Where do I begin? - Third Peter

Many of us need to make changes in how we spend money, but where do we begin? Many have little or no “wiggle room” because of debt and and commitments made to acquire things we may not really need. Let me suggest some helpful (but not painless) tips.

Stop spending more than we make. That’s pretty simple, but not commonly practiced. Thanks to our profligate government’s example, the incessant pull of clever advertising, and because we imitate others, many, if not most of us, compulsively spend. We cannot dig out of debt without curtailing what is going out. This usually means we must take a hard look at the things on which we spend our money. Look for luxuries (sand and water items). The first thing to go should probably be eating out. The second thing – that’s for you to decide. Be courageous and ruthless. Your financial future is at stake.
Make a commitment to give to God. Most of us realize that we need God’s help to get out of the mess we created. What better way to demonstrate our faith in God’s ability to help us than to give to his kingdom work and to those in need? Giving does not depend on our having a lot. Jesus commended the widow who gave what little she had. (Mark 12:41-44) Paul commended the Macedonians who gave “out of their poverty.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3) If we do not prioritize giving, we have yet to surrender our finances to God.
Make a commitment to save. Everyone routinely faces big ticket expenses, whether they are medical costs, car repairs, appliance replacements, or home upkeep expenses, not to mention education expenses for our children. Unless we have set aside money to cover these things, every time these expenses arise, we will go further into debt to cover them. Start small if you have to, but over time try to set aside a greater percentage of your income for savings, long and short term. Who knows? You might even be able to take a vacation!
Make a commitment to get out of debt. Now that’s a thought! Americans are taught to stay in debt in order to accumulate all the “stuff” they want. God desires for us to be out of debt, except perhaps for the most necessary items, such as homes, cars, and businesses. A college education that actually equips a person to earn a good living might justify an accumulation of debt, as well, but too many graduates take with them massive indebtedness. This is to be avoided. In every case, however, we must carefully weigh the risks of indebtedness versus the benefits. Debt makes us a “slave” to the lender. It can rob us of having other options later. Unwise debt can lead to financial ruin. Getting out of debt will make a huge difference in your liquidity and financial freedom. By all means, the first debt that needs to go is credit card and other high interest debt. Once that is removed, start on whatever else on on the list. It is usually a good idea to eliminate the smaller debts first, which will give you more money later to tackle the larger ones. To get out of debt, you might have to eliminate some larger items from your jar. Maybe you can sell the house that is too big and expensive and acquire one that you can better afford. Perhaps you need to dispose of a car that costs more than you can afford and buy a more economical one. Getting out of debt is usually a long-term affair that requires sacrifice and commitment, but it will be well worth it.
Live as simply as possible. This one will make you feel as if you are swimming against the tide of consumerism and culture. Simple living results from eliminating the things we don’t really need in order to free up more time and finances for the Lord. Simplicity comes from making a firm commitment to put God and his kingdom first. May God help us all to simplify! When we live this way, we will be able to reduce the number of things that fill our jar, making room for a big priority – the kingdom of God.

Well, there you have it. If we are discouraged by our current situation, whatever that may be, God is able to help us climb out of any financial pit we have dug for ourselves! He is the forgiver of debts and our Provider.