Managing God's Possessions

*notes from the CO Weekend Talk 6 (Financial Stewardship) by Ate Gigi Alcala

We live in a physical world. We are facing worldly lures. The good news is, we can be rich without losing our souls.
God wants to protect us from financial bondage.

Financial bondage - being held captive or obsessed not only from the lack of money or overspending but also from an abundance of money or misunderstanding of why God has given us so much

Everything belongs to the Lord. We possess, but God owns. God owns, we manage.
It is God who enables us to acquire wealth.
Why talk about money?

God uses money to teach us to TRUST Him and to TEST and DEVELOP our character.
Proverbs 3:9. "Honor the Lord with your wealth." Wealth is not exclusively for your benefit. Know how to use your possession to serve God.
Malachi 3:10. "I will pour out on you in abundance all kinds of good things."

Purpose of tithing:

Financial support for the church
Economic support for the ministry or those who are called to full-time evangelical service
Means of WORSHIP

Debt = death

10 Tips for a Debt-free Lifestyle

1. Administrators

We are only stewards of everything we have. God owns, we manage.
Blessings are measured in different units, different standards. So don't compare your blessings with others.

2. Budgeting

List the things that you NEED. Make that your priority.
BUY based on NEEDS and not WANTS.
Know your expenses.
Beware of unexpected purchases.

3. Cut credit card

LOANS = (can be) LASON, so beware!
Borrow only to buy real estate (properties that don't depreciate).
Simplify your lifestyle.
Accumulate more and desire less.

4. Debt pay off

ASAP
Know the difference between good debt and bad debt

5a. Envelopes of cash

Separate your money in tangible envelopes for easy tracking of expenses

5b. Educate yourself

Raise your Financial IQ
Invest in yourself; join seminars and lectures
Find a financial coach or partner
Parable of 3 servants. "He gave each one according to his ability." God will not give you something that you cannot handle.

6. Family Planning

No. 1 cause of divorce: financial problems
Be guided by 1 Timothy 5:8

7. Grateful not Greedy

Have an attitude of gratitude
Gratefulness leaders to generosity
Count your blessings!
"So blessed I can't contain it, so much I've got to give it away."

8. Hardworking

2 Thessalonians 3:10-11
Avoid "get rich quick" schemes

9. Invest

Increase your sources of funds. Create sources of passive income.
You should NOT invest before you develop the habit of saving!

10. Ten-Twenty-Seventy

10% tithes, 20% savings (use separate bank account for savings), 70% expenses
Expenses = Income - Tithe - Savings

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