nto thine own understanding.
             In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
             Even though we are living in prosperous times in this country, there are factors that indicate that many people are in deep trouble with their finances and need help to manage their money better. Following are some indications of this fact: (1) Spending more than one makes; (2) Greater increase in bankruptcies; (3) Easy credit; (4) Large debts; (5) Bad philosophies about money; (6) Over-involvement in working in order to make ends meet; etc. All the above indicate a lack of discipline in one's life and often leads to poverty and/or shame (Proverbs 13:18).
             Managing one's money well is a LEARNED process! "Trial and error" is often the route that many travel, but with no guarantee of good results. More and more help is being offered to people in this country from several sources, both religious and secular. But, ONE MUST WANT HELP and be willing to learn from others. Of course, the best source to turn to is God and His Word!
             Much is said in Scripture about money, but unfortunately, it is scattered from Genesis to Revelation. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables deal with the use of money. More than two thousand passages can be found that deal with finances in one way or another. Basic questions are dealt with, like: How is one to view money? How is one to earn it? How is one to spend it?
             An important area of learning is "What to avoid." Making the same mistakes generation after generation doesn't make for progress. Among the many things that could be listed, there are five that should be obvious:
             1. The attitude: "I don't need any help, I can do it all by myself."
             2. No financial goals or planning for the future.
             4. No effort to save for the future.
             5. Procrastination...waiting too long to get started.
             MONEY IS IMPORTANT! Did that get your attention? It should...