Six steps to prepare for the days ahead

The Global Financial Crisis in 2009 uncovered an even deeper problem that we all face—it’s a crisis of the heart.

Anyone can see that our society is quickly shifting away from any semblance of a biblical worldview. Instead of seeking God for direction and help, it seems our efforts are directed toward the goal of prosperity at all costs.

As Christians, what will be our response to the challenges that lie before us? There is uncertainty over what will happen to the economy over the next 12 months.  Increasingly some households are facing significant financial pressure as mortgage rates increase to levels not seen since the period leading up to the Global Financial Crisis.  Media talk about the possibility of a recession is creating anxiety.

Here are six things that, if we do them, will prepare us for the days ahead.  These will set the stage for a great spiritual revival.

 1. Discover your God-given purpose.

Why did God put you here on earth at this very moment in time? That’s a big question that each of us must wrestle with. Did He put you here to live the prosperity dream, raise a great family, get an education, watch online movies, build a business, play sports, be a consumer? Write down your answer and carry it with you. Begin ordering your life around your God-given purpose. (See Ephesians 2:10. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.)

2. Decide now if you’re willing to suffer for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus exhorted His disciples to be ready for persecution. Paul said that he was ready to suffer and die, if necessary, for Jesus. Are you ready to make the hard choices? (See Acts 21:13-14. But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed in Jerusalem, but even to die for the Lord Jesus.” When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”)

 3. Determine what is your highest and best contribution to fulfilling the command by Jesus for us to make disciples of all the nations.

Is there anything that needs to be moved out of the way so you can make your best contribution? Are there adjustments to your lifestyle or your use of time, energy, or money that will demonstrate your full surrender to the Lord? (See Hebrews 12:1-3. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up.)

 4. Develop a financial plan.

Base your plan on your purpose, and prayerfully allocate all of your resources to it. Having your money serve you rather than the other way around will free you to fulfil your purpose. Remember, God is glorified as we demonstrate to the world that Jesus is real, our faith is real, and our peace is real. (See Matthew 6:24. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”)

 5. Increase your spiritual fervour.

Intentionally move from a life of independence to dependence on Him. We must be totally dependent on Christ and His Word, not our money, not our government. Jesus is our Master; we are His ambassadors. We should be full of hope, prepared anytime to offer an explanation of that hope to a wondering world.

 6. Put the love of God into practice right now.

Until we put our faith into practice, it accomplishes nothing. God put us here, not to live a life of comfort, pleasure, and fulfilment of our personal dreams. He wants us to be a blessing to others, point them to Him, advance His Kingdom, and bring Him glory. (See James 2:14-17. What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”- but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?)

Conclusion

As the people of God, we must understand that God placed us here at this time to fulfil His purposes. Let’s commit to preparing now for the revival He wants to accomplish in us and in those we serve in His name during these times.

Other articles which may be helpful:

Guide to family budgeting

How to live a fulfilled life

Help me get our spending under control

Managing time with a home business

Working at home in a home business provides flexibility and freedom, but discipline is necessary to complete the work required.  Proverbs 6:10-11 notes “A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”

The following ten tips will help with managing a home business.

1. Start each day by dedicating it to the Lord. Our time each day is given to us by God: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Before the workday begins, dedicate it to the Lord. Ask Him for guidance and for help in using the time He has given, as He wants and as He sees fit.
2. Schedule time for business paperwork and accounting. Set aside a certain time each day or week (depending on the size of the home-based business) to do paperwork. This would include filing receipts, invoicing clients, balancing accounts, and paying bills.
3. Plan time—don’t fragment it. Divide the day into similar things by category. Group all phone calls (mornings are best for phone calls), projects, and errands to be done at the same time. Finish one category before shifting to another.
4. Be productive—don’t procrastinate. Procrastination is probably one of the primary reasons why goals are not accomplished. By determining when is the most productive time, you can limit procrastination. Strive to work during peak performance periods if it doesn’t conflict with family time or the family routine. Home-based businesses must conform to the family routine, not the reverse.
5. Establish a routine that is acceptable. Home-based businesses do not have to be limited to a 9-to-5 routine. However some type of routine should be established—one that can maximize production without sacrificing family. You might;
   1. commit a certain number of hours per day to the business, or
   2. certain full days to the business and take full days off—perhaps working with the business every other day.
6. Know when to say No! If you commit to friends, projects, or jobs, you must honour those commitments. Before any commitment is made, be sure to determine how that commitment will affect your family, business, deadlines, or other commitments. If accepting the obligation will negatively affect any of these, the answer to the request should be, “No!” Or at the very least, “Not at this time.”
7. Organize commitments. List all things that need to be accomplished or commitments that have been made. Then list the time that it will take to accomplish or finish each task. Divide the steps necessary to meet each goal or accomplish each task into daily assignments. Maintain these assignments until the project is complete.
8. Schedule extra time. When making schedules, make sure that there is enough flextime. Pad all appointments and activities with a few extra minutes in anticipation of unforeseen delays or unexpected circumstances.
9. Evaluate the importance of all meetings and appointments. Many meetings and appointments waste time that can be used for more productive things. Some business can be conducted quickly by phone, online meeting, or e-mail, rather than scheduling a meeting to do it. Don’t hesitate to set a length to meetings and end meetings that become non-productive.
10. Have family co-operation. Business schedules and routines should not interfere with quality family time, but the family should understand and support an agreed upon business and work schedule. Family time is a priority, but the family needs to understand the value of being a good steward and maintaining good work ethics.

Conclusion

When God provides an opportunity for people to operate a home-based business, they need to organize that business and operate it with the highest level of work ethics if they expect it to be productive.

If God controls the business and if good time management is used there’s more likelihood the home-based business will be successful.

Useful links:

Should I start a business?

Sample Business Plan

Business by the Book

Business by the Book workshop

Business by the Book bible study

Peter Crawford          crown@crown.smm.acme.org.nz

Does God require fathers to be the breadwinners?

This question raises a common confusion: the distinction between leader and provider, and how God instructs men on both. The image that we are given in scripture for God the Father is of the highest and best leader of all.  That provides us with a template for understanding what is expected of men and what is not.

In the Bible, God lays out a chain of leadership, which does not subjugate, but rather organises how people work together. At the foundation of the structure is sacrificial love by the leader, who is held to the highest standard.

When it comes to organizing households, 1 Corinthians 11:3 puts it like this, “But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” In this outline, we see God detailing who is accountable for whom in relationship. God, out of love for the world, sent His Son to die for us. He made a plan to care for all of us. He asks the most of Himself. The husband is told to lay his life down for his wife and family as well, following God’s example. Accountability does not equal tyranny, but rather describes a sacrificial relationship.

Consider that wives are told to love and respect their husbands, while husbands are ordered to be like Christ. “For husbands, this means to love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her,” notes Ephesians 5:25. Husbands and fathers are called to sacrifice their own desires for the good of their family. This requirement ranks far above money. It involves time, planning, preparation and self-discipline for the goals and good of our loved ones. But does that responsibility also include the requirement to be the main income earner?

The short answer is no. The Bible does not indicate that a good husband and father brings home all or the highest share of the income, but he is required to work to the best of his abilities. A husband is required by God to care for the good of all in the family. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”

This verse indicates that a husband and father is expected to provide for his family, to know their needs and to plan how to care for them.

Some women do work — even in the Bible. In Proverbs 31 for example, we read about the industrious woman, who cares for her household and contributes to the income through her businesses. God chose Deborah to rule as a judge over Israel in the Old Testament.  We know of married couples like Aquila and Priscilla who worked together as tentmakers. Glimpses of couples working together are woven throughout the scriptures without any condemnation of the family where the wife may have earned more.

But God does require something from those in leadership and holds men accountable for their management of their homes and families. A husband and wife together may decide that both need to work, and may organise their resources to achieve goals for their children and loved ones. It is the husband and father who will be held accountable for keeping the family on track.

Options to think about

Sometimes, when a couple has small children, it may make sense for the person with the lowest income to take on the responsibility of caring for the children while the other works full-time. Some men do well in the role of stay-at-home parent, while others struggle.  It depends on what works best for you as a couple. Working for Families tax credits and the Accommodation Supplement for families who are renting or have a mortgage, mean they might be better off financially on one income, because they don’t need to pay for child care.

Some men have been able to go into unpaid ministry work because their wife is able to financially support them both and their children. This doesn’t mean that the men have given up on their responsibilities to provide for the family, but rather that they have come to an agreement with their wives on where God wants them both to be working.

A great first step to setting priorities for your family is make sure that what you believe about God’s principles for finances aligns with how you actually behave with your finances. The MoneyLife Indicator assessment on www.crown.org will help you identify areas of strength and weakness and provides an Action Plan for making changes. So, make it fun and plan a date night with your spouse to discuss your individual results, the impact on your family and what steps you want to take together!