Tuesday: Living Within Your Means
“There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it” (Prov. 21:20, NKJV). This text contrasts the stewardship of economic responsibility with luxurious and wasteful management.
Image © Krieg Barrie Goodsalt.com
Foolish people make no plans to live within their means. They greedily spend wealth at their disposal, even borrowed wealth, feeling that financial wisdom or frugal living is a hardship, like an unwanted diet. Yet even when we need to borrow money, such as for a house, we must do it with careful consideration and the realization that we need to live within our means.
The wealthy can live within their means out of their wealth. Their problem is that they always are worrying about their wealth and how to keep it. When people have very little and live from paycheck to paycheck, they worry about sustaining life, not wealth. Still, the Bible gives counsel on living within our means, regardless of how much we have. Paul recommends what we might consider extreme simplicity: “But if we have food and clothing [could include housing], we will be content with that” (1 Tim. 6:8, NIV). Paul doesn’t consider earthly possessions all that important because for him, living in Christ is enough (Phil. 1:21).
What principle must be remembered before anything else? Matt. 6:33. How can we be sure that this is how we are living our lives?
We should think of our means not as income but as resources that we have a responsibility to manage. A budget is the method we should use to accomplish this task. Planning a budget is a learned skill that needs to be studied thoughtfully. Disciplined practice and effort are needed to be successful in managing a balanced financial plan (Prov. 14:15). If we make the commitment to succeed in our financial stewardship plan, we will be able to avoid embarrassing financial mistakes.
If you are having a problem with money management, set up a budget. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as totaling all your expenditures for a few months and then averaging in your monthly expenses. The key is to live within your means, no matter what, and to do all that is possible to avoid debt.
| Read Luke 14:27-30. Jesus illustrates here the cost of discipleship by giving the example of a builder estimating the cost of building a tower and what happens if he can’t finish it. What lesson on stewardship should we take from here? |
(36)
My own experience has been that I failed every time I wanted to increase my small property. I cant increase because I do not plan my budget properly. Sometimes I fail to live according to budget. But Istill live contently. Even when I have nothing there comes something to support us till I get my pay.
I have read Luke 14: 27-30 . What relation is there between carring my cross and following Jesus and planning and stewardship ? Please assist.
Perhaps a story will help. I once fell into conversation with a person who intended to go to College to do the ministerial course. He was married with two children. I asked him if he knew the cost and he said that he did not know. So we sat down and worked though the total cost of the course together with his expenses for living and supporting his family for the duration of the course. He had no idea of the cost and simply felt that he had been called to the ministry. Eventually he decided that the cost was too much and he chose not to become a theology student. My understanding is that he is serving God in other ways now. My concern at the time was that with a young family to support he needed to work out what his priorities were. Some people would have told this potential student to go forward in faith and that the Lord would provide. But faith is not blind and where you are committing yourself to a heavy expenditure over a period of 4 years you need to use the best preparation you can find.
Not everyone will have the same story, and I am sure there are others who can tell a different story of faith and planning. But understand this; I have been in the education game for a long time and have seen the successes and failures. My advice to a potential married college student was based on observation over a number of years of students who had started courses without cost planning and who were unable to finish because of insufficient funds.
Daniel, to carry the cross means we must first accept to lift it up. What is this cross? Self-denial. Not of things from God, but in denying our naturally selfish heart the things it clamors for(with Satan as our constant and personal cheer-leader to folly) which the Word of God forbids. In other words, living by "every word that proceeds from God, i.e. "all scripture". The Word and Law of God is contrary to our sinful(carnal) nature, and we must be constant in denying the flesh of it's wrong desires, however subtle they might be in some "good" people(hasty words, flared tempers, envy...the list is long).
To follow Jesus is to "learn of [Him]" who is "meek and lowly of heart".
I believe faithful stewardship will be a natural product of such a life, for the life of self-denial allows the Holy Spirit to dwell within, and He is a faithful steward and will teach us "all things" and lead us into "all truth" as Jesus promised, which includes faithfulness in and with all that God has given us.
Jesus relates our decision to follow Him with the planning of a project. We are to know for certain what self-denial means, and not just pledge ourselves to follow without knowing it's real meaning. Many followed for the loaves and fishes, some followed for personal gain, position in the kingdom to come, etc. Most abandoned Jesus once realizing the cost, as in the rich young ruler, who had too much he didn't want to give up. Meek and lowly of heart is not for the selfish who desire to prosper well in this present world.
I needed to read and think a couple of times to understand, but I think it is saying that we need to plan wisely with all of the resources God gives us so that our goal (heaven), can be completed without earthly things weighing us down, getting in the way and ultimately resulting in us not finishing that goal. Of course, our own efforts don't get us to heaven, but we can certainly negatively affect the work of the Holy Spirit with the wrong focus and planning of our tangible and non-tangible resources.
Ahh..thank you Maurice, I can see how planning should be implemented into a christian stewards day to day life, but does one need to plan to before carrying ones cross and follow Jesus ? I'm in the dark here.
Daniel,the scripture you quoted, Luke 14: 27-30 is somewhat enigmatic and can be applied at several levels. One application that I see is that some people get carried away by a wave of emotion in their decision to follow Jesus and by the third day they have the "valley" experience. I am not trying to ignore the importance of emotion for some people but if we let the emotional experience crowd out the thoughtful reflective experience (ie planning) we sometimes find our spiritual life is somewhat directionless.
I have the opposite problem as an introverted, academic, fourth-generation Adventist. It is easy to follow the cultural furrow set before me, particularly as I chose to work for the church. I have had to make a conscious decision to renew my spiritual experience. That has been both challenging and rewarding. I read a comment the other day that challenged me.
On thinking about that statement I rejoice in having my spiritual ideas challenged and having the opportunity to reevaluate (planning) where I am going. Truth is not a goal; it is an experience.
Thank you brother Maurice.
Planning is critical in our finances , I have heard some church board member planning things beyond their budget allocations especially evangelism programmes and when reminded about budget constraints they often pull the faith card.How do we draw the balance between planning to live within our means and not limiting the power of God?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. There are times when God tells us to go ahead, and He will supply the means as we step out in faith. That's what He did with the Israelites when they were told to cross the Jordan. They had to put their feet in the water before the water receded. The little boy gave Jesus his lunch before his own needs were met.
It reminds me of the story of the Pastor who wanted to run an evangelistic program. He had promoted the idea and asked for donations to help but the members had been somewhat reluctant. One Sabbath he announced that he had good news and bad news. The good news was that the church had the money to run the program. The bad news was that it was still in the pockets of the church members.
Faith requires action and sometimes we need to see that the hand at the end of our arm is the way to activate that faith.
This is a good common sense topic. Whether you are rich or not. What we see in subliminal subjection of wall street and other activities in our society shows the opposite of common sense stewardship. Buy a composition notebook to use to help plan short and long range goals no matter what the goals are. Have a simple budget. And take care of your family and if you are single talk care of yourself.And in everything personally SEEK GOD.
Luke 14:27 - 30, I likewise is soliciting comments on the relationship between taking up our cross and following Christ and counting cost. Does that negate faith?
No Ken, it is to make sure it IS faith, and not presumption. The "cost" is to live as Jesus lived, wholly dependent upon God, and not one's self. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" is how one will be able to follow Jesus. Anything else is trying "build" without knowing the true cost, leading to ultimate failure.
I'd say that living faithfully regarding tithes and offerings is the best way to manage the income. When I assume this responsibility I spend wisely. It is a simple plan designed by the Creator of the Universe! But a minimum of discipline is important to develop.
It has really been a challenge for me on how well to spend money. This lesson has just come at the right time and I pray that God will help me be able to live within my means.
Sometimes Government employees in Africa are not paid enough to buy food,pay utility bills,and family medicare. The word budget sometimes means to cut those very basic necessities above, or else borrow employers time for aside income business.