Most people want to manage their money well, but they just don’t know how. We want to help you become a successful money manager and we are going to go straight to the Bible in order to make that happen.
Proverbs 17:16 (NIV) “Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?”
If you want to experience financial success in your life, it would be helpful to go to God, the source of all wisdom for advice. There are two important truths to keep in mind.
Two Important Truths
First, God owns it all. I know this is a radical concept for some of you. The Bible is very clear that God created money and wealth, and therefore it all belongs to him. The Psalmist tells us the earth and everything in it, including your money and possessions, are God’s:
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Second, it’s time to accept your God-given job description. Your God-given job description is to be a faithful manager of his money in a way that is pleasing to him.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
In other words, God is watching how well you manage his money. Here are six steps of a successful money manager found directly from the pages of Scripture.
Six Steps of a Successful Money Manager
1. Take a brutally honest assessment.
Before a doctor will perform any surgery, he will first assess the situation. God tells us that the first step to becoming a successful money manager is to take a brutally honest financial assessment. This verse is thousands of years old, but the principle is still the same. Smart money managers need to know the condition of their assets.
Proverbs 27:23 (NIV) Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.
2. Begin an emergency fund.
A wise money manager understands that emergencies happen. That means an emergency fund needs to be set up, so not to cripple you during those unexpected times.
Proverbs 21:20 (NIV) In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
3. Attack your debt.
I know that many of you have so much debt you don’t know what to do about it. You need some encouragement today. God loves you and he doesn’t want you drowning in debt anymore. Ask him to help you attack your debt and watch what almighty God can do.
Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.’
4. Save for a rainy day.
The truth is that if you want to get ahead financially, you have to save more than you spend. Little by little is the way God makes money grow for his people. We all want things to happen fast, but it will take some time.
Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
5. Make a plan and stick to it.
You have no doubt heard the saying, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” Well, that is true when it comes to finances. You need a plan if you want to get ahead financially.
Proverbs 21:5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
6. Give like God gives.
If you think about it, God is the ultimate giver. From the start to the end of the Bible, you see God generously giving to his people. God is a generous God and he wants you to be like him.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (MSG) Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can…
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Who do you usually go to for financial advice? Have you ever thought to start with God and the Bible for financial wisdom?
- If God were to evaluate how you manage your money, what do you think he would say?
- How would you describe yourself as a manager of the resources God has given you?
- Read Proverbs 27:23. Are you careful to be aware of where you stand financially, or are there times when you find yourself “sticking your head in the sand” and avoid dealing with it?
- Look at each of the six steps listed and the Bible reference sited. Which do you think would be the most difficult for you to implement? Which one do you feel like you have a better handle on?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
