Budgeting

<<planning in advance>>

It is sound management or common-sense planning based on the past and projected into the future, whether applied to finances, time or any other resource that requires good stewardship of what has been entrusted to us. All we have has been loaned to us by God, to whom we are accountable for He expects us to use these resources wisely for His Kingdom and produce a return on the investment as Jesus outlined when on earth (Mt 25:26,27; Lk 12:47,48). Budgeting need not be restrictive, rather it should be a tool to help you reach your dreams by enabling the wise allocation of resources so you are not stretched too thin. It also provides a gauge to measure performance and progress.

It is a wise exercise to work out the logics first before committing to any undertaking (Lk 14:31). It will save much embarrassment and heartache if, in advance, the situation is looked at rationally, not from an emotional or natural desire angle. Budgeting empowers through allowing you to be in control, by anticipating and being prepared enabling wise choices to be made.

The advertising realm blatantly states you ‘need’ this and that item. Undisciplined people often yield to such pressure even when they can’t afford the commodity. The Bible counsels, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). Self-control or discipline

Ask, do I need this? Can I afford it?

is an attribute of the Holy Spirit that should be evident in our lives and underlies budgeting (Gal 5:22,23).