More Stewardship Thoughts

By Chris McKnight

The time has come to put a bow on this stewardship series. For four weeks we have been reminded that we are not our own, we have been bought with a price, and therefore we are to glorify God with our bodies, our lives, our everything!

Our time is God’s gift to us and the great equalizer among mankind. We can budget time. We can save time. We can spend time. But we all get the same 168 hours per week. Are you filling your time with worthy pursuits? Be intentional. Be deliberate. Be thoughtful. The sands of time are running out!

Natural and spiritual talents or gifts have been given to us individually from the sovereign hand of God to serve the world, meet our needs and serve the common good of the church. A fulfilled, purposeful life involves discovering and using both our natural and spiritual gifts. “Employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

They say “time is money.” They say “money makes the world go round.” They say “there is no free lunch.” These all have an element of truth, but for us, money is a window into our souls. Our attitude toward and use of treasure reveals love for God and neighbor as much as anything else. Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and Mammon.” With all three, “what do you have that you did not receive?”

In closing, I want to share ten thoughts on money management. These are action steps and attitudes you can take that I couldn’t squeeze into the sermons so I share them now with a goal of encouragement and help. Wherever you find yourself, you can move forward by God’s grace and mercy.

1. Be frugal. It's good for the soul and allows more giving, more saving, more investing. Strive to live below your means. Buy less car or truck, or house than you qualify for, if it meets your needs. Be frugal when it comes to clothes, shoes, jewelry, gear, toys, etc., not so you try to live like an ascetic but for the purpose of saving and giving more. If it is “more blessed to give than to receive”, then it is more blessed to be frugal than not.

2. Related to number one, strive not to waste money. Perfection is impossible, but being mindful of every dollar spent is the goal. It’s a mindset, from the smallest of expenses to the largest purchases we ever make. Strive within reason for good deals and bargains. Be judicious as you spend God’s money, not excessively tight, but realizing your fiduciary, managerial role before the King of heaven. Related to this, have some system of tracking your spending. How can you be a wise steward otherwise?

3. Make as much money as you reasonably can make. Work harder, work smarter, work a lot and don’t be afraid to ask for a raise (something I did in secular jobs but never from a church). If you are somewhere between 18 and empty nest, you will need way more money than you realize. From diapers to education to weddings, kids are expensive! Each one costs hundreds of thousands of dollars from 0-18, even more if you foot the bill for college. At the other end of life, I’ve seen a number of people try to retire prematurely and realize they weren’t ready financially. It’s hard to gear down our lifestyle. The adage ascribed to John Wesley is still good advice: “Make all you can make. Save all you can save. Give all you can give.” 

4. Save for a rainy day. Every family is a little business and you need an emergency fund equaling a minimum of three months of expenses. This is ready cash that is separate from retirement accounts. Of course you can’t know what three months of expenses are without tracking your spending.

5. Related to number four, but distinct – budget for those expected but not necessarily monthly expenses. I can’t tell you the number of times in helping people with a budget that they haven’t thought of the following expenses:  

• Car repairs and maintenance, and tires
  
• Car replacement (if no current car payment, pay yourself a car payment!)
  
• House repairs and maintenance
  
• Insurance deductibles on home and auto
  
• Vacation, anniversary, Christmas funds
  
• Medical expenses/deductibles/out of pocket
  

Why are we surprised when any of these things happen?

6. Get out of debt ASAP. It’s a glorious feeling! We paid our house off a few years back. It didn’t make sense financially because most of our monthly payment was principle, but it did emotionally, spiritually, biblically! For a year, every time I opened my bank app, I would see “Paid in Full” over the home mortgage section. Glory to God! The day I transferred the payoff amount, I teared up from joy and gratitude to God. What seemed at times impossible had come to pass! One way to do this is to pay extra principle every chance you get. Paying off mortgages early can save thousands of dollars in interest.

7. Pay off credit card debt monthly because credit card interest is a killer! Credit cards enable millions to live beyond their means until it all comes crashing down. Dave Ramsey says to shred them. I’m not that radical (I love me some cash back), but I am fanatical on paying them off each month. By the grace of God and this commitment, I’ve never paid one dollar of credit card interest. I’m content to let someone else pay for those skyrise bank buildings and national commercials.

8. Avoid car debt, esp. high interest car debt, if at all possible. Cars are depreciating assets and people get upside down all the time on them, meaning you owe more than they are worth. It’s really absurd to have a car loan that stretches five or six years long. This should be avoided at all costs. Again, find a deal. Buy less than you qualify for. Make do with what you have. Humble yourself. Dave Ramsey says that if you get an urge to buy a new car, spend a day or $200 getting your car detailed, washed, and waxed. That is time and money well spent.

9. Avoid the BIG THREE pitfalls that keep millions broke:

• living beyond your means with credit card debt
• bad car decisions
• excessive eating out.

If you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it.

10. Saving for retirement, i.e., the years of income famine, is not hoarding; it is wise, biblical and loving. Like Joseph in Egypt  storing up the grain during the seven years of plenty, retirement funds are the same. Financial drought is likely coming when the prime earning years are over. It is an act of love to prepare for your non-working years so that you have freedom to serve and give to your church, freedom to be with and bless your children and grandchildren and the ability to not be a burden on your children or church family. I’m saving for retirement, not so I can collect sea shells and waste my life,  but so I can not be a burden on anyone and bless others right to the end!

Much, much more could be said but we will leave it here for now. The bottom line? Money management is just as much a part of discipleship as going to church, reading your Bible and prayer ... maybe more so!

In His love,
Pastor Chris