SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 5 (Part I)

Today we looked at DEBT (Chapter 5: Living Without Debt). Two key Biblical principles associated with DEBT are "slavery" and "surety".

"Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant (slave) to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

 "Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts." Proverbs 22:26

When you borrow money you voluntarily surrender your freedom; you become a slave to the lender. If you borrow money that requires someone else to act as "assurance" against loss, the principle of surety is violated.

When I asked the question, "Why do we borrow money?"

The class answered, "To buy something you don't have the money to buy."

There is a saying: We borrow money we don't have, to buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't know.

When we choose not to live in accordance with God's principles, we subject ourselves to a life absent of God's peace and purpose. It is a matter of your will over His will. Remember the acronym, W - C - W: Want Christ Will.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

The pattern of the world says, W - C - W: I Want. I Can. I will.

The slides from today's lesson are posted below. We did not have time to fully cover SAVINGS and my Five-Step Plan for using your savings. I have posted the slides for the Five-Step Plan below in the second set of slides. I will cover them in more detail next week.

SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 4 (Part II)

Today I took a closer look at why planning is so important. Considering the average cost for HOUSE, FOOD, and AUTO (the big three), we can quickly see the need to  "...know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds." Proverb 27: 23, 24.

Even though you might think you are "making your nut", you are more than likely losing ground on the slippery slope of unexpected expenses. Planning is the key to "understanding your way" (Proverb 14:8).

Next week, Sybil will give us a great lesson on how to take advantage of coupons and trim the FOOD category. On October 26th, I will continue with Chapter 5 "Living Without Debt".

Below are the slides from today's lesson:

SOLVING THE MONEY PUZZLE - Chapter 4 (Part I)

Today we began Part 2: APPLICATION. The first step in application is to develop a financial plan. After learning in Part 1 that "ATTITUDE is everything", we looked at the importance of planning.

"A man's heart devises (plans) his way: but the Lord directs his steps." Proverb 16:9

and...

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke 14:28

Planning is critical to becoming a wise manager. As the saying goes: If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Or... If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end of somewhere else."

The Bible gives numerous warnings that speak strongly to the importance of planning. Jesus tells many parables illustrating the importance of being a good manager. It is impossible to be an effective manager if you don't have a plan.

Next week we are scheduled to look at my 5-step plan for getting out of debt. However, I feel that it might be helpful if we take one more week and let me show you the details of budgeting. I would like to take a hypothetical family and illustrate how to design and manage a budget.

Today's slides are below: