Day 16: Plan
Devotional
The late Zig Ziglar used to say, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time." I've always liked that quote because it's a great reminder about the importance of planning. Anything of substance in life requires some careful thought ahead of time.
You would be surprised as to how many people drift through life without a financial dream, vision, or a plan. A paycheck is received and it's totally spent without any consideration of the future. When our destiny is not considered, a terrible collapse is inevitable (Lamentations 1:9). Planning is not rocket science but it does require effort. It's best to begin on a small scale.
Be encouraged to start with a budget. All is needed is a piece of paper and a pencil. Try the zero based budget idea. In a zero based budget one simply spends every penny on paper before the month begins. It's similar to an architect creating a blueprint for a builder to follow. Follow the plan, then measure twice, and cut once. Those with more salary than expenses will be able to save and or invest.
As a believer, there's another part of budgeting that you can't ignore. The money you manage really isn't your money. It's God's money. So He needs to have the final say on what goes where. Solomon said "a man's heart plans his way." We get that. We all have hopes and dreams, values and passions. But he also said that God should be the One directing our steps. That means every plan - and every budget - we make should be filtered through Him.
-- Tim Kiser and Dave Ramsey, adapted from Proverbs About Money: A Proverb A Day Keeps Poverty Away and DaveRamsey.com
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 13:16
All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.
Proverbs 14:15
The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 24:27
Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.
Application
Need a plan? Begin tracking your expenses today. Start the budgeting process next month.
Want to learn more about some financial tools? Sign up for the next Financial Peace University starting soon.