Be Smart with Money

Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Let’s be honest—most of us were never taught how to handle money. We were taught how to earn it… maybe even how to give a little of it… but when it came to managing what’s left? A lot of us were just winging it.

But here’s what I’ve come to realize:
Worship is what you give. Wisdom is what you do with the rest.

In other words, giving God your first is a spiritual act of trust—but how you handle what’s left is just as important.
Because the Bible doesn’t just speak to generosity—it speaks to stewardship.

Luke 14:28 says, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
Jesus wasn’t giving a financial seminar—He was teaching about discipleship. But He used a financial principle to make His point: count the cost. Plan ahead. Don’t guess.

I’ve watched men pray for financial breakthrough while living paycheck to paycheck with no plan, no budget, and no discipline. I’ve been that man myself. But at some point, I had to realize:
God won’t bless what you won’t take responsibility for.

Proverbs 27:23-24 says, “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever…”
In today’s language, that might sound like: “Know your bank accounts. Track your spending. Don’t just hope—manage.”

Here’s a simple place to start:
Look back at your last 30 days of spending—print out your bank statement or download the data. Grab a highlighter.

• Highlight needs in one color: rent, utilities, groceries, gas.
• Highlight wants in another: eating out, subscriptions, online shopping.
• Tally up both.

What you’ll likely find is that you don’t have an income problem—you have a clarity problem. And once you see where your money is going, you can tell it where to go on purpose.

That’s the first step toward a budget that reflects your values, not just your habits.

Because money is a tool. A powerful one. But tools require skill.
You don’t hand a power saw to someone who won’t learn how to use it. Likewise, God entrusts more to those who show they can be trusted with a little (Luke 16:10).

So here’s the challenge:
Start paying attention. Make a plan. Build a budget. Cut what’s wasteful. Invest what’s wise. Get help if you need it.

Guessing with money is how men stay broke.
But planning with wisdom is how men build something that lasts.

The goal isn’t to be rich—the goal is to be faithful.
And when you’re faithful with your finances, you gain more than control—you gain peace.

Because wisdom with money doesn’t just change your wallet.
It changes your future.
And it honors the One who gave it to you.