1. Obedience – Trust and Obey for there’s no other way. When you are obedient to God, He will bless you even during the most difficult times (Malachi 3:12). When times are tough and the economy is weak, God is still strong (2 Cor. 12:10).
2. Read the Word and Pray like Nehemiah prayed -fasting and confessing sins as he was formulating a plan for rebuilding.
3. Decide to align your wealth with God’s purpose and plan for your life. Remember the 100-100 rule for success – 100% comes from God 100% of the time.
4. Determine that you are going to make the effort to Pay attention and Gain Understanding – these commands are repeated a number of times in the Proverbs. “…understanding will guard you.” Proverbs 2:11. Pay attention to details, ask questions and seek to gain a deeper and broader understanding of all aspects when faced with any situation that you are dealing with in life, especially money issues.
5. Be a good steward in managing debt. Proverbs 12:7 says, “The house of the righteous will stand.” Make a plan for paying down the debt – cut up credit cards. Shop with cash as much as possible. When shopping with a credit card, you’re likely to spend more money than you intended to spend. Do not charge more than you can pay at the end of the month. Lack of contentment is a common attitude that leads to debt.
6. Be honest with yourself. Take a good, hard look at where you are and where you and your family spend money. Adjust your spending pattern to reflect a vested interest in the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Adjust your thinking as to what is really important – think about your purchases – some of the extra stuff of life may seem important now, but really won’t matter on down the road. Trust Him to meet your needs.
7. Be a generous giver. Give of your treasure, time, and talents investing in others for the Kingdom of God. “Give and it will be given to you…” (Luke 6:38).
8. Start a family finances actions plan. Get the help you need. Consult with a knowledgeable, financial professional who can help you and your family get and stay on track financially – God’s way. “Blessed is the man who walks NOT in the counsel of the Ungodly.” Ps. 1:1 “in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 24:6.
“The Lord said, I’m talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the maser gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family.” Luke 12-42 NLT.
Guy Hatcher – known as The Legacy Guy – has spent his lifetime helping families plan their legacy. His new book, Your Future Reflection: How to Leave a Legacy Beyond Money, is now available at amazon.com. Follow him on twitter @guyhatcher or contact him at www.guyhatcher.com.
