Towards the latter part of 2015, I publishedpart 1 of this post of 10 Biblical Basics for Financial Freedom, Abundance and Peace. Yes, I am agreeing with you that part 2 is long overdue.
So without further ado, let’s recap the main points for financial freedom, abundance and peace that you can expect to receive once you abide by these principles.
- Set your priorities in order as it’s important to your spiritual life – see that your spiritual house [spiritual life] is in order first, get to know God and have a personal relationship with Him before focusing on finances. Don’t put your trust in earthly wealth.
- Love God more than you love money– never allow money to become your god to worship it instead of giving worship to the true living God
- God is the source of everything and all that you have is His – never get caught up with the novelties and the get-rich-quick schemes in life. Trust God as the source of everything to provide for you all that you need.
- Exercise self-control and live within boundary – the principle thing is to set a budget, do not spend all or more than you earn and save a little for the future.
- More blessed to give than to receive – don’t give grudgingly or sparingly. Give out of the abundance of your heart and whatever measure you use to give, it will be given back to you .
“Adhering to biblical principles for financial freedom does not mean that you have to live a substandard or mediocre lifestyle. It simple means accepting God’s provisions to live the standard of life that He has established for you.” – [Yvonne I. Wilson]
Biblical Principles for Financial Freedom cont’d
Principle 6: Exercising contentment with what you have works to your advantage
Hebrews 13:5 AMP says, “Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed, be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circ*mstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake you or let you down or relax my hold on you [assuredly not]”
Here is the confidence we have that whatsoever financial state we find ourselves in, God will never leave us nor abandon us. Instead He promise to make a way for us and will continue to provide for us and see that all our needs are met.
It will work to our advantage that we not be envious of the prosperity of anyone else. The thing is, we do not know what they had to do to get all their wealth and earthly possessions.
“Do not covet your neighbor’s house…or anything else your neighbor owns.” [Exodus 20:17] But remember, while the evil man may accumulate wealth, it is being stored up for the righteous. [Proverbs 13:22] In due season, God will favor you and cause the sinner’s wealth to come into your hands.
Principle 7: Avoid the get rich quick schemes and gambling
“Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.” [Proverbs 13:11 TLB]
Recently in the USA, January 2016 powerball mania reached a fever pitch high with the largest ever jackpot in he history of the United States. As the number increased each day, many purchased tickets with their heart and their hope set on winning.
In the end at the time of the draw on January 13th 2016, it was announced that three (3) winning tickets were sold in California, Florida and Tennessee.
Suddenly, there were three overnight millionaires to split among themselves a whopping $1, 586, 400,000. That figure is said to have blown the previous record of $656 million out of the water.
My question is though, how many millionaires who came about by money through the lottery are still millionaires today?
In an article on Time.com Don McNay, 56, a Financial Consultant to lottery winners and the author of Life Lessons from the Lotterysaid, “So many of them wind up unhappy or wind up broke. People have had terrible things happen…. It’s the curse of the lottery because it made their lives worse instead of improving them.”
Also in the Time report, the National Endowment for Financial Education, was cited for reporting that “about 70% of people who suddenly receive a windfall of cash will lose it within a few years.”
The Bible says, the man who wants to get rich quickly will fail. [Proverbs 28:20] An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning, will not be blessed in the end [Proverbs 20:21] and whoever tries to get rich hastily will end up in poverty. [Proverbs 28:22]
It is far better to plod steadily, work hard, and gather your riches gradually by honest labor so that in the end your riches increase.
Principle 8: Deaccumulate and live a life of simplicity
It amazes me to this day how much we can store up around our house – in cupboards, attics, basem*nt and even underneath our beds. The more things that we store up [for later], the more space that we would need.
Some of the things that we have stored up unto ourselves, trust me they are things that we would never use again. But think about how much cash we have tied up in just those things alone. It is a lot!
Think about the cost of every square inch/foot that is being used to store things – what value is that adding?
Eventually, the things we have stored up loose much of their monetary value and essentially, we defeat the purpose of storing them in the first place.
“Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” [Matthew 6:19-20]
Today my life is so different. It is much simpler than it has ever been. That’s because in October 2015, I made a decision to downsize and to give up a 2-bedroom, 1 bath, large size apartment that I had lived in since December 2002.
Before I moved into my new place – a studio apartment, of course I had to do the packing. I was in shock as to how much ‘junk’ I had stored up over the many years. I decided the things were of no value to me, they were useless and that I was not moving with them. That cost me as I dumped boxes upon boxes and bags full of garbage.I had stored up ‘treasures’ that accumulated moth, rust and yes, some dust.
Not anymore though. My new space do not have room for that and thankfully, I have been delivered from hoarding things and from accumulating stuff that was costly in the end.
Always remember that real life, real living and happiness are not related to how rich we are or how much material things we have accumulated.
Principle 9:Agree in prayer about your finances, never argue about it
There was a time that marital infidelity was the number one reason for couples to fight [argue], break up and even end up in divorce but things have changed and we are now seeing that the mismanagement of finances is among the top reasons couples are now breaking up and divorcing themselves from each other.
It did not come as a surprise then to find in an article written by Lisa L. Payne on Your Tango that marital infidelity did not make it on the list of the top 10 reasons marriages end in divorce. According to her, “It is not usually the lack of finances that causes the divorce, but the lack of compatibility in the financial arena.”
Other experts believe that couples generally handle finances differently in that while some are willing to have conversations about it, others hide it and they both share different value attitudes towards money.
The bible says, “Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present than a fattened ox served with hatred.” [Proverbs 15:16-17 AMP]
It is just plain out foolish for anyone to spend time arguing and fighting about money. Instead, take the situation to God in prayer and ask Him to give guidance, direction, strategies and solutions about your finances. Agree in prayer concerning every promise that He has made about the wealth of His people.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the name of the Lord will be saved.” [Romans 10:13] Also, “…you shall remember [with profound respect] the Lord your God, for it is he giving you power to make wealth…” [Deuteronomy 8:18 AMP]
Principle 10: Never give in to fear or hard times but have faith in God to provide
Whatever season of your life that you find yourself in right now, do not give in to fear [of more loss] or the hard times but instead, have faith in God and trust Him to provide each day. God is not slack concerning His promises to us.
“The Lord cares [for the godly] even when times are hard; even in famine, they will have enough.” [Psalm 37:18-19]
Be encouraged by His word that He cares even when times are hard or there is famine. Even then the promise of the Lord is that you will have abundance and most of all, you will have peace of mind.
The eyes of the Lord are fixed on those who fear Him and those who put their hope and confidence in God’s unfailing love, can be assured that He will deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. ref.[Psalm 33:18-19]
So much more can be said about this but the important things to remember and to take away with you are – victory comes by surrendering yourself to experiencing God’s creative care and His unconditional love, His promise to provide and supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus and that He will keep you in perfect peace so long as you keep your mind stayed upon Him.
Your turn..let’s talk it over
- Have you been following any of the principles that was shared in part 1?
- If yes, have you seen any improvement in your finances as a result of following the strategies shared?
- If no, what kept you from implementing them?
- What about today’s post, was it helpful to you?
- Do you believe these principles can be adopted into your personal life?
We would love to hear from you in the comment box below oryou may write to empowermentmoments@gmail (dot) com and let us know your thoughts.
