Scripture teaches that good stewards engage in the following practices and reap blessings from doing so:
1. Understand the LORD owns everything. Manage money and resources like the Almighty owns it all because He does. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word is God, and nothing was made unless it was made by Him. This requires that you seek His will when it comes to spending, saving & investing, and giving decisions.
2. Show contentment. Continue or start tithing to your local church or a worthwhile ministry each time you receive income. Choose delayed gratification instead of instant gratification. Do not buy that bigger house, more expensive car, new furniture, new jewelry, etc. until you have reached the priority goal of being a faithful tithing member of a local church and totally debt-free. Stuff to buy will still be there at prices you can afford to pay after you reach your goal.
3. Sacrifice short-term pleasure for long-term financial soundness. Delayed gratification now (because you need to employ it) results in great benefits accruing to you in the long-run. I buffet (beat my body into submission) lest having told others about the way I myself become a castaway (do not get to receive the benefits of following the principles I've told others about). And Barnabas sold land that he owned and gave it to the Apostles for the work of the ministry!!!
4. Show self-control. This is a fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5, which along with the other eight fruit shows that we walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Pleasing God is the ultimate goals that anyone can have, and this goal can only be displayed by living according to His commands. You must learn to be obedient to biblical principles in order to control your fleshly appetite and put the focus back on fulfilling His purpose for your life. This will help produce wealth in a way that is pleasing to God without compromising your relationship with Jesus Christ.
5. Tithe and give offerings to honor God for His provision and to help fund the spread of the gospel to every person around the world. And the Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you will be witnesses to me in Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the Earth.
6. Work diligently. For even when we were with you, we commanded you that any man who would not work should also not eat.
7. Live on less than your income by budgeting your spending. Know the state of your flocks and herds and write the vision down plainly on paper so that you may successfully use it to reach the desired goal.
8. Eliminate debt and seek to live debt-free. The borrower is a slave to the lender. God desires that you be the head and not the tail.
9. Eliminate cosigning for other people’s debts. Do not cosign for other people’s debts unless you want your coat taken and be subject to ridicule and irresponsibility.
10. Save & Invest a reasonable portion of your income. This prospers you. The master commended the faithful servants who traded with what He gave them and produced double to present to Him. Remember, there is oil and wine in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spends all that he gets his hands on.
11. Diversify assets. There is safety in the multitude of counselors. Therefore, save and invest with seven or eight different reputable sources and with a similar number of different types of investments.
Though there may be short-term pain in dying to yourself, the lust of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life, always believe what you read and study in the bible over what you see and hear in the world and approach life and finances in the way scripture directs, then you will truly be fruitful and prosperous on earth and in eternity.
Please pray for this ministry and email me with any questions. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!
Proverbs 28:20, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Habakkuk 2:2-5, Philippians 4:13, 2Thessalonians 3:10
Please forward these bondage-breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!
You can find books authored by Randy Parlor and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com
You can find many other MoneyWalk articles on Facebook by looking at the NOTES created by Randy Parlor at https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000444069041&sk=notes.
You can connect with Randy Parlor on Twitter and Linkedin
You can also view and/or listen to MoneyWalk articles at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnztOIesOKIrSd_H6c-8mQ
No comments:
Post a Comment