Savings Day – Meet Goals With Saving Challenges

Did you know you’re a manager of God’s stuff?

It’s required in stewards that we be found faithful. That means knowing what we’re supposed to do and following through with that knowledge. God’s provided plenty of instruction because He loves us. We can study the Bible to learn what our management should look like. One of the principles He gives us is saving money. In Proverbs, He tells us to consider the ant. It works and sets aside what’s necessary to meet future needs. I’ll never forget the day I wrote a check for my 2007 4-Runner. I still drive it! It’s a visual reminder that God’s financial principles work, and they’re for our own good!

Now too often we use credit – the reverse of saving, to get what we want when we want it. We confuse our wants and needs, and end up loaded with debt and stress. God’s Word teaches us to sacrifice in the short-term to attain long-term goals. Now there are two and a half months left in this year. Want to see how much you can save? First, set a goal. It could be for emergency savings, a down-payment on a house, a car, or for Christmas. Ask the Lord for self-control so you can fight the temptations to spend money unnecessarily. Then, challenge yourself and your spouse to reach that goal. Make your 2 ½ month plan. Here’s some examples:

• Meal-Planning Challenge: don’t eat out, buy groceries and cook at home. 

• The No-Spending Challenge: limit spending to basic needs only. 

• Or the Addiction Challenge: stop buying lattes, cigarettes, alcohol, and lottery tickets. Then, bank the savings and set some new goals!   

If you’re struggling with credit card debt, I recommend Christian Credit Counselors. They’ll create a debt management plan specifically for you. For more information, call the Crown Helpline: 800-722-1976 or visit online at crown.org/ccc.