The Good Steward
Nick Simonic, CPA, MACC
Nick Simonic is a CPA who specializes in Non-Profit, 501C3 Corporations as well as serving on the board of Wilbur Ministries. Ever since moving to
Jacksonville nearly ten years ago, Nick and his staff have watched over our
financial accountability and ministry affairs. His wisdom with regards to
financial matters as well as his passion for the Lord have made him a highly
sought after counselor in the Kingdom. You will not only gain understanding
with the words he offers each week, but I believe you will find wise counsel
and wisdom imparted here as well. I truly pray you are blessed and edified
by this special offering from us to you!
Paul Wilbur
Living Debt Free By The Word
By Nicholas T. Simonic, CPA, MACC
Part Three
I asked you in the first edition of this series, when you hear the phrase, “Living Debt Free, by the Word”, do you think it is possible for YOU? Most folks would answer, “yes”, but think, “no”. Well, the first thing you have to do to accomplish it is to believe that you can. There is a lot to be said about the “little engine that could”. Remember, as the little engine was going up the hill, it was saying, “I think I can, I think I can”. As you think in your heart, so are you.
The last time we ended by discussing the common mistakes that people make in their thinking, when it comes to their finances. A couple of other issues I would like to discuss at this point are car loans and re-emphasize teenage credit cards that I mentioned last week. Most people believe that in order to drive a nice car, they have to have a car loan. That is just not true! You can drive a nice car without having a car loan. I tell people the reason why banks have drive – thru windows is that the owners of the cars (the banks) get to see them once in a while. That is a mistake many people make; having a car loan for the rest of their lives.
During my radio program a gentleman called stating that he thought I was in error in suggesting that people not use credit cards. He said that he thought it was a good idea to give a credit card to a teenager to teach that teenager financial responsibility. He said that in his experience with credit cards he has found that a good way to teach his children about money, as he was “in debt with credit cards, myself”. The man really did not understand finances.
So, when we eliminate the debt in our lives we are able to operate in financial prosperity. There are many areas in people’s lives where they operate in prosperity, not just in finances. My definition of financial prosperity, however, is “Having Enough Of Anything At Any One Time To Meet Any Need That God Brings Across Your Path”. So, if you desire to walk in financial prosperity, you have to play by God’s rules in your finances. You cannot walk by the world’s methods and expect God to fund that life style. The choice is really yours. We make choices about our money every day. That means, from the time you stop and have a cup of coffee in the morning that costs you $5.00 until the time you leave work and pick up dinner on the way home so as not to have to cook, which costs $30 for you and your spouse, you make financial choices. I wonder how many of you got that one. Did I hit a panic button? I hope so!
The Word is chock full of how we should live our lives. You should focus on the biblical principles of seed time and harvest and sowing and reaping. I tell people that we plant two kinds of seeds in our lives. The first is our corn. When I was a child my father taught me how to plant a garden. He taught me that when you plant corn, you build a mound. In that mound you plant three seeds in a triangle. When the three seeds sprout, you weed out the two weakest sprouts and leave the strongest. The purpose of planting the three seeds initially is that it brings nutrients to the soil to help the third one to grow strong. In the Word, those three seeds that we planted, in our finances, are 1) our tithes; 2) our offerings; and 3) our alms.
The commandment of tithe and offerings is in Malachi 3:10 where God asks, “Wherein have you robbed me in your tithes and offerings?” He did not say tithes OR offerings, he included both. The tithe is a commandment. The tithe is holy to the Lord. The tithe is a form of worship. The tithe is many things to God and should be many things to us. But, most of all it should be given out of the “first fruits”.
Next week we will discuss our offerings and our alms and another seed that reaps a bountiful harvest. You won’t want to miss that.
“Beloved, I pray above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (3 John 2)
Blessings,
Nick
The Good Steward Archive
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 1
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 2
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 3
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 4
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 5
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 6
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 7
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 8
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 9
Living Debt Free By The Word: Part 10
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