Text: Luke 16:10-12.
In Luke 16:11 Jesus says this, If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth who will trust you with true riches?” In other words, He says if you’re not responsible with your pennies, your nickels and your dimes and your dollars and if you’re not very responsible with the physical and material possessions God gives you then He cannot trust you with spiritual truths, spiritual blessing and spiritual responsibilities not only here on earth but for forever in eternity.” And so, how you manage your money here on earth has eternal implications.
Now, in the book of Proverbs, there are five principles on managing your money God’s way and I called these the principle of financial freedom. And So, here are the 5 principles:
- I must Keep good records. Proverbs 27:23-24
in order to keep good records. I must…
- Know What I own
- Know What I owe
- Know What I earn
- Know Where it all goes
- I must Plan my spending. Proverbs 21:5; 21:20 GNB
- I must Save for the future. Proverbs 21:20 GNB; Proverbs 6: 6-8 NIV
- I must Return ten percent back to God. Malachi 3:10
The Bible gives us three reasons why we need to return 10%.
- It’s an act of gratitude that says, “God, I just want to remind myself that everything comes from You and I wouldn’t have anything if it weren’t for You.
- It’s an act of priority in the present.
- It’s a statement of faith.
Now, the fifth financial principle is this,
- I must Enjoy what I have. Ecclesiastes 6:9; Hebrews 13:5; & Philippians 4:11-13.