Money – Money – Money

Have you ever fantasized about money? You know what I mean. You ask yourself, “If I had a Million Dollars right now what would I do?” Well, you say to yourself, I’d first tithe 10% to the church. We say this just in case God might be listening in to our fantasy, we want Him to know that He gets the first cut. Now you have $900,000. Well, I’d pay off the mortgage. That’d be $200,000. Then I’d by a responsible car… a big Hummer or cherry red Corvette, something like that right? Am I far off yet? Then we’d give a little money to each of our family members, something substantial like $1,000 each. WOW – after all that I’ve still got $600,000! Oh, wait… forgot that one relative that wants more than just $1,000. Uncle Sam takes his share and now we have $150,000 left. Well, we’d better invest that in a sure thing, something like ENRON or the Las Vegas housing market.

These fantasies give us the false perception that money can solve all of our problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. However, financial restraint and planning can solve many problems in life and lead to a more peaceful life. Here are 4 financial tips that I have learned over the years:

Stay Out of Debt
Proverbs 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The Bible says that a man is debt is a slave. Many Americans will get up tomorrow morning and go to work for Visa and Mastercard. They do what they do everyday because they have a master looking over their shoulder waiting for the minimum payment. I beg you, if you have trouble in this area, cut up your credit cards. Before you do this there are 2 things you must buy. Go to Walmart and buy 3 months worth of Ramen Noodles (it’ll cost about $1.57), and pick up a copy of Dave Ramsey’s book Financial Peace. Over the next three months eat your Ramen and read your book. It will help you.

Act Your Wage
If you only make $30,000 per year then live off of $30,000 per year. Stop living like you make $50,000. This is why our economy is so messed up right now. Dear friend, there is too much stress in life for you to allow money to be another issue.

Learn to be Content
Proverbs 27:20 The eyes of man are never satisfied.
While Heather’s father was in town a few weeks ago we watched several episodes of a TV show called Hoarders. Have you seen it? If you have not count yourself as blessed. It is both incredibly disgusting and horribly sad. Each episode chronicles the life of a person with a disorder that leads them to obsessively collect… everything. They hoard newspapers, magazines, dolls, live animals, dead animals, antiques and a bunch of other trash. The Bible says that the eyes of man are never satisfied. That means we tend to be materialistic. If we see it, we want it. We walk through the mall and decide we need something we did not go there to get. We watch television and see a commercial advertising something that we desperately need that we were unaware of that morning. I’m not sure what Apple’s next product is but I already know that I desperately need it and want it RIGHT NOW!

Increase Your Income
It is sad that many have believed the lie that you cannot get ahead in America anymore. These dear souls are already defeated by their own cynicism. The game is rigged! The Rich get richer and the little guy will die poor! Don’t believe these lies. You can get ahead! You just need to believe, not be lazy and educate yourself! Read Quitter by Jon Acuff, The Go-Getter by Peter Kyne, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. According to the Bible, many times poverty comes as a result of laziness.

Proverbs 24:30-34 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

What are your thoughts? Have you learned other ways to get ahead financially? Do you disagree in anyway? I would love for you to comment below: