Finances

Financial Teachings Page:

Did you know that there are over 2300 Bible verses about finances and stewardship? This is not by accident. And the good news is that, the more we understand God’s plan to impact our finances (and therefore, the world), the more we can experience life to the fullest!

Here you will find dozens of blogs and teachings that will help you steward God’s resources in supernatural ways.

BLOGS TO READ: 

“How to Manage Your Money – So it Doesn’t Manage You!” (My Top Blog on Financial Health) Most people aren’t stingy, just strapped. But why? After watching the wealth habits of many godly people, I came up with a list of  “Financial Rules of Thumb” that will create peace! No matter your age, and no matter what mistakes you’ve made, if you start to employ these habits, God will bless you – to be blessing!  [Click Here]

“Become a Millionaire with a Few Small Decisions About Cars” One simple decision about cars can make you a multi-millionaire – regardless of your income, job, or education! But will you make it? Pastor Peter borrows a lesson from financial guru, Dave Ramsey. You will never see cars the same!   [Click Here]

“Financial Tips for Young Adults – The Best Decisions During & After College” How much college debt is too much? Between student loans and real world jobs, what are the best financial decisions a young adult could make in their 20’s after college? The good news is that, everyone under 25 could easily be a multi-millionaire with a few simple habits. Yet, why then, do so few people do these things?   [Click Here]


“What does the Bible really teach about Tithes and Firstfruits?”  Did you know there are actually three different tithes in the Bible? And they are all quite distinct from the practice of first-fruits. God promised his people that, if they would do these systems of giving, they would over-take the world through generosity and compassion, not politics or war. And these systems were practiced all the way up through the New Testament. So what are they? And why doesn’t anyone talk about them?  [Click Here]

 

But what are some of your financial disciplines that have made the biggest impact?

FINANCIAL RULES OF THUMB

  • Early on, Always Prioritize things that Appreciate (grow in value) verses Depreciate (lose value). Appreciative things  are generally houses, mutual funds, real-estate, collectibles. Depreciative things  are cars, furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing. In fact, newer cars (less than 5 years old) can be one of the biggest depreciating assets the average person could own. Most new cars lose 25% of their value when you drive them off the lot! And they often lose 60% of their value in the first five years![5] Owning a car in the first five years of its life generally costs an extra $20 a day. That’s $25,000 in the trash every five years. Now, instead: if you put 25k into investments by 25 years old, you’d have over 12 million dollars by the time you retired – even if you never put another dollar into it! [6]  Young people often ask me:  “Does a college education appreciate?” Honestly, it’s way more complex because, it depends on your school and degree! (And if you’re curious, I have an entire blog called “Financial tips for young adults”)
  • Always pay off credit cards 100% every month – Never use it as a loan as it’s the worst type of loan! If you must get a loan, only get them for things that appreciate – not trips, cars, electronics, etc. And even then, don’t use a credit card to do it. For example, if you must get a loan, use “home-equity loans” instead of credit cards. Or talk to a smart financial friend about the other types of loan options that are safer and lower interest.
  • Always have 3-6 months of your salary in a rainy-day fund. This may sound impossible for many of you at the current moment. And if this is you, we encourage you to take a Dave Ramsey “Financial Peace University” class here at Substance to show you how to get here. In fact, the average person who goes through it pays off over $5300 of debt in just 90 days! But, here’s why this is a critical rule of thumb: Statistically, most couples have a major financial set-back every decade (eg., a medical expense, a job loss, etc.) So, by having financial margin, you can purchase “peace” (See Prov. 21:20). Don’t wait for a crisis. Plan for it, and punch it in the face! And this is similar to my next rule of thumb:
  • “Financial Maps avoid Financial Traps“  I once had a friend who racked up a lot of credit card debt. They told me:

“I didn’t have a choice because, my car broke down and then my grandpa died – so I needed to buy a plane ticket to his funeral.”

Of course, at that time, my friend wasn’t ready to hear the fact that: unexpected problems occur every year! And you can often anticipate them in advance.

For example, the average car costs $800 a year in maintenance and requires $1200 a year in repairs. Thus, if you simply budgeted $2000 a year for car-maintenance, your “disaster” could’ve merely been a “downer.” I.e., your budget can cushion your breakdown. Or, I like to say: “A plan can prevent a pinch!”

            And I get it: Getting a budget is irritating – especially if you’re not a very organized person. But guess what? Pain is not an option! The pain of “planning and prevention” is much better than the pain of “reaction and devastation.” For example,

statistically, the average person has a predictable number of weddings / funerals / car repairs etc. every single year. Thus, it’s better to avoid these financial traps by getting financial maps! Again, pain is not an option. But the pain of prevention is always easier than the pain of regret! Or to put it another way: The tuition for the school of hard-knocks is always more expensive than the school of wisdom!  It’s time to change your alma mater!

  • Never spend more than 25% of your income on your home mortgage. If you do, you’ll become “house-poor.” I.e., You won’t have an adequate amount of money to plan for other things that make life work. I realize that this can be frustrating and difficult (especially if you’re a first time home buyer, or you live in a high priced area). It’s OK to have a dream-house in your heart. But, it’s critical that you allow God to give it to you at the appropriate time. Embrace the humility of a starter home – or you’ll experience the humiliation of being house-poor. Financial experts like Dave Ramsey recommend that people also get 20% equity into their house (E.g, on a $500k house, own at least, $100k of it). The reason is so that, when housing bubbles bust (and they do), you can avoid getting an upside down mortgage (owe more on the house than it’s worth).[7] Of course, if you’re a first time home-buyer, it can feel impossible to save up a 20% down-payment. Thus, I say, 5-10% down is acceptable for first-time homebuyers. However, make it a priority to get this up to 20% as soon as possible.
  • Always put God first in your finances: “Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [that the pagans run after] will be given to you as well.” (Mt. 6:33). Indeed, I could sum up what the Bibles teaches on giving  like this:  Save 10% your entire life. Give 10% of your income through your local church. And be generous on every occasion. And when we do, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” 2 Cor. 9:8. Indeed, my wife and I have always tried to live on less than 75% of our income (no matter how small it was). And it’s crazy how many miracles we’ve experienced.

“But Peter, what if I’ve already screwed everything up!”  Well, it’s never too late to start! Even if you are currently 40 years old, if you started saving 10% each year, the interest alone would net you $45,000 / year by the time you retire.[8] Dave Ramsey even claims that, if you’re willing to live disciplined for 12 years, he can guarantee you’ll be a millionaire if you do his seven steps with a vengeance.[9] But, even if you’re 75 years old, the Bible promises that the righteous will never be forsaken! (Psm. 37:25). God will always add supernatural opportunities to us when we put him first (2 Cor. 9:8; Mt. 6:33).

Now, I can’t say that all of the above things were easy to do! My kids were “the last in their school” to get Iphones (or, so they told me, haha). My family of five shared one small bathroom with one pedestal sink for many years. We had to shower in shifts! (And this was after Substance was already meeting in four locations!) So, trust me: we had to make a lot of sacrifices to build what we’ve built.  But, Dave Ramsey’s words were proven true:  “If you live like no one else now, you can live like no one else later.” God has given us an abundance that is truly fun! And I want the same for you too!

So let me pray for you:

Lord, you see this person’s heart. And your word says that, “you send both poverty and wealth” (1 Sam 2:7). And it’s not because you’re mean. Indeed, you want us to live life to the fullest (John 10:10). But you love us too much to bless us with resources that can also destroy us. So, Father, give us the stewardship that can enable you to trust us with more. Give us the integrity that can sustain the weight of your dreams! Surround us with mentors and fill us with the self-discipline to truly bring you glory in this area. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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