One of the unbreakable laws of the universe is the law of sowing and reaping, seed time and harvest (Gen. 8:22). It usually doesn't feel like it at the time, but when you give your money into the ground of good works, it will produce and come back to you multiplied many times over.
Here are five kinds of "money-seed" you should sow, expecting God to bring a harvest back to you:
- Sow the tithe into your local church. A tithe is one-tenth of what you earn, and we are commanded in Scripture to give into the "storehouse" or where we receive our primary spiritual food—our church (Mal. 3:10).
- Sow special offering or gifts into ministries that are reaching people and to other worthy causes that are truly impacting people (Phil. 4:15-19).
- Sow into the lives of those who are poor and unable to provide for themselves (Prov. 22:9). Keep your gift as private as possible so as not to humiliate the one who receives it.
In life, you are going to do a lot of spending. I believe it is important to be a good steward of the money God gives by being wise in the way we purchase things. It is completely "uncool" to waste our money on things that don't last or that are unhealthy or unproductive. Now for the things you must learn to buy right:
- Luxuries. This is the stuff you really don't "need," but would be cool to have. A couple of points to remember: don't make impulsive purchases; allow a cooling-off period before you pull the trigger; never put a luxury on credit (pay cash!); allow luxury purchases in proper proportion to your budget for the rest of your expenses.
- A vehicle. This is the big-ticket item. When starting out, don't buy a brand-new one. You'll lose a few thousand dollars the minute you drive it off the lot. Be careful as you search for a good used vehicle. Compare prices, get the vehicle checked by an independent mechanic, and make sure you can afford the payments if you finance it.
- Food. Stay away from a lot of junk. Learn to eat healthily!
- Clothes. Cheap clothes are tempting, but they often don't last or look very good. On the other hand, it's ridiculous to spend $100 on one pair of jeans! Spend a little extra to get something nice, but find that balance between too cheap and too expensive.
- A house. It's probably a little way down the road for you right now, but don't allow yourself to have a "renter's mentality." The quicker you can buy your own place, even if it's a "fixer upper," the better! Get wise counsel from those who have purchased several homes successfully.
by Blaine Bartel.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers