MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
Mechelle Holbrook
Today’s Scripture: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Luke 14:28-30, ESV
Theme: To manage your finances God’s way, plan ahead.
WHEN WE THOUGHT WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING
Over the years, my family has had our share of money issues. Neither my husband nor I grew up learning the proper way to handle money. And quite honestly, I’m not sure it would have mattered anyway; we didn’t listen very well. We liked to learn things the hard way. As we got married and started making financial decisions, we thought we knew how to manage our money. Man, were we wrong! We borrowed money for everything: cars, a house, credit cards…the list goes on. I bet you can guess what happened. Eventually, we had a mess.
ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL
We were “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” One day, I was talking to a good friend, and she shared with me about a guy she knew who was great with money and budgets. He was using that gift to teach a class on managing finances. I got his number, I called him and started a journey toward financial freedom, but not without some resistance. Let me share a funny story about one of our meetings. I was continuing to act like I knew what I was doing, and he stopped, looked at me and said, “Mechelle, you have two ears and one mouth. I need you to listen twice as hard as you talk.” Boy, that was a lesson I needed to learn! Getting into debt doesn’t happen overnight, and neither does getting out of debt. It takes time, discipline, intentional planning, and—maybe—being quick to listen with your two ears.
COUNT THE COST
That leads us to today’s Scripture: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30, ESV).
In this passage, Jesus was actually talking about the cost of discipleship, what it means to truly follow Him, and teaching that following Him will cost us something. Jesus used the example of someone building a tower. Before beginning the project, they should sit down, draw up plans, make a materials list, and count the cost. They need to make a wise plan before they start. The same principle can apply to our finances.
WISE PLANNING IS BIBLICAL
Did you know there are more than 2,000 verses in Scripture that address money and possessions? God knew we would struggle with this topic, so He gave us plenty of wisdom about how we should handle what He has entrusted to us. The Cove will be offering a class soon to help you learn more about managing your finances. I encourage you to sign up if you feel like this is an area where you need some help or a refresher.
Click here to sign up for "I was Broke Now I’m Not" Small Group Study.
GOD IS FAITHFUL
Can I share with you the rest of my story? I know that life is not always easy, but God is faithful. My husband and I have learned to “make plans” for our money and to seek God’s will instead of simply doing what we want. God’s way is always best. It works—and He is faithful. You may not have everything you want, but God will faithfully provide what you need. And The Cove Church Family would love to help—with support, encouragement, care, and financial help, if needed.
Make It Personal: Are you currently feeling stressed about your finances or the way you manage your money? Have you taken time to make a wise plan for your finances? Are you willing to seek God’s wisdom and try His way, even if it requires making some changes?
Pray: God, everything we have is Yours. Help us to be faithful managers of what You have entrusted to us. Teach us to follow Your ways with our money instead of simply following our own desires. Give us wisdom to make good plans, discipline to follow through, and the courage to trust You along the way. Help us remember that our money belongs to You, and that You are our Provider. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: Proverbs 21:5, 1 Corinthians 4:2, Matthew 6:31-33
Weekly Memory Verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1, ESV