Taking Time to Focus on Your Finances

Author: Patrick Blair

When we feel unhealthy, we reconsider our eating and fitness habits.  When spiritually depleted, we pray and read the Bible.  When our houses are dirty, we clean them.  How about when our finances need attention?

I suggest having financial focus times.  Take a few hours every few months to review, organize, plan, and make decisions.  See Proverbs 14:8, 14:15, 21:5, 22:3, 27:23-17, which support the concept.  Here are some specific financial focus time ideas.

Financial Focus Time Topics

1)      Paying bills: make sure all your bills are being paid on time.  Matthew 5:37.

2)      Debt payments: reevaluate debt payment amounts.  Proverbs 6:1-5.

3)      Budgeting: reevaluate spending decisions.  Proverbs 21:17.

4)      Seeking wisdom: get advice and/or research when needed.  Proverbs 15:22, 20:18.

5)      Inspiration: get inspired to earn more and/or spend less.  Colossians 3:23.

6)      Giving: reevaluate amounts given to church/charities.  Matthew 6:1-4.

7)      Investing: adjust your investments and consider new investments.  Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.

8)      Dream: plan for inspiring life goals.  Psalm 20:1-5, Proverbs 14:22.

Make Your Time Spiritual

1)      Pray before starting and commit your course to God.  Psalm 37:5-6, Proverbs 16:1-4, 9.

2)      Realize that money should not be a goal unto itself, but rather a means to an end.  Ecclesiastes 5:10.

3)      Consider the long-term implications of your decisions, keeping your plan focused on the kind of person you want to be in the long run.  Proverbs 14:22.

4)      Remember balance and moderation.  Ecclesiastes 7:15-18.

5)      Remember to be rich toward God.  Luke 12:13-21.

6)      Don’t obsess over your finances.  Matthew 6:25-34.

Often Overlooked Items to Seriously Consider

1)      Building up your emergency fund to an appropriate level.  Proverbs 13:11.

2)      Regularly giving to the poor.  Matthew 6:1-4.

3)      Diversify into precious metals and other investments that do not have counterparty risk.  Ecclesiastes 11:1-6.

To learn more, read my book Faith and Finances.  Also, check out this promotional video for my new church course: Building Faith and Finances.