World Christian Leadership And Training Ministry

Financial Stewardship

"Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes." - (Luke 12:42-43 NKJ) You cannot earn your way out of debt. You must give your way out of debt!

Walking in God's prosperity demands that all of us become good stewards of His resources. Many Christians earn large incomes, six figure incomes or greater, but not all are good stewards of that income. I am always amazed at how far in debt they have gotten and that they don't see any reason to change their spending habits. Even if they get a raise or their business grows, they will only increase their debt. It takes a concerted effort to change the beliefs we have about money and money stewardship. However, unless we change, then debt will one day take over and financial disaster will quickly follow.

There are a few things every Christian needs to know to help guard against financial failures. The Word of God says in 3 John 2, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. Our souls must be right with God first and foremost. Our souls prosper through reading the Word of God, through fasting and prayer, and through obedience to God's commands. Once we get this first part in place, then the Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom we need to apply the rest.

Recognize the Divisions of Income:

The First Part Belongs to God:
The first part is returned to God as a tithe (10%) in recognition that He owns all that we have. We are only stewards and temporary possessors of God's material things.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, how have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." - (Malachi 3:8)

The Government Wants Its Share:
"Then He said to them, then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." - (Matthew 22:21)

The Goal: LIVING WITHIN YOUR MEANS or BUDGET YOUR INCOME

It means to spend no more than we make on a monthly basis. Ideally that means to live on a cash basis and not to use credit or borrowed money to provide normal living expenses. It also means having the self-discipline to control spending and keep NEEDS, WANTS, and DESIRES in their proper Relationships.

*Needs: These are the purchases necessary to provide your basic requirements such as food, clothing, home, medical coverage and others.

*Wants: Wants involve choices about the quality of goods to be used. Dress clothes vs. work clothes, steak vs. hamburger, a new car vs. used car, etc.; gives a point of reference for determining wants in a Christian life.

*Desires: These are choices according to God's plan that can be made only out of surplus funds after all other obligations have been met.

The Principles of applying God's wisdom:

• Avoid speculation

• Keep your finances current

• Do not go into debt to do God's work

• Give rather than lend to the needs of others

• Avoid co-signing for anyone (that means everyone)

• Never make financial decisions under pressure or in a hurry

• If you do not have peace about it, then do not buy it

The Danger Point:
It is dangerous when income barely equals outgo. Break even is not a living point but a decision point. If all the income is consumed in monthly expenses and something unusual happens, such as the family automobile breaks down, then additional indebtedness occurs. A decision is necessary at this point to: MAKE MORE MONEY OR SPEND LESS .

Reality of God and money:
The only reason we are alive after we get saved is to tell someone about Jesus. We do this through preaching, teaching, walking as a Christian at home and on the job. It costs $$$ to spread the Gospel.

There is no shortage of money in the world. Why doesn't the Body of Christ have it? "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6. Proverbs 13:22, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." We are the righteousness of Christ, so where is the wealth? It is already here, but in the wrong hands. God will not transfer the wealth until we are well ready to receive it both individually and corporately in the Body of Christ.

You are a child of the Most High God. You are a prince/princess of royal blood, the blood of Jesus. Pursue God's course because "it is God , who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant …" (Deut 8:18).

- Write down how much you want God to give to you.

- What will you do with it

- How many souls will be saved with it

- What do you know about wealth

In other words, what is your Vision for people? If it is just for you, then you are no earthly good to God. It is time for you to clock out and move on to Paradise . God will assign someone else to get the job done.

Wealth : an abundance of valuable material possessions or resources; affluence; an abundant supply; profusion; all property that has a money value or an exchangeable value; all material objects that have economic utility; the stock of useful goods having economic value in existence at any one time.

How much money do you think is in saving and checking accounts in America ?
- $6,000,000,000,000.00 six trillion dollars

How much money is all the real estate is worth in America?
- $12,000,000,000,000.00 twelve trillion dollars

Solomon was worth over $500,000,000,000.00 in his day and that is probably more than the $10,000,000,000,000.00 in those assets today.

Do you think God wants you wealthy or having just enough? If wealthy, then believe!

Buy and read books and materials on wealth and prosperity. Attend seminars and workshops on wealth and prosperity every opportunity you get. Invest in yourself, so that God can invest in you.

Now be prepared to leave the Land of Not Enough and enter the Land of Even (for a season) and finally live in the Land of More Than Enough forever.

[Maximized Manhood, by Dr. Edwin Louis Cole; Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill; and Think and Grow Rich a Black Choice, by Dennis Kimbro; and Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki (get his Cash Flow Game and play often); and books by Mike Murdock, Creflo Dollar, Leroy Thompson, Kenneth Copeland, Frederick K.C. Price and numerous others, these are just a few of my favorite books and authors on Self-Worth and Prosperity that will help you better understand who you are as a person, so that you can better understand who you are in Christ Jesus]

Praise the Lord!