Embrace Wisdom in Your Home (3)

by Pastor Faith Oyedepo, Week 4, August, 2006

Dear Reader,

Calvary greetings to you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! May the peace of the Lord be with you in Christ Jesus! For the past weeks now, I have been teaching on wisdom in your home. Last week, I showed you how to walk in the wisdom of God in your home as a woman. This week, I want to teach on Wisdom for Effective Money Management in the Home.

What is Money’

The Oxford Dictionary defines money as medium of exchange. Webster’s Dictionary defines money as anything that serves as a medium of exchange for goods and services in the form of tokens, which have a value, established by a commonly recognized authority. So, money is a legal tender accepted for exchange of goods and services received or tendered. Money can be earned via products and services. What you don’t earn, you can’t maintain.

What is Management’

The American Heritage Dictionary defines management as the act, or practice of managing, handling, supervision, or control. Money is a vital aspect of family life. It has put homes asunder but that does not have to be the case, if God’s wisdom is applied. The Word of God says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5).

You need to embrace God’s wisdom for money management in your home. The lack and want you are experiencing presently in your home could be as a result of lack of wisdom. God has said concerning your home that, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee (Hebrews 6:14). He also said, The home of the righteous he blesses (Proverbs 3:33 AAT). He also said, And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens (Proverbs 27:27-28:1).

I am glad to let you know that God is not slow concerning His promises for your home. You only need to apply his wisdom because what you have is enough if you can think well. As my husband will always say, “Life is in phases and men are in sizes”. It is very important for you to agree with the phase by phase lifting and provisions of God in your life and family per time. Know your financial level per time; eat your size, wear your size and sleep your size per time. To do all these, you need the wisdom of God to know and follow His instructions concerning what He has blessed you with.

Wisdom for Creativity

Remember, labour minus wisdom equals frustration, lack, want and poverty. The wisdom you are receiving today will set you free from lack and want in Jesus’ name. God has given you brain so that He can rest. He has given the gift of sound mind to always know what to do per time. The Word of God says, But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). This mind was present at creation and it will enable you to always know what to do with what you have. Eccl 10:10 says,

but wisdom is profitable to direct.

Wisdom for Planning and Accountability

As a family, it is very important for you to have a laid down rule for spending and earning money. It is a fact that those who fail in life failed because they failed to plan. Planning is a vital requirement if you desire financial sufficiency. So, you need to plan out your family’s weekly and monthly expenditure. The Word of God says, For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it’ Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him ( Luke 14:28-29). The word ‘Sitteth down first’ – means to map out a plan. If you don’t, impulsive spending can lead to insufficiency and financial embarrassment.

You need to be accountable, not just to yourself, but first to God who is the supplier of all your provision and money and to your spouse who is your partner in the home. List out your income, your expenses and review them from time to time to assess whether your financial transactions are prudent or whether you need to adjust your spending pattern in order not to spend money foolishly. Make a monthly, weekly and daily budget and record your spending.

Wise Spending

In spending money, DISCIPLINE is a major requirement. It means not only being able to ascertain the things needed but buying them first before other items. Avoid indebtedness for God hates it. “Owe no man anything…. (Romans 1:8). You can be free from debt. You need to mix prudence with contentment and enjoy great gain (I Timothy 6:6). Please, live your size per time and teach your children the same. Cut off from friends who drive you to live above your means. Don’t bring sorrow into your home by being a borrower (Proverbs 22:7).

How Do I Earn Money’

Each member of the family should be gainfully employed in order to earn money. You need to discourage idleness. The Word of God says, This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). If you are not working, you are not permitted to eat. There is dignity in labour (Proverbs 13:11). Below is a testimony from a brother:

“I was jobless and got fed up with life but a friend brought me to church. At church I said, ‘Lord, I need to be doing a job. I am fed up with total dependence on my father. God give me what I will do.’ Immediately I heard a voice say, ‘Go to your friend, borrow a camera and start snapping pictures for Christmas.’ I obeyed, got a camera from my friend and took many shots. To God be the glory, today, from that borrowed camera, I now have my own 4 professional cameras with zoom lens! The most surprising aspect of it is that I never learnt photography. The Holy Spirit taught me how to use the professional camera in just one week, what some people use 2 or 3 years to learn. I see God giving you your own testimony too!

– Adewuyi D.

It takes the mind of Christ to manage your family finance. To have what it takes to have the mind of Christ, you need to give your life to Christ. You need to say this prayer and be born again: Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today.