Kingdom View, Volume III, Issue 4
ONE DAY, JOHN WESLEY’S HOUSE BURNED TO THE GROUND. Some people found him and said, “John, we are so sorry to tell you this, but your house just burned to the ground.” John Wesley said, “That’s impossible.” “No, John! Your house burned to the ground.” “That’simpossible!” “John, we saw it with our own eyes. Your house is gone!” “That’s impossible. You see, I don’t own a house. God gave me a place to live in. I only managed that house for Him. If He didn’t put the fire out, then that’s His problem. He’ll have to put me somewhere else.”
That man understood. He understood that he could have something and use something without possessing it. He didn’t hold on to it so tightly that when it went down he went down too. Some of us would lose our minds if we lost our houses or cars. We are to possess nothing. The Bible declares, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1 KJV) Since we own nothing, God has made us [believers] stewards over all of His resources that we enjoy. Therefore, we are to be good stewards. A steward is a person who manages the resources of another. Accordingly, good stewards of God exercise three basic financial principles; they sow,save, and settle.
First, a good financial steward SOWS into the Lord’s work. (2 Corinthians 9:1-1
Second, a good financial steward SAVES a portion of his earnings each pay period. (Proverbs 6:6-11), and Third, a good financial steward SETTLES his debts in a timely manner. (Romans 13:8)
As believers, we must be faithful in our support of the Lord’s work. Paul encouraged the churches that he had established to help fellow believers who were stricken by the great famine prophesied by Agabus. (Acts 11:27-28) We support God’s work primarily through the local church with our seed [tithes and offerings], which God supplies. (2 Corinthians 9:8-10) After sowing into God’s work, we must make sure that we pay ourselves. Your goal as a minimum should be to save three to five percent of your take home pay. Financial planners recommend that we should have three to six months of provision [or savings] to address unexpected crisis or events that may occur in our lives. Finally, set a goal to live debt free. Too much unmanageable debt can lead to enslavement. (Proverbs 22:7) Ensure that you pay your bills on time for late payments will affect your credit rating, which can adversely affect other forms of financial and business transactions. Remember, you want to sow, save and settle!