May 20 2012 Managing Financial Stress In The Home

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Managing Financial Stress In The Home

According to a Time magazine survey of a few years ago, the number one source of arguments in marriage is conflict over money. Gallup reports 56% of divorces are due to financial problems or pressure.
Financial problems always occur when we ignore God’s Five Financial Laws:

1. Keep good records.

Proverbs 27:23-24 - Be sure you know the conditions of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds. For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.
Proverbs 23:23 - Get the facts at any price.
Proverbs 24:3-4 - Any enterprise becomes strong, through common sense and profits by keeping abreast of the facts.

Four Things to Know
• Keep track of what you own
• Know what you earn
• Know what you owe
• You need to know where it goes

2. Plan your spending.

Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as hast leads to poverty.
Proverbs 21:20 - The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

Three Things in a Good Budget
• It ought to be a mutual decision
• It ought to be a matter of prayer
• It should be based on goals


3. Enjoy what you have.

Proverbs 15:16-17 - Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that.
Hebrews 13:5 - Be content with what you have.

4. Share with others in need.

Proverbs 11:24-25 - One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another with holds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 19:17 - He who is kind to the poor leads to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.
Proverbs 22:19 - A generous man will himself be blessed.
Proverbs 28:27 - He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.

5. Tithing.

Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your crops.

Three Reasons to Tithe
• It shows our gratitude
• It’s a reminder for the present
• It’s a step of faith for the future

Deuteronomy 14:23
Malachi 3:8-10
Matthew 6:33 - Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.