wisdom and finance

Simplicity • Generosity • Joy

• Being simple and not simplistic

• Reorienting on the right things

• Living as who God made us to be


• Ask different questions

• Why do I want it?

• Give it time


Main Idea

Biblical wisdom and basic money management principles are essential if we

are to achieve financial peace and accomplish God’s greater purposes for

our lives


Prayer


Biblical Foundation

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to want. Proverbs 21:5

Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool devours it. Proverbs 21:20


From Enough

We live in a time of excessive materialism. Many people today are on a treadmill of consumerism, and that treadmill just keeps going faster and faster. But the day will come when either we are going to break down or the treadmill is going to break down, because we cannot continue to go faster and faster in our passion to consume.


Individual Treadmills

Time (good and bad)


Family Treadmills

Caring for others

Children, grandchildren

Spouses

Health concerns

Grandparents

Relatives


Community/National Treadmills

No grocery store

Community services

Commercial stores

Growth??

No land


Video


Key Insights• Each of us has a little bit of the Prodigal

Son: Squandering and wasting stuff• As humans, we have habits of focusing

on today rather than tomorrow• When our focus is pleasing ourselves,

then eventually we become dissatisfied


Key Insights• Two big wasters are impulse buying and

eating out.• Plan ahead, make lists, and stick to

them• If something immediate comes up, give

it time


Key Insights• We’re “told” that our purpose is to

consume. The bible tells us its to Love God, Love our Neighbor,

• Accomplishing this purpose requires goal setting and planning

• Planning gives us concrete steps


Planning Principles

1. Pay tithe and offering first

2. Create a budget and track it

3. Simplify (live below your means)

4. Establish an emergency fund

5. Pay debts

6. Practice long-term savings & investing


Simplifying

Simplifying our lives enables us to give more generously and experience the joy that comes from living for something beyond ourselves.


Three Types of Savings

1. Emergency savings

2. Wants and Goals

3. Retirement Savings


What can you do to get off the treadmill?


Wrapping it Up• Next week, Chapter 3,

Cultivating Contentment

• Answer the questions on p. 105-108

• Closing Prayer

wisdom and finance

Spiritual

treadmill of consumerism

key insightseach

key insightswere

love god

time of excessive materialism

goalsretirement savings

key insightstwo big

closing prayer