There are some people that will say. I simply cannot save I am barely making ends meet. If this is true this means that the salary/income you receive is only spent on basic necessities. Meaning you are not eating out, going to the movies, renting movies, or buying so much as a candy bar. You are simply spending on food, shelter, clothing, car gas etc. This may seem far fetched but if you feel the price of gas is too high, maybe you should start car pooling or taking public transportation. I don't care how you do it, you can save. At a family gathering my uncle said something that was profound to me. He said he started saving pennies until he could save nickels, nickels until he could save dimes, dimes until he could save quarters, quarters until he could save dollars and so on... So yes, you can save I don't care if it is $1/month the point is to do it and start somewhere.
Here is a great story from the bible about being a good steward, saving, investing and increase:
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The guy who hid his one gold coin reminds me of the poverty mentality. I only have this little and I must hold on to it and keep it safe for fear of losing it. Well what if it was invested and multiplied? You will never know if you bury your treasure.
Here are other scriptures to reference on finances and money...
Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
Luke 14:28-30 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish."
Luke 16:10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."
Ecclesiastes 5:5 "It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay."
Ecclesiastes 11:2 "Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth."
Matthew 6:31-32 "Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."
2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed;"
Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
There are many more scriptures to explore, a lot of them can be found http://christianpf.com/money-in-the-bible/
If we are not good stewards over what God has already entrusted us with, why are we expecting more and increase?
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
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