Biblical Principles for Achieving Financial Freedom

Beating the money crunch requires planning, discipline, and trust in God's provision. In a nutshell, now if you forget everything else, remember that. If somebody asks you, what was the sermon about? Please don't say, I don't know. Tell them that it's about beating the money crunch requires planning, discipline, and trust in God's provision. [00:03:28]

God created work as a way to provide for our needs, as a way to contribute to society. So diligence and work does what God calls us to do. It helps to provide for our needs and we contribute to society. It leads to financial stability for us, while laziness results in lack. [00:06:42]

Honesty. Honesty is a characteristic of a Christian, especially at work. In fact, honesty at work shows that you have a healthy attitude and a healthy approach about money. If you're being dishonest, that shows an unhealthy approach to money. [00:09:26]

Plan your spending and keep good records. Proverbs 27, 23 reads like this. Be sure you know the condition of your flocks. Give careful attention to your herd. Now, when Solomon wrote this, most people had their money in their flocks of sheep, cattle. And so what Moses was saying here is he's giving them advice to keep track of their assets. [00:13:53]

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity. Those are our first two points right hard work and planning good planning and hard work lead to prosperity but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty see financial freedom isn't determined by how much you make but it's rather determined by how you spend it and if you don't have a plan somebody said this and I love this there's not original with me somebody said if you don't have a plan your yearning will always exceed your earning your yearning will always exceed your earning and you'll always be in debt so write things down formulate a plan. [00:16:33]

Avoid debt and live within your means. Proverbs 22 7. To me, this is a scare. Very verse, Proverbs 22 7 reads like this. The rich rule over the poor. And here it is. The borrower is slave to the lender so other people that I owe money to I'm their slave because debt places us in financial bondage and it limits our ability to be generous. [00:19:51]

Contentment is simply enjoying what you already have enjoying what you already have ecclesiastes 6 9 the new living translation says this enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have just dreaming about nice things is meaningless like chasing the wind so maybe stop scrolling through the amazon app or whatever other you know that that makes you desire things that you don't really need and simply enjoy what you have. [00:21:32]

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Because God has said, never will I leave you. Never will I forsake. Thank you. Paradigm shift. God's with me. God's got me. Right? Philippians 4, 12 and 13 is an important one for us today. Paul writes this. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. [00:22:46]

Trust God as your provider. Matthew 6 31 we talked about this last week jesus you said this so do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear for the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly father knows that you need them but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well see what jesus is saying that financial security comes not from money but financial security comes from trusting god god's faithfulness god is faithful. [00:24:53]

Their trust should be in God who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. You know what Paul is saying here is that there's a real conflict, and Jesus said this too. There's a real conflict between trusting in money and trusting in God, and if you understand and you see this tension in your own life, then you're a step ahead because that's a real thing. That's why Jesus said you can't serve two masters. [00:26:53]

Imagine having enough to provide for your family and to have some to bless other people, to be generous, not just surviving, but thriving in the abundance of God. So really, to finish up today, we have to understand that this isn't just about money. It's about your heart. It's about our hearts. That's why Jesus said, where your treasure is there, your heart will be also. It's about your heart. [00:29:49]

Will you surrender your finances and allow him to lead you in his perfect plan? Take a step today. Take a step. Honor God. Work diligently. Be wise. Live generously. And watch as he provides. As he provides. Beyond what you can even imagine. Beyond what you can even fathom. [00:30:52]