“And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.” (Leviticus 26:5)

As we begin a new year, you, like most others, are probably already made resolutions you’d want to make to improve yourself in the year. Additionally, it’s quite understandable that some of your objectives are money-related. This piece could help you whether you want to save more money, pay your debt(s), or do something else important to improve your finances.

What would you ask for if you knew that God would fulfill your every wish? Which would you choose: eternal wealth, a prominent position, or a long life? When God appeared to Solomon and granted him one request, he asked for wisdom. Because God was pleased with his prayer, he became the richest man in history, thereby making him the most intelligent person who ever lived (apart from Jesus). This set a precedent that we should keep in mind while making financial decisions. The right education is the key to financial success.

Every one of the almost two hundred verses in Proverbs devoted to the subject of wealth may be neatly placed into one of these seven classes. A woman of wisdom “has established her house; she has hewn out its seven elements,” as it says in Proverbs 9:1. When you have established the seven elements of godly wisdom in your life, you will be blessed monetarily. If one of them is damaged or missing, your finances will suffer as a believer.

Here are the seven bases:

#1. Recognize the sacred nature of monetary exchange.

Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honour the LORD with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So, shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” God desires that you be prosperous, but He does not want you to put your faith in money. He longs to be the one in whom you have complete faith and hope. When you honor God by giving Him the first fruits of your labor, you eliminate the temptation of materialism from your life.

If we give up our possessions, God promises that He will bless us much more. Matthew 19:29 “And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” The act of tithing, or offering God the first ten percent of one’s earnings, has no detrimental monetary impact. God blesses the remainder, allowing you to make do with 90% of what you had rather than 100%.

#2. Be very diligent and have a great work ethic.

Ecclesiastes 9:10; Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”. Lazy and unproductive people tend to live in poverty. God asks us to give all we’ve got every day. That requires dedicated effort, an optimistic outlook, and smart use of available resources. “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”  (Proverbs 10:4).

There are things God wants you to do, no matter how old you are. The odds of achieving your ultimate goal of becoming wealthy enough to retire and do nothing are low. But if you live intending to glorify God in everything that you do, you will look to Him as the source of your motivation. Then, you may expect financial success along with success in other areas of your life.

#3. Use caution while taking on debt, and never sign for someone else’s loan.

When you take out a loan, the lender becomes your employer. Your weekly time spent trying to repay the debt takes away from the time you might spend enjoying the life God created for you. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7).

How about credit cards? As long as you use them to your advantage and not as a replacement for saving, they’re not awful. Also, make it a habit to pay them off in full every month to avoid paying astronomical interest. If you have a habit of borrowing money, you may use it to buy a car, go on an expensive vacation, or dine at restaurants often. As a general guideline, you shouldn’t take out a loan to pay for consumables that depreciate as soon as you take them home. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as taking out a loan for a viable business that you have experience with. if you have no other way to sustain or expand it. But in the long run, saving and waiting will serve you better if you are an employee.

#4. You should never guarantee another person’s debt or co-sign a note with them.

What a shame it would be to lose such an essential family possession because of a debt you never owe. Never claim ownership over anything that is beyond your ability to change spiritually. Avoid cosigning agreements since doing so is considered unwise in the Bible. “Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?” (Proverbs 22:26-27)

It’s important to be charitable and give to those in need. Those who give freely get greater rewards, whereas those who hoard more than necessary always suffer the consequences of their miserliness (Proverbs 11:24–25). The generous will be rewarded, and those who water will be nourished.

Strive to maintain a low view of yourself and resist the urge to become greedy. God will reward you when you love others and are compassionate toward those who are less fortunate than you.

#5. Seek the counsel of people who has already shown their competence.

If you disregard correction, you’ll end up in obscurity and poverty. Because they learn how to gain and keep their riches, the most successful people are open to instruction in financial matters. “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.” (Proverbs 13:18)

Some people ignore advice because they think they know better or because they’re afraid of seeming foolish if they follow another person’s advice. They choose bankruptcy over asking for help. If you don’t want to keep making the same costly mistakes, it’s best to get the advice of an experienced person in that field.

#6. Avoid schemes that promise instant wealth and instead prioritize fiscal responsibility.

Proverbs 28:20, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” Rather than investing in a “fast scheme to make fast money,” it’s better to be faithful to the things you already have. For God, fidelity is paramount. Furthermore, if anything seems too good to be true, it is most of the time a lie.

Losing all of your money at the casino is a slap in the face for you and your loved ones. After working hard and risking your life to get it, why take the risk of losing it by spending it on something that may not pay off? When buying a lottery ticket, keep in mind whose money you are using. To put it simply, you are only a caretaker; God is the true owner. Try to maintain contentment. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)

#7. Act morally and truthfully in all situations.

Never let the desire to achieve cause you to abandon your morals. Nothing can make up for losing one’s good name or earning God’s wrath. What good is money if you can’t take care of your loved ones and your neighbor? Remember the word of the Lord in Matthew 25:36 which say: “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”

God promises that those who put Him first and live by the precepts from His Word will be successful. “In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.” (Proverbs 15:6)

Start planning for your financial future now to take advantage of the time and growth available to you. Riches come from the Lord because “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22). Shalom!

I hope you have been blessed through this piece, let’s continue the conversation in the comment section. God bless you!