Page 67 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

Study Section 13: Finances - continued

13.1 Connect.

We offer a course at the college on Managing Your Resources God’s Way (you can take that
course through Distance Learning). In it, the students learn that if they don’t plan how they
are going to spend their money, and if saving for their future is not a part of that plan, they
will always be poor. Today your author suggests some insights from the book, The Richest
Man in Babylon, which is a secular book but offers some Biblical principles for managing your
finances.

13.2 Objectives:

1. The student will learn about resources that will help in future financial management and
investing.

2. We will look at some principles in the book, The Richest Man in Babylon, which will give
insight into financial management and investing.

3. We will look at some essential commandments of God concerning managing finances.

13.3 Finances – continued

There are three books that have influenced me the most regarding the subject of Financial
Investing:
The Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason
Rich Dad, Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
24 Essential Lessons For Investment Success by William O’Neil.

These books, though primarily secular in nature have some great investing guidelines. As you read
through these principles, the Christian can substitute “Resources” for “purse…gold…treasures….income,
etc.”

Here are some important thoughts from The Richest Man in Babylon:
Lo, money is plentiful for those who understand the simple rules of its acquisition.
1. Start thy purse to fattening (Strive to increase and improve yourself and your resources)
2, Control thy expenditures (Don’t waste your personal resources on yourself or trivial
things)
3. Make thy gold multiply (Study to shew thyself a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed)
4. Guard thy treasures from loss (Mk 9:41.. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to
drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his
reward.}
5. Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment -
6. Ensure a future income … (Phil. 4:17 “but I desire fruit that may abound to your account)
7. Increase thy ability to earn … (I Thess. 4:10 “And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren
which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more”

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