God wants to Walk the Journey with You
Today I want to share a few practical ideas that come straight out of the Bible, that can add value to your financial management, while helping you to build on your relationship with God.
God wants to Walk the Journey with You
1. Make God your No. 1 priority:
A priority is something that is more important than another.
It is important to get your priorities in the right order.
If you do, then things will usually work out well. From a financial perspective, many are in debt because of poor money management and because their financial priorities are out of sync.
Maybe you have made some bad financial decisions, like buying things you cannot afford, just to “fit” in.
I would suggest that you make God your No. 1 priority.
When you put God first, you are basically handing over your life into the hands of the one who loves you, who knows you better than you know yourself, who has your best interest at heart, who is all-powerful, and kind.
When your life is in His hands, you do not need to worry about your future. Instead of worry and stress, you will be able to rest on the one who can supply.
Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying,… your heavenly Father knows what you need … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
Making God your first priority will change the way you spend your money, but I promise you that with God as No. 1 priority, you will end up with less stress, and more joy and purpose.
Yes, when you put God first you, you will end up giving Him your best. One way to put God first is with your money.
“The purpose of the tithe is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.” (Deuteronomy 14:23)
The way we handle our money is a good picture of if we are really putting God first in our lives.
Look at your own bank statement. It shows your priorities. Your budget shows whether you are actually putting God first. You can see evidence of how real our faith is.
When you put God first with your money, it takes faith, but you will be pleasantly surprised that your left over money, after giving your first fruits to God, will last longer, will stretch, and will accomplish move than your 100% in your own pocket.
When you give your first fruits to God, He will bless you.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”(Proverbs 3:9-10)
When you get your priorities in the right order, with God at No. 1, you may even spend some of your free time doing what He calls you to do, which will bring you purpose, and may even end up helping you to spend less on worldly things.
When you put God first, live to please Him, and get to know His Word, you will also automatically make better financial decisions.
Look at what God’s word says about handing your finances…
God’s word encourages us to BUDGET:
Jesus said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it.” (Matthew 14:28)
God’s word encourages us to LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS:
“The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.” (Proverbs 14:16)
God’s word encourages us to SAVE AND INVEST:
“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.”(Proverbs 21:20)
God’s word encourages us to LOOK AFTER OUR LOVES ONES:
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
So, I want to encourage you to make God your No. 1 priority.
2. Do your best and enjoy the journey:
Sometimes we can take life to seriously.
Don’t forget to enjoy your work. After all your work is a gift of God.
“Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18)
God has a plan for your life. It is a good plan, to give you a hope and a bright future.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Don’t forget to dream. Have a vision. Dare to dream. Aim high.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)
Attempt great things. Set goals. Have a plan.
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty short cuts lead to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)
Commit your plans to God. He wants to walk the journey with you.
“Commit your work to the Lord and then your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)
“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Psalm 37:4)
You are God’s representative, so set a good example.
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Live to please God. Make the most of every opportunity.
“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5: 10)
“Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)
So, enjoy your work.
Live with purpose and passion. Dare to dream. Do your best and don’t forget to smile, to laugh and to have fun, knowing that your life is in the hands of a gracious, loving, kind and all powerful God.
3. Walk with God:
God wants a relationship with you.
He knows what is up and what is around the next corner.
If you walk the journey of life with Him, I am sure that you will make better financial choices, which will result in making less financial mistakes. When you walk with God and follow His leading, you will gain wisdom and God will open up doors of opportunity.
God wants to walk the journey of life with you.
God speaks. He gives direction. He guides and leads.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (Matthew 10:27-28)
God doesn’t want us to do life alone, where we often make mistakes that lead to bondage. He wants to lead us on the right pathway towards a brighter tomorrow.
“The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)
Wow, isn’t this amazing! God doesn’t just guide you on a path, but on the BEST pathway for your life. He wants to advise you. He has your back. He is watching over you. He really does have your best interest at heart.
At the crossroads of life, God speaks. Wait on Him. Walk with Him.
“You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.” (Psalm 139:3)
Follow after Him. He will lead you to greener pastures.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23: 1-3)
He will guide you. Trust in Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
If you follow God’s ways, you will find peace and joy.
Even when you walk through the dark valleys of life, God will protect you and you can know Him as your comforter.
Bad financial decisions and debt leads to stress; God’s way leads to peace.
Stay close to God. He wants a close walk with you.
Do not just blindly follow the crowd, don’t just allow the world and your own fleshy ambitions to lead you. Follow after God and walk in the Spirit.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are in conflict with one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-17 & 25)
Walk with God. He made you one of a kind, and he wants to walk the journey with you.
He has your best interest at heart and wants to lead you on the best pathway for your life.
Conclusion
I want to encourage you to allow God to be part of every area of your life.
God wants to walk the journey with you!
Put your hope in God!
Let God be your supply!
You can apply these truths from God’s Word to your life and your money management.
With God at your side, you can build towards a fruitful financial future.
Have a great week.
God bless you.
