To Budget or Not To Budget?

Have you ever debated as to whether or not budgets are biblical? Here's my point of view.

God told us to owe no man anything but to love him. That means we should not be in debt. If we need to use a budget as a practical way to manage our money then that is great. God tells us time and time again to seek wisdom and use wisdom. I believe that when we are good stewards with our money that is being wise and proving ourselves obedient to God.

God also tells us that He will supply all of our needs. Therefore, we don't need to worry about tomorrow. As long as we are seeking God, putting God first, and being obedient, we will see the Blessing manifest in our lives. Once we start seeing the results of faith, we aren't so dependent on the natural around us. We aren't so concerned about what the budget looks like on paper because we know God will supply our needs. This doesn't give us a license to overspend but it does mean we aren't tied to this world's system.

God also tells us that we are to walk by faith and not by sight. This means that we can believe God to provide the money for that item we want to buy. It doesn't mean we go out and buy it before we have the money in hand because that would be incurring debt. However, it does mean that we have a bigger source than our job. God will supply our needs. We stand on God's Word that He will come through on His promises and we will see the money we need. That's called walking by faith.

If you have been challenged in the area of spending money wisely, I encourage you to set up a budget so that you can see on paper where your money is going. However, this doesn't mean that you can't continue to build up your faith and stand on God's Word. Once we prove ourselves with the little things God will bless us with more. Commit today to making wise decisions with your money and watch God bless your obedience and dedication.

Below is a link to my other site which is full of free tips and forms to help you live a debt free lifestyle.
http://debtfreeliving.synthasite.com/

Bible Verses By Topic

I just started a new website that lists Bible verses by topic. The link is below in case you are interested. Have a great day!

On Suze Orman's Show Last Night

I happened to stop at the Suze Orman show last night and was amazed at what I heard. This 31 year old woman had $25,000 in credit card debt, $14,000 in student loans, a $12,000 car payment, and a mortgage . . . and only made $2000 a month.


Suze did a great job of confronting this woman who admitted she was living on credit cards. She knew that she didn't have enough cash coming in but didn't want to have to cut back or get another job.


What I think is ridiculous is that this woman could declare bankruptcy and start all over again. No accountability for the mess she created. No responsibility in repaying the loss. I was relieved to at least hear that you can't declare bankruptcy on student loans. There is no way out of that. Bankruptcy may make her life easier but it makes mine harder because someone has to eat that lost money. Now my insurance rates go up and so on because the companies have to cover their losses. Why do people think they are entitled to buy things they don't have money for and then escape the responsibility of paying for it?


I think there needs to be stricter rules on who can get credit cards. At first glance it would appear that it is a person's right to make bad financial decisions and get themselves into trouble. The problem is that there are so many irresponsible people, greedy people, unethical people, and people poorly educated in basic finances that they have now ruined our whole economy. The American dream is earned by hard work, integrity and honesty. The American dream is not handed out for free.

Are You A Warehouse or Distribution Center?

A warehouse is a place where stuff is stored, set aside and accumulated. A distribution center is a place where stuff flows freely in and out. When it comes to your money, are you a warehouse or a distribution center?

For those who are not sure, here are a few questions to ask yourself.

1. Do you frequently buy things for yourself?
2. Do you find it hard to part with your belongings?
3. Do you only donate things that you don’t like anymore or don’t fit?
4. Do you believe that you should get all you can, can what you get, and sit on the can?
5. Do you believe that the money in your account really belongs to God and you are just a steward called to distribute it to those God chooses?
6. Do you enjoy giving things away, even your most prized possessions?
7. Have you noticed that as you give, God always fills your distribution center back up?


A warehouse makes me think of a stagnant pond. Without circulation things begin to die. But a distribution center has a constant flow that brings life. God is always searching for people who will be distribution centers because He wants to use them to bring life to people.

One thing that’s important to note is that before God will start giving you this money, He needs to know that you will be a faithful steward and use it how He desires. To start, He may ask you to buy a simple cup of coffee for someone. Sounds easy, right? However, He then tells you to give it to the lady you don’t like at work. Will you do it out of obedience to God or will you walk away? As we prove ourselves in these little tests He will begin to entrust bigger things to us.

My husband and I often give big tips at restaurants. I love to think about how excited the waitress will be when she picks up the tip after we’ve left and finds it is crazy big. It seems simple but if we learn to hear God in these situations, we will be better able to hear him in bigger situations. I know some people who have given away cars, houses and airplanes because God asked them to. We aren’t there yet but I would love to get there some day.

Here are some verses to look up if you would like to learn more about trusting God to supply your needs so that you can learn to be a distribution center for Him.

Deuteronomy 28, Proverbs 3:9-10, Proverbs 28:27, Isaiah 48:17, Malachi 3:8-11, II Corinthians 9:6-11

Are You Robbing God?

Did you know that we help to determine if we see God's blessing manifest in our lives?

Malachi 3:9-11 tells us that we are robbing God if we don't give the first 10% of our income to Him.

You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;


The reason God demands the first of your income is because where your money is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34) Tithing is as much an attitude as it is an action. Choosing to faithfully give the first of your income to God shows that you have the right attitude and the right heart condition. You see God as your source and you trust that He will stand by His Word and liberally supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

God doesn't need our money. He simply wants our hearts. One of His greatest desires is to take care of us. He never wanted us to toil for a living. In His kingdom you supply your needs by sowing and reaping. You can't sow apple seeds and expect to see corn in August. That goes against the laws of nature. The same is in the Kingdom of God. You can't withhold your tithes and offerings from God and expect to see a harvest of money. It doesn't work. You will only reap what you sow. If you give in abundance and with a happy heart, God will give back to you good measure, pressed down, shaken together and RUNNING OVER! (Luke 6:38) You can never outgive God. I challenge you to study the verses in the Bible that show how God supplies your needs and then step out in faith begin to sow your financial seeds. Remember, it isn't the amount of the seed. It is the significance of it.

Blessings to you and your family!
Christy

Root Problem With Stimulus Bills

I think one of the root problems with these stimulus bills is that it doesn't fix the underlying problems that got us here. Greed. Mismanagement of personal finances. Irresponsibility. Lack of accountability. People's belief that they are entitled to things.



If people's attitudes and belief systems don't change, we are going to be back in the same predicament when the money runs out. People who were irresponsible, overspent, and abused credit, are probably going to blow any tax credits or other kickbacks on more irresponsible spending.



I especially hate the idea that some people are going to get yearly rewards for paying their mortgage on time. The reward should be that you get to keep your house. As an adult you should be paying your bills on time without a reward. That's called being responsible. This type of "stimulus" is only encouraging those who are working the system instead of getting out there and working to make a living. In addition, those who need this "reward" to pay on time, will probably just short pay other bills to get this extra bonus the government is handing out.



Don't get me wrong. My heart goes out to the responsible people who lost a job or ran into medical issues that caused their bad financial situation. Those people should be helped by family, friends, local churches and ministries, etc. But, a massive stimulus program like these seem to reward the vast majority of people not in this category who carelessly throw their money around and think that because they breath air in our country it gives them a right to certain things. Even if they can't afford it.



The stimulus should be rewarding personal responsibility. This would then encourage others to become responsible so that they too could get the reward. It just seems like these stimulus bills are backwards.

Our New Identity

I believe that the way you see yourself affects how you handle your finances.

If you see yourself as never being able to make ends meet.

If you see yourself as destined for failure because of your past.

If you see yourself as not good enough.


Your actions will follow what you think. So, if you identify with the above statements, then your actions are most likely going to follow. But as Christians, we have a new identity that makes us more than conquerors. We know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We know that if we put God first He will take care of us. We know that God supplies all of our needs so we don't have to worry. When we identify with these statements, we are going to start acting as the victorious Christians we were meant to be. And, when we do this our lives will be an example to others who are struggling to find that same hope.

So, my question to you is . . . What are you identifying with?


If you aren't sure how God sees you, I invite you to visit my online study that I call "Living in the Overflow." Here's the link. http://www.overflowliving.com/Abundant_Prosperity_Study.html


Blessings!
Christy
www.OverflowLiving.com