** This week I continue my missions Top 10 of how to set yourself up for success while on the field. Obviously this is not comprehensive, but should serve as a good guideline to help every missionary thrive both personally and with their ministry.
Number 5 – Budget
One of the most spiritual things you can do is budget! Let me say it a different way. When we budget, we set ourselves up to be obedient stewards and stewardship is of utmost importance to God. However, stewardship doesn’t just happen or fall from the sky. It takes intentionality and a hearts desire to be accountable with all your life before the Lord. Budgeting is a major contributor in this life of stewardship. When we get budgeting right, we will most often see that the stewardship of our life is in check and as a result we are thriving in life. In fact, I believe we can thrive even in the midst of valley seasons due to proper budgeting and stewardship.
Let’s get a quick definition of budgeting and Stewardship:
Budgeting – an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time. (google)
Stewardship – the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving. (dictionary.com)
I want to talk about how we budget two very precious things to us. Our money and our time. Both need to be budgeted and accounted for if you desire healthy stewardship in your life.
Money – You have to give money a job! Money can’t be handled in a general way. It needs to be designated even if there is a designation that says (up for grabs money) Ha!! There is an inflow and an outflow of money. You know how your money comes to you, but do you know how, where, why your money leaves you? All of your outflow areas need to be written down with an amount of money attached to them. This includes tithe, rent, utilities, groceries, eating out, savings etc. Think through every way that your money leaves your account and attach an amount to it. This will help you to see exactly where your money goes. Once you see, then you can begin to designate money to those outflow areas. It will become very clear where you spend your money. Make sure that every dollar is accounted for and has a purpose, whether it be for gas, vacation or insurance. All money needs a job. You know you have a healthy budget in place when you can account for every dollar.
I can’t even speak to you about how much freedom this will bring to your life. My wife and I have done an Excel spreadsheet budget our entire marriage. Because of this and the grace of a good God, we have paid off all school loans, car notes and operate debt free minus our mortgage. Budgeting has allowed us to save thousands and more importantly give thousands annually to the Great Commission. A good working budget can bring health to a marriage that hours of counseling never could. It is so refreshing to know that all our money has a job, is accounted for and is being stewarded properly. I believe God has this type of freedom and peace for every family when it comes to budgeting finances.
Time – I think it would be scary for some of us to see how much time we spend on social media outlets. Ha!! Obviously, there are wonderful things done through social media, Im not here to say other wise. The important question to ask is where should social media rank on my budget of time in my daily life. Let’s do a quick run through of a 24 hour day where I will apply some hours to standard activities:
Sleep – 7 hours
Three meals – 2 hours (Taking into consideration meetings over meals, etc.)
Work – 8 hours
Travel/Commute – 1 hour
God Time – 1 hour
Family Time – 3 hours
Miscellaneous – 2 hours (Could include- social media, entertainment, working out etc…) = 24hours
This is what I will say in this area of Time Budgeting. Let’s keep the main things the main things. If God, family and Kingdom stuff are happening in that order, you are probably in a pretty good place. This might mean that your waist line is expanding due to lack of work out time, but there is a remedy for that too. I won’t go there though…. I love my sugar too much! It’s when you see yourself preferring lesser things for the main things that trouble starts to happen. A word to the wise here… Let the budgeting of your time flow out of your daily time with Jesus. He knows a thing or two about time. If you listen to him, He might just be able to help you out.
Marvin Slaton – Modern Day Director
