Financial vision

Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Many are. Many young people working in BPO centers almost always end up negative at the end of the month no matter how much money they’re paid.

Money is congealed life, and money matters dominate most of our activities. So why is it that money management isn’t taught in schools? Young kids should be exposed to money management.

Most people never plan their finances, while a cliché goes: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Maybe that’s why so many people end up in the hole. When it comes to finances, everyone ends up somewhere. But few people end up somewhere on purpose. Most do things without thinking and without planning. Then they get surprised with the outcome, refusing to acknowledge that they’ve been irresponsible and reckless. Consider this: Nobody accidently swipes their credit cards!

Money is a spiritual topic. Do you know that Jesus talked a lot more about money, riches and wealth than heaven or hell? Perhaps He knew that financial and material distractions could become his top competitor for our hearts, attention and affection. Jesus Himself said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Without clear thinking and wise planning, every one of us – whether a millionaire or a homeless person – is susceptible to bondage to money. Money is an acid test of the character. I’ve known good people who folded and compromised their integrity and principles when presented with the prospect of making a lot of money the improper way.

The most freeing experience next to the forgiveness of God through Christ is being debt-free. No interest payments. No worries. No fears. No burdens. Loans taken out for doing business is legit, but loans taken out and spent on personal indulgences are never legit. They are, in fact, catastrophic.

I remember a couple who wore signature clothes, drove a luxury car and even built a fancy house in an expensive housing village where they threw charming parties. They were the toast of the town just a few years ago. Today, they’re totally penniless. Their lavish lifestyles were supported by bank loans originally intended for business. But they misused their funds. Today, they’ve lost everything.

Meanwhile, I’ve met countless of business people who started their business small. But they worked hard and were frugal, and when they spotted opportunities for business growth, they took out a loan and expanded the business – and succeeded. Today, they remain militantly prudent and never use the business loan for personal purposes. They’re still working hard, but are living comfortably and are able to set aside money for personal consumption and even a little indulgence as a reward for their hard work.

What’s your financial vision? I guess a better question is, how are you managing God’s resources? Since He created the heavens and the earth, and owns everything, you and I are mere stewards of his ownership, tasked to grow it and put it to good use.

Money you have isn’t yours. You can’t even bring it with you when it’s time for you to go. So put it to good use. Grow it, and be a channel of blessing to others. That’s investing in eternity.

(Develop your leadership and life skills by spending two whole days with Francis Kong on September 12-13 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. Call Inspire at 09158055910 or 632-6310912 for details. Connect with him via his Facebook page – www.facebook.com/franciskong2)