Count the cost

How many of you have a household budget? 

The concept is to help you keep track of your income and your outgo of your finances. And the purpose is to be balanced or spending less than you bring in.

The problem with budgeting is, there is often more month at the end of the money. This comes from lack of proper planning. 

We tend to fall into temptation of buying more than we need. 

Discipleship and stewardship are closely linked. To be a good steward of our money we have to be very disciplined with our spending.

And sadly, many will not tithe or give offerings when they are undisciplined in their spending. Some even make brash promises to God that IF He does ________________, they will give Him ___________.

Why don't they give God first and trust in His care? As a matter of fact the one and only time we are "invited" to put God to the test is with our giving. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10 ESV)

Stewardship and Discipleship both bring many blessings.

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30 ESV)