Stewardship Practical Applications in our lives

 God owns it all  We are called to be stewards, not owners  Money IS: a tool, a test, a testimony  Money IS NOT: a measure of self-worth, a reward for Godly living, a guarantee of contentment, a measure of true success Recap from last week

 6 Transcendent Principles of Personal Finance  5 Uses of Income Today’s Topics

Proverbs 13:11 – Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers little by little makes it grow Proverbs 21:20- The wise store up choice food and oil, but fools gulp theirs down 1. Spend less than you earn

 Buy it now…don’t delay!  You DESERVE it!  Enjoy it today and pay for it tomorrow Part of being a good steward is understanding that not all of our expenses will be predictable, and we need to create “margin” in our monthly finances What does the world say about spending?

Proverbs 22:7-Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender  Borrowing always presumes upon the future (example – “we’ll be able to pay this off when ____”)  Borrowing may lead to a lower standard of living in the future due to repayment 2. Avoid the use of debt

 Not all debt is bad, but you must make wise decisions about the future cost of your borrowing decisions. Will you be able to afford it if your circumstances change? What are some examples of where using debt may be justified? More on debt

Proverbs 6:6-8- Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter  Without “wiggle room” in our finances, we aren’t able to address unexpected expenses that always pop up (hot water heater goes out, broken windshield, etc) 3. Build Liquidity (Emergency Fund)

 Don’t plan to spend every dollar that comes in each month  Set up a monthly savings plan into a savings account that acts as your emergency fund. If you have to dip into it, make the effort to rebuild it How do we build liquidity?

Luke 14:28- Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Philippians 3: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus 4. Set Long-Term Goals

 You must do a good job on the first 3 principles in order to think long-term. The first 3 principles are your “safety net”  Prayerfully consider goals for your family. Are the goals you set consistent with what you think God would want for you?  Are your goals measurable? Written down? Reviewed regularly?  Example of a long-term goal: “I would like for my family to give $250,000 to my church over the course the next 25 years” How do we set long-term goals?

Proverbs 3:9-10- Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine Matthew 25:23- Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! 5. Rejoice in Generosity

 Giving breaks the power of money in our lives  In order to achieve true financial freedom, you must be willing to “hold everything with an open hand”  Giving is commanded in Scripture for both the benefit of the giver and the recipient  Willingness to give recognizes God’s ownership of your financial resources  Generosity shows a love for God and fellow man Why give? Isn’t that less for me?

Psalm 24:1- The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him Luke 16:13- No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also 6. Have an Eternal Perspective

You can’t take it with you…

6 Principles Summary 1.Spend less than you earn 2.Avoid the use of debt 3.Build liquidity/”wiggle room” 4. Set Long-Term Goals 5. Rejoice in Generosity 6. Have an Eternal Perspective

5 Uses of Income Where the heck is my money going?

1.Taxes 2.Giving 3.Savings 4.Debt Repayment 5.Lifestyle/Cash Flow There are only 5 categories where our income can go

Taxes should be paid with integrity and thanksgiving Taxes are indicative of income. If you want to pay less taxes, make less money! Taxes

Giving should be proportional to our income Give from the “first fruits” and live on the rest Giving

Build up an emergency fund Future goals, such as home down payment, new car fund, college funding, retirement Savings

Mortgage payment Auto payment Student Loans Credit Cards Debt Repayment

Food and groceries Utility payments Entertainment/Travel Kids activities Lifestyle