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. So give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”

Result of the Famine

      20So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land became Pharaoh’s. 21As for the people, he removed them to the cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other. 22Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they lived off the allotment which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore, they did not sell their land. 23Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have today bought you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you may sow the land. 24“At the harvest you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own for seed of the field and for your food and for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” 25So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” 26Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt valid to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s.

      27Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous.

Many will complain that Joseph took advantage of the people by taking all they owned for Pharaoh. This view simply does not stand up to careful scrutiny. The people were thankful to Joseph for feeding them and keeping them from death. Further, once Joseph had gained everything for Pharaoh, he allowed the people to work the land and keep the large majority of what they grew. Even though Pharaoh “owned” it all, Pharaoh only collected 20% or 1/5. This is incredibly fair… I can hardly resist comparing this to what we consider a “free” nation of the United States of America today, in which the government takes higher personal and corporate income tax than Pharaoh did! At least Pharaoh owned what he collected income from.

Joseph used the gifts God gave him in a righteous manner to glorify God, support God’s people, and even fulfill the duties of the position under Pharaoh that God had placed him in and to do so very effectively… and he became wealthy along the way.

Wealth should not be despised, but rather only unrighteous behaviors and attitudes should be despised and rebuked. Wealth developed by righteous people is often used to glorify God and help His people. We should be thankful to God and give Him the glory and avoid resenting His servants who become wealthy. Perhaps we should even try to learn from those who gain wealth righteously rather than condemn them.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Greed, Treasures In Heaven

How Much Should I Give?

There is much debate amongst Christians about how much we should give back to God. Many start with Old Testament guidance by talking about the tithe. Some want to give to show God their appreciation and love for Him. Others give because they feel it is required.

It may seem very confusing, but in fact it does not have to be so. God is more interested in our hearts when we give then in the accounting on whether we gave 10% or 20%.

In fact, the better question is not “How much should I give?”, but rather “How should I steward all of my resources?” or “How much should I keep for myself?” For those of us who receive the priceless gift of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior… as our Redeemer… it all belongs to Him.

Psalms 24:1-2

1The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.

2For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.

If you give your money to a financial advisor to manage for you, what percent do you want him to give back to you? What percent do you want him to waste selfishly or foolishly? Of course we want the advisor to manage all of it for us, manage it all wisely, and manage it all for our purposes rather than his own. God feels the same way about what He gives to each of us.

God wants us to give generously and cheerfully… as He has given to us. He wants us to use wisely all the resources He has given to us to steward.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We should seek God in prayer and listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit for how to steward our finances including how to give generously and joyfully… and to whom to give. So too, we should consider carefully the counsel God has provided us throughout scripture to validate we are using the gifts He has given us properly for His purposes rather than selfishly for our own agenda.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Generate Income, Optimizing Life

Find Favor with Both God and Man

It is easy to become full of ourselves, filled with pride when we succeed in the eyes of men. We must be careful to remain humble and serve God even in success. Many wise men, including David and Solomon, started with a close relationship with God and then drifted further from God when they had much success and power… and it was to their own downfall. When we find favor in the sight of God and man by living humbly and righteously according to God’s instruction, do not change the recipe. Keep doing the things that got you there… pray, study scripture, listen to God and obey, work hard, be patient, give glory to God for what He does through us, etc.

Joseph set a fantastic example in  Genesis 41:38-49. Joseph did not change when he was given great power and authority. He worked diligently and responsibly, maintaining his right relationship with God and he continued to experience favor from God and men as a result.

Joseph Is Made a Ruler of Egypt

38Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” 39So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. 40“You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” 41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. 43He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, “Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.

46Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly. 48So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 49Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.

Joseph had experienced much suffering and difficulty in his early life… sold into slavery by his brothers, thrown into jail based on lies, and forgotten in jail for years by one he helped. Joseph handled it with great patience and a righteous attitude toward God. Surely we would be tempted to think God forgot about us in his circumstances… to possibly disastrous results if we let our circumstances separate us from God. But now at 30 years old, Joseph stood tall as second in command of all Egypt… right where God wanted him. When he assumed the position, Joseph did not change and take credit or become filled with pride. He continued to honor God and faithfully carry out his work.

Challenge yourself, as followers of Christ, to take on the patience, diligence, humility, forgiveness, and faith which Joseph demonstrated throughout his life… through good times and bad. This is a great recipe to find favor with both God and man.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Generate Income, Optimizing Life

7 Tips to Find Joy in Your Work

Why do so many of us accept that work should be a burden we must endure, rather than a part of our life in which we find joy or at least contentment?

It is intuitive, but also backed up by studies, that people who are happy at work are more productive and more successful. They perform better at their work because they find joy and satisfaction in what they do. These are people you want to be around.

I am certainly not suggesting that I expect all of us to get paid for doing something we enjoy as much as spending time with our families or going on vacation. However, there are a number of simple things we can do to find joy in our work.

1- Remember that we are more than our work. Our personal value comes from God. He crafted each of us as unique and special individuals to serve Him. Our value is not defined by how we perform or are perceived to perform at work.

2- Ultimately our joy comes from God. Ensure you spend time in prayer and study of the Bible daily.  Not only do we grow closer to God and develop a better understanding of His character and instruction for our lives, but it puts into perspective what is important about our work and our lives.

3- Basic for finding contentment or satisfaction with any job is reminding yourself why you choose to do that work. List the positive aspects of your employment such as providing for your family, enabling you to support your church or honor God with your money, and allowing you an opportunity to reach people for Jesus in your workplace… can really impact your attitude toward your job. Instead of viewing it as a prison with chains, it is a choice you make for specific reasons. If you can not find any good reasons or if the job forces you into conflicts with your Christian faith you likely want to seek alternate employment.

4- Know how your job or role contributes and matters to the bigger picture where you work. Don’t limit yourself to a narrow view of just “completing specific job tasks”, but rather understand the broader picture. It leads to a higher degree of satisfaction.  This concept is described from a classic example:

A man walked down a road by a construction site. He saw three workers laying bricks in what appeared to be a wall. As he asked each man separately what they were doing he received the following three responses… I am laying bricks, I am building a wall, and finally, I am building a cathedral so people can worship and honor God.

Which of the three men do you think was most satisfied with his work? The one who saw the bigger picture of course. He understood not just what he was doing but the value of it to a bigger purpose.

5- Avoid focusing too long in your mind about what a “perfect” job would be like. This type of exercise can be useful to help identify a specific action such as evaluating alternate employment, but becomes depressing if you continually compare your current circumstances to a theoretical perfect job that may not really exist.

6- Look for ways you can take initiative at work to help create the environment in which you want to work. If you want a friendly and Christian environment… then start by acting that way yourself!

7- Certainly not last, but at the end of the list because it is something we should keep in our minds as we go back to our daily lives… come before God humbly and ask Him to help you find joy in your work… whether in your current job or by finding another.

For additional resources to help you find joy in your work, check out our Earn Money with a Purpose page at GrowGodsMoney.org.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Guiding Framework, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

In Whom Do You Put Your Trust for Finances?

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us would admit that at one time or another in our lives we have struggled to put our faith in God regarding how we should approach our personal finances. We may place our faith in a stock broker or career counselor or in our own ability to work hard in order to find our way, but often we overlook the wisdom God has provided in His written word, the Bible.  If we put our faith in God and seek and then follow the wisdom He has revealed through scripture we will surely not regret it!

Proverbs 3

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;

10So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD
Or loathe His reproof,

12For whom the LORD loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

13How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.

14For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.

15She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.

16Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.

17Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.

18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.

As I reflect on this scripture today, I would always encourage you to click through to read the whole chapter of scripture… that is why I provide the link. However, I have pulled out a portion of it to comment on in this article.

A key decision we must make as we approach any element of our lives, including finances, is the following question…

“In whom do I place my trust for wisdom in this area of my life?”

Increasingly I have come to the conclusion that our trust should first and foremost be put in God and His word for all aspects of our lives, even the details of our lives associated with personal finance. Yes, we can also study and consult with others, but we must have a good standard against which to judge their specific advice. Scripture in the Bible and Proverbs in particular provides a very helpful absolute standard that can serve as our guide for evaluating our decisions.

By following God’s wisdom we will find wealth greater than silver, gold, or jewels and yet also find great advice to help us increase in our finances as well.

Answer for yourself today… “In whom do I put my trust for my personal finances?” Prayerfully consider this question and do not quickly answer. Consider how you work to generate income, how you manage spending, and how much you give to provide for the needs of others. If someone were trying to convict you of being a Christian in a court of law… would there be enough evidence, based on how you manage your finances, to convict you?

Humbly consider what changes you should make to submit more fully to God’s wisdom and guidance in regard to your finances.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Greed, Optimizing Life

Building Wealth for the Sake of Having Wealth Is Not, In Itself, a Meaningful Objective

I received the following article from  Bob Lotich at SeedTime Ministries, www.seedtime.com, from one of his weekly emails. I thought this one was good and wanted to share it. I encourage each of you to check out SeedTime on their website.

Contrary to what some believe, the phrase “wealthy Christian” is not an oxymoron. Wealth and Godliness are not necessarily contradictory terms – it all depends on the motives.

Building wealth for the wrong reasons does not produce Godliness but the right reasons will.

Let’s dig deeper.

Five Wrong Reasons For Building Wealth

1. Advice from an “expert”

I know a couple who started buying houses because some financial guru told them there is a great future in real estate. The problem was not the investment itself; it was that they were making financial decisions solely on someone else’s counsel without thoroughly researching that advice and dovetailing it into their own short-term and long-term goals. Not surprisingly, they got in over their heads and had to unload some houses at a loss.

Seeking advice is actually a good thing. Proverbs 15:22 reads, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors, they succeed.” Therefore, it is good to listen to seek out several trusted friends and experts for financial advice. Listen and learn and think. Discuss your options with your spouse. Make sure the two of you are on the same page. But never leap into any business venture because you heard it was a “great investment”. That is a bad reason.

2. Everyone is doing it.

Keeping up with the Joneses can be more subtle than you think. Have you ever bought a car because someone you admire has one like it? Do you eat at a certain restaurant because it is the “place to go”? Did you get those season tickets because your friends are all getting them? Did you choose that European vacation because that is what the “in” people do?

Following the crowd is a sign of insecurity and a desire for acceptance. Many will overspend in their desire to emulate someone else, but even if you can easily afford these things, building wealth in order to keep pace with others is not a good reason to do so.

3. Winning a competition

While friendly competition can sometimes bring out the best in us, competition in the realm of finances is an unhealthy game. If you feel like you must out-earn or even out-give anyone in order to win, you will never win. In the first place, someone will always be able to outdo you. But even if you “win”, you have still proved nothing.

If your brain is wired in sports mode, think in terms of cooperating instead of competing. You and your wife are a team. You and your fellow church members are a team. You and God are a team. Be the best team player you can be and you will always be on the winning team.

4. Love of money

People who love money simply because it is money have a warped view of money. These are the people who hoard. Do you love money? If so, you probably have no benchmark established to determine how much is enough. In fact, for you, there will never be enough. You love to check your portfolio to see how much you have, but you always want more. This can be true whether your net worth is $1,000 or $10 million. You are chasing something you will never catch. If you don’t change your priorities you are destined to live a one dimensional, selfish and shallow life.

Hebrews 13:5 tells us, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’”

It is OK to love. Just don’t let money be the object of your affection. Love God first and love others second. The money will take care of itself. Jesus put it this way, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mat 6:33

5. Security

This is a bit of an enigma because scripture tells us to be wise with what we have…to save and plan and to be able to live without being under constant financial stress. Yes, we are to be wise, but if we believe that we can build enough to give us security, we are mistaken.

First, whatever we accumulate here on earth can be taken away or lost. Secondly, financial security is a ruse. Why? Because it is a cheap counterfeit to true security which can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

True security will satisfy your deepest needs and can never be lost. Financial security, even if you had enough socked away to cover all your needs for the rest of your life, will not give security for the life to come. Wouldn’t you like to realize your purpose here on earth and live out that purpose with the knowledge that your eternity is taken care of? That is true security. It can come only from God.

What is the Right Reason to Build Wealth?

To enable givers to give generously

As Paul is challenging the church in Corinth to give to the impoverished believers in Jerusalem, he explains, “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” 2 Cor 9:11

If God expects us to be “generous in every way”, it is up to Him to make us “enriched in every way”.

Summary

God wants what is best for us. He also knows us better than we know ourselves. God wants us to be great givers, not only so those who are needy can be helped but also because we are truly living out our purpose when we are giving.

Do you want to be wealthy? Great. Start by giving. As you give to others, God will enrich your life. Who knows? You might be able to fund numerous missionaries, meet health needs in third world countries, pay for a childless family to adopt, or buy that single mom a new car. Sound like a great life? Go for it. Start giving today.

Special thanks to Joe Plemon for writing this great article!

Bob Lotich (SeedTime Ministries)

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Generate Income, Optimizing Life

Boost Your Short Term Income

Many write on the internet about how you can earn extra money, even from home over the computer. There are an amazing number of ways to pursue incremental income with today’s technology.

Before you leap with excitement to the search engine to identify all the ways you are about to make lots of money from home, you should probably start by thoughtfully considering your goals. What are you trying to achieve?

Are you looking for a short-term boost to your income to accomplish a specific goal, like paying off credit card debt or donating to a church fund to help your community? Are you looking for long-term incremental income that you can do on top of your current daily commitments? Perhaps you are seeking a new profession entirely and want to leave your “day job”. Clearly identifying, and writing down, your objectives can help guide you when you start your search to find the right answer for your situation, personality, and skills.

Ok… I know you are excited but wait just a minute more… nothing is free. All of these activities take time. All too often people refer to the quality of life in regard to only what you can buy and how much stuff you have. In truth, quality of life is more dependent on our ability to be content with what we have. Then we can focus on the true value of our time… we never truly know how much we will have and we can not get any of it back once we use it. So it is very important to consider what time commitment you are willing to put towards any effort to gain incremental income.

Now spend some time setting your goals and limitations (e.g. how much time you are willing to take away from other things you do). Make sure you understand your broader priorities and do not just focus on the pursuit of more money at all costs… that is greed. Then search away to identify a selection of good ideas for earning more income that will work for you!

Don’t forget to evaluate any legal liabilities or safety concerns when selecting something that may be right for you. The following list are just ideas to get your thoughts started… not a recommendation for any specific site, activity, or business.

  • Tutor
  • Wash cars
  • Cut grass
  • Clean houses
  • Babysit, pet sit or house sit
  • Help care for the elderly
  • General household chores or handyman activities
  • Buy water bottles in bulk and sell them at local events. Easy profit and people will thank you for it unless you overcharge.
  • Rent your car through sites like GetAround or RelayRides
  • Rent your home through sites like Airbnb or VRBO
  • Become a driver with Uber or Lyft
  • Hire out through services that coordinate temporary workers
  • Sell extra stuff you have at garage sales, Craigs List, eBay, etc
  • Look for sites that pay you to try new products or visit stores and provide feedback
  • etc…. etc…. etc.

Parting thought… set up a specific time frame to come back and evaluate the activity you selected and compare or steward it to the written objectives you laid out at the start. Is it working as you thought? Did you protect your time and your other priorities (e.g. does your family still know you? still like you?) Just because you started something does not mean you need to keep doing it if it is not working out. That is why you write down your goals/objectives, identify relative priorities, and put constraints on the time commitment before you begin. It is not just about the dollars. It is about the quality of life.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Optimizing Life

Trust in God, Not In Money

We all face times when we feel like things are not going well, where we feel like others are against us. David certainly had times when he experienced many enemies plotting against him. Even if all others had abandoned him, he knew he could find refuge in his heavenly Father.

Psalm 62

God Alone a Refuge from Treachery and Oppression.

For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

      1My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.

      2He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

      3How long will you assail a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

      4They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;
They delight in falsehood;
They bless with their mouth,
But inwardly they curse.

Selah.

      5My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.

      6He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

      7On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

      8Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

Selah.

      9Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;
In the balances they go up;
They are together lighter than breath.

      10Do not trust in oppression
And do not vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

      11Once God has spoken;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;

      12And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,
For You recompense a man according to his work.

I would encourage each of us as well, no matter how dire our situation may seem, even if we feel completely alone… trust in God. Pour out your heart before Him. And if you are in a good situation now, planning and preparing yourself for potential future hardship… the answer is the same. Do not put your trust in money but rather in God Himself. While you invest in your financial portfolio and manage that, it is even more important to invest in your relationship with our Creator and draw near Him.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Control Spending

How Can I Break Out Of Paycheck-To-Paycheck Living?

Many who struggle with their finances are living paycheck to paycheck, and can not see a way out to break the cycle and start saving and planning for the future. This cycle can generate strong emotions and a feeling of defeat and hopelessness.  What might surprise many is that people feel this way across many different income levels. Living paycheck to paycheck is not just a function of low income. It is a function of choosing a lifestyle whereby your expenses match or exceed your income. Even many with high incomes still live paycheck to paycheck.

There are many successful strategies to help people break this cycle depending on the financial circumstances and personalities of the people involved. I am not trying to cover all of them, but rather give some basic insight that perhaps can help you in how you approach the situation.

Many want to think… if only I could make more money, then my problems would be over. More money certainly has the potential to help but is not typically the answer. Often people who live paycheck to paycheck do not solve the problem when they increase their income… they just increase their spending.

As an example, consider that many who are considered “low income” in a country like the USA are actually wealthy by global standards. If you have shelter, clothing, and a steady supply of food you are actually doing well by global and historical standards. Many of the other things we think we “need” are really just “wants”. All too often we judge what we “need” based on what we see others around us have rather than true needs.

Step 1: Prayerfully ask God for help. Submit to Jesus Christ and change your behaviors and attitudes to be different from the world and more like His. Ask Him for help specifically with your finances.

Step 2: Clearly separate in your mind true “needs” from “wants”. Need is really limited to such things as basic food, shelter, clothing, and safety. Even much of the more expensive food, shelter, and clothing qualify as “want”. I do not need brand-name clothes or expensive food or an expensive home.

Step 3: Commit to yourself and before God that you believe you can and that you will, take steps to pull yourself out of your financial situation even if it feels difficult and you have to give up things you like and want. If you don’t believe you can or if you are not committed to taking sometimes painful steps, you will fail.

Step 4: Find an accountability partner who you trust to share your finances with, or at least your expenses. It works best if it is someone who will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you might want to hear and also if you find someone who is a good role model. A good role model is someone who is demonstrating the behavior you want to achieve yourself. In this case, find someone who has already gotten out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and is planning successfully for the future.

Step 5: Track your expenses over a few weeks or a month. Really write down everything you spend… as you spend it. You can use your phone’s “notes” app or you can carry a pad and pen. Next to each item consider and write down if it is a “need” or “want”. Be careful in assessing what food and clothes you buy. It is too easy to say “need”, when in fact we may have spent more money than truly needed in order to get a style or amount of food or clothes that we “wanted”.

Step 6: Review with your accountability partner. Discuss your assessment of need and want for key items. Add up the seemingly small expenses in categories rather than ignoring them. For example, if you get a Starbucks coffee each day for a few dollars, that may seem small but actually, over a month it can be significant. Identify some of the wants in your spending that you can change your behavior on and reduce your expenses. Make a plan and write it down.

Step 6: Execute your plan based on the wants you choose to avoid based on prior spending. Take that same amount of money directly into separate savings or checking account… or an envelope in a secure location if you prefer. You have just started saving for the future and are still living on the income you had last month.

Step 7: Repeat, starting back at step 1. Look to increase how much you put aside for the future. You must start with seemingly small, achievable goals as you change your attitude and behavior. As you start to experience success you will likely increase in confidence and motivation and be prepared to take additional steps to improve your situation.

Soon you will be able to start planning for the future… establishing an emergency fund, generating an operating fund (allows you to absorb unexpected timing issues on expenses or income), and then future costs like a car, school, and retirement.  There are also longer-term decisions that may help you improve your situation such as growing your income, but that topic is the subject of other posts.

Are you ready to break the cycle of paycheck-to-paycheck living? What will your first step be?

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org.

We help you create a simple but effective framework for a personal financial plan including generating income, managing debt and spending, investing and giving.