Biblical Finance: Get On A Plan

Introduction

Review

We talked about

Getting out of Debt

Acting our Wage

Today we are going to talk about the importance of Getting On A Plan

Somebody turn to your neighbor and tell them

Get on a Plan

Turn with me to

Luke 14:28–30 NKJV

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Pray with me if you will

I firmly believe that one of the worst things we can do to ourselves in life is........ go about living life without a plan

I firmly believe that one of the worst things we can do to ourselves in life is........ go about living life without a plan

I liken it to a self-inflicted womb

its a type of harm caused to self by self

The Word of God tells us in that:

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 1900

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 1900

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Well a vision without a plan, if you ask me is delusion

Well a vision without a plan, if you ask me is delusion

You can’t expect to achieve the vision without a plan

That’s why Habakkuk goes on to say:

Write the vision and make it plain.......

In other words,

Yes, You’ve established what the vision is, but you also must devise a plan as to how you are going to get there

(pause)

One of the most powerful statements ever made by Winston Churchill was

He who fails to plan, is planning to fail

Now oftentimes when we look at Proverbs, we look at it in the sense of a corporate perishing, rather than an individual perishing

Although corporate is significant

corporate

We cannot ignore the fact, that if we don’t have an individualized plan, we too can find our own-selves in the state of perishing.

“He who fails to plan, is planning to fail”

For Winston Churchill once said,

In essence what he was basically communicating is that

a life without a plan is a life that is destined to fail

He who fails to plan, is planning to fail

That’s why

says

Proverbs 27:12 ESV

12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

Proverbs 27:12 ESV

12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences

A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences

Listen, Don’t live your life failing off purpose!!!!!!

if you are going to fail at something make sure its on purpose

I may not have won this one, but at least I was aiming towards my purpose

(pause)

My brothers and my sister, we must understand that when it comes to our finances a plan is necessary

for a plan, a budget is a powerful tool that ought to shed light on those things that we value and are of priority

If you want to start a business you need to have a business plan

If you want to start a business you need to have a business plan

If you are sick and need a doctor you need a health care plan

If a hurricane is coming you have to have a plan of preparation

and if you are looking to make calls while driving down the highway or text while your in church then you need a cellphone plan

long term objectives then you need a strategic plan

And The same way you need:

a business plan to start a business

a healthcare plan to see a doctor

a preparation plan for a hurricane

and a cellphone plan to make calls and text

is the same way you need a money plan to manage your finances

and we call that a budget

Because a no plan for your money, is a plan for it to disappear

Who after the death of her husband didn’t have a financial plan in place, therefore causing the creditors to seek out her sons as slaves

Didn’t carefully plan out her resources, therefore erected a plan to die, rather than a plan to live

Now I’m not going to spend today talking about a budget because I’m certain all of us knows exactly what that is

But the bible saysFor she stated

v. 13 - “do as you planned”

I’m going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation

I hate to say this, but like her

But thanks be to God, Elijah ejected a

many of us do a better job at planning to die, then we do planning to live

v. 13 - “do as you planned”

But watch this!

Elijah gave her a new plan

she had a plan for her death

He told her to feed him first

then make something for her son and herself

she had a plan for her death

Many of us do a better job at planning to die, but not planning to live

Now I’m not going to spend today talking about a budget because I’m certain all of us knows exactly what that is

But what I am going to do is talk about the importance of a plan

Now although our text of study gives attention to the cost of being a disciple as Jesus addresses this to the large crowds traveling with Him, I believe it also highlights for us the importance of having a plan in place

You see, there are several things a plan does

The first thing it does is that:

A Plan Establishes a Focus

As we look at that 28th verse Jesus says to the crowd

“For which of you, intending to build a tower......”

intend

purpose

plan

objective

course of action

Intending to do what?

Build a tower

not a house, not a school, not a bridge

but a tower

The plan is to do nothing else, but build the tower

You see, focus is the act of centering your attention

when you are focused you aren’t easily distracted

which means you aren’t tossed and driven by every wave and current

your not double minded and unstable in all your ways

but you are secure, stable and goal oriented

which the enemy doesn’t like

he doesn’t like a focused person

A focused person is the enemy’s worst nightmare

because he knows no matter what he does, he can’t get a focused person off course

because your steadfast and unmoveable

The problem today is that a lot of people have no focus, therefore they become prey for the enemy

but it is a plan that keeps you focused

and you need focus to have a future

A Plan Establishes Organization

Text goes on to say

For which of you, intending to build a tower, (watch this) does not sit down first and count the cost......

Here, Jesus basically says in an inverted way that if you are going to build it you have to plan for it.

And one of the benefits that come from planning for it is the establishment of organization

Listen

Listen, your plan cannot be successful if it isn’t organized

Organization creates alignment

Illustration of Car

Your assignment calls for alignment

if your money isn’t in alignment with where you are going, then don’t expect to get there

A Plan Establishes Optimism

The text says that,

“when you don’t sit down first and count (organize) the cost, you lack the insight of knowing if you may have enough to finish it.”

A plan generates optimism

Optimism

hopefulness

confidence

faith

trust

a belief

Expound

You can’t be hopeful, confident, and trusting in nothing

You have to have something to hope in, have confidence in, and to put trust in

A plan cultivates a landscape for optimism to grow out of

As Christians we ought to be optimistic

Expound

My hope is built on nothingless, then Jesus blood and righteousness

A Plan Establishes Leverage

Text goes on to say

lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying This man began to build and was not able to finish

Why wasn’t he able to finish?

because he didn’t plan

When you plan, you are steps ahead of the rest

Expound

And so again a Plan Establishes:

Focus

Organization

Optimism

Leverage

Acronym FOOL

A fool is one who doesn’t plan

A wise man thinks ahead, a fool doesn’t