NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES GOD’S WAY

NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES

GOD’S WAYDVD SERIES

Workbook

Copyright © 2014, Compass—finances God’s WayTM

All Rights ReservedOrlando, Florida(407) 331-6000Compass1.org

ISBN 978-0-9914619-4-3

We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of GoodLife45 that made this Navigating Your Finances God’s Way DVD Series possible.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. – From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

Published by Compass – Finances God’s Way, Inc.

Verses identified as (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Biblica.

Verses identified as (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright ©1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, IL. Used by permission.

All other verses are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

September 2014 Edition

www.compass1.org

CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE LET’S GET PRACTICAL

GOD’S PART ....................... 5 Deed & Personal & OUR PART Financial Statement

DEBT & COUNSEL ............ 17 Debt List & Snowball ‘Em!

GENEROSITY .................... 27 Recording Your Income & HONESTY and Sending

SAVING & INVESTING ...... 41 Estimated Monthly Budget

WORK & CHILDREN ......... 51 Teaching Children to Handle Money

FINISHING WELL .............. 61 Your Financial Goals

ANSWER KEY ................... 73

PRAYER REQUESTS ........ 75

Welcome!Thank you for your interest in discovering how to handle your finances God’s way.

This DVD Series contains six lessons, each with its own 20-minute DVD. It may be used in a variety of settings: a class, workshop, seminar, small group, or as an individual study.

This Workbook will help you apply what you’re learning. Each chapter contains:

The DVD Notes—an outline containing blank spaces for you to fill-in key words as you watch the DVD.

The Let’s Talk It Over section—questions to discuss with the group after viewing the DVD.

An optional Dig Deeper ssection for those who wish to better grasp God’s way of handling money. It includes a scripture to memorize, additional scriptures dealing with money, questions to answer, and an opportunity for you to work on a helpful financial exercise.

A Prayer Log for class members to take prayer requests so they can pray for one another during this series.

Please visit the Compass Website for a host of additional financial resources—all from God’s point of view.

We are deeply grateful for your interest in learning how to navigate your finances God’s way!

Howard DaytonFounder, Compass—finances God’s wayTM

CHAPTER ONE

God’s Part & Our Part

“If therefore, you are not faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you”

(Luke 16:11).

NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES GOD’S WAY

6

DVD Notes

1. Money is a primary competitor with Christ for the lordship of our life. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other . . . you cannot serve God and _________ (Matthew 6:24).

Scripture tells us how to earn, give, save, spend, invest, get out of debt, and teach children about money. In short, Bible addresses every area of handling money.

2. The way most people operate a business is so _________ from God’s way. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8, NIV).

GOD’S PART

3. The Lord owns everything in the world, including our possessions. “To the Lord your God belong . . . the earth and _________ in it” (Deuteronomy 10:14, NIV).

4. If we are going to be genuine followers of Christ, we must transfer the _________ of our possessions to the Lord. Jesus said, “No one can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33).

5. The first step in learning ___________ is recognizing God is the owner of all your possessions.

How we handle money has a significant impact on our relation-ship with Christ. “If therefore, you are not faithful in the use of world wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you” (Luke 16:11).

different

everything

NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES GOD’S WAY GOD’S PART & OUR PART

7

NOTES6. As we acknowledge God’s ownership, we no longer ask,

“Lord, what do You want me to do with my money?” The question becomes, “Lord, what do You want me to do with _________ money?” When we have this perspective, spending and saving decisions are equally as spiritual as giving decisions.

OUR PART

7. Our responsibility is summed up in 1 Corinthians 4:2: “It is required in stewards that one be found _________.”

8. “He who is faithful in a very _________ thing is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10)

COMPASS MONEY MAP

The Compass Money Map is easy to follow, and works for everyone, regardless of your financial situation. You may not reach the final destination, but you can make progress. And I have great news for you: Each destination along the way brings you greater financial freedom and stability.

The Compass Money Map answers two big financial questions: where am I financially, and what do I do next?

9. Once you know where you are on the map, the next step is to focus on accomplishing the _________ destination you haven’t completely finished.

Your

little

first


8

COMPASS MONEY MAP


9

NOTES


10

Poor, Rich, or Faithful

Joseph is an example of a faithful person who experienced prosperity and poverty.

Prosperous Family

Head of Household

Prime Minister

PrisonerSlave

The Bible doesn’t teach that godly people must be poor. Nor does it promise them to always be rich. The Bible says we’re to be faithful stewards of our possessions whether we have a lot or a little.

The Deed & Personal Financial Statement

In the Dig Deeper Section, to help you recognize God’s owner-ship of possessions, you can complete a deed transferring the ownership to Him. This deed is solely for your use.

You can also complete a Personal Financial Statement to get a picture of your current financial situation.

Let’s Talk It Over

1. What did you learn from the viewing Chapter 1—Introduction that proved to be especially helpful or challenging?


11

NOTES2. How do you think the Scriptures might help you make wise

financial decisions?

3. Who really owns your money and possessions? How should this perspective impact your thinking?

4. What benefits do you hope to receive from participating in the Navigating Your Finances God’s Way DVD Series?

5. Take several minutes to examine the Compass Money Map on pages 8 and 9. Check off the items you have already completed. What did you learn by checking them off?


12

Dig Deeper

After each session, there are optional items you may complete to help you learn how to handle your finances God’s way. There is a scripture to memorize, ques-tions to answer, and another step to take on better understanding how to make progress on the Compass Money Map.

SCRIPTURE TO MEMORIZE

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains” (Psalm 24:1).

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

1. Read 1 Corinthians 4:2, “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

According to this verse what do you think you are required to do as a steward? How would you define a steward?

2. How can you learn what you need to do to become faithful

3. Are you faithful to handle money God’s way? (Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most faithful). If your need to improve your faithfulness, what do you plan to do?


13

4. After you complete the Deed on page 14, what were the most important insights you learned from completing it?

THE DEED

To help recognize God’s ownership of possessions, we will transfer the ownership of our possessions to Him. We will use a Deed, because one is often used to trans-fer property. This deed is not legally binding. By completing the Deed, you will establish a time when you acknowledge God’s ownership.

Here are the directions to complete it.

1. Insert today’s date at the top of the Deed. Then print your name in the space after “From,” because you are transferring ownership of your possessions.

2. There is a large blank space following the sentence, “I (we) transfer to the Lord the ownership of the following possessions.” Please pray about the possessions you wish to acknowledge that God owns, and write them in the space.

3. In the lower right hand corner there are two blank lines under the heading “Stewards”. This is the space for your signature. If you are married, both you and your spouse should sign. In the lower left-hand corner there are two blank lines for the signatures of witnesses.


14


15

THE PERSONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Complete the Personal Financial Statement on the next page to get a picture of your current financial situation. This is the first step in getting a grasp on your finances. It’s not necessary to be precise to the penny; rather, estimate the value of each asset and the amount of each liability. We recommend that you revise your Personal Financial Statement once a year to keep abreast of your progress.


16

PERSONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT

ASSETS (Present value)

Cash on hand/Checking account ___________

Stocks and Bonds ___________

Cash value of life insurance ___________

Home ___________

Other real rstate ___________

Mortgages/Notes Receivable ___________

Business valuation ___________

Automobiles/Vehicles ___________

Furniture ___________

Jewelry ___________

Other personal property ___________

Pension/Retirement plan ___________

Other Assets ___________

Total Assets ___________

LIABILITIES

Credit card debt ___________

Automobile loans ___________

Home Mortgage ___________

Other real estate mortgages ___________

Personal debts to relatives ___________

Business loans ___________

Medical/Other past due bills ___________

Life insurance loans ___________

Bank loans ___________

Other debts ___________

Total Liabilities ___________

NET WORTH (total assets minus total liabilities) ___________

NAVIGATING YOUR FINANCES GOD’S WAY

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