Financial Goals

 

    It is good to have financial goals.  God does not have an issue with people being able to take care of themselves or even gaining wealth.  What God is concerned about is your heart.  You can't have your life pursue only money.  Your have to pursue God, trust the abilities He has given you, and invest wisely with what He has given you.  The point is that your heart and actions belong to God, not the pursuit of money.  Wealth is a bi-product of being a good steward and wealth is not always money.

    A part of bookkeeping that people don't always seem to understand is that you have to be organized.  You need to have a clean way of keeping your invoices, checks, receipts, and anything else you may need for taxes.  You need to be able to keep these for at least seven years.  I recommend accordion folders for this organization.  It doesn't take a lot of space and you can label them by year.  The headings can be similar to what you have in your budget.  Just make sure you add receipts and other small things that is personal to your bookkeeping.  Your needs may change every year too.

    Good bookkeeping has evidence that you paid bills and invoices, so if there is a dispute you have proof.  It is good to be organized with your bills.  Keep the unpaid separate from the paid bills and invoices.  This organization along with your actual budget will help you achieve your financial goals.  

    The point of financial goals is to help you accomplish what you want in life.  Write out the goals you have for this year, next year, five years, 10 years, and 20 years.  Focus on what needs to happen for your goals this year to happen.  They should naturally help you achieve your long term goals.  If you are married, each person write down your own goals and then compare.  It is a good place for discussion, so that you can get on the same page and avoid bigger issues later.  

    Pray over your financial goals to make sure that they align with the path that God has for you.  God will confirm or redirect your goals.  Your current situation is not a factor for God, so do not limit your dreams.  If they are what God wants, then it will happen.  If not, then nothing you do will make you successful in that area.  Your part is to be a faithful steward.  God does all the heavy lifting.  That is why a lot of your goals can be faith goals.  You need God to make them happen.  

    Once you have all your goals written out, prioritize them by importance.  Not all your goals will be achieved at the same time.  You just need to organize them by time sensitivity, importance, and realistic for the time frame.  Next, look at your goals next to your budget.  Do you see anything that needs to change to make it where your goals can become a reality?  If you do, then pray over that and be specific with God.  He knows your needs, but He wants you to know why it is important to you.  Trust God to provide.

Proverbs 10:22-24, 13:11-13, 22:7, Ecclesiastes 5:10-12, Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 6:31-34, Luke 14:28-30, & Hebrews 13:5-7