Money is always looking for a place to go…it’s up to us to send it to the right places.

We must stop being a debt-generating Christian and become a wealth-producing, people-blessing believer.

It’s decision time.  Today, we will decide whether to continue living our lives the way we’ve been living or change to debt-free living.

Here are seven ways to stop being a debt generating Christian and save more of what you make.

#1        Develop Your Spiritual Resistance.

Focus on scriptures involving personal discipline and the ability to withstand temptation by just saying “no” or walking on by.

The debtors are you best friend. . .so long as you pay your minimum payments on time and don’t exceed your credit limit.  If or when either of those scenarios take care. . .your friends at the credit card companies begin to change their outlook.

Habakkuk 2:7 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Shall [your debtors] not rise up suddenly who shall bite you, exacting usury of you, and those awake who will vex you [toss you to and fro and make you tremble violently]? Then you will be booty for them.”

The credit card companies will be your closest friend unless you can’t make your monthly payment or you exceeded your credit limit.  In either of these scenarios. . .your friends with the ever-increasing credit limit will be gone faster than a gallon of rocky road ice cream at a church picnic.

Habakkuk 2:7 in the New Living Translation says:

“Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.”

Here’s what I’ve defined as my shopping scripture.  It’s found in Proverbs 4:25 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.”

That’s how you develop scriptural resistance.

#2        Practice praying about your wants before paying for them.

Never make a buying decision, especially a major one, without praying about it.  I mean serious prayer with your spouse if you’re married. . .and I don’t mean one of these “Lord, if it’s your will for me to buy this. . .just have the sales person tell me how much I’d enjoy it.” 

Proverbs 21:20 in The Living Bible says:

 “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends what he gets.”

Financial tools and software will come and go

Investment brokers and counselors will win and lose

Corporate mergers will succeed and fail

The economy will have recessions and depressions

But one thing one never change…the Word of God…the love of our Heavenly Father for His children…and His repentance for our sins and stupidity…

Proverbs 19:21 in the New Living Translation says:

“You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.”

#3        Create A Cooling Off Period.

If you see something that you want as opposed to need. . .put it on at least a seven day or even better a thirty-day list on your refrigerator or wherever it can be visible.

Make sure to date when the item was placed on your list.  If you don’t want the item as much in 7 days or 30 days. . .mark it off the list.

Delaying your buy on major purchases will be a little frustrating at first but when you mark it off . . .you will feel a real sense of satisfaction.

Psalm 27:14 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”

#4        Avoid Deals “I Can’t Afford To Pass Up.”

If you don’t need it. . .don’t buy it.  You can go broke “saving” money on deals.

Make no mistake about it. . .there will ALWAYS. . .ALWAYS be another deal come along.

Proverbs 21:20 in The Living Bible says:

 “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends what he gets.”

A deal is not a deal if you can afford it.  I don’t just mean being able to make the minimum payment. . .but rather. . .having a plan to pay the debt off rapidly.

If you can’t pay your credit card bill off each month when bill arrives. . .then every deal is one you can pass up. 

#5        Don’t Make a Habit of Going To The Mall.

As I was typing these words I was reminded of Luke 22:40 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“And when He came to the place, He said to them, Pray that you may not [at all] enter into temptation.”

Here’s a fact. . .if you’re not at the place (mall, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, et al) then you will not be tempted to make impulse buying decisions.  If you must go to one of these stores, ALWAYS go with a list.

May I say that again. . .ALWAYS GO SHOPPING WITH A LIST.  If it’s not on the list, don’t buy it.

If you can’t control your spending then don’t put yourself in the place of temptation.

An alcoholic shouldn’t spend time in bars. . .a drug addict shouldn’t be visiting his/her friends at a crack house. . .a personal with a porn addiction shouldn’t visit X-rated internet sites.

If you have a spending addiction. . .don’t put yourself in temptation.

#6        Stay Out of Online Stores and Avoid Shopping Channels.

Shopping is too painless when surfing the internet or sitting in front of the television.

Watch something else. . .read a book or better still watch our online library of nearly 1,800 videos on our website and on youtube.com.

#7        Stop being a slave to the lenders.

Proverbs 17:18 in the Message Bible says:

“It's stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.”

How to turn money into your slave instead of you being a slave to money?

It’s real simple. . .you let money work for you. . .instead of you working for the money.

Proverbs 22:7 in the Contemporary English Version of the Bible:

“The poor are ruled by the rich, and those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders.”

If the money you earn each week is not your own. . .free from the demands of creditors . . . then you’re a slave to the moneylenders.

Dictionary.com defines slave as:

“a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person.”

If every penny you make is designated for making monthly or minimum payments then you. . . are under the influence of someone else.

Now that’s an interesting thought: “under the influence.”

Some people get “under the influence” with bourbon, scotch, gin, vodka, whiskey, beer, wine, or illegal or prescription drugs. 

There are millions of Christians who would never even be tempted to be “under the influence” of drugs or alcoholic beverages but they’re definitely “under the influence” of Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express, and dozens of other retailers, shopping networks and websites.

When you’re in debt. . .you’re “under the influence” of creditors.  Oftentimes, your servitude to the lenders will determine your response to the things God wants you to do . . .the places He wants you to sow . . . and where He wants you to go.

When you’re “under the influence” your thought processes, your speech, your reaction time, your body responses are all controlled by something other than God.

When you’re “under the influence” you make unwise choices. . .that may seem exhilarating at the moment but when you sober up. . .you can’t believe that you made such a fool out of yourself.

Stop spending money to make other people wealthy.  Use the money you have, regardless of the amount, to bless others and make you wealthy.

When we get control of our spending. . .then we are in position to start investing in wise investments and Kingdom business.

We will move from being debt-generating Christians to wealth-producing Christians.

Then God will never ask us the question that was posed to the unwise steward in Matthew 25:26:29 in the Amplified Bible says:

“26 But his master answered him, You wicked and lazy and idle servant! Did you indeed know that I reap where I have not sowed and gather [grain] where I have not winnowed?

27 Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest.

28 So take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.”

Sounds to me. . .like we should choose to be a wealth-producing believer. . .if we want to be successful and prosperous.

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