Priorities

“If you don’t decide what your priorities are in life, everyone else will decide for you.” (Christy Wright)

Careful planning leads to profit. Acting too quickly leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5, ERV)

The 10-10-80 Plan:

The first 10% goes to God.

⁸ You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, “How are we robbing you?” You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. ⁹ That’s why your whole nation is under a curse. ¹⁰ I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. (Malachi 3:8-10, CEV)

The second 10% goes to savings.

⁶ You lazy people, you should watch what the ants do and learn from them. ⁷ Ants have no ruler, no boss, and no leader. ⁸ But in the summer, ants gather all of their food and save it. So when winter comes, there is plenty to eat. (Proverbs 6:6-8, ERV)

The remaining 80% goes to everything else.

Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe them any kind of tax, then pay it. Show respect to those you should respect. And show honor to those you should honor. (Romans 13:7, ERV)

 Here are spending habits that are problematic:

·        Impulsive spending

·        Compulsive spending

·        Revenge spending

·        Boredom spending

·        Special interest spending

·        Status spending

When it comes to your giving to God, remember 2 Corinthians 8:9-11(ICB):

⁹ You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor. Christ did this so that by his being poor you might become rich. ¹⁰ This is what I think you should do: Last year you were the first to want to give. And you were the first who gave. ¹¹ So now finish the work that you started. Then your “doing” will be equal to your “wanting to do.” Give from what you have.  

 “Your decisions from today forward will affect not only your life, but also your entire legacy.” (Dave Ramsey)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Spending God’s Money: Managing God’s Money” (installment two) Sunday January 12, 2020, Pastor Dave Jansen, CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.