Money and the Bible | Personal Finances From the Perspective of Godமாதிரி

PLANNING, CONTROL, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

One of the most essential pillars of effective financial management - diligent stewardship over the resources that God has placed before us - is planning. Is God a God of planning? Could God have made the world in one day, but chose to make it in seven? Yes, He rejoices and teaches us to plan, for well-crafted plans lead us to abundance.

When we talk about planning, the first thing to understand is our finances. It's impossible to plan something you don't comprehend. You need to know your finances, your revenue, and your expenditures. Generally, we only focus on what comes in. We don't seem to have insight of where our resources are going or how much we are spending. To do this, start by writing it down. By putting it on paper, you will have an overview. It doesn't matter where - an app, a notebook, or a spreadsheet. The important thing is to know the details of your revenue and expenses.

The second thing to do when planning is to make a budget and follow it closely. It doesn't matter the level of complexity, whether divided into fixed or monthly expenses. Nor does it matter the how often, whether monthly or annual. The important thing is to know the "size of your step." Knowing if you can take on some duties is essential to understand your financial standard of living. While structuring your budget, be realistic. Don't forget about the small expenses, because they will be the villains of your budget.

Thirdly, be sure to plan for your old age. We have to be diligent in investing in our future. If everything goes well in our lives, we are confident that we will grow old. The question is how? Have a plan to seek passive income, financial independence, and freedom in your future. We must also be zealous and leave our families with support. Be sure to plan for unforeseen events and possible premature death or disability, especially if you have financial dependents.

In addition to planning, we have to hold ourselves accountable for the resources God gives us. Even as children, we must act with stewardship and faithfulness, honoring God and being smart with the use of money. Have someone hold you accountable. Make a commitment to them to have no secrets and be totally transparent.

Finally, plan and diversify your investments. Invest in various places and different businesses because we don't know what crisis can happen in the world. Make a reserve fund and do not make a speculative investment. Create goals and invest with purpose.

The most important thing is to start. Be aware of procrastination and don't leave it for tomorrow. Start small, but start today. Let us be wise like ants who keep food in the summer, preparing for winter. Laziness walks so slowly that poverty does not have to work hard to reach it.

APPLICATION

Put on paper your inputs and outputs. Know your finances. Set milestones and objectives about your budget. Choose someone to hold you accountable and start now.