Financial Axioms - by Bill Hybel

This week, Bill taught through the following 13 financial axioms to help guide the way we relate to money:

1. There is a huge difference between spending money and saving money. This is an axiom Bill’s father taught him. The basic idea is that when you spend money, money moves away from you and when you save it, money comes toward you and stays. When you go on a shopping spree and buy things at a discounted price, even though you may have spent less than you anticipated, you still spent money—you did not save money!

2. Margin matters. Keeping your expenses below your income helps create margin so that you have the ability to save and give more.

3. You can admire something without having to acquire it.

4. Learn to be content with God’s provision for your life. The key question here is whether we can be content with God’s current provision for us. In Philippians 4:11–13, we read: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

5. Debt is telling God that His current level of provision is not enough and then arranging how to get more for yourself.

6. The borrower is a slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). The Bible does not forbid debt altogether, but instructs us to stay away from debt that enslaves us. Christ followers have freedom and yet, we can continue to suffer under the crushing bondage of debt and not feel the true liberation Christ offers.

7. There is enormous power in advanced decision-making. Recall that as Bill taught last week, God has given us dominion over money. When we decide in advance where our money will go (10% giving, 15% saving, 75% spending) we are more likely to exercise that dominion well.

8. Arrange accountability. Have someone in your life who can hold you accountable to how you desire to use your money.

9. Never buy something you could not freely share with others. If you seek to buy things that you would never share, you are too attached to those things and they have an unhealthy hold on you.

10. Renting is a beautiful concept. For things you only need once in a while, renting allows you not to have to maintain or carry the burden of ownership.

11. Set financial goals.

12. Tip others as you would like to be tipped if you were in their shoes.

13. Train up your children in the ways of good money management and when they are old they will not depart from it.


Watch the sermon video by Bill Hybel. It's inspiring and helpful and full of wisdom.

https://willowcreek.tv/sermons/south-barrington/2017/01/financial-axioms/#top