Effective Money Management In The Home 3

Family Success 

 

It is my privilege to welcome you to this week's teaching on Effective Money Management at Home. I believe that the wisdom from above shall be imparted unto you via this teaching in Jesus' name.

Last week, I shed light on budgeting as an effective way of managing money in your home. This week, I shall be discussing the topic: Avoid Debt!

Indebtedness is disastrous! It destroys! But the good news is, it can be avoided. Steer clear of indebtedness for God hates it. "How do you know God hates indebtedness?" you may ask. The Bible says: Owe no man anything ... (Romans 1:8). Whatever God hates, you should hate, this is godliness in action. It is godly to flee indebtedness. How can you avoid debts.?

Prioritize Your Spending: To prioritize is to put things in order of importance, so that you can deal with the most important ones first. You can prioritize your spending and maximize your income. In handling money, learn to write down your needs and then draw a scale of preference.

The fact is, you can never exhaust your needs but there are those that must come before others. These are your priorities. You must make sure that you do not spend money on things that you can afford to leave till a later date. Ascertain the things that you need in order of importance, and buy them accordingly. This is priority spending!

Do not spend money carelessly. Spend money on what is expedient, not just what is lawful. The scripture says: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12). Prioritizing enables you to distinguish between right and wrong expenditure.

Covetousness: Covetousness is the desire for things that do not belong to you. It is the craving to get those things by all means. It is the excessive desire and greed for things. This is a major challenge for many today. The Bible says: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth (Luke 12:15).

Covetousness subtly takes hold of many today because of adverts on television. Everyone is out to get the latest household item in the market. This crave has made many homes to run into debts. You cannot effectively manage money in your home if you are covetous. Covetousness is idolatry, but you can be free from it! The cure for covetousness is contentment. Apostle Paul said: But godliness with contentment is great gain. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1Timothy 6:6, 8)

Be satisfied with the step-by-step lifting of God in your life and your home. Patience is required. Just as a child does not walk the day it is born, you should not expect to assume a millionaire status overnight. Covetousness will destroy your financial progress and future. So, you need to walk in total contentment and godly wisdom to sustain your wealth.

Life is in phases and men are in sizes. Live your size, eat your size and wear your size per time. Running after clothes, possessions, money, cars etc, more than necessary, will put you in deep financial troubles. The Bible says: The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (Deut 28:12). Do not frustrate the blessings of God over your life.

You need grace from God in order to be a faithful steward in money management. The right place to begin from is a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. If you want to start this relationship right now, you can say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today.

Congratulations! You are now a child of God!