FINDING FINANCIAL FREEDOM
It is not always a lack of money that creates financial pressure. Many times
it is simply a matter of attitude. If there is a right attitude toward
money, freedom from financial bondage can be assured. God did not say that
money and material things were problems; money is neither good nor bad. It
is the use of money and the attitude toward money that is the problem.
Therefore, Jesus regularly warned His followers to guard their hearts
against greed, ego, and pride, because Satan can control God’s people with
these emotional tools. In the area of finances, God’s people are extremely
vulnerable. As such, they need to be encouraged to follow the necessary
steps that will ensure money management according to God’s plan, thus
assuring financial freedom.
Transfer ownership
God has designated the most difficult step, transfer of ownership, as the
first step. Once this has been accomplished, all other steps will fall into
place.1
As Christians, God expects that all possessions be transferred to Him. But
since we can’t literally place everything into His hands, this transfer
becomes an act of faith. In essence, it means accepting the fact that God
owns it all. Transferring ownership to God means that God owns all that we
consider ours: clothes, car, home, family, income, debts, present, and
future. Once ownership is transferred, God can begin to lead out of debt and
into financial freedom. We then become stewards and managers of what belongs
to Him.
So, if God is the owner of everything in Christians’ lives, He can be
trusted to change unhealthy spending habits (especially the abuse of credit
cards) that cause debt, anxiety, and fear of the future. The key to
maintaining this relationship is to properly understand the definition of
stewardship. A steward is someone who manages the property of another. As
His stewards, we are responsible for managing His property in a way that
will please Him.2 God will not force His will on us, but if we realize our
responsibility and transfer everything to Him, He will keep His promise and
provide for each and every need. The first step in achieving financial
freedom is to realize that since God is in complete control, all that we
are, do, have or ever will have must be transferred to Him.
Get out and stay out of debt
There are many ways to get into debt but only one sure way to get out and
stay out of debt: self-discipline.
Regardless of income, disciplined debt elimination is mandatory in order for
a money management plan that keeps Christians out of debt to function
properly. Proverbs 27:12 says, "A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
the naive proceed and pay the penalty." Debt can best be eliminated by
following these steps: (1) transfer ownership of every possession to God
(Psalms 8:6, Deuteronomy 5:32-33); (2) allow no more debt, including bank
and personal loans, and cut up all credit cards if unable to pay them off
each month (Proverbs 24:3); (3) develop a realistic balanced budget that
will allow every creditor to receive as much as possible monthly (Proverbs
16:9); and (4) start retiring the debt (Psalms 37:21, Proverbs 3:27-28),
beginning with the smallest debt first. Once the smallest is paid off, put
all the money on the next, and so on. Generally speaking, if these steps are
followed, the average family will be debt free in less than five years and
the problem that caused the debt in the first place could very well have
been corrected. 3
In order to stay out of debt, two steps need to be followed.
- Develop a written plan of all expenditures in order of importance.
Determine whether the expenditure or purchase is a need (basic
necessities such as food, clothing, and housing), a want (things that
make life easier, such as more expensive clothes, a VCR, or air
conditioning), or a desire (more expensive wants, such as designer
clothes, a new BMW, or a wide-screen TV).
- Open a savings account and get in the habit of putting something into
the savings account regularly, perhaps every week or every month. The
amount of deposit is not nearly as important as the consistency in
making a deposit. This savings can then be used for specific purchases
or emergencies, rather than making these purchases on credit.
Establish a tithe
Every Christian needs to give something back to God as a testimony to God’s
ownership. A tithe is the portion of our income that we give to God and to
God’s work. It should be the first part. “Honor the Lord from your wealth
and from the first of all your produce” (Proverbs 3:9). Tithe means “tenth.”
This is the amount most Christians use as a guide for tithing. It’s through
sharing that God’s power in finances is brought into focus. “Now this I say,
he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). 5
Accept God’s provision
In order to maintain true financial peace, we must recognize and accept that
God’s provision—all that He gives—is what He has provided to direct our
lives. Many Christians are under the impression that God directs financially
only by an abundance of money. This is not necessarily true. Sometimes He
directs by withholding financial abundance As such, He expects His people to
live on what He provides and not be pressured by the desire for riches and
material possessions.
Put others first
Christians seeking financial freedom must always be willing to put other
people first. “Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one
has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:9-10). It is not God’s
plan for us to get ahead in the world at the expense of another. Their
welfare must be considered. “Do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with
such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).
Avoid indulgence
Unfortunately, most Christians in America are self-indulgers, rarely passing
up a want or desire, much less a need. To achieve financial freedom,
indulgences and the tendency to spend more than what can be afforded on
things that are not needed must be avoided.6 Indulgence is greed. “But
immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is
proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).
Avoid snap decisions
Avoid impulse spending, get-rich-quick schemes, and other financial
decisions made through intimidation. “The plans of the diligent lead surely
to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty” (Proverbs
21:5). The best way to avoid these traps is to pray about each purchase,
each financial decision, and each opportunity that is intended to produce
extra income—especially if the decision will affect the family’s financial
welfare. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because
of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked
schemes” (Psalm 37:7).7
Conclusion
Most Christians have an upside-down view of money. They feel that the money
they have is theirs and that God’s money is the portion that they give to
the church. But God has a different view. As Lord, God, and King, He owns
everything—including the money that we claim as our own. As such, He has
clear ideas of how He wants His people to function and to make use of His
possessions—ideas that result in financial freedom for His people, if they
are followed step by step.
- Larry Burkett, Money Management for College Students, Moody, 1998, p. 28
- Larry Burkett, “Giving and Tithing,” Christian Financial Concepts, 1999,
p. 2
- Larry Burkett, “Debt and Credit,” Christian Financial Concepts, 1999,
pp. 6-8
- Larry Burkett, Making Ends Meet, Christian Financial Concepts, 1997, pp.
15-16
- Larry Burkett, Your Finances in Changing Times, Moody, 1975, pp. 119-120
- Larry Burkett, Money Management for College Students, Moody, 1998, p. 30
- Larry Burkett, Debt-Free Living, Moody, 1989, pp. 97-100
