The 5 Jars (Part 1)
Good day! Welcome to our new revamped Financial Matters weekly notes: We have 4 segments…
- MONEY MANAGEMENT – SQUASH YOUR DEBT
- FINANCIAL FREEDOM – LIVE THE BLESSED LIFE
- FEATURE – ANCIENT ADVICE SERIES – THE 5 JARS (Part 1)
- LIFE – MAKE THE MOST OF LIFE
MONEY MANAGEMENT: SQUASH YOUR DEBT
Let’s face it. Debt leads to a lot of unnecessary stress. When you add up all your debts (your home mortgage loan, car loan, your store cards, loans, and a few credit card repayments) it can leave you with that sinking feeling.
“Owe nothing to anyone—except love.” (Romans 13:8)
When debt levels rise, it seems to eat up your cash flow. Spare cash seems to vanish, and this makes it increasingly difficult to even make ends meet, let alone break the debt cycle. When in debt, it can feel like there is no way out.
But today, you can break the debt cycle. With a little planning and a bit of work, you can turn your financial affairs around.
I want to encourage you to form a good habit of squashing your debt.
A habit is something that if practiced and regularly repeated, becomes a way of life. Good habits usually lead to success, while bad habits lead to destruction. Today choose to get out of the debt trap.
“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
Don’t be a slave to debt. Don’t put yourself in bondage to debt. Do your best to limit your exposure to debt and squash it.
FINANCIAL FREEDOM: LIVE THE BLESSED LIFE
A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)
What are you planting? You will always harvest what you plant.
Jesus said, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)
When you plant an apple seed you don’t just get an apple. You get a tree that will produce many apples each season.
Whatever you plant, will come back multiplied over.
If you plant rubbish, you will harvest a junkyard. If you bless others, it will come back, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
In the same way, if you manage your money poorly, and just spend recklessly, racking up debt and maxing out your credit cards, you will be left cash-strapped, in debt, and stressed out, with no savings.
On the flip side, if you manage your money well, and get your priorities and goals right, with God first and a plan to save and invest towards the future, you will have cash flow, a little more peace, and you will build up a wealth portfolio over time.
FINANCIAL FEATURE: ANCIENT ADVICE SERIES – THE 5 JARS (PART 1)
Jewish people are known to be astute money managers. So recently while in Israel, I did some digging to find out why this is true. I was inspired to find out that one of the secrets lies with what they teach their children about money. It turns out that from a young age, many children are taught a basic money principle using 5 jars, which develops a life-long habit of managing money well. The golden rule taught using 5 jars is simple…
- put God first,
- be generous,
- invest over the long term,
- save up for short-term needs,
- only spend what is left over.
In other words, young Jewish children are taught to…
- 1st GIVE
- 2nd KEEP
- 3rd SPEND LESS THAN YOU RECEIVE
By the time a girl reaches the age of 12 (Bat Mitzvah) and a boy reaches the age of 13 (Bar Mitzvah), where they reach the age where they are responsible for their own actions, they have developed the habit and have been well trained in money management principles.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Parents have taught the timeless 5 Jars principle to their children from a young age. It has been passed down from generation to generation. By the time young children reach their teenage years, they already have a healthy understanding of how to manage money in a God-honoring way, which also helps to eliminate bad debt, live within one’s means, and build wealth.
So, let’s unpack the 5 JAR PRINCIPLE…
- JAR ONE – TITHE JAR
- JAR TWO – BLESSING JAR
- JAR THREE – INVESTING JAR
- JAR FOUR – SAVINGS JAR
- JAR FIVE – SPENDING JAR
Each time the child receives money, they are required to distribute it among the five jars. If a child receives ₪10 Shekels (this is the Israeli Currency), the child is taught to put…
- ₪1 in the TITHE JAR,
- ₪1 in the BLESSING JAR,
- ₪2 in the INVESTING JAR,
- ₪1 in the SAVINGS JAR, and
- ₪5 in the last SPENDING JAR.
Next week we will break down the mystery of each of the jars and show you how this can lead to financial freedom!
The 5 JAR PRINCIPLE helps people to put God first and to be generous, thereby helping one form a habit of loving God and loving people.
The 5 JAR PRINCIPLE also encourages people to save, invest, and build a business, thereby securing income, building a wealth portfolio, and having cash flow available for short-term needs and opportunities.
The 5 JAR PRINCIPLE also helps one to take a disciplined approach to money management, which helps to eliminate debt and encourages people to live within their means.
“But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Why not teach your children the 5 JAR PRINCIPLE to your money management? Why don’t you consider using it yourself?
By setting up a deliberate plan to train your children, you will be making one of the best investment decisions you can ever make for your children. It will set them up for a fruitful future.
If you stick to the 5 JAR principle, you will learn to honor God and be a blessing to others with your generosity.
You will also build a wealth portfolio over the long term and have savings for unforeseen short-term emergencies, and funds available for opportunities that may arise. You will also learn to eliminate debt, make good money decisions, and live within your means.
Join us next week for part 2 of the 5 JARS ancient investment strategy.
LIFE
Make the most of life.
There is more to life than money. Life on earth is short. Eternity is forever. Live your life on purpose. Live with passion. Make the most of life. Be kind. Love. But don’t just focus on the here and now. Be sure that your eternity is secure.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
If you die today, do you know where you will spend your eternity? Life doesn’t end at the grave. You will continue to live into eternity, either in God’s Kingdom or separated from God forever in hell.
The bad news is that sin cuts us off from a holy God, and we have all sinned. The good news is that God loves you so much that he made a way for all people to share eternity with him. Jesus paid the full price on the cross for our so that we can be made right with God. He wants to share forever with you.
God’s grace and mercy are available to you. If your eternity is a matter of chance, please call on Jesus. Today is your day of salvation.
Let us pray…
Dear Lord Jesus, I need you. I know that I am lost and that I have sinned. I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer, please let us know. We would love to pray for you and send you an incredible eBook to help you on your journey with God.
CONCLUSION:
Face your debt. Live the blessed life. Apply the 5 Jars to your money management. Teach it to your children. Live your best life now. Above all, make sure you put Jesus at the center. God bless you.
