Pastor, I need financial help. These are words that come through my office several times a year due to unforeseen circumstances and great needs. The truth is, when these requests come in, I also find myself thinking about how many other people around me are in need of financial help, are in need of financial advice.
We live in a world where many folks are spending more than they are bringing in each month. They are living paycheck to paycheck at best, and so when extraordinary circumstances come up, they don't know what to do. I am happy that we are a generous church that can help folks, but I also think we, as a society, need to rethink our relationship to money. The best advice I can give is 10-10-80. Give ten percent to God. Put ten percent into savings for needs that will come in the future, and then live on the remaining 80 percent (or in an ideal world less than that). We need to stop seeing every cent earned as ours to spend here and now as we like and instead think about what our relationship with money should look like and more importantly, what it means.
Will 10-10-80 solve all our problems? No. But it does help keep our heart and wallet in check. What financial practices do you find best help you focus on God and reflect your faith?
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