Biblical Budgeting Part 1: Sheep and Towers

     For those of us who claim to be Christians (and even for those who don’t), it’s important to understand something about the Bible:  It has a LOT to say about money.  I am blown away by the amount of people that are surprised – shocked even – when I show them that the financial principles I follow and teach come out of the Bible.  I normally get this odd head-tilt with eyes that say “Really…that’s in the Bible?” 

     I guess what most people think about the Bible is that it’s just a bunch of flowery words about loving people and God being a cool guy.  The reality is this:  the Bible is a book written by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.  Guess what?  If He designed how this world works, don’t you think He would know exactly how to run it?  Likewise, if God invented the very concept of money, wouldn't you think He would be the person to ask for help using it?

     Throughout this blog I’ll be sharing a lot of information on what the Bible says about money.  And trust me, it has a LOT to say.  But let’s start small so you don’t feel like you’re drinking from a fire house.  Here’s the first sip, ready?

Know the state of your flocks.

     So what does the Bible have to say about budgeting?  How could a book over 2000 years old have any relevance in the world of contemporary finance?  Get ready to tilt your head, because being intentional with your money was God’s idea all along.

     Proverbs 27:23-27
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
The lambs will provide your clothing,
And the goats the price of a field;
You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.

     “Heath…buddy…it’s 2013…we don’t have flocks of sheep and goats…”

     I know that.  But let’s take a minute to unpack what we have here, because it’s intense.  First, you have to understand something:  This was written in the days of King Solomon.  During that time, people didn’t have investment portfolios and tax-sheltered real estate.  Instead, their wealth and livelihood was based on what they possessed, and in the majority of cases that was your “flocks.”  This is why cattle, sheep, etc. are called livestock.  They were a stock of possessions that defined how you lived.

     For a person in this day to not keep track of their livestock would have been stupid.  You needed to know how many you had in order to be aware of your current financial situation.  Livestock was used for EVERYTHING.  Wool for clothing, meat, milk, plowing the fields, trading, payment for services, you name it and livestock was good for it.  So when the proverbs told people to keep track of their flocks, it meant “Keep track of your financial state.”  Let me give you the Heath Hudnall contemporary version:

“Make sure you control the money you have coming in and out now, because you never know what is coming around the corner.  When the markets go down and your income isn't as stable, your kids won’t go hungry because you took care of everything in advance.”

Now, THAT sounds like a financial plan.  Budgeting is the tool that accomplishes that task.  There’s more too.

Count the costs before you build

     Luke 14:28-30
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’ “?

     This is Jesus speaking.  The greater context of this passage is the intense cost of being a Christian, but this simple analogy bears significant weight in our budgeting discussion.  Jesus asks a simple question:  “Who makes a building without a plan?”  If you wanted to build a $500,000 house, you wouldn’t just point to an empty field and say “House, come forth!”  No!  You would carefully select the area you wanted your house.  You would carefully plan out how many rooms the house would have, how many bathrooms, what kind of layout, the roof style, do you want a garage or a carport, how much space in the front and back yard, etc.  You would have a PLAN, otherwise your house wouldn’t come together very well or someone else would make your decisions for you.

     It’s the same with finances.  The average American household makes between $40k and $50k a year, so in any given ten year period it would be completely reasonable to say that the average American family goes through HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.  If you just let it all slip through your hands and don’t make a solid plan, you’ll have no idea where it’s going!  Your house won’t come together correctly!  Jesus is saying that you HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN.  Otherwise, your goals will never be accomplished and people will mock you for your mistakes.  I didn’t say it, Jesus did.  The Bible’s ways aren’t rocket science, but hopefully I just showed you how they are Common Cents.

     That’s all for now, but I’ll be back with Biblical Budgeting part 2 soon.  In the meantime, what are some other good verses out of the Bible on money you guys know?  Share some in the comments!

-Heath