Finance For Believers
What the Bible says about finances
A lot of you will be surprised to know that the Bible talked more about money than it
does about Hell. Part of what you will learn from the Biblical perspective on
finance is to use money to buy the most important asset in life-Relationship.
If you use money well, you can build great partnerships. The parable of the talent,
the parable of the unjust steward etc., are all lessons on financial management.
Like I said earlier, the bible talks a lot about money.
One of the principles of interpreting the Bible is to check the what the Epistles have
to say about a subject matter. For example: the book of John is not an epistle
to the Church; it is a life account of Jesus (fulfillment of what the Bible calls ‘the Promise’)
The book of John was written so that people can believe but the book of 1John was
written to those WHO HAVE BELIEVED. As a believer, therefore, you will never
see where there is a commandment to give your first fruit in the epistles, or,
give all your earnings as offering with nothing left for you.
Now is it bad to give? No!
Should you give? Yes!
So, if a man feels like giving his first month salary, is it fine? Yes, it is!
It is good to give, but we cannot make this a doctrine, because the epistles never
demanded that from the believers
So, how realistic is financial management for low-income earners?
The very idea behind financial management is to learn how to MANAGE and DIRECT
money. No matter what you earn, you can begin to look at the three principles
shared. What can you invest in that will bring more money for you?
Usually, the issue is not how low your income is, it is how you direct your money. I
used to earn thirteen thousand naira (N13, 000) when I came to Jos, and I was
living at Bukuru, and I worked somewhere around Lamingo, Jos. As a Christian, N1300 is gone for my tithe. I would then buy food items for about five thousand naira (N5000), after which I sent three thousand naira (N3, 000) to my parents and
saved the rest. What I have noticed in life is that from time to time, God and
life will bring some window of opportunities that will match your little
savings with a need
Some months I didn’t send to my parents. I kept the money, then someone can just
tell me there is a laptop for fifteen thousand naira (N15, 000) because the
person is in dire need, and right there I would be able pay for it because I
had savings. The principle is doing what the book of proverbs says: “Put a
knife on your throat.”
So, how do you place your needs versus your goal in putting a knife on your throat?
I use the Pareto principle: ‘What is needed and important versus what I want and not
important’. Don’t buy what you don’t need. When you know what you are pursuing in life, spend money in that direction. That’s an investment avenue for you to secure tomorrow. How do you spot good investments and the formula for testing durability?
Begin with reading books on investment and savings. Depending on the area you want to invest your money into, CONSULT widely with the experts in that field. Generally, real estate – lands – are good, but you need to know about the location to buy rightly. So again, you need to consult widely before you buy.
Actually, with regards to investing or re-investing your earnings, as the case may be, it is not wise to put all your money into an investment; you need to have what we
call ‘Cash back up’. Operation cost, overhead cost, Utilities – all must be
covered within your cash back up.
My advice will be to keep a part of your profit aside as working capital and cash
backup; also, be careful not to take from the profits of your young business to
invest elsewhere. However, make sure in all your investing, you are reading to
acquire knowledge; and in all your getting, get understanding.
Your View on Finances as a Believer with Respect to Giving in Church
Begin with reading books on investment and savings. Depending on the area you want to invest your money into, CONSULT widely with the experts in that field. Generally, real estate – lands – are good, but you need to know about the location to buy rightly. So again, you need to consult widely before you buy.
Actually, with regards to investing or re-investing your earnings, as the case may be, it is not wise to put all your money into an investment; you need to have what we call ‘Cash back up’. Operation cost, overhead cost, Utilities – all must be covered within your cash back up
My advice will be to keep a part of your profit aside as working capital and cash backup; also, be careful not to take from the profits of your young business to invest elsewhere. However, make sure in all your investing, you are reading to acquire knowledge; and in all your getting, get understanding.
Books You Recommend
Smart Money Woman by Arese;
Also, look for books by Tade Cash