JULY 27, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – BE WISE WITH YOUR SPENDING
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Tuesday, July 27, 2021.
BE WISE WITH YOUR SPENDING
Read: Luke 16:1-2
Luke 16:1-2 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
MEMORISE:
There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it (Proverbs 22:20)
EXPOSITION
Fools spend money as fast as they get it, but wise men are disciplined and slow about spending, and always save some of all income. Your spending habit is crucial for financial success. Income is not as important; you can waste a high income as easily as you can waste a low income. Wise men have foresight and self-discipline to avoid bad habits and impulsive spending and save some of their income.
Benjamin Franklin said, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” If you spend one penny less this month, it is like earning another penny. But in a 50% marginal tax bracket, spending a penny less is like earning two pennies. If you account for other marginal factors like giving, savings, and certain expenses, denying a purchase can be several pennies.
The best way to limit spending is to pay God 10%; pay yourself 10% into savings and pay all living expenses. You may then spend any money left as you wish! You will quickly begin to accumulate treasure.
Beyond monetary income, is there anything else you are wasting? What about your time? What about your marriage? What about your children’s training? What about the truth of God that He reveals to you through creation, providence, conscience and the scripture? Do you save them, or let them run out of your mind?
God approves of foresight and restraint. We need to examine our lifestyle to see whether our spending is God-pleasing or merely self-pleasing. God is pleased with those who wisely accept a lower standard of living than go into debt and live beyond their means.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, endow me with the wisdom to be disciplined and slow about spending, and always save some of all income.
2. Lord Jesus, give me victory over bad financial habits and impulsive spending.
3. O Lord, grant all Christians the grace to wisely accept a lower standard of living than go into debt and live beyond their means, in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Job 14:10 – 16:15; Acts 21:35 – 22:16