You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. - The Bible
Our forefathers taught us how to live a life of discipline and how to control our passionate & spirit. The modern technology is teaching us how to satisfy our passion instantly. We don't have to know about what we are buying. We don't have to touch it. We just have to see and as long as it is pleasing in the websites we just click it and it will be delivered to our home. Yes, we live in the world of Instant gratification for everything. Though modern online portals offer conveniences, it also provides a variety of opportunities to buy more than what we need.
Today we buy even when we don't have money to pay. The lending organizations taught us the concept of "buying now and pay it later". We don't have to be morally responsible and calculate how much we earn and how much we can pay while buying. There are credit cards that provide a few negligible percentages of cashback. Yes, there will be points, miles, and credit rating associated with it. The discipline our forefathers taught us went flying out of our window.
Here are a few ways we can avoid debt.
How much is it really worth?
A few years ago I was talking to a Chief Technology Officer of the world's best selling television. He had mentioned the shelf life of a Premium TV model his company makes is less than a year or possibly max two years. The TV model can be sold at a premium price only for a few months. Then its worth rapidly falls almost to manufacturing cost after the initial period. Most of the gadgets can be bought at much less price if people are only willing to wait for a few months. The marketing team knows it. They try to sell the maximum number of pieces by giving maximum publicity during the initial period to make the best profit out of it. But at times we stand in the queue to get it the first day.
What is important? Value or Brand.
Are you a value buyer or a brand buyer? The branded items cost money irrespective of quality. The value is decided based on the usage of a product. Most of the mobile phones are good enough to talk and text. Hence it fits the value. But the branded products can give additional pleasure and at times unique image. But is the pleasure and identity worth the price?
Give it to God What is His
Bible says, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's". There is a great blessing in giving not only money but our time and talents to God. Bible recommends us to give a minimum of 10% of our income for God and his ministry. The same bible advises everyone to give what is due to our Government. The taxes due to the Government has to be paid in full without hiding anything. God will bless our truthfulness. Whatever happens in our life we must keep ourselves God's good books.
Saving vs Earning
The ratio of saving and earning is recommended by experts is minimum 10%. Some of the countries in the world provide good retirement benefits. They take care of their citizens in their old age. But in other nations the individual has to earn and save it for their retirement. Hence each one needs to save some money for old-age benefits. We might need more medicines and our visits to the hospital might increase when we grow old. Hence saving during our young age by focusing on retirement is important. It has to be thought through much earlier.
Invest what you save :
As inflation fluctuates through time, it is important to invest (not only save) what we earn. If you are young you can focus on high-risk investments such as equity. As you get older, it would be good to shift it towards low and moderate risk investment portfolio.
The Best place to Store treasure is not earth:
What we store on earth remains in the earth. The money we earned and the property we bought will remain on earth after we die. Hence every one of us needs to save something for our eternal life. It's more important to store our treasures for eternal life than for our retirement life. Someone said like this, "The only way to wire transfer our money to heaven is to give it back to God portion of what he has given it to us". How do we save something for eternal life? We can share our happiness with others. Give it to someone who does not have. Make them smile. Give it to God what is his. Give it to Him not out of compulsion but out of love. God will never allow us to enter into debt, when we love and follow Him.
Dear Friends, Jesus came to earth to make us free. Free from our past mistakes, from false habits, wrong thoughts, and financial troubles. Can you surrender your life to Him and live your life by following him. He will bless our earning. Even if it's small he will multiply it. We will eat and satisfy with your earning. Everyone will be happy and you will be a blessing for others. Bible Says, "you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none."
Can we ask God to give us a new heart. Let's plead with him to give us the wisdom to spend our money wisely. Let's pray.
Dear Jesus, give me the wisdom to handle my finances. Help me to give what is yours and wisely spend the resources you have given. At times I am not able to control my buying habits. Please help me. Change my heart. Help me to be content with what I have. You are my provider. Everything I have received is provided by you. Teach me how to save, spend, and give. Hold my hands and walk with me. Help me to make wise choices. Forgive my past mistakes. I have spent so much money without consulting you. From today, you are my master. I will consult with you before making any major financial decisions. I pray, in Jesus's mighty name, Amen.
Dear Friend, Jesus wants to make you His own child. Ask for forgiveness for your past life. Jesus will forgive you. He will renew your life and lead you like a father lead His own child. Please humble you heart and pray to Jesus. If you want to know how you can become a child of Jesus, you can read here =>
We are praying for you. Jesus will surely bring peace and joy in your life. He will release you from all your problems. May God bless you and make you a blessing for many.
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