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There is no question that a financial crisis was a sign
of the end time which came to pass in the first century.
The book of Revelation speaks of a beast who affected
the entire economy.
Under his designs none but those who had the
mark of the beast could buy or sell. (Revelation 12:17).
This had the net effective of a severe financial crisis.
Have you ever experienced a financial crisis in your life?
I remember back in the 80’s when I came very near
having my automobile re-possessed and within hours
of foreclosure on my house.
At the time, I worked in commission sales full-time, but
it seemed I only got paid part time. The problem had
nothing to do with the business or the economy. Some
thrived.
It had everything to do with my mind-set which largely
operated out of fear. That and the automobile company
pushing my back against the wall with demands for
payment.
Needless to say, I did not have the money. Two months
behind on my car note for about the 3rd time left me
with no wiggle room for a financial escape.
On one day in January 1986, I received a call from the
collection department threatening to pull my car. If that
happened I would not be able to work and make sales.
At my response to the demands of the collection agency,
I never in a millennium could have imagined what happened
next.
Rather than attempt to hide my car like others I’ve heard
about who faced the same situation, I decided to stop the
harassing phone calls and intimidation. This time, when the
agent demanded the return of the car, I asked this question:
Where would you like for me to return it? Immediately he
changed his tune. All the facade of the wizard-of-Oz-like
intimidation ceased on the spot.
He then began asking me in the nicest tone he could,
(a real feat from his former posture) when I thought I
might send in a payment.
I told him within two weeks when my commission check
arrived. He politely said, Okay, just send us a check when
you can. We don’t want to take the car back.
From that day forward, he never called me again about
a late payment. Actually, he never had to. I managed
to rearrange my financial affairs in such a way that I actually,
paid the car off early and saved my house from foreclosure.
Want to know how you can be raptured from financial
Armageddon. I discovered and implemented the seven
time tested financial principles below.
- Recognize that God controls our financial affairs.
- Give a minimum of 10 percent of my income
- Develop a positive mind-set
- Committed to disciplined savings
- Live within my means.
- Ensure a steady income
- Improve my financial literacy
God is in Control
First and foremost, we must recognize that God is in control.
One’s financial status is not determined by the economy or
by the news media. I am not in denial. We all can read the
economic signs of the times.
However, God has always blessed the people who followed
his will. He has much to say about how we handle our
personal financial affairs.
Having jobs or businesses do not automatically translate into
wealth. When Israel returned from exiles and left the temple
in ruins, their out go far exceeded their income. They had
sown much and brought in little, ate without being filled.
Their clothing did not keep them warm. They earned wages
to put into a bag with holes. Though they had high
expectations for their labor and resources, the value of
their stocks and real estate plummeted.
They looked for much, but it came to little and the pittance
they did bring home, God says he blew it away like the
chaff on the threshing floor.
What’s the financial lesson here? Seek first the kingdom of
God, (Matthew 6:33). Honor the Lord with your possessions,
and with the first-fruits of all your increase. So your barns
will be filled with plenty. . . (Prov. 9:9–10).
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and he adds no
sorry with it, (Prov. 10:22)
Give Ten Percent To God
Secondly, give at least 10 percent of your income to God.
Some wonder why in a financial crisis they should give.
Others decide their is barely enough for themselves.
However, this is when it matters most. A generally well
known economic principle is that money must circulate
to keep the national economy healthy.
The tax stimulus package returned money to tax payers
in an effort to stimulate the economy. It’s amusing that
the tax payers got $600 while the fat cats got $700
billion!
Nevertheless, the principle is valid. God warns us saying
that the practice of withholding too much leads to poverty.
“There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there
is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to
poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who
waters will also be watered himself.” (Prov. 11:24–25).
A Positive Mind-set
Our reality is created from within, not from without. “For
as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7) Note that
it does not say as he thinks in his head, so is he. These
thoughts are on a deeper level, in the subconscious mind.
This is where the source of all of our actions are stored.
A person who is motivated by the external shifts of the
economy has at heart, a motivation of fear, doubt and
uncertainty.
Why is it that some are excited about the opportunities
in this economy while others are frightened to death. It’s
their mind-set.
To overcome your financial challenges, you must begin
with the end in mind. You must declare the change in
your economic condition at the personal level.
Some people struggle financially while others are homeless,
starve, unemployed and lack the necessities of life even
during prosperous times. Why is that? It’s not the economy.
It’s mind-set.
Many lack sufficient faith and desire to achieve a better
life. They have not developed the mental fortitude to
overcome obstacles and acquire the knowledge and resources.
They possess a victim mentality versus a victor mentality
when it comes to managing their personal financial affairs.
It’s a purely personal matter.
Self development and mind-set training is a must if one
expects to transform inwardly to produce positive financial
results.
Here’s a fact you can take to the bank. God always has
and always will own all the resources in this world since
day one. There is never a shortage of resources.
The only shortage is our ideas and the faith to act on
those ideas to gain our share of those resources. Change
your internal thinking from poor financial decisions and
your economic health will improve. It’s a fact.
Commit to Disciplined Savings and Investments
One of the best financial habits is to save a percentage
of your income. This creates opportunities in the future.
You may have to start saving less in the beginning. That’s
perfectly fine. Focus on developing the habit of saving
versus the amount. Do that and within reasonable time,
you’ll be saving even more. Your nest egg will grow.
God’s plan is that you have a surplus, not a deficit. “A
good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s
children. . . “ (Prov. 13:22).
That means individuals and governments must think
generationally versus personally, about wealth. Ants
use a better system than some people. (Prov. 6:6–11)
It is our responsibility to ensure that future generations
enjoy the blessings and success of strong financial
legacies.
Live Within Your Means
We’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a million times, “live
within your means.” That means out-go must not exceed
income.”
I read an article that appeared in the Memphis Commercial
appeal when I was a kid that I easily committed to memory.
It is so embedded in my subconscious that as I write I don’t
even have to think about whether I remember it.
The writer uses such rhythmic prose to convey such a power
message that it stuck the first time. It was a little cartoon
section of witty sayings called Hambone’s Meditations.
Here’s the wisdom. “If you out-go exceeds your income,
your upkeep will be your downfall.” Wise words indeed.
Over spending gets individuals and governments in trouble.
A rule of thumb is to live on 70% of your income. That’s
doable. It means adjust your living standards at your
present income or increase your income so that it doesn’t
hurt.
If you’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, they’re behind
on their car and mortgages payments too! So develop
the habit of spending less and saving at least ten percent
of your income.
Ensure a Steady Income
Here again is where many people blame the economy for
their troubles. That is an illusion. It is each persons
responsibility to secure their own future. There is no such
thing as “job security.”
Your security lies in your ability to think and take the actions
necessary to produce desired results. The Bible approves of
honest labor and condemns the lazy, (1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Thes.
3:10).
However, we must not deceive ourselves that honest labor
alone always ensures a steady income. Circumstances may
change one’s ability to work for a living such as accidents,
disability, downturns in the economy, and down-sizing etc.
That’s not what we mean. Money can also work for you
it will when saved and invested carefully. Jesus acknowledged
that money can be invested for a return.
“So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers,
and at my coming I would have received back my own with
interest.” (Matthew 25:27).
Interest and other investment income can provide ongoing
passive income far beyond our working years and ability.
Wisdom and discipline enables one to capitalize on this
strategy.
Many get caught up in the “job security” syndrome and
never look for ways to create passive income that could
not only insure a steady income independent of work, but
which could provide them the freedom for other worthwhile
endeavors.
Improve Financial Literacy
Getting a good financial education should be required learning
in schools. Until then, seek out mentors, books, home study
courses, seminars and workshops that can teach how to
implement money making and money saving strategies.
Learn the difference between an asset and a liability. Assets
produce income, may also lower taxes and provide the extra
money needed to ensure a great lifestyle and retirement.
Liabilities increase out-go. They make us look and feel good
but at what expense. Learning more about these principles
will help one’s financial literacy and hopefully create better
results.
One of the greatest tips I implemented financial literacy
teaches is the principle of multiple streams of passive
income. Learn to get multiple paychecks from multiple
sources versus one. That’s much more security than a job.
In summary, these seven strategies helped me to avoid
financial Armageddon, not once, but many times in my life.
Using them has become a way of life, a habit.
Yes, it was a challenge in the beginning and seemed as though
I’d never see the light of day. Now they are working. I haven’t
had to work a “day job” for 8 years.
We have a much better lifestyle, less stress and are still
young enough to enjoy it. The economy hasn’t affected us.
Our trust is not in the economy, but in the one who owns the
cattle on a thousand hills, and all of the hills.
Follow the wisdom and instruction in his word and financial
Armageddon will be nothing more but an intimidating scare.
Here’s an example on one strategy we put in place to help
us have a better future. We took advantage of a service
that allows us to pay off our mortgage within 1/3 of the time,
without having to refinance or increase our payments.
We are potentially saving hundreds of thousands off our
mortgage. We’ve share it with friends and family and they
are doing the same.
You can learn more about it at http://paymyhouseoff.net
