For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who is it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” (Luke 14: 28-30).
Most of us don’t enjoy budgeting. Writing down where we spend our money can be painful, particularly if we have less coming in than going out. But budgeting is not just a case of trying to make our money last till the end of the month; it’s spiritual exercise, too, revealing what our actual priorities are. Billy Graham has said on a number of occasions, “Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook and I will tell you where their heart is.” Whether we feel we need to or not, making a budget is a good way of managing the financial resources God has entrusted to us. It enables us to take control and make decisions as to where we allocate money. Without making a budget, we may unwittingly allow money to leak way in some areas of our spending.
- ACTION:
- Review your monthly income and spending
- You might find it helpful to use the budget template from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling at www.debtadvice.org/Credit101/budget_debt_ws.pdf
- PAUSE for REFLECTION:
- What does this exercise reveal about your promise?
- What might you seek to change in the way you allocate your money