GOOD MANAGEMENT OF FINANCES
Good management of resources solves the lack problem. To be a good
manager of resources the following is important:
1. Possess a stewardship mentality
We must understand God owns all, we are just stewards. The parable
of the talent in Matthew chapter 25 reveals this to us.
“... who called his own servants and
delivered his goods to them”
It is true the goods are in our possession but ownership is still
in the hands of God as King David the Psalmist said
“The earth is the LORD'S, and
the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Everything you own comes from God and it is out of His benevolence
that you partake of these earthly goods.
“A
man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”
Since God owns it all we should be mindful of how we handle the
blessings He gives us.
2. Cultivate the right spending habits
Real wealth is measured by your net
worth not
by your realized income. For the purpose of creating wealth
your income doesn’t matter much, but your spending habit does.
Therefore you need wise and prudent spending habits.
Your net worth simply is the difference between your assets and
liabilities; while your realized income is what you earn as salary or income
from your business. The rule is ‘DO NOT SPEND WHAT YOU HAVE NOT
EARNED!’
The implication is that some of us need to review and change our
current spending habits, for instance some people are unemployed yet they spend
a lot of money buying recharge cards for phone calls; while some will need to
improve on their spending habits as they currently over spend, beyond what they
earn.
How to improve your spending habits:
1) Keep a budget
A budget is a plan on how to spend the money available over a
period of time. In putting together a budget you must differentiate between
your needs and your wants. Your needs are necessities e.g. food, clothing and
shelter; you cannot do without them. On the other hand wants are not essentials
and so you can do without them or defer to a later time in order to make the
most of your money today.
Many times wants get in the way of saving, for
instance acquiring the latest jewelry or shoes instead of saving for your
rent! In putting together a budget your needs are more important than
wants.
You plan for now – what
you need to spend now and what is needed in the future. In other words in a
carefully developed plan a portion of current income is to be set aside for the
future. It is the amounts set aside for the future that you save and invest.
When making investments it is important you make enquiries first.
Advantages of a budget:
A budget helps gain control of spending. You already decide what
you want and how much you want to spend. It encourages savings and investment,
this consequently helps our stewardship.
2) Be Accountable
You need to keep an account of your spending. From the records you
can determine the quality of your stewardship. Your spending reveals a lot
about you. Waste is avoided when you keep records as you have the opportunity
to review how you have spent your money in the past and make the necessary
adjustments for the future.
A few years ago I observed from our records that as a family we
were spending too much on bank charges; as a family my husband and I each had
current accounts. This led to the decision to maintain one current account and
the other was changed to a premium saving account. We also cancelled all
standing orders on the accounts as this also attracted charges. The point is
when you keep records you have a credible basis to review your spending and
thereby make the necessary adjustments that will lead to wealth creation rather
than running a hyper consumption lifestyle.
ENEMIES OF FINANCIAL PLANNING
This answers the question why people have a problem planning?
Lack of knowledge
Knowledge is key if you are to win the war over lack and want. As
Bishop David Oyedepo put it “Financial liberty is a product of light
and not luck!”
One can therefore say “You don’t have a ‘not
enough’ problem. You only lack knowledge on how to
use wisely the money you already have.” I believe this is why the scriptures
say
“...through knowledge shall the just be delivered.”
It is insights that bring about great heights! You will be
surprised how a small insight on any issue of life can change your life for
good. With the appropriate knowledge on handling of finances wisely and
applying such knowledge, ordinary people can become wealthy individuals living
well!
Misconceptions about financial planning
Many people have difficulty in financial planning as a result of
misconceptions about savings and investments.
SAVINGS:
The question frequently asked is “Is it scriptural to save as
Christians?”
The answer to that is a resounding YES!
The book of Proverbs gives us a pictorial illustration which serves as
an insight.
“Go to the ant... consider her ways, and be
wise ...having no guide...Provideth her meat...and gathereth her food in the
harvest.”
The reason for this misconception is because people have mixed up
“storing” or “saving” with hoarding. There is a world of difference between the
two.
Storing is positioning yourself so that you are able to respond to
a need. Ask yourself are my savings something I store as a steward
of what God has given me?
Hoarding is when keeping becomes your security. Something not to
be shared but saved as a result of fear. This results
in worshiping the goods instead of the giver of the goods.
INVESTMENTS:
Another question asked is “Can Christians invest?”
Again the answer to that is YES!
God’s guarantee of provisions does not disqualify us
from making wise investments. Neither does Jesus impending return excuse us
from the requirement to exercise good stewardship. Jesus at one time in
sending out His disciples on an assignment said “carry no script.” But
when He was leaving His disciples after His earthly ministry He instructed“But
now…take purse”.
As a matter of fact when teaching on stewardship, Jesus in the parable
of the ten talents as cited in the book of Luke, implied the least the
unfaithful servant could have done was to invest the money in the bank if he
could not trade with it!
“Wherefore then gavest not
...my money into the bank ... I might have... usury?”
Investments have to be done with a lot of caution today as people
have lost money even on stocks. Therefore, in making investment decisions a lot
of consultations need to be made especially with professionals before parting
with your hard earned money. Again a wise man once said
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they
succeed; Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain
guidance”
In conclusion, Personal financial planning is a process of
planning, monitoring and reevaluation of financial plans. In short it is the
administration of your personal finances. Proper administration of finances
does not have to do with the amount BUT has to do with the HABIT you embrace in
the handling of finances! You are a product of your financial habits and you
will not have more than you already have without cultivating proper financial
habits that encourage spending wisely and saving for future consumption.
God bless you!
Joy Ajibade is an
accomplished and well-versed chartered accountant. Please feel free to contact
her for further clarifications on this subject @ joyajibade@yahoo.com
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