Three Habits Of The Financially Fit Series

Leon and Angie were friends of my wife and me from our time in Borger, TX. Angie writes, “In 2000, we had 3 children graduate from college: one from undergraduate, one from law school, and one from graduate school. Free from nine years of triple tuition at private universities, I thought we were rich! For the next seven years, I spent all the money that had been going to college. My husband had wanted us to live on a budget for thirty years, but I kept asking, ‘What does that mean?’”

Then in 2007, Leon fell and broke his shoulder and the couple had $20,000 in medical expenses with no insurance. All of sudden, this empty-nester couple got serious about a spending plan. Let’s circle back to Leon & Angie in a few moments.

Today, we conclude a four-week series entitled Financially Fit. The Book of Proverbs is Principles from heaven for life on earth. Today, I want to assist you in building a personal plan for your financial decisions. A week ago, we witnessed two attitudes of the financially fit. Today, I want to build on last week by causing us to see three habits of the financially fit. And I want to equip you with the tools you’ll need to achieve financial peace.

1. The Financially Fit Work Hard

“The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame” (Proverbs 10:3-5). Take note: poverty is not shameful but instead, but laziness is shameful. In verse five, the lazy son is one who sleeps when he should be working – and his laziness is an embarrassment to his parents. This type of person is lazy, careless, and negligent. When the time comes to work hard, he or she is nowhere to be found. It’s the picture of a person who constantly hits the snooze button. God holds that laziness, carelessness, and negligence is wicked. And when you become wealthy by your hard work, this can be a good thing.

Work is consistently seen as a positive thing to be embraced even in the perfect Garden of Eden. Work gives dignity to life and a sense of accomplishment. Yet, money is an idol for many of us. And an idol is a good thing that we make into an ultimate thing. Profits are vital to creating new products to serve customers, giving an adequate return to investors for the use of their money, and paying employees well for their work. Your salary is an appropriate reward for your contribution and is necessary to provide for oneself and one’s family. But it is not your identity, your salvation, or even your source of security and comfort. In fact, the Bible teaches that God is our creator but He also continually cares for His creation (Colossians 1:16). We mirror our Creator in our work. Hard work is not overwork. It is not working 60, 70, 80 hours a week. That is called unhealthy and unbalanced. Bosses should not ask this of their workers. Workers should not devote themselves to this schedule.

2. The Financially Fit Save

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:6-11).

God’s Word points us to the tiniest of creatures, the ant. It’s the ant that looks ahead toward winter when it is summer. He works hard during the harvest to a time when there is no harvest. The ant plans and tacks actions for the future. The ant is your model because of his self-discipline and for his ability to think ahead. The purpose of saving is to set money aside for the future.

YOU NEED A PLAN. Here’s a good place to begin – a $1,000 Emergency Saving Fund.

Traci and I had so many large car repairs when our kids were firstborn. A good start is to put back $1,000 for emergencies. For some, this will next you ten months of saving $100 each month. But you do not need to stop there. Consider putting back even more as a rainy day fund. Make yourself a challenge of placing back three to six months of your monthly salary.

Saving requires discipline. And if you are single, you are likely to have no one to assist you in evaluating whether you should spend your money when you are justifying the shoe purchase. Find someone who is older and wiser in your church family and ask them to help make a plan with you.