But what if handling money poorly is part of the reason you’re in prison? How do you escape from this tricky trap? Like most prisoners, you’ll likely find a way to survive the lean times while looking forward to freedom and cash flow again. Suddenly, it’s a good day just to have enough in your account to make a phone call or buy a soda. Prison has a way of bringing everything to a screeching halt, especially your money. Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners.Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners.Register your church or group for Angel Tree.And in Romans 13:8, Paul calls us to pay off all our debts so that the only thing we owe each other is love. Proverbs 22:7 actually says borrowing money enslaves you to the lender. But debt has also forced people to delay or avoid expensive life events like marriage or kids, and it’s caused bankruptcy, divorce and all kinds of other messes. Over the past several decades, debt has been marketed so heavily that many people feel like they can’t survive without it! In fact, eight in 10 Americans have debt, and seven in 10 believe it’s necessary. The world says: Debt can be a tool to buy things you couldn’t otherwise have. Giving isn’t a priority in the world, but it’s a priority to God. Among born-again Christians, that number is still only 12%. That’s part of why just 5% of all adults have tithed. If giving doesn’t happen first, the money will never be there. But the problem might be that they don’t make it a priority. Lots of people say they don’t have enough money to give. That’s the instruction in Proverbs 3:9–10 (NKJV): “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” And in Malachi 3:10, God tells us that those firstfruits should be a tenth of what we produce. That means that when they budget their money each month, they set aside 10% of their income to give first, even before they save it. Here’s the truth about giving: No one gives accidentally. God says: Give 10% off the top and work toward being able to give even beyond that. There’s no way you’ll have anything left over! The world says: Spend all of your money on you. Yikes! Lots of Americans definitely prioritize the present over the future. And more than half of households couldn’t live without their income for just one month without borrowing. Then enjoy the fruits of your labor.Īccording to a 2015 Federal Reserve report, nearly half of Americans don’t have the cash on hand to cover a $400 emergency. The world says: YOLO! You only live once! Indulge first and save later. Remember these three points next time you feel the world trying to take your money out of God’s hands and put it into its own. That’s why keeping God’s desire for our finances front of mind is so important. We’ve all experienced temptation in that area and have buckled at some point. It’s tough trying to resist the world’s ways when it comes to money. The world says one thing, but the Bible points to a better way-a way that glorifies God and actually helps us live fuller, more joyful lives ( Galatians 6:8)! But people often make their material possessions into gods without even realizing it-especially money.Īnd when it comes to saving, giving and debt, it’s no different. Worship God above all else, and don’t worship idols, the Bible tells us ( Exodus 20:3–4, Matthew 6:24). You feel incomplete, so you hand over the cash, hoping to buy happiness. But advertisers make you want the life you see in their commercials. Practice contentment and don’t covet other people’s stuff, the Bible says ( Hebrews 13:5, Exodus 20:17). And that’s especially true when it comes to money. It’s no secret that the Bible teaches us to live our lives a little bit differently than the world does.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |