"FAITH, FAMILY & FINANCE"

"A person that has no plan in place has already planned to fail!"

Luke 14:28-30 says, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sit not down first, and count up the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (This is an important question.) Lest haply, (no plan) after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, (pay for it, or support it) all that behold it begin to mock (embarrassment) him. Saying: This man began to build, (without a plan) and was not able to finish."

Some things to remember:
Your stability in faith will definitely effect your family.
Your stability in family will definitely effect your finances.
Your stability in finances will definitely effect your faith.
“This is a connecting circle of stabilities, which are necessary for a stronger future and a more fulfilling spiritual life.”

The Saints of God need to be accountable for their financial planning (see I Tim 5:8, the infidel). Not planning ahead for the future, or not setup long term financial goals, only bring about financial disaster for you and your family. It also will effect your stewardship towards your local church.

A Saints first question should be; “What tips can I use for getting started on my financial planning way?”

  • Determine your short-term, intermediate and long-term financial goals; “what do I want to achieve step by step, until my plan is complete (and discipline yourself to stay with it.), by creating your personal road map for an monthly, yearly, and life plan.
  • Consult a financial planner, if you don’t know how to get started; Here is the biggest problem with the Saints and people alike, they will not admit that there is a problem and that they need "help". There is nothing to be ashamed about asking for help when you need it.
  • Identify and resolve the issues that keep you from reaching your goals towards financial freedom. One of the main items that inhibit Saints from possessing their financial freedom is “a lot of bad debt.” (See Proverbs 22:7) Like runaway credit card debt, a brand new expensive car, and too many new items purchase at the same time or wrong time. A time when you should be saving monies, you are spending monies (remember the “rainy day proverb”).
  • Cut back to discretionary spending; what in your life can you live without right at this moment? “Yes the Bible does say, take no thought about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.” But tomorrow for you may not always come, so plan for it today! Just like your soul’s salvation, do it now, because tomorrow might very well be too late.
  • Pay yourself (after you give God his 10% first): Saints should put away at lease 10% of their income each week in some type of saving format: 401K plans, personal saving account, IRA’s, stocks or bonds, even a “piggy bank". Train your self to save something.

A Saint's next question should be, “How do I go about setup my financial goals?”

  • Have a specific action plan and stay with that plan. Write them down on something permanent; display it to where the plan can be monitor. Include the “know your limitation theory”, in every plan.
  • Break your goals up into achievable parts; Review how much debt you have acquired, then make a decision to how much each month you can afford to pay, in order to eliminate the balance. A key formula for escape outstanding debt, “don’t spend more then you can pay!” Easy! But it takes disciple. 
  • Stay positive, and believe you can do it! “What so every a man think in his heart, so is he!” Successful resolution makers don’t focus on breaking old habits; they focus on adopting new ones that work.
  • Stay clear of temptation, “can a person take fire into their bosom, and not get burnt?” Saints with financial problems need to alter their environment (get away from things that make you send money unnecessary). Don’t go to the mall if you know going there makes you spend money you don’t have.
  • Saints don't address this problem alone, pray and as God to help and direct you in your plan. Tell someone you trust about your goals, which you know will help you keep the commitment.
  • If you backslide on your plan, give yourself a second chance and continue please don’t quit. We are human and no matter how hard we believe in something, there is always the possibility of failure. Don’t quit if this occurs, you must believe that your future can always be greater than past or even your present, with the proper planning. “A quitter never wins, and a Winner never quits!” 

Special tips to grow by:

  • What I have learned: “That the easiest way for me to grow as a person, is to surround myself with people smarter than I am in areas.
  • What I have learned: “That opportunities are never lost, someone else will take the one’s you have missed!”
  • What I have learned: “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It has to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet!”