One of the biggest struggles that we face in the world today is our serious cash indebtedness and poor management of our finances that continue to bring about hardship and miseries in our lives.
We are constantly bombarded by mainstream media flashing the latest gadgets, gizmos, apparatus and appliances. Their marketing strategy and sales pitch are to say the least very seductive.
Slowly but surely we find ourselves lured into the greasy traps with the‘buy-now-pay-later’ or ‘no-money-down syndrome,’ only to have huge arrears, money owed and the creditor or a bill collector come showing up at your doorstep sometime after the purchase deal was sealed.
There are mounds of debts through credit cards, yet daily, people continue to put themselves into more financial messes that not only lead to stress and sleepless nights but also stress related diseases and illnesses.
It is even more troubling the rate at which governments world-wide continue with their big spending – millions of dollars either in overdraft or deficit.
The truth is God not only expects better from us in our management of money, He wants us to get out of debt and on to the path of financial freedom and peace.
It also speaks to our obedience to His word that is filled with real and practical financial principles, that if we only adhere to them we would meet with good financial success and have everything that we need to live the abundant life.
He wants there to come a day that we live out the basics according as His word declares where we shall be the ones lending to others and not the ones borrowing.
I am looking forward to that day when I am completely liberated from financial bondage and I am sure that you do too. Tweet this.
Biblical Principles for Financial Freedom
Adhering to biblical principles for financial freedom does not mean that you have to live a substandard or mediocre lifestyle. It simple means accepting God’s provisions to live the standard of life that He has established for you. Here are some biblical principles to live by.
Read also: 19 Bible Verses [God’s Promises] of Victory For Financial Blessings
Principle 1: Set your priorities in order as it’s important to your spiritual life
The first principle is about setting your spiritual house in order. Did you know that God examines the way we deal with our earthly wealth to determine the level of trustworthiness He assigns to us with the abundance of heaven? Sure He does.
The writing is clear on the wall as is written in Luke 16:11,“So if you have not been trustworthy in handling earthly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
Many consider themselves rich and have everything they will ever need in life. Some even go as far as thinking that all they have accumulated thus far is really none of God’s business. But what good is it to any man if he gains the whole world but lose his soul in the end.
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“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich;” ~ Revelation 3:17-18
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If a man shall put his trust in his earthly wealth, naturally that is the direction in which his heart, mind and energy will flow leaving him little or no time for what is most important. For, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Luke 12:34
Set your priorities in order. Focus your attention on your spiritual life. Get to know God [more], build an intimate relationship with Him and be free to serve Him. According to Harvey Nowland from Focus on The Family, “you must trust God and be willing to submit to His will and direction.”
Principle 2: Love God more than you love money
It is pivotal to our financial freedom, abundance and peace that we love God far more than we love money or the pleasure of having it.
There are some people so eager for money and the power that is derived from basking in the abundance of it that they have strayed away from the faith and have pierced themselves with grief, tension and anxiety.
We must do all we can to set our priorities in order. We must never allow money and wealth to become our god or idols for worship.The true living God must be first and foremost.
Building up treasures in heaven by strictly adhering to Godly principles is far more important and critical to us for attaining financial freedom and living a life of abundance and peace God’s way.
Principle 3: God is the source of everything and all you have is His
Submit yourself and recognize this principle as fundamental for living with financial freedom. Don’t get caught up with the novelties and the ‘get-rich-quick schemes’in life. Beware of the traps of financial bondage and indebtedness and don’t let anyone pressure you into making premature decisions based on partially revealed information.
Trust God for guidance and direction.Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”You may say to yourself well it is my power and my strength that has gotten me wealth. I worked hard for everything I have.
However, you need to realize that your gifts, talents, skills, knowledge and even your ability to work come from the Lord. He is the source and everything belongs to Him.
Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…”
In trusting God He will open the door one day for you to get wealth. And what should you do to keep it and manage it better?
Deuteronomy 8:18 says “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
Principle 4: Exercise self-control and live within boundary
Have you ever noticed that the more money you have it is the more you want to spend? [Ecclesiastes 5:11] The temptation is always there to make us believe that we need more money or possessions and as we get more to spend it. It is an area of our lives that we seem to always be fighting to resist that force of evil to sin rather than managing what we have.
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Case in point
As recent as five years ago, I had no credit card, I did not owe any banks and everything that I did was on a cash basis from the salary I worked for. In my mind, life was great that way. I had no worries. I was content. I live within walking distance to my workplace and I was satisfied to walk to and from work Monday through Friday, unless that is, someone stopped to give me a ride.
But then I applied for a car loan and with that I also got a credit card. My spending habits changed once I got the credit card and you know what, my life has not been the same since.
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Man’s way is to gravitate towards source(s) that will feed his gluttonous habit of‘I want more’ but it is an honor to God and a principle thing when we live a self-controlled life within the boundaries established by a budget.
“The grace of God…teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” ~ Titus 2:11-12 “Better is the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked.” ~ Psalm 37:16 “A man who loves pleasure becomes poor.” ~ Proverbs 21:17
This principle is to motivate you to break whatever habits that are keeping you in debt such as spending more than you earn and borrowing.
Principle 5: More blessed to give than to receive
In this next principle which is about giving you find there are some persons who always want to be on the receiving end but never stop to think about the difference they can make in their own life and the lives of others by their giving.
Others would give and give from their leftovers or they do so quite reluctantly not realizing that God loves a cheerful and lavish giver.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words…”It is more blessed to give than to receive.”‘ ~ Acts 20:35 NIV
Another key verse says, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For what measure you use, it will be measured [back] to you.” ~ Luke 6:38 NIV
Give out of the goodness of your heart and believe that all your needs shall be met in return.Tweet this.
Don’t give grudgingly or sparingly. Put your hope in God and believe that all your needs will be met as He has promised.
QUESTIONS: Was this post helpful?What biblical principles or general strategies do you follow as a rule to ensure that you remain at the place of financial freedom, abundance and peace?
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