Managing Your Wealth

Introduction

Cash, credit, and awareness

a. I grew up in a family where cash was around. I got my allowance in coins, I saw cash in the house, and Mom and Dad saved for vacations with the envelope method. I never saw my parents use a credit card. So when I talk about managing your finances, I am not trying to push a return to a cash-only society. I am not anti credit card. I am not Dave Ramsey. I just want you to hear this from my background.

b. Credit cards are short-term loans. We all understand that. There is an expectation that in 30 days you pay back what you put on the card. If you do not, the credit card companies adjust the number with a fee. What we may not see is how credit can free us to spend more than we meant to spend, because we can always worry about it 30 days from now.

c. I paid cash for a small purchase not long ago, and the cashier was surprised. She had already rung it up as a card charge and had to void it to take cash. She was a young woman in her 20s, and in her world, everybody uses a card. That is just a different way of looking at things. Whether we use cash, credit, or a mix, we still need to know how to manage what we have.

Know the condition of your flocks

a. Proverbs 27:23 says, "Be sure you know the condition of your flocks." We are not agricultural people, but in those days the flock was your money. We would call that stewardship. You need to know your finances and where the money is going.

b. The writer goes on to say riches do not endure forever. If you do not know the condition of your money, or if credit is working against you, you can end up with nothing. Stewardship is awareness and maintenance.

Maintenance, provision, and new growth

a. The hay is removed. That is the maintenance part. You cut the hay, feed the animals, and make room for new growth. If you do not, there is not enough time for the field to replenish itself. That is why maintenance matters.

b. Maintenance is a part of life. HVAC filters get changed. Cars need filters replaced. If you spend a little time on maintenance, you may spend less time on repairs. Taking in the hay is maintenance. We not only need to know where money is spent, we need to take care of what we buy so that we are not always buying new.

c. I have a nephew with a property he is excited about, and my mind goes to the maintenance. Who is going to mow it? Maintenance is real. The text reminds us to prepare and be aware.

d. The grass from the hills appears and new growth comes. That is God. We manage what we have and we are thankful that God brings the growth. It is a reminder that provision is a gift.

Two practices to consider

a. Put a budget together. Most people say they have a budget, but only a quarter of us stick with it. A budget is not about perfect memory; it is about planning. I watched my mom use a calculator at the grocery store, and when we hit the number, we put items back. That taught me to think about money as limits and priorities.

b. I grew up with cash thinking, so budgets make sense to me. Once a budget is set, it does not take much time to maintain, and it gives you freedom because you know where the money is going.

c. Stay out of debt. Proverbs 22:7 says, "The borrower is servant to the lender." Credit card companies want you as a customer, and they treat you like family until you miss a payment. When you are in debt, freedom is lost. I have lived with credit card debt. I do not want to go back. There are many reasons people end up in debt, and some are outside our control. But when we can avoid it, we should.

d. Choosing a car is not wrong. Living in a house is not wrong. Taking a once-in-a-lifetime vacation is not wrong. But those choices cannot replace giving God the firstfruits. God comes first in the budget.

Invitation

a. Proverbs 27:23 reminds us to know where the money goes. Maintenance keeps what we have healthy. Staying out of debt means what we have can take care of our families. If you need help, I am willing to sit down and walk through a budget with you.

b. Our financial debt is small compared to our spiritual debt. We could not pay it, but Jesus did. If you want to respond to Jesus, be baptized, or ask for prayer, we are ready to walk with you.

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