Personal Prosperity - Present

Many people think that money is for spending... but the truth is, Money is for MANAGING.

In today's message, Pastors Kevin & Pam Begley discuss PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES FOR MANAGING MONEY!

1. Handle With Care!

Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds. ~Proverbs 27:23

KNOW means 'to be fully acquainted with.'

Know (be fully acquainted with) the state of your accounts, and put your heart into carefully watching the money you manage.

Have a look at the following video entitled "Hands In My Pocket":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iVCfYQPUUI

When we use other people's money, their hands are always in our pockets!

How Can We Know Where Our Money Goes?

1. PLAN out your spending. Plans are essential for success!

"Good planning and hard work leads to prosperity" ~Proverbs 21:5

To fail to plan is a Plan to Fail!

Our Plan NEEDS to Include: Handling our Finances God's Way!

• GIVING
• GETTING out of DEBT
• SAVING
• LIVING

2. Determine to STICK to the plan.

• great way to do this is to have someone to be accountable to:
• a friend, your spouse

2. Have Money to Spare

"Every prudent man acts out of knowledge." ~Proverbs 13:16a

Prudent means 'one who uses good sense.'

Statistics Canada reports that the average Canadian household spends $241 per person onon food each month.

SHOPPING EXPERIMENT:

We reviewed grocery flyers from the weekly newspaper to look for items that would be on a typical weekly grocery list. With the majority of grocery stores now being willing to price-match, we were able to go to a single grocery store and buy all the groceries needed - for a significantly reduced cost. Then, we compared the price we paid for each item to the exact same products at a grocer located much closer to us - which also offered 'Air Miles'.

RESULT:
Using sale flyers and going to a Price Match Store
Total Cost WITH Price Matching Sale was: $97.53 + tax.

The exact same items at Regular Price, from a different store who doesn't Price Match
Total Cost WITHOUT Price Match sale was: $255.32 + tax

TOTAL SAVINGS: 62% less by Price Matching with the sales flyers

3. Avoid the Snare

The trap is DISCONTENTMENT.  "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." ~1 Timothy 6:6

How to Attain Great Gain:

Great Gain is "an unusually BETTER acquisition."  We Attain Great Gain Through:

• Godliness means 'Faithfully following God'
• Contentment means 'Fully satisfied'