Why Bother with a Budget? How can you be a good steward of God's finances if you do not know how much you have a month, or how much you spend a month? Knowing exactly how much you have and can afford to spend each month goes a long way to establishing yourself as a good steward. A simple tool to help you keep track of your income and expenses is a budget. It is amazing to know how many people do not even have a household budget. They live from hand to mouth, and have very little left over at the end of the month, and they never know what hit them. Just as the rich man's manager was required to give an account of what his possessions were and how they were used, God requires us to keep a good account of what we have and what we use. Jesus told his disciples:
“There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him ‘What is this I hear about you? Given an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’” — Luke 16:1-2
The only way we can account for what we have and what we spend is actually to keep track of it. For on the Day of Judgment, we will be required to give an account of everything we have done in our lives, even so far as to give an account of our stewardship of our finances. From where you are, you need to change gears, or you wear out the engine.
“But they will have to give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” — 1 Peter 4:5-6
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