Page 68 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

SEVEN CURES FOR A LEAN PURSE – further explanation

1. Start thy purse to fattening – put aside God’s gift first of all you earn.
*Being a secular book, no mention is made here regarding setting aside any of your income for
the work of the Lord in your life and in the life of your church. Just remember that God
blesses the gifts and the lives of those who put Him first!

2. Control thy expenditures – it is true about men that “what each of us calls our necessary
expenses” will always grow to equal our income unless we protest to the contrary. This
principle is true of churches as well as governments and individuals!

All men are burdened with more desires than they can gratify. Not even the richest of men
can gratify all of their desires. There are limits to your time, strength, the distance you may
travel, the amount you may eat and the zest with which you may enjoy life. Study your habits
of living. Some expenses may wisely be reduced or eliminated. Budget your necessary
expenditures and never touch the Lord’s portion in your purse. In the same way manage your
living habits so that you take care of your family and don’t short change what you give to the
Lord or to His church.

“Budget thy expenses that thou mayest have coins to pay for thy necessities, to pay for thy
enjoyments and to gratify thy worthwhile desires without spending more than nine-tenths of
thy earnings.”

3. Make thy gold multiply - Use the magic of compound interest to multiply your saved coins.
“Put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help
bring to thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse.

4. Guard thy treasures from loss. - Consult the wisdom of those experienced in handling
money for profit. Such advice is freely given for the asking and may readily possess a value
equal in gold to the sum thou considerest investing. “Guard thy treasure from loss by
investing only where thy principal is safe, where it may be reclaimed if desirable, and where
thou will not fail to collect a fair rental. Consult with wise men. Secure the advice of those
experienced in profitable handling of gold. Let their wisdom protect thy treasures from unsafe
investments.”

5. Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment. ---Own thy own home.

6. Insure a future income. --- Provide in advance for the needs of thy growing age and the
protection of thy family.

7. Increase thy ability to earn. Look for ways to invest in a self-owned business that brings in
extra income. Also learning a special skill increases your ability to earn more. The more you
make, the more you can give.

8. Cultivate thy own powers, to study and become wiser, to become more skillful, to so act as
to respect thyself.

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