With almost 8 in 10 people saying they never or rarely balance their check books, it can come as no surprise that organizing finances is few people’s passion. But it is never a waste of time to improve your financial skills because it will most certainly reduce your stress.
A survey by the American Psychological Association found that money and work are the leading causes of stress in America (at 67 percent and 65 percent respectively) regardless of income. For those looking to increase their skills, there’s no better place to begin than the Bible. Let me explain.
A good financial plan begins with knowing your financial condition. When it comes to money -- ignorance is NOT bliss. Ignoring how much you are spending or being unaware of where your money is going will not alter painful realities. It’s important to know where your money is, where it is going and whether you are breaking even, going backward or getting ahead.
At a time when many people’s money and assets were tied up in land and cattle, the Bible puts it like this, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown (or job) is not secure for all generations.” There are many free tools for building a budget, which can help you understand where your money should go rather than wasting time trying to figure out where it went. So to get out of the cycle of pretending your financial stress will just disappear without some hard work and discipline, let me make a simple recommendation: Start by knowing the condition of your financial flock!
