1-     Work: What is work? Work in this case is gainful engagement. How? Effective work is rendering service that will yield income to you. What qualifies you for effective work? Training and knowledge will increase your skill which in turn increases your income propensity. When you receive adequate training, teaching, serving (apprenticeship/discipleship as the case may be), it will improve your skill and income commensurably. Work is God's law for His people. Exo. 23:12. God hates idleness. Paul said to the Thessalonians (you and me) that let anyone who fails to work not eat. 2Thess. 3:10, Pro. 19:15

BLESSINGS OF WORK: 1- Wealth Pro. 10:4 2- Physical strength Eccl. 4:5. 3- Profit. Pro. 14:23(a). 4- Promotion and honour Pro. 22:29. 5- Provision. Pro. 12:11. 6- Development of mind and body even your gift/talent will develop. 1Thess. 5:23

2-     Plan and prioritize:

Do a financial planning for your household expenditure in line with your family income. You've got to be realistic about this as failure to do so can plunge you into financial mess. Don't try to be like Jonses and don't measure your life by other people's standard. You must not compare yourself/ family with others. Isrealites did not have problem with their God until they asked for king just like other nations.

Often times in our society people place more importance on their social life more than essential family needs which bother on financial irresponsibility. How do you explain somebody who has not paid his/her child's school fees or rent yet, went ahead to buy expensive clothes just for one night party! It's difficult to understand that somebody who has not met basic needs of his family, could buy expensive GSM handset and afford to spend so much on recharge card weekly just for frivolous or trivial calls. Your social values must be reassessed in order to place priority on essential family needs such as God, Housing, Feeding, Education etc first before all other things can attract your financial attention.

In fact, WHENEVER BULK MONEY COMES IN, IT'S GOOD TO INQIURE OF THE LORD WHAT TO DO WITH IT AS WELL AS HOW TO USE IT. SUCH MONEY HAS DIVINE IMPORTANCE AND MAY BE TIED TO DESTINY. EVEN, LITTLE MONEY DOES, AS IT MAY BE A CONTACT POINT TO YOUR FINANCIAL MIRACLE LIKE THE WIDOW OF SAREPHATH.

3-     Avoid waste/Save resources: Pro. 18:9

(a) Buy only based on needs. The bible says, God will supply your needs. God is interested in our needs not what we lust after. So, buy what you need.   
(b) Guard against impulsive purchase      
(c) Check/study price movement such as summer and winter.       - For example, since summer products are cheaper in winter and vise-versa, you can buy things you need in winter during summer time; usually, it's about 50% or more percentage cheaper. You can do some of your Xmas clothing shopping around Sept/October and end up saving 30-40% on the same item against buying in December. Also, look out for clearance sales which make prices go to the lowest and you may save up to 90% on some items.

            - School books are best bought either shortly before school vacate or during vacation. Since you are dealing with forces of demand and supply, you will pay more when you buy early in a new term/session.

           - Instead of buying video/CDs, you can join video/CD club to save some money and avoid some junk in your home.

           - Check what you sow and where you sow into. Sow on fertile ground or fertile kingdom projects that have eternal value.

           - Check God's kingdom percentage of your earnings.

           - Check what you spend on yourself.

           - Check what you are able to save.

           - Value your investment from time to time. This will help you.

           - Check your debt profile. You have to stop acquiring more debt until you pay what is outstanding. Avoid debt on frivolities. It's best for you to live on your income.

          - avoid comparing yourself with other people.

     4- Build financial integrity:

          - Owe no man anything except love. Rom. 13:8. Unpaid debt brings fear, stress, or servitude as we see in the bible. So, avoid debt unless for investment purpose that you are sure will payback with profit left for you. As you plan to borrow, you must also plan to pay back. No need borrowing if, you can't pay back. Most debt come out of 1-greed, 2-mismanagement 3- improper planning, 4- Laziness 5-Impulsive decisions/pur chases.6- Don't vow and fail to pay. Eccl. 5:5-6, Pro. 7:14-15

           DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT DEBT! Therefore, avoid debt. Finally, debt/money can cause strife because, when you fail to pay back, your creditor will sure not be happy with you.

-          Avoid fraudulent scale. Pro. 20:10, 23. Avoid dishonesty at work. Don't cheat your employer on time such as going late to work or using official hours to do private work or using office materials for private purpose.

-          Serve God. Serve God with all your heart so you may be rewarded just as you must serve your boss in the office. Jeremiah 48:10 John 9:4; Col. 3:23-24.

Conclusion:

      It's best to live by bible standard and by the dictate of the Holy Spirit. Many things have crept into the church from the world today, that are capable of putting Christians into financial bondage if care is not taken. The Church is supposed to teach the world the way of righteousness. Therefore, the word of God should dwell in us richly. Col.3:16 a believer that is not full of the WORD will be full of the WORLD. The former works with the Spirit, while the latter work with the flesh. The Church is not a social organization rather it's the ground and pillar of truth.

          Avoid financial yoke as well: God ask for 10% of your income or business profit, offering as you purpose in your heart to give and seed-sown. Anything AFTER THESE, God will speak to you by His Spirit. 2Cor. 9:6-9. If God did not ask father Abraham to offer Isaac , he would have committed murder. Let the Spirit of God lead you before you give your all. That way, the blessing will be much.

It's best to develop financial discipline and teach your children how to work, save and invest early in life. Saving brings interest but, investment brings multiplication. Good saving should lead them to investment. Otherwise, you are only teaching them how to spend or consume. Give them offering, let them give their tithe and make sure they do. Encourage them to serve in the church as well. As they grow up, during vacation, let them work with you to develop their work ethic if you have private business.

In higher institution of learning, let them look for vacation job. They will soon develop their own financial integrity and wealth. Pro.13:22. The first and best inheritance you can leave for the children is righteousness which will help them to earn honest living that positions them for divine increase through creative ability that the Lord help them to develop by the Spirit which connect them right for divine promotion.