Financial Principles For Success Series

Financial Principles for Success

Pastor Eric J. Hanson

Indebtedness is a form of slavery. (Proverbs 22:7)

Failing to pay, and to do so in a reasonable time frame, when we have bought a service or goods is theft. (Romans 13:8, Proverbs 3:27-8)

Money is not God and should not be served (and worshiped) (I Timothy 6:10)

Our culture today encourages spending-spending-spending, and borrowing-borrowing-borrowing!

Your Great Grandparents’ culture encouraged living within your means, as did ALL earlier generations in the USA.

“Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without.”

The Bible has huge amounts of instruction concerning money matters. These are not put there as mere suggestions. They are life principles. (Matthew 25:14-29: the Talents)

Talent: a standardized weight used for precious metals. A talent of silver was worth about $1950 in 1924 dollars, which is about $40,000 today. The man with five talents to use wisely had about $200,000 of his Lord’s money.

Everything, including us, is God’s property. Christians are “stewards” of God’s stuff.

The tithe is the starting point for partnership with God, but only a starting point… (Malachi 3:8-12, Luke 6:38)

Be an excellent worker: (Ephesians 6:5-8)

Be Wise in these matters:

• Plan ahead and be sure to have an emergency fund too.

• Don’t go into consumer debt.

• Be generous but not foolish.

• Partner up with God in tithes and offerings.

• Regard money as a tool, not a master.

• Make yourself valuable in matters of work (employment) by always learning and improving your skill set.

• Invest for the long haul too.

• Don’t buy foolishly (impulse buying for instance)