Creating a spending plan (budget) is an ongoing process requiring regular reworking. When emergencies or changing needs arise, revisit and adjust your plan. Use it as a tool to align expenses with your values and long-term goals.
After making a plan, identify areas where spending is excessive or detracting from your kingdom purposes. Commit to reducing those expenses so your budget facilitates, rather than hinders, your life calling.
Biblical heroes like Abraham, Moses and David accomplished great things through faith in God’s promises. Though imperfect, they trusted and obeyed. God gave each a unique calling and the means to fulfill it.
Likewise, God has appointed you for a special purpose. To live it out, follow His financial principles. Implement a spending plan guided by scriptural wisdom, not worldly values. Be willing to recalibrate as needed.
With an eternal perspective, your budget becomes a path to blessing, not bondage. It helps you steward resources for maximal impact. Stay nimble so money fuels your spiritual growth.
God may lead you to downsize in some areas in order to be generous in others. Aligning expenses with your values yields lasting reward. Ultimately, it’s about using finances to further His kingdom.
See your budget as an instrument of faith, not just a spreadsheet. Use it to deepen dependence on God, not limit your dreams. With biblical priorities shaping your spending, you gain freedom to embrace His calling.
In Christ,
Stephen H. Hammond
President
AUTHOR BIO
Stephen H. Hammond, president and founder of Christian Values Investing Inc., established the first “fee-only” Biblical responsible investment advisory firms in 1993 to help Christians align investments with their values and better manage finances from a biblical perspective. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a finance degree and worked in the Investment Banking industry before joining Merrill Lynch in 1988. Stephen is a published author and speaker, a spirit-filled Christian who traces his faith heritage to preacher ancestors. In 2005, he established the nonprofit Covenant Financial Ministries to teach biblical stewardship principles and money management. Stephen has decades of experience in money management and financial planning. and serves with Kingdom Advisors and the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants. He has appeared on radio and television, spoken at churches, and authored books including Mission Possible: An Investment Guide for Christians and The Successful Life Manager. He married Angela in 1990, and has two adult children.
