Page 92 - Managing Your Resources - Student Syllabus - short combined

3. Save And Invest First, Then Spend

His second point was to make sure to save and invest first, before you start spending
your money on other things.

Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. -Proverbs 24:27
He who is impulsive exalts folly Proverbs 14:29

The Bible talks about getting your fields in order before you build your house. In other
words, think and act long term before you start spending large amounts of money on
things. Don't be impulsive and spend first, and then try to save later. Save and invest
first, and don't even consider that money to be there and considered for spending.

4. Think Long Term
It's important to think long term if you want to reach your goals and be successful in
the long run. You need to plan ahead for a rainy day, not just for today.

Luke 14:28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to
see if you have enough money to complete it?

Proverbs 13:16 A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it!

Think about your goals and what those time horizons might mean for your saving and investing. Are you
saving for your children’s education costs, and do you have a 15 year time horizon? Plan accordingly. If
you are saving for retirement and have another 30 years, set your plan according to those long term
timelines, not on what you feel like spending that day.

4. Diversify Your Investments

Even though the Bible was written more than two thousand years ago, it’s just
as relevant to us today as it was back then. Ecclesiastes 11:2 reminds us to be
intentional about handling money wisely.

Ecclesiastes 11:2 “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come
upon the land” (NIV)

Now, keep in mind that Solomon, King David’s son and a pretty smart guy, wrote Ecclesiastes. He was
renowned for not only his wisdom, but also for his wealth. He ran a fairly big and successful kingdom,
and people traveled from far and wide to ask for his advice on difficult subjects. It’s safe to say he knew
a thing or two about stewarding God’s resources for God’s glory.

Next, ask yourself: What does this verse mean—and how does it apply to us today?

To put it simply, Ecclesiastes 11:2 challenges us to avoid “placing all of our eggs in one basket”. We all
know what happens if that basket comes crashing down—all of the eggs break and there’s nothing to
eat! It’s much better to reduce the chances of disaster by spreading things around.

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