Garwood Presbyterian Church

A Plan For Financial Success

Proverbs 21:5, Proverbs 30:7-9, I Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5
#2 In "God's Guidelines For Financial Success"

Review: Last Sunday we learned that "The Foundation For Financial Success" is to transfer all of our money and possessions to God, and to then live as a steward for Him.

1. You Need a Plan to Have Financial Success
   1. The plan has one important rule for you to have financial success.
   2. Virtually our entire society says that you do not have to keep this rule and it entices you not to do so. They are wrong.
   3. The number one rule for financial success is that you must live below your income.
      1. If your income is high, then you can live at a high standard of living.
      2. But if your income is low, then you must live at a low standard of living.
      3. It is possible to live below your income whatever it is.
2. The Biblical Standard of Living and Needs Versus Wants
   1. What standard of living does the Bible say we can have?
      1. Most Christians are simply living by the standard presented by our society, and not only do not know the answer to this question, they are not even asking this question.
      2. The standard of living that the Bible says we should have and be content with is to have food, something to drink, and clothing.
         1. Proverbs 30:7-9
         2. I Timothy 6:8
         3. Matthew 6:25-33
   2. Therefore, according to the Bible, our genuine needs are for food, drink, and clothing.
      1. Everything else is not a need or necessity, but a "want" and optional to have.
   3. We do not live even close to this standard, but many people of the world are forced to.
      1. More than 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day.
      2. About 900 million people in the world go to bed hungry and suffer from malnutrition.
      3. 8-15 million people do not even have that much food and starve to death each year.
      4. How do you think God feels about this, while our homes are filled with so many things?
      5. This is another reason why we should live below our income.
3. To Live Below Your Income, Use a Budget
   1. Proverbs 21:5
   2. Like the one on the bottom of this page.
   3. Also follow the guidelines that are given of what percentage to spend on each category.
4. If You Find It Too Difficult to Live Below Your Income, Then Raise Your Income
   1. The best way to do this Biblically is to find your purpose in life from God and to then live it out as your income earning job.
   2. This will give you tremendous motivation and energy to do it very well, and most likely to earn a very good income because of your excellence.
5. Living Below Your Income Is Not Just a Financial Decision
   1. It will also help your emotional condition and relationships.
   2. Living above our income causes emotional and relational stress.
      1. Over half of the marriages that end in divorce do so because of financial problems.
   3. Do yourself an emotional favor and give your marriage a blessing by living below your income.

Conclusion: To have financial success, it is necessary to live below your income.
I will live below my income. _____I will not live below my income. _____

Download the Budget sheet (pdf)