If being financially fit is one of your goals for 2018, you need to start planning now.  

If you are like most people, you have made a few New Year’s resolutions.  Many of you are probably thinking of becoming more physically fit.  You may be dieting in order to control your weight.  Or, you may be going to the gym more often or for the first time.  We all have good intentions this time of year, but it takes more than good intentions to reach our goals.  In Luke 14:28-30, it says: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it, lest, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'" You need a plan! 

I once knew two district managers with plans to improve results in their respective districts.  I will call them District Managers “A” and “B.”  Manager “A” had a much better plan than Manager “B,” but at the end of the year, District “B” outperformed them. “The reason” you ask? Manager “B” executed his plan, while Manager “A” did not.  The point is it takes a plan, but it also takes execution of that plan!  And, the sooner you implement the plan, the sooner you will see results.  If being financially fit is your resolution, you need to start planning now. Don’t let your efforts fail because you didn’t plan.  Finish your “tower” and get control of your finances.  Consider the following: 

Where do I want to be financially by next year? 

Where would you like to be by the end of 2018 with your finances?  Would you have less credit card debt?  No house payment or car payment?  What about no student loan debt?  Would you like to have an emergency fund to handle those unexpected problems that crop up during the year like car repairs, medical bills, loss of a job, etc.?  How about a fully funded retirement plan?  A plan will help you reach your goals. The plan needs to be for specific actions that you will carry out THIS year!  We teach in Financial Peace University a set of steps to follow that breaks it down into small “bite-size” actions.  If you are serious about becoming financially fit, you might consider enrolling in the February class.    

How can I get started reducing or eliminating debt? 

There are two basic steps to eliminating debt: 

First, you need to stop accumulating debt.  To get out of a hole, you have to stop digging.  You need to quit charging for things or taking out loans. Likewise, I would warn against debt consolidation because you are just trading one kind of debt for another.  And, in many instances, you may be trading unsecured debt for secured debt.  More than anything, you must look at debt differently than in the past. God does not wish you to be indebted.  In Proverbs 22:7, it says: "The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender." You have to truly despise debt.  If you do, you will pay it off faster and can be rid of it forever.  That does mean you might have to delay some things you want! But, if you delay those purchases that would require more debt, you’ll reap the rewards later.  

The second step to eliminating debt is to develop a budget and stick to it.  And, you need to do so EVERY month for the rest of your life.  I know that is a big commitment, but it does become fairly simple after the first two or three months.  A budget does not mean you cannot spend money.  It simply means you consciously tell your money where you want to spend it instead of waking up at the end of the month and wondering where it went!  Scriptures say: "Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds." Proverbs 27:23.  You need to know the state of your finances (“flocks”) and plan for them. 

What are my biggest obstacles? 

Money problems affect us all.  It would be nice if everyone was debt free with no money worries.  Making changes in how we handle money is difficult.  But, once you identify the obstacles that have held you back in the past, you can deal with them.  Those obstacles may be spending money you don’t have, family members who spend money too freely, etc.  Does it seem like everything becomes an emergency and puts you back into debt?  Maybe an emergency fund, or as we used to call it “a rainy day fund” is the answer. 

Financial Peace University classes can teach you how to identify and overcome your own financial obstacles.  For a more personalized plan, consider meeting with a financial coach who can offer an independent perspective to help you reach your goals. We have both available through the church. 

And, last but not least, remember to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).   God wants us to be active in resolving financial problems, but He wants us to understand He has a plan and if we ask Him for that plan and abide in Him, it will all be as it should.   

So, now that you’ve faced the hard questions, are you ready to do the work to become financially fit?  With the right level of determination, a little bit of planning, and a whole lot of prayer, you can do it! 

Ever notice how quiet it gets when people say anything about how much money they earn or how much they save or owe? Or, how quiet it gets when the pastor of your church speaks about member giving or about money needed for a building program? People get frustrated when it comes to their finances; therefore, they keep it all hush, hush. Almost everyone agrees that the Bible contains great advice about life—from improving your marriage to getting along with your boss at work. But, does the Bible really say much about money? Does it really give us advice we can apply to our own life in today's world? The Good News is YES! Absolutely!

Money in the Bible

The Bible is as relevant and helpful today as when it was written, and God has a lot to say about money.

1. Proverbs 13:22 -- "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s' children." This indicates God wants us to make a difference, financially, in our family tree.

2. Proverbs 21:20 -- "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." This gives us an idea of how God wants us to save for a rainy day—to set something back for safekeeping.

3. Proverbs 22:7 -- "The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender." Really? The Bible discourages debt? Does God really want me to pay my debts off and avoid debt?

4. Luke 14:28 -- "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it." Does Jesus really want me to save up and pay for the things I buy?

5. Matt. 6:24 -- "You cannot serve both God and money.” Why do we want to let money, or the lack of it, control us instead of giving our time and talents to serving God?

There are more than 800 scriptures on money. It is one of the most discussed subjects in scripture, so God must be pretty serious about the subject. In fact, Jesus says in Luke 16:11, "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" It appears from this verse that God uses money as a test of our management and stewardship skills before entrusting us with spiritual things.

Financial Statistics

And, it’s not just the Bible that considers personal finances to be a serious subject. A survey by National Payroll Week says 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. In another survey, 80% of American congregations reported that their finances had been impacted by the recent recession. A study at Utah State University found that couples who disagreed about money once a week were twice as likely to divorce as those who disagreed less than once a month. Thirty-seven percent (the highest rate) of marital problems derive from financial situations. The Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 70% of workers say they are not where they need to be with retirement savings. Nearly half of all Americans (46%) have less than $10,000 saved for their retirement. According to studies performed by Empty Tomb, church giving has not exceeded 3% as a portion of income in 40 years. Even people with surplus often don’t have a plan for managing their money. The average family would have to use a credit card to pay a $1,500 unexpected expense (ex: home or car repair) because they don’t have enough in savings. All of these frustrations and problems are because people haven’t learned and applied those 800 scriptures.

If money is this important to God, why are there so few Sunday school classes on this topic? Why don't we see lots of small group studies on "Managing Your Finances" or "Getting Out of Debt"? Why aren't there more sermons in this area? There are many reasons, but the top reason is that most people don't realize how much of a problem managing money is for the average family.

It is a problem that affects everyone, inside and outside the church. In fact, George Barna says that the fastest growing churches are teaching about marriage, child rearing, finances, and careers. Money is a serious subject, and God is serious about money, which is why we should study closely what he has to tell us.

First Baptist Church Wentzville has something to guide us—a study to take God's wisdom about money and help us apply it to our own lives. It is called Financial Peace University. Imagine what it would be like if people could live out their God-given dreams without money being their limiting factor? How different would our community be if everyone learned how to handle their finances according to the scriptures via the church? For our church members, what if our families were able to fund God’s work and the church had more to invest in missions and service ministries locally and abroad? What if we were able to grow the church completely debt free without building campaigns?

Financial Peace University will help MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Millions of people have gone through Financial Peace University and learned God’s ways of handling money. They’ve worked a plan, rewritten their stories, and changed their futures, all because of this course. On average, FPU graduates pay off $5,300 in debt and save $2,700 in only the first 90 days! As a result, their giving increases by 30%! This is not just a “get out of debt” course either. It also teaches about how save for retirement or college expenses, how to protect your assets, and what to look for in buying and selling homes. FPU consists of a nine-week video curriculum taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey, and it incorporates group discussions that help encourage accountability and discipleship. Groups meet once a week for 90-120 minutes, and the course is just as fun as it is practical!

If you think this is what you have been looking for, contact me at 636-327-8696 M-W, by email at , or go to https://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/classes/1016315/atid/l_ln and sign-up for the classes. The first class is free and childcare is available.

Gary Mills (with excerpts from Dave Ramsey)