Financial Guidelines

Freedom as a believer in Christ is more than saying you trust God. Trusting is an action, not just a statement. Jesus said, "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." (Luke 16:8 KJV). We need to be just as practical as the world in the management of our finances. Government churches are lying to the body of Christ. They would have us believe that giving when we do not have that to give is going to be blessed by God, in a harvest from the Lord. Their motivation is usually to support their own financial needs as a business in paying their overhead and grandiose dreams of large building projects. The church building industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that banks just love. We are never called to give when we cannot give. The only exception is when you have clearly heard the Lord speak to you about such giving. Any other time is presumption upon the Lord. With that said, however, God does call us to be givers, and putting God first with your finances is always first. It just means, you do not mistake the government churches as being God. They are not.

1. Give to God as He leads in good Stewardship.

It is not a tithe. Giving to God is a leading of the Spirit. The proverb says, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. "(Prov 19:17 KJV). Neither does it mean giving to a government church. Good stewardship means that you give to those who are furthering the kingdom of God and are edifying the body. If you are settled in a fellowship, then contribute to the fellowship. The principle, however, remains that sowing unto the Lord, whether to the poor or ministries, still yields a harvest in the future. But give from your abundance (1 Cor. 8:14) and do so as you have purposed in your hearts cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7).

2. Save 10% of your earnings first.

This means every check should set aside 10% for yourself. This also means living beneath your earnings so that you can save. As that savings grows, remove it from your savings account and invest in higher yielding formats. Remember that the fiat money of Federal Reserve Notes lose their buying power through inflation. Government estimates of inflation rates are unrealistically low - 2.9%. Don't believe the government. Assume the inflation rate is 10% or higher. Various advisors recommend a liquid account of 2 to 3 months income for emergency use. When your savings are higher than that, look for other means of saving your funds in non liquid assets.

3. Get out of debt and stay out of debt.

If you are currently in debt, still save 10% despite the debt. Pay the debt off systematically. The usual advise is to pay off the smallest debts first and work your way up to the larger debts. Completing the small debts is encouraging and gives you confidence. Another strategy is to find the lowest interest bearing credit and roll all the debts into that account. If you need to destroy all your credit cards, do that so you do not incur new debt. If you are able to exercise the self control, only spend on credit what you can pay off with each month's payment so you retain a zero balance. In all cases you must not acquire any more debt.

4. Take free money.

This means, if a credit card gives cash back bonuses, then use that if you zero balance monthly. The net result is that purchases are reduced in price. Likewise take advantage of coupons and look for sales to reduce your purchase cost.

5. Exercise Self Control in Delayed Gratification

Buy what you need, not what you want. Resist impulses to buy instantly. Delay the purchase. Look for the best buy. If you genuinely need it, you will find a good deal. If you did not need it, then the impulse will pass and you won't make the purchase at all.

6. Pay more for long lasting quality.

Research the product to find the best product available that will meet your needs and will last a long time. Electronic gadgets are poor purchases. Wait for prices to go down and for stability to be established in such items. Furniture and other needful items should be well made for the long run. Inflation is such that the higher priced, good quality that endures items, will be less expensive in the long run. Inexpensive items that provide immediate use tend to break down rapidly, which requires early replacement, so that your added costs are more expensive than the better quality products.

7. Never buy new cars.

Depreciation in value is huge the moment you drive off the car lot. Pay less for a car 2 years old and retain your purchase value longer with it's use. All products are assets with depreciation rates. Some products have lower depreciation. Trucks, for example, traditionally have a higher retention of value than sedans because they are usually built for work and are better made.

8. Own Your Home

Real estate, because of inflation, and the need for shelter, is an asset that appreciates in value over time, thus provides a hedge over inflation. Never pay a mortgage according to the contract time table. Amortization schedules are usurious. A thirty year note paid over the entire span triples the cost of your home. Pay off the debt early. Get an amortization schedule from your broker and pay your monthly note plus the next month's principle. Write two checks and specify the second as additional principle. Even with this approach, you will still be paying twice as much for your home, so, when you have the abundance and can afford to do so, make larger principle payments.

9. If you pay taxes, then pay as little as you can.

The interest on your home is tax deductible. In the beginning, your mortgage payment is almost all interest. So this deduction is substantial. As your home note nears its end, the interest becomes a negligible amount. Notice that this number begins with "If". Income tax is unconstitutional and is illegal, despite what the government and the IRS say. The constitution only provides for apportioned taxes directly and indirectly. Income tax is graduated, therefore, unconstitutional. Furthermore, the 16th amendment, according to Supreme Court ruling, provides no new tax. The same Supreme Court also defined income as profit earned by corporations, and declared that wages earned is not income. Lastly, the 16th amendment was never ratified. There was not three quarters of the union who ratified the amendment. It was ram rodded upon the American people. This being said, however, the IRS and the court systems are against the American people. The IRS are a brutal terrorist organization, equal to the Nazi gestapo. If you choose not to file, then you should be prepared for the assault they will come upon you. Within their guidelines, therefore, pay as little as you can. Every penny of the income tax goes to the interest that the International bankers charge our government. Not a dime is used for government use. The government paying the interest only provides them the ability to borrow more money. A ridiculous arrangement considering the constitution empowers Congress to mint its own money with no interest.