Category: Stewardship

8 Steps to Help You Survive Times of Financial Challenges

Sometimes we find ourselves in challenging financial situations, despite our best efforts to budget and manage our money. For my family, one of these times came in 2009 when my husband was laid off from his job. As the primary wage earner, his salary accounted for 70% of our income. Little did we know, it would be nearly three years before he returned to work. 

You may be in a similar situation. Amazon announced this week that they would be laying off 9,000 workers in addition to the 18,000 layoffs that were announced in January. Yahoo plans to lay off 20% of its staff by the end of 2023, and Zoom has recently laid off 1,300 workers. Even if you are in no danger of losing your job, your budget and finances may have been negatively impacted by the steep increase in interest rates or rising prices for food and gasoline.

When my husband called me at work to say he was packing up his office belongings, I did not panic. I was filled with an amazing amount of peace. My faith has never been in the government or the economy; it is in God, and God takes care of His people. I am comforted by the words Jesus spoke to His disciples in Luke 12:27-28. Jesus told His followers, “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!”

If you find yourself negatively impacted by rising costs and your peace shaken, the first step is to put your faith in God. If you have been tithing and managing your money in ways that honor God, He will bless you during this challenge. However, He also expects you to use wisdom to evaluate your expenses and make cuts where possible. Godly principles apply to all areas of our lives, including becoming financially sound during unstable times. 

Here are some of the steps we took that helped us survive without my husband’s salary:

  1. Examine your expenses. Be ruthless in cutting all unnecessary costs. Our first cut was the daily newspaper. Our second was trash pickup service. There is a convenience center near our home, and my husband could drop off our trash. We did not cut out cable and Internet, but we reduced our cable package to save money.
  2. Apply for unemployment. You have been paying into this fund for many years for just such a circumstance. You will likely receive 25% or less of your previous salary, but you will appreciate having it.
  3. Update your resume and start your job search. Let your family and friends know that you are job hunting. They may know someone who knows someone who has a job for you.
  4. Commit to cooking at home and not eating out. Home-cooked meals are healthier and less costly than eating out. Make a list of low-cost meals you like. We “dusted” off the dozen or so meals we fixed regularly as poor graduate students when we were first married. In college, we saved money on food by eating meatless meals occasionally for a week, and we did that again during this period.
  5. Freeze all discretionary spending. Do not spend your new-found free time shopping on the Internet. Only buy what is absolutely necessary, and then shop for the best deal.
  6. Make a list of all the ways you can have fun without spending any money. Invite friends over and pull out the board games and puzzles for hours of free leisure time. Visit free venues like public parks, museums, and community events. Re-engage in activities you have been too busy to enjoy, such as biking, fishing, and hiking. 
  7. Finish projects you started. You may have home repairs that you never got around to doing or unfinished crafts/sewing/needlepoint projects that could be completed and given as gifts.  
  8. Sell unneeded items. While you are unemployed, clean out your closets and basement and have a yard sale. You may have higher ticket items, such as furniture, that you no longer need that you can sell to generate some extra cash.

These are just a few tips to help you survive financial challenges. I would also urge you to (1) continue tithing on any income you receive during this period and (2) record God’s faithfulness to provide for you in unexpected ways during this time.

To learn more about how to honor God with your money and build treasure in Heaven, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

Biblical Guidelines for Helping Others

In Matthew 25, Jesus spoke to His followers about how important it is to show compassion and help those in need. He specified that we should help those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, imprisoned, in need of clothing, and foreigners. Jesus spoke of rewards for those who showed compassion by providing food, water, clothes, care, shelter, and companionship. However, nowhere did Jesus say we should simply hand out money to the poor and needy.

5 young people helping others by providing food, clothes, medicine, and love

There are many people today who are advocating giving monetary payments to people who are low-income earners, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Just this week, some politicians in Oregon proposed a $1,000 per month to such individuals. While it is hoped that this money will be used for food and shelter, there are no restrictions on how it can be spent. While this plan is well-intentioned, it is riddled with flaws, because it does not follow Biblical guidelines for helping those in need.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible encourages generosity toward those who are genuinely in need. At the same time, it discourages helping those who are able to work and provide for themselves but choose to be idle.

First and foremost, we are instructed to help members of our families who are in need, particularly the widows. We can read in 1 Timothy 5:3-4, “Give proper recognition to those widows who are in need. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents, for this is good and acceptable before God.” If the widow has no family and if she is older and unable to provide for herself, then the church is instructed to step in.

But, what does the Bible say about helping other people?

  1. We should meet their immediate needs with food, water, clothing, shelter, and companionship, as Jesus instructed. 1 John 3:17 warns us against seeing a brother in need and not helping meet that need. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
  2. We are commanded to provide opportunities for the poor and foreigners to work and provide for themselves and their family members. In Leviticus 19:9-10, the Lord commands the Israelites, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.” Notice, however, that the poor and needy were not given handouts. They were given access to the fields and vineyards, where food was available. But they had to do the harvesting themselves. They were able to eat because they did the work.
  3. In the book of Ruth, we see this principle in action. Ruth, a young widow provides for her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, by going out to the fields and gleaning wheat. When Boaz, the field owner and a near relative of Naomi, saw her working, he told his men to leave more wheat for her to glean. He did not give her money or even provisions, but he made it easier for Ruth to provide for herself and Naomi. He also provided her with sustenance while she was in the fields working.
  4. In the fourth chapter of 2 Kings, we read a story about a poor widow whose two sons were going to be sold to pay her debts. God provided assistance through Elisha. Elisha did not pay the woman’s debts; instead, he instructed her to collect jars from her neighbors. Then he instructed her to pour the small amount of oil she had into the jars. The oil filled every jar. The woman could sell the oil to pay her debts and redeem her sons. God provided a miracle in that the oil did not run out until she had enough to sell. However, she had to make the effort to collect jars, pour the oil, and sell the oil.
  5. We are instructed to not help those who are lazy and refuse to work. In fact, God promises that such people will be poor. “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” Proverbs 28:19

God blessed Ruth and Boaz for their obedience, Ruth for working, and Boaz for leaving gleanings for the poor. They married and raised a family. Among their descendants were King David and Jesus Christ, our Savior. God also blessed the widow who obeyed and followed with the work Elisha told her to do.

Providing the poor and needy with opportunities to work and be productive is God’s plan for taking care of them. Those who cannot work do need to be cared for, but most people are able to do some type of work. Work produces self-esteem and confidence, as well as independence and financial freedom.

Perhaps those legislators in Oregon should take a second look at their plan. How can they assist homeless people in getting job skills that will allow them to escape perpetual poverty and homeless? Giving them unrestricted money will help some for the moment, but it is not a lasting solution.

When you are given the opportunity to help someone in need, pray and seek God’s solution. God will always make a way.

If you grapple with how to help others and whether to give to charitable causes, my blogs on generosity can provide you with godly guidance.

To learn more about how to honor God with your money and build treasure in Heaven, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

Methods for Tracking Spending

Have you overdrawn your bank account recently?  Are you running up balances on your credit cards because you don’t have enough money to cover your monthly expenses? Do you find yourself wondering where all your money went? Do you want to save money for a memorable trip, yet find your savings balance decreasing rather than increasing?    If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to create a budget and set financial goals.

Creating and sticking to a budget will allow you to stay out of debt and achieve your financial goals.  However, you need to know where your money is going before you can create a budget that will work for you. Start by tracking your spending for a few months.

Cell phone with spending app open

In times past, most people tracked their spending using a notepad and pen. I recently found a spiral notebook that my grandmother used to record her spending in 1956. She used a separate page for each month. She listed her take home income at the top of the page and carefully noted each expense. As a single woman, she brought home about $275 each month, so it was imperative that she managed her money well. This method still works well if you faithfully write down all your expenditures.

I am a big fan of spreadsheets. When my husband and I started our own home twenty-five years later, I used a pen and paper method, too. But, a few years later, when Lotus 1-2-3 (precursor of Excel) was introduced, I graduated to using a spreadsheet to track income. Today, I use Quicken to track and balance my bank accounts, and I use a spreadsheet to develop our budget. I balance my checkbook every week or two to be aware of my spending and how much money is in my accounts.

Other people use different methods. I have friends who use the envelope system. On each pay day, they cash their checks, put their budgeted savings into their savings account, and allocate the rest toward expenses. The money for each expense category goes went into a separate envelope. They pay cash for all expenses, and when the envelope is out of cash, they spend no more on that category for the remainder of the money.

Today there are many apps to help you track your spending. Some can be connected to your bank accounts and credit cards. Some apps simply track your spending, while others allow you to input spending parameters and are indeed budgeting tools. Apps benefit those who do not balance their checking accounts regularly. According to StatisticBrain.com, 79% of people rarely or never balance their checking accounts.

Some of the most popular spending apps currently are:

  1. Mint. This free app can sync to your bank accounts and credit cards. It allows you to set goals, track investments, and be reminded of when to pay bills. It will also alert you when you have exceeded your spending goals.
  2. YNAB (You Need a Budget)–This zero-based budgeting system lets users allocate all income into spending categories, debt reduction, and savings. It also lets users set goals. The downside is that after the free 34-day trial ends, you must enroll and pay a monthly or annual fee.
  3. Goodbudget. This system mimics the envelope method. The user assigns an amount to each “envelope.” This method does not connect to bank accounts or credit cards, so the amounts must be entered manually. This is a good version for those who do not want all of their accounts connected. There is a free version, but if you want to track more than a few categories, you may need to pay a fee.
  4. Every Dollar. This method is similar to my method of recording expenses in Quicken and using a spreadsheet to track totals. Like Goodbudget, it does not connect to bank accounts or credit cards. All expenses must be entered manually. It does allow the user to set reminders to pay a bill.

There are many other apps available that you might want to consider. Choose a method based on compatibility with your style and personality. Mint or YNAB might be a good choice if you want to connect all your accounts without entering expenditures manually. On the other hand, these systems may not be suitable for you if you worry about identity theft and the risks of having things too automatic. So, set aside a few hours to evaluate the options available and decide to start using one of them to track your expenditures.

If you need help to learn to manage your money and improve your credit, please check out some of my other blogs on Finances, Money Management, and Stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

For more money management tips, subscribe to my quarterly newsletter: newsletter signup

Four Reasons to Check Your Credit Report

Most people have easy access to their credit scores.  Mine is available on my credit card statements each month and from my banks.  People are less likely to look at their credit report, especially if their credit score is good or excellent.  However, it is a good idea to review your report occasionally.  Here’s why.

  • Check for identity theft.  If someone has gotten access to your personal information, they may have applied for a loan or credit card in your name.  You need to review your report periodically for any accounts that you are unaware of.  One of my credit card companies checks this for me and notifies me each month as to whether any new accounts have been open in my name.  You may want to check with your credit card company to see if that service is available to you.
  • Check for errors.  Credit card companies process more than a billion transactions each day. They are going to make some mistakes. The sooner you catch a mistake, the sooner it can be corrected and the less likely it will negatively impact your credit score.  Additionally, some lenders may fail to report closed accounts or debts that have been paid in full, so you will want to check for those type of errors, as well.
  • Learn why your credit score is not higher.  I spoke with a lady recently who told me her credit score was 580.  That is on the cusp between Poor and Fair.  She could not understand why it was so low, as she said she had no debt other than her home mortgage and a loan on one of her four family vehicles.  We pulled her Experian credit report, which told a very different story.  The woman had seven accounts that were flagged as Potentially Negative.  Each of them was small debt that she had not paid and did not realize that she owed.  It was immediately obvious why her score is so law.
  • Make a plan to improve your score.  The seven debts that the lady had not paid have all been sent to collections.  She needs to take care of each of these.  Her plan is to (1) contact each creditor to verify that the bill is correct, and (2) pay each debt that is truly owed.  In her case, one debt was for about $350 and the other 6 were approximately $100 each. She can pay off all seven bills for less than $1,000.  She should see a significant increase in her credit score in 30 – 45 days.

In the case of the lady I spoke with, her credit score was quite low due to unpaid debts totaling less than $1,000.  She can easily pay all of these bills, once she verifies they are accurate.  In other instances, however, someone may have no debts that have gone to collection, yet still have a low credit score.  This could be due to a pattern of paying bills late, opening too many new accounts in a short period of time, or having too much debt in relation to your maximum.  It is difficult to assess why your score is low and make a plan to improve it without reviewing your credit report.

Everyone is entitled to a free copy of their credit report once a year from each of the three major credit rating agencies.  Some financial experts recommend checking all three at the same time each year and comparing them, while other experts recommend spacing them out during the year.  The lady I worked with pulled her Experian report last week. She will take care of each of the debts and allow 45 days for her records to be updated. Then she will get one from either TransUnion or Equifax to verify that the debts have been removed, and later in the year she will get the third one to ensure that she is staying on track with all of her open account.

To access your free credit report, go to annualcreditreport.com

If you need help to learn to manage your money and improve your credit, please check out some of my other blogs on Finances, Money Management, and Stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

For more money management tips, subscribe to my quarterly newsletter: newsletter signup

How To Organize Your Tax Information

It’s February, and all of your W-2’s, 1099s, and other tax documents should have arrived in the mail. Now it’s time for you to get your tax information ready for your accountant. Be kind to your accountant, and do not give him or her an unorganized mess. 

Pile of unorganized receipts and tax documents

Take the time to go through the documents in the large manila envelope (or box or drawer) you stored them in.  If you are not itemizing deductions, your accountant only needs documents related to income you received and adjustments to income. Documents used to report income include W-2, 1099, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-NEC, and 1099-MISC.  You may have also received a 1098-T for student loan interest, which is an adjustment to income.

If you are not itemizing, these are likely the only documents your accountant needs.  Put your documents in order as they appear on form 1040 and paperclip together.  I recommend that you provide a summary list of all income and adjustments to income.  If you itemize, you should also include your deductible expenses on the list.  Do not give your accountant receipts for deductions; he only needs to know the categories and amounts.

Your deductible expenses might include:

  • Health related expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).  For example, if you AGI is $65,000 and you have medical expenses of $9.400, you can deduct $4,525 of medical expenses ($94,00 – ($65,000*.075)).
  • Property taxes
  • State income taxes paid
  • Fees paid to have your taxes prepared by a tax professional
  • Moving expenses, if you moved 50 or more miles for a job
  • Charitable donations—you need a receipt to claim deductions of more than $250 to a single charity.  Separate cash and non-cash donations. You may also deduct mileage on your personal vehicle while performing volunteer services.  Your accountant only needs to know the mileage associated with service for each charity.

My tax summary form looks like this:

These steps will make preparing your tax return easier for your accountant, which may translate into a lower tax preparation fee.

To learn more money management tips and how to honor God with your money, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

5 Changes To Instantly Save Money

Inflation has slowed to 7.1%. Still, Moody’s Analytics estimates that the average family spent $396 more per month this fall than they did in 2021 for the same goods and services. The Census Bureau calculated the median household income at the end of 2021 as $69,021. The average worker received a raise of 4.8% in 2022. For a family earning $69,021, the raise was $3,313 for the year, or $276 a month. That translates to a take-home increase of about $201. After paying $28 tithe on the extra salary, they have an extra $173 per month. That’s a nice sum, but it falls $223 short of the average increase in monthly costs.

If you are in this situation, now is the time to rework your budget and try to cut $223 from your normally re-occurring expenses. If you manage your money well and live below your means, you likely have some room in your budget. However, it is still important to examine your expenses and make cuts where you can.

Here is a plan to cut on spending without feeling deprived.

  1. Cut back on technology expenses. Most home today have an internet and cable television plan, in addition to a cell phone plan, and perhaps a landline telephone. The average household spends $116 on internet and cable and another $114 on cell phones, and many spend much more than that. This is a good time to research your options and see if you can find a more economical plan. Tom’s Guide offers an analysis of the best cell phone plans for 2023 to help you make a wise decision (https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-family-cell-phone-plan, and cabletv.com has analyzed the best home internet plans (https://www.cabletv.com/blog/best-cheap-internet-packages). Let’s assume for this example that you are able to reduce your technology expenses to $170 per month, saving $60.
  2. Reduce streaming services. Two-thirds of all American households subscribe to Netflix, sixty percent to Amazon Prime, and nearly half to Hulu and Disney+. The cost of these plans is about $42 per month, plus the costs of any movie rentals that are not covered by a plan. When you are researching cable television packages, try to find one that includes free movies that you enjoy. If you do so, you can cancel these subscriptions and save $42 per month. Even if you don’t find a plan with free movies, you can cancel two or three of these subscriptions and save up to $27 a month.
  3. Reduce food waste. RTS (Recycle Track System) estimates that the average household wastes $1,866 in food each year. That’s more than $155 per month. The biggest culprit is produce which goes bad. Meat and dairy products are also highly perishable. Reduce food waste by planning meals before you shop and making a point to use perishable food items in a timely manner. We will assume, that with some effort, you can reduce food waste by $80 per month.
  4. Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use. Estimates are that the average household could save $15 per month by unplugging the coffee pot and other kitchen appliances when not in use.
  5. Reduce money spent eating out. Fast food prices jumped about 15% in 2022. The average lunch out now cost more than $11 for one person, while a sit-down lunch will run closer to $20 with tip. If you cut out two fast-food lunches and one sit-down lunch per month, you will save $42 per month.

These five changes will save you enough money to make up for the loss of purchasing power from inflation. If you find that you need, or want, to reduce your spending more, coffee and beverages on the go are another source of potential savings. A large soda or a cup of regular coffee at a drive-up restaurant will cost you $2 or more, while a specialty beverage could cost you $4 – $6. If you buy one beverage each workday, you are spending between $44 and $132 per month. This amount could be significantly reduced by brewing coffee at home and buying other beverages at the grocery store.

God expects us to be faithful stewards of the financial resources He entrusts to us. Money allows us to meet the needs of our families and bless others. However, it can be a cause of great stress if it is not managed properly. Prayerfully ask God to help you budget and manage your money, and rely on Him to meet all your needs.

To learn more about how to honor God with your money and build treasure in Heaven, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management. Click here to sign up for my quarterly newsletter on managing your money: newsletter signup

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you may not understand what it means to rely on God to meet your needs. Please click on Basics of Salvation in the tool bar above to learn how you can accept the wonderful free gift of salvation.

Tips for Good Time Stewardship

Christmas is a few days away, and 2023 is just around the corner. As you consider changes you will endeavor to make in the new year, make a plan to be a better steward of your time. Managing your time well will relieve stress and provide you with more time for God, your family, yourself, and activities your really enjoy.

The tips below are designed to help you become a better steward time. They are modified from suggestions given by Emilie Barnes in her book, “Keep It Simple for Busy Women.” Emilie has gone on to her heavenly reward now, but her tips for organization and time management are still timely.

Tip 1: Avoid trying to do too much. Make a to-do list for each day. Prioritize the items on your to-do and do those that are truly necessary. Some things may not get done, and some may be postponed. Prioritizing will help to ensure that the important tasks are the ones which get done.

Person holding a note pad and pen, writing a to-do list.
Photo by Meruyert Gonullu on Pexels.com

Tip 2: Make a plan and stick to it. The plan should align with the priorities you set in above. And be prepared that plans often go awry. By having a plan, however, you will be able to get back on track. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

Tip 3: Do not put off the things that you must do. Some things simply must get done, and it is often the best plan of action is to tackle those things early in your day. It will give you a sense of accomplish and will remove that burden from your list.

Tip 4: Say “No.” You can not do everything you are asked to do. Prayerfully consider whether the task you are being asked to take on is something the Lord wants you to do. If it is not, then He has someone else prepared to do the task. When we try to do tasks that are not ours to do, we deny someone else the blessing of serving in that role.

Tip 5: Delegate. Delegation applies to work and to home. If you are a supervisor, you need to empower your employees to handle some tasks on their own. In your home, divide up tasks with your spouse, and begin training your children to be responsible for some age-appropriate tasks. Emilie is quick to point out that when you delegate, things may not get done exactly as you would like. Restrain from re-doing the tasks or criticizing. Learn to let go and compliment what got done well.

Start each day in God’s word and ask Him to direct your footsteps. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Open Bilbe on a breakfast table.
Photo by Vidal Balielo Jr. on Pexels.com

If you have never considered that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, you may not have experienced the joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior and having your sins forgiven. Please click on Basics of Salvation in the tool bar above to learn how you can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

For information about my novels and my Bible study, Honoring God with Your Money, see https://smile.amazon.com/stores/Susan-Elizabeth-Ball/author/B0047P60V2?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Accomplish More for God

Do you struggle to accomplish all that you need to do? Or hoped to do? Or feel God calling you to do? I certainly do at times. I often feel overwhelmed by the length of my to-do list.

Yet, in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1, Solomon tells us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” This tells me that there is time to do everything that God has called us to do. God commands us to take care of our families, to do our jobs well for our employers, and to serve Him as He empowers us. He describes this service as both ministering inside the church (1 Corinthians 12:27-31) and outside the church (Matthew 25:31-44).

Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

If your life feels demanding already, it can be daunting when you feel the call to serve your family, your church, or your community in a new way. It is important to pray and examine your heart to ensure that you have heard from God about this new role that you are considering. Once you are certain that this is a role God is calling you to fulfill, you need to prayerfully consider how to “find” the time to fulfill this obligation.

  1. Start your day with God’s Word. Reading God’s word each morning will get your day off to a great start. It will also help you to focus on God’s voice and be attuned to what He has for you to do today.
  2. Ask God to help you identify the time-wasters in your life. Are you spending too much time on social media? Playing solitaire or video games? Watching sports? Solving crosswords or sudoku puzzles? None of these activities are wrong or bad for you. But, they have a way of consuming more time than we realize. I love to solve all kinds of puzzles–jigsaw, word puzzles, brain teasers. They are fun and good exercise for the brain. However, I can easily spend one or two hours a day on these activities.
  3. Ask God to multiply your time. As God multiplied a few loaves and fishes to feed 5,000 people, He can multiple your time so that you accomplish more than you expected. God may answer by of allowing you to complete tasks more quickly than anticipated, having someone volunteer to do some tasks for you, or giving your favor as you drive so that you do not spend a lot of time stuck in traffic or hunting for a parking space.
  4. Examine the volunteer roles you hold now and pray about whether it is time to let one or more go. Last year, I stepped down from a leadership role I had held for many years. It was hard to step away, but I knew that it was time. God has put another person in that role who is doing exciting new things with that ministry. The ministry is growing, and I am excited to see how God blesses this ministry under her leadership.
  5. Develop good habits that help you stay focused and on track. These good habits include starting the day in God’s Word and prayer. They might also include (1) checking email only a few times a day at prescribed times, (2) making a list of tasks to be accomplished each day, (3) adding routine tasks to your schedule or work calendar as reminders, and (4) setting a time limit on how much time you spend in activities such as television, social media, and games.

Jesus told his disciples, ““The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2) If you area a child of God, you are a laborer that He is sending out to bring in the harvest. Don’t allow busyness to deter you from answering the Lord’s call.

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

If you have never considered that God loves you and created you for a purpose, you may not have experienced the joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior and having your sins forgiven. Please click on Basics of Salvation in the tool bar above to learn how you can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

Stewardship that honors God involves managing all of the resources He entrusts to us, including our time and our money. To learn more about stewardship of financial resources, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

Serving for God’s Glory

We live in a challenging time.  Concern about coronavirus and new health issues, such as monkeypox, is high.  Inflation is skyrocketing, social issues are dividing our country, violence and drug use at rampant, and people are concerned about their futures. Yet, in the midst of all the strife and chaos, it is possible to have peace in your hearts and live a life full of purpose.

Woman gripping her hands to her head, as she tries to deal with the stress of life.
Photo by Kat Smith on Pexels.com

My sense of peace and purpose come from my relationship with Jesus Christ. As I seek Him and turn to Him in my times of trouble, the Holy Spirit fills me with “the peace that passes understanding.” (Philippians 4:7)  I, in turn, have a responsibility to share the love of Jesus Christ with those around me.

Woman at peace on a beach at sunrise. She is lifting her hands, as if in praise for the new day.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Jesus calls His followers to be faithful stewards of that which he has entrusted to us.  Faithful stewardship demands that I view all that I have as belonging to God.  The resources that I have been given to me by God and are to be used according to His wishes. 

Knowing how God wants to me to use those resources requires that I read God’s Word and spend time in prayer. As I do, God will reveal to me His plans and purpose for my life.  We know from God’s Word that He intends for us to share our resources with those who are less fortunate than us.  So, we give to charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse.

Today, we need to do more than make donations and let someone else take care of the poor and needy. We each must earnestly seek God and His direction.

In the book of 1 Peter 4:7-11, we read about how we can be faithful stewards.  This passage is from The Message:

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!”

People preparing boxes of food and medicine to share with those in need.
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Give cheerfully and generously.  Speak God’s words.  Help in the way God directs you.

Be a faithful steward who calls attention to the Lord.  Point people to Jesus.

Only through the blood of Jesus Christ can the world find the peace we so loudly claim to desire.

And do all for the glory of God.

Money Won’t Buy You More Time

As I read Psalm 49 this week, it brought to mind the lyrics of Dust in the Wind, “Now don’t hang on. Nothing last forever but the earth and sky, It slips away and all your money won’t another minute buy.”

Psalm 49: 6 – 9 expresses a similar sentiment this way, “Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,  None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him— For the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.”

There is great truth in both the Psalm and the lyrics by Kansas. Money cannot buy us a longer life or a future in Heaven. Only faith in the blood of Jesus Christ can provide assurance of eternal life.

Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

Another stanza of Dust in the Wind goes like this, ” Same old song. Just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see.”

If you live seeking riches, power, and pleasure, then your works will be futile and meaningless, as expressed above by Kansas or in Psalm 49:10, “Life the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others.” The psalm continues, “For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.” (Psalm 49:16)

If you want your life to have meaning after you are gone, you need to live a life of selflessness and trust in God. Put your faith in Jesus Christ, serve your fellow man, give money to those who are less fortunate, and spend your money as God leads you. Then you will build eternal treasure in Heaven. No, you cannot take your wealth with you, but as Randy Alcorn says, you can send it on ahead of you.

Are you living a life that pleases God and will secure you a place in Heaven? If you are not, you should make it a priority to give your heart to Jesus. Not only will you have the promise of eternal life, you will have a more fulfilling life on earth. Please click on Basics of Salvation in the tool bar above to learn how you can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

To learn more about how to honor God with your money and build treasure in Heaven, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.