A Wise Steward's Plan

By Charles F. Stanley

Do you react and respond to financial pressures? Or do you plan in advance how to allocate your resources? God desires for each of us to handle our money in ways that honor Him. Instead of making decisions based on circumstances, believers should consider the future.

In Luke 14:28-30, Jesus said, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” These verses contain an important financial principle. Without careful preparation, we are unlikely to use our money in ways that please God. We may find ourselves ill-equipped for emergencies or unable to embrace opportunities to serve the Lord.

Financial planning is an essential part of setting goals. Money affects so many areas of life. That’s why, when you’ve determined God’s will for your life, it is wise to consider what funds will be needed to go ahead with His plan, His way. For instance, a person who feels called to the mission field may first want to repay any debts. You may say, “But doesn’t the Bible say that money is the root of all evil?” No, it says the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (2 Tim.6:9-10). Wealth is simply a tool, an inanimate entity used in trade.

Financial planning is also a means of economic protection. Having a well-designed budget protects us from making impulsive purchases. Without comparison shopping, you are unlikely to get a good deal, and the item might not be the best quality. Sometimes people use shopping as a distraction from their troubles, or as momentary "self-medication" for depression or loneliness. But ultimately, impulse purchases can’t meet our emotional needs—although we often think they can. Many times, if we wait to make a purchase, we later realize we don’t want or need it.

Financial planning protects us from misplaced priorities. When there is no goal, we spend money where the pressure is greatest. An individual asks, “What is the biggest need? Or, what is my strongest desire?” rather than, “What does the Lord want me to do with my income?” Those who fail to plan often find that they have no funds left to accomplish the Lord’s will. Believers may miss out on opportunities to help others, support missions, or serve God in other ways when their finances aren’t in order.

Financial planning protects us from indebtedness. Some people get into trouble by spending impulsively and running up their credit card balance. Others get into debt because they fail to plan how to use the resources God gives them. In a typical month, they spend everything they earn. But a wisely planned budget sets aside money for future expenses. The result should be that we rarely use credit cards or loans to pay for expenses such as car repairs, medical bills, tuition, or home improvement.

Financial planning protects us from misusing our God-given possessions. Without a goal, we are prone to spend where we feel the most pressure. We take a short-sighted view of our funds and waste money when we should be saving. Or we hoard our wealth instead of giving it away. Every believer needs to learn how to be a good steward (Luke 16:10-12). All we have is from the Lord—including our job skills—and we are accountable to Him for how we use our resources.

If you don’t already have clear financial goals, I encourage you to seek the Lord. Then prayerfully set objectives for your life, including how you will handle money. Create a budget that includes saving for unexpected costs and giving to the Lord’s work. Be sure to break larger goals into smaller, more attainable ones so that you won’t get discouraged. For instance, let’s say your goal is to get out of debt. Begin by taking small steps, such as working toward paying off one of your lower-balance credit cards or loans so that you can see progress.

A well-designed plan is like a map. It doesn’t prevent every wrong turn, but it will provide you with an idea of where you are headed. A biblical financial plan will help you take advantage of opportunities to give, and it will protect you from most financial pitfalls. Best of all, financial planning with scriptural truth in mind will help you obey the Lord’s command to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20).