A.M.E. Church Bridge to Financial Freedom
Step 2:
Spending–Stop Your Impulsive Buying!
“There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy, if only you will obey the Lord your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today. When the Lord your God has blessed you, as he promised you, you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you” (Deuteronomy 15:4-6).
Debt is birthed by a spirit that wants a harvest it has not yet earned. –Mike Murdock
What is debt? According to Merriam-Webster, debt is something owed or the “state of being under obligation to pay or repay someone or something in return for something received.”
Debt is a trick of the enemy! We buy things we don’t need or use. We let some things sit in our refrigerators or closets and never use them.
Control your spending! This is the first step to being a great tither. The first thing to do to control spending is to realize that you don’t need everything and stop being an impulsive buyer. Examine yourself. Look in your closet. If you have more than five pairs of black shoes, ask yourself why you keep buying black shoes. Look and see how many garments still have tags on them and that you have not worn. Look in your children’s closet and the refrigerator. How many things in the freezer have freezer burn? Why are you buying things that you really don’t need? The answer is that you are out of control when it comes to spending. Control your spending!
Everybody in your household does not need the latest widget or gadget. Everybody in your household does not need the new iPhone, especially if they already have a phone. As you watch our economy under the Trump Administration, please note that you are digging a hole in your finances. Everybody in your household does not need to wear name brand clothing, especially if they don’t have a job. Children haven’t even stopped growing. You are setting your children up to be borrowers—and not lenders—when you practice bad spending habits. Most of us have clothes that we’ve been wearing for over 10 years. When you invest in great clothing, you don’t have to worry about them going out of style. Control your spending!
To assist in controlling your spending, ask yourself three questions before making a purchase: Do I need it? Is it a necessity? Will I use it? You must learn how to control your spending and not let your spending control you! It comes right back to allowing the spirit to rule the body and not the body rule the spirit! Your body is your flesh and it sees things that it wants but does not need.
The spirit, your spiritual self, needs to know that you have not given the body control over the spirit. The spirit needs to know that you know that you are a part of God and that God gave you the temple in which to reside. You are a spirit! When you allow your spirit to take over your body, your whole life will change.
Yes, Jesus loves you. Yes, Jesus cares. Now, God wants you to know that you have been doing this thing wrong and He’s giving you a wakeup call. He’s calling and saying He’s dialed your number. Please allow the spirit to control your body! You are a spirit and the spirit is in a covenant relationship with God. God knew you before you were in your mother’s womb; and once you tap into allowing the spirit to rule the temple or the body, you will find that your life is going to be great!
Controlling your spending, controlling your temple, and learning how to tithe will teach you how to manage your finances. It is biblical and the secret is to get up every morning and tell yourself the spirit rules my body. My body does not rule the spirit. Matthew 26:41 says, “Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
