finances- financial freedom

Financial Freedom

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy,

even as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

HOW TO GET FINANCIAL FREEDOM:

It’s time for you and me to have real financial freedom and peace…

Unfortunately, many of us only hope for it!!

For many, Haggai 1:6 is an accurate description of the financial frustration they face:

“You have sown much and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

Do any of these financial conditions apply to you?

1. You sow much, but reap little.
2. You eat, but never seem to have enough.
3. You have clothes and shelter, but it seems like such a struggle.
4. You earn your wages, but the money seems to disappear so quickly.

Well, all of that can change just a few moments from now!

God has called me to give you simple, yet profound, steps to experiencing your financial freedom.

There are very few pressures or points of contention in our lives worse than financial pressure and financial lack. In fact, we are told that FINANCES are one of the main causes of many failed marriages.

Poverty and lack simply means to not have enough. You can have abundance in one area of life and still be experiencing lack in your finances. A person could have enough health, but not enough money. They could have enough friends, but still not enough money. You could spend enough time at your job, or even at TWO jobs and still be lacking.

All of these situations represent poverty or lack, and God never intended for you to live this way. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

You see God is a God of abundance. His name is El Shaddai, which translated means “The God of MORE THAN ENOUGH!” Though the world may have a shortage, your company may have a shortage, your savings account may have a shortage, your checkbook may have a shortage- God never has a shortage!!

He has more than enough for you and me. David said, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

You are His righteousness.
You are not a beggar.
You are going to prosper.
You are going to make it in difficult times!

Allow me to show you how. But first, let me say that there are no shortcuts – you really don’t need one. The reason people put themselves in a position to be desperate for a shortcut is because they don’t do things God’s way to begin with. Let’s look at an earlier verse in Haggai 1:5.

Before God tells His people their problem, He tells them how to avoid it in verse 5: “Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways!” Again after explaining the problem He repeats Himself in verse 7 saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways!”

So we see here that we need to look at the way we are doing things so we can identify where we are messing up and how we can fix it.

I also want to dispel the myth here that merely giving an offering is somehow a quick fix to all of our financial needs. While giving an offering is surely a part of God’s plan, it cannot stand alone without following the rest of God’s plan for your financial freedom and success.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God (His way of doing things) and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”

Let’s follow some simple steps:

1. Giving and sowing our seed is definitely the first key to doing things God’s way. God is a giver. He gave His Son and received millions of sons back as His harvest. Furthermore, He has made us in His image, and it is the desire of every born-again believer to want to give. It is instinctively inside of each of us consciously or subconsciously that something good always happens when you give.

2. Next, I want to encourage you to watch your spending. We must be careful not to over-spiritualize our financial situation and realize that there are some natural steps we can take to have financial success in troubled times. The key here is to have a simple budget where you are regularly spending less than what you are bringing in. You cannot violate this principle and expect good things to happen. If that means you must give up some creature comforts for a season, that’s okay. Better to pay now and play later, rather that play now and pay later; because when you pay later, the price is always greater. (Some people play now- and then pray later, but prayer without wisdom is not God’s plan!!) Credit cards are a perfect example of this. You always end up paying more when you use a credit card to purchase something that you don’t have the money to buy.

I would encourage you to set some solid boundaries for yourself, like cutting up your credit cards and keeping one in your car for emergency use only. ( A new dress you always wanted does not qualify as an emergency!)

Jesus said the Spirit of the Lord had anointed Him to preach the Gospel to the poor….and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Favor here means “jubilee”, a time in which all debt was canceled and eliminated.

3. Third, I want to show you how to get promoted and how to make it nearly impossible to ever be fired again!

A. Be a servant. In any business, service is the key. If you outdo your competition in service and cleanliness and helpfulness in each situation, you will be hard to get rid of.

B. Attitude. An attitude of genuine happiness, commitment and positive thinking will always keep you in demand.

C. Watch your words. They should always build up-never tear down. Your words should create hope, faith and positive goals for yourself and your company.

D. Never complain.

E. Be diligent, fast and efficient. Lazy people will always be out of work.

F. Keep your word. Never lie. Every company wants people in it who can be trusted. When trust is broken, so is your value.

4. Re-evaluate your savings and investments. Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 says that you should diversify. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Invest in land if you can. Invest in things that will always be in demand. People will always need to eat. They will always need a place to live, a house or an apartment building. They will always need doctors, lawyers or groceries, etc. Stay away from “get-rich-quick schemes.” Jesus said, “As you are faithful with the little, you will be put in charge over much.” (Matthew 25:21)

5. If you have a job, keep your resume current. Look into starting an honest and legitimate business in your home while keeping your current job.

6. Finally, let me give you five financial secrets from John the Baptist in Luke 3:11-14:

Luke 3:11
A. Start every business or every year of life by giving something away. Realize that what you have been given by God is to share.

Luke 3:13
B. Never take advantage of a person’s misfortune or vulnerable situation.

Luke 3:14
C. Do not pressure people for a sale or make decisions out of desperation or financial struggle.

Luke 3:14
D. Never accuse or criticize employers, employees or your competition.

Luke 3:14
D. Be satisfied with your wages. Always be thankful, never ungrateful or bitter-look to God as your Source, not man!

Life Changers - Gregory Dickow