Stewards of God's Gifts: A 3-Day Marriage Planಮಾದರಿ

Stewards of God's Gifts: A 3-Day Marriage Plan

DAY 2 OF 3

Hitting the Jackpot

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24)

Do you ever dream of winning the lottery? It may interest you to know that about a third of all lottery winners go bankrupt within five years and that another quarter of these instant millionaires wind up selling their remaining payments at a discounted rate to pay off debts. People who are reckless with ordinary paychecks are just as reckless with bigger ones.

Rather than fantasize about hitting the jackpot, we should strive to be better stewards of what we have. Handle credit cards—if you must use them at all—with great care, and do everything you can to stay out of debt, one of the foremost marriage destroyers. Make purchases with cash when possible. Establish a family budget and stick to it. Remember to give at least 10 percent of your earnings to the Lord—after all, everything is His, anyway.

Above all, make sure you spend less than you earn each month. It takes discipline, but this simple formula will go a long way toward establishing a worry‐free atmosphere in your home.

Questions for Today . . .

  • Most people around the world would consider the average American income a jackpot. Do you?
  • Am I saving money instead of falling into debt?
  • Would I benefit from establishing a budget or revising the one I have?
  • Am I tithing?

Prayer . . .

Heavenly Father, You bless me with so much. Even when money is tight, I know You care for me. But I often fail to be responsible and to honor You with how I manage money. Help me to know and live by Your wisdom. Amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Couples. Used with permission.)

Bonus Content: Hitting the Jackpot

Did you know that one-third of lottery winners go bankrupt within 5 years? It’s called “the lottery curse.” This free cash flow was supposed to solve all their problems, but it only created more. In this video, Ron and Trina Alleyne offer better solutions for financial success.

About this Plan

Stewards of God's Gifts: A 3-Day Marriage Plan

Money is an essential means of conducting the affairs in our lives. With it, we purchase necessities, pay bills, tithe, support ministries, and give to those in need. As legitimate as these transactions are, it’s worth asking ourselves about our motives and priorities. Do we possess money, or does it possess us? Or better yet, do we manage money wisely since, ultimately, God owns it all (Psalm 50:10)? Let’s do some thinking and praying about our finances this week.

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