Ben Kirkpatrick as Ricky Bobby and Zaq as Cal Naughton They will be holding autograph sessions all day tomorrow!

“ Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Learning to forgive quickly and completely is one of the most important keys to maintaining joy in our lives. Because God has forgiven us, He expects us to forgive others for their injustices against us.

Just as we can receive forgiveness from God and confidently trust that He is not angry with us, we can forgive others and not be angry with them. Anger and unforgiveness will quickly dilute your joy. It is impossible to be bitter and better at the same time.

Learning to be forgiving and merciful toward the faults of others is a sign of growing spiritual maturity – it is being obedient to God’s Word. When we obey God, especially when it is difficult to so, He will always reward us with peace and joy.

Holding on to bitterness or unforgiveness toward someone does not hurt them – it only hurts you. Allow God to be your vindicator.

YOU CAN BE BITTER OR YOU CAN BE BETTER!

“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” Matthew 25:29

How can we be good managers of our financial resources?

It begins with a budget. And every good budget has certain biblical principles to keep in mind:

1. Give to God First – Scripture is very clear that we are to give God a tithe, or 10% of our income. In Scripture it’s referred to as the “storehouse” (Malachi 3:8-10) or where you worship and are spiritually fed – your local church. We’re to do this first before anything else. This acknowledges that all we have comes from Him and that we trust Him to meet our needs. It’s a way of saying – God, all of this is yours (Proverbs 3: 9-10).
2. Save & Invest – Any financial planner will tell you that at least 10% of your income should go into savings and investments. Scripture provides the analogy of ants to emphasize the importance of this principle. Ants work hard during the summer months to prepare for the winter. When it comes to saving and investments, we are to be wise planners (Proverbs 6:6-11).
3. Pay Taxes – No one has ever been excited about paying taxes, but Scripture is very clear that we are to pay the taxes we owe. After all, those funds not only pay the salaries of our civil servants, but they also fund and maintain our roads, water, schools, courts, and even our police and military protection. (Romans 13: 6-7).
4. Plan for Fixed Expenses – These are regular costs such as your mortgage, car payment, monthly groceries and any debt payments. These payments must be paid or there are penalties – they are fixed.
5. Manage Discretionary Expenses – This category covers all the fun things like entertainment, vacation, shopping and hobbies. These things are nice, but not necessities.

The bottom line is that all of us are called to be good managers of the specific resources that God has entrusted to us – each according to our own ability. While there should be no comparison in the kingdom of God, we should make the most of the ability and opportunity that God has given.

So how are you doing as a manager of God’s financial resources?

One day, we all must give an account for how we managed “His” resources.

What will God say to you?