The subject of Christian money management goes beyond simple accounting principles and will also encompass such issues as personal values and integrity. For most Christians, the priority of attaining wealth will take a back seat to other concerns in life. Nevertheless, Christians are expected to handle monetary matters responsibly and in a way that honors God. The practice of tithing represents giving a portion of a believer's personal income back to God. In this area alone the believer will often differ from the non believer. While many individuals who do not profess any affiliation to any religious group have been known to be generous philanthropists, the practice of tithing is regarded by Christians as an act of worship. Giving ten percent or more of personal income back to the Kingdom of God is seen as a way of thanking God for His many blessings by offering up the first fruits of labor. Second to honoring God first, the notion of maintaining good stewardship practices with all of God's blessings is paramount. Good stewardship entails not being wasteful with resources, and using God's provisions in a way that reflects honesty and reliability. These areas of Christian money management are of extreme importance to the serious believer.
Integrity is always a primary concern when it comes to Christian money management. For Christians, success at making money is no where near as important as the methods used to create the wealth in the first place. Taking advantage of another human being for the sake of profit should never be part of a Christian's approach to commerce. In addition, the person for whom honesty is a major priority will always take pains to make sure that they are giving an honest day's work. The ability to share blessings with those in need is a cornerstone principle in the growing Christian's life. Before any believer can consider themselves truly successful, they must also be willing to help out those in need. The Bible expresses this truth very clearly. "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13) Another important Biblical principle is that of success through hard work. While overnight success is rare, diligent and honest workers will be rewarded in due time. Careful spending habits and responsible repayment of debts are other hallmarks of Christian money management. Self discipline and the ability to set goals can be difficult when credit is readily available. Making a decision to defer unnecessary purchases until there are sufficient funds to complete such purchases can contribute greatly to a family's financial health.
For families, Christian money management will involve the day to day struggles of making ends meet. The accumulation of great wealth is not necessarily the most pressing goal. That is not to say that most families wouldn't be happy to know what it feels like to never worry about financial concerns. Economic issues can be the root cause of much stress in the home. A healthy and Biblical attitude toward these concerns is a wise goal for any Christian family. After honoring God with a portion of financial blessings, putting some money aside in a savings account is an important priority. These savings can later be drawn upon in the event of an unexpected emergency, or for vacations, educational needs or retirement. Many employers will work with banks and credit unions to allow employees to take advantage of automatic withdrawal features. These features allow employees to have a specified amount of their paycheck automatically deposited into a savings account. By pulling the funds out automatically, savings will accumulate on a regular basis. Remaining funds can then be spent to pay monthly expenses. By setting and sticking with these financial priorities, families can gain a better view of any areas of Christian money management that may need work.
Regardless of priorities, making ends meet can be very difficult without establishing a monthly budget. A sensible spending plan that takes into account all monthly liabilities and compares them to the expected monthly income is in indispensable tool in Christian money management. A budget can serve as a guideline that lets a family or individual know if they are on track financially or, if they are not on track, just where the problem lies. A budget will need to take a yearly income and break it down into smaller bites. How much money can a family responsibly spend in one month and where should that money go? To achieve the monthly goal, how should a family spend on a weekly basis? If, after establishing a sensible budget, a family finds that their income is not sufficient to meet all liabilities, changes in lifestyle may be called for. The help of financial professionals who can provide advice and guidance in this area may also be required.
Churches must deal with Christian money management issues as well. As times grow tight, giving to local churches can often decrease, leaving many religious organizations gasping for air. In addition, churches may find that they need to work harder than ever to show proper accountability of donations received. This accountability can help to ease any concerns that members may have as to how their contributions will be handled. Careful management of contributions as well as wise and prayerful planning can go a long way toward keeping a church's finances in the black. Over ambitious building plans or extravagant spending not only demonstrate poor stewardship, but will not encourage further giving on the part of church members.
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