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Use This Simple Principle to Manage Your Money Well
By Rick Warren

“Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.” (Proverbs 21:20 GNT)

As a pastor for nearly 40 years, I can tell you that the number one reason couples get a divorce isn’t adultery. It isn’t abuse.

It’s debt! At one time, 54 percent of divorces in the U.S. were related to financial pressures.

That shouldn’t surprise us. The Bible clarifies that it’s foolish not to manage your money well. And foolishness never ends well. Proverbs 21:20 says, “Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it” (GNT).

So often, our culture convinces us to buy now and pay later. The average American puts $1,300 on his credit card for every $1,000 he makes. That leads straight to debt, and God calls that stupid!

Friend, no one just drifts into debt — or out of it, either. Deciding to build your financial future on the commitment to be responsible starts with intentionality. After you’ve made that important commitment, you need a plan to get there.

My parents taught me the 10-10-80 principle when I was a child. It’s a great way to become intentional about your financial decisions.

1. Give 10 percent back to God. God blesses whatever you put him first in.

2. Keep 10 percent for yourself. Commit to saving money every time you make money.

3. Live on 80 percent. Only fools spend everything they get.

Like it or not, God uses money to test you. He is testing your responsibility. When he looks at your financial decisions in Heaven, God will say, “Were you responsible with what I gave you on Earth?”

How will you answer that question? Give 10 percent of what you make back to God. Save 10 percent. Live on the rest.

Talk It Over

What’s your biggest temptation when it comes to managing your finances responsibly?

Do you find it harder to give 10 percent of your income to God or to save it?

Who do you know that needs to hear this message about God’s view of financial responsibility? What can you do to help that person understand the message?