Financially Faithful
Financially Faithful
Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. (Luke 6:38)
Debbie sat down and sighed. This is not going to be fun, she thought, looking with disdain at the financial ledger, a stack of envelopes, and the bank statements her husband, Jeff, had gathered. He had decided it was time to get serious about a family budget, and Debbie was dreading the process of reviewing their spending habits and planning their expenditures from this point on.
“Honey, I know you don’t like talking about money, and I know a budget seems stifling to you, but I feel like it’s the responsible thing to do,” said Jeff, taking Debbie’s hand in his. “Tell you what; let’s pray before we get started.”
Debbie nodded, touched by Jeff’s suggestion. He began to pray for wisdom and direction. When he finished praying, Debbie squeezed his hand and continued the prayer. “Lord, thank You for giving me a husband who wants to honor You with our finances. Forgive us for all the times we disregarded You and spent our money frivolously. You have been generous to us. Please help us budget in such a way that we can be more generous toward others.”
The Bible tells us that our relationship toward all that the Lord has given us is one of stewardship. We are not owners or even rightful earners. In Psalm 24:1 David says, “The earth and everything in it . . . belong to the Lord.” We are stewards of that which God has entrusted to us, and we are to give abundantly, sacrificially, and joyfully. Consider how you manage the resources God has provided for you. What changes do you need to make so He will find you to be a good and faithful steward?