Two Financial Concerns

1. Financial Prudence
2. Transferable Skills

Two Financial Concerns

  1. At-risk young men unable to go forward in life.
  2. A burden on the church by their inability to earn.
  3. Couples and families not prepared for a depression.
  4. A disgrace to any others considering the gospel.
  5. A waste of the fabulous wisdom given in scripture.
  6. Unnecessary distraction from the real goals of life.

Financial Prudence – 1

  1. Wise money management in all areas of life.
  2. This is to obey the clear will of God our Father.
  3. Prudence will adorn the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  4. Prudence will help you during a depression.
  5. Prudence to live as carefree as possible.
  6. Prosperity and savings to help others in need.

Financial Prudence – 2

  1. “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich” (Prov 21:17).
  2. “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up” (21:20).
  3. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (22:3).
  4. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (22:7).

Financial Prudence – 3

  1. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Prov 6:6-8).
  2. “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer” (Prov 30:25).

Financial Prudence – 4

  1. Avoid debt as carefully as you try to avoid death.
  2. Save at least 10% of your income no matter what.
  3. Live within your income after giving and saving.
  4. Do not touch savings. Pay for “emergencies.”
  5. Cut back on expenses until you are within income.
  6. What you think you need you do not truly need.

Financial Prudence – 5

  1. You do not need a house. R/E agents, bank loan officers, and financial idiots want you to have one.
  2. You do not need cell phones, cable, multi-cars, etc.
  3. You do not need to eat out. It is a very costly luxury.
  4. You do not need to travel, buy newest toys, etc.
  5. You do not need anything you cannot buy with cash.

Financial Prudence – 6

  1. Those who give and save scripturally, great!
  2. Those who avoid debt like the plague, great!
  3. Those who live inside their income, great!
  4. Those who live and drive modestly, great!
  5. Those who are ready for trouble, great!
  6. Those who cheerfully give to others, great!

Transferable Skill – 1

“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house” (Pr 24:27).

 

  1. You need a life before you think of a wife or house.
  2. The first step in growing up is to get a profession.
  3. Get a profession and become very fit or good at it.
  4. A job is not a profession. It is slavery with no future.
  5. Read more: https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-24/proverbs-24-27/.

Transferable Skill – 2

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

I Thessalonians 4

 

  1. This is part of how to walk to please God (4:1).
  2. This is an apostolic exhortation by Jesus (4:1).
  3. This is Paul’s apostolic commandment (4:11).
  4. You are to study to get a transferable skill (4:11).
  5. This is so you can have an honest reputation (4:12).
  6. The goal is income to have everything you need (4:12).

Transferable Skill – 3

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

Ephesians 4:28

 

  1. This is an apostolic commandment from Paul.
  2. This is how you walk like God’s children (4:1,17).
  3. This is Bible holiness by the new man (4:20-24).
  4. The goal is income to be able to give to others.

Transferable Skill – 4

“The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.”

Proverbs 30:26

 

  1. Conies are small, weak, helpless rabbits.
  2. But they are very wise by using mountains for safety.
  3. A coney would definitely get a transferable skill.
  4. Read more: https://letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/index/chapter-30/proverbs-30-26/.

Transferable Skill – 5

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

Proverbs 22:3

 

  1. A prudent man thinks negatively about the future.
  2. A prudent man makes ready for negative events.
  3. A prudent man takes measures to protect himself.
  4. A fool gets up and goes to work without thinking.
  5. A fool gets punished for not protecting himself.

Transferable Skill – 6

“And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:3).

 

  1. Paul had a craft – a trade or profession requiring special skill and knowledge – a transferable skill!
  2. He got a job in another city – by his transferable skill!
  3. Our great apostle gave us an example (Ac 20:33-35)!

Transferable Skill – 7

“If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct” (Ec 10:10).

“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox” (Prov 14:4).

 

  1. Only an idiot attempts to do a job by sheer effort.
  2. A wise man leverages his strength to do much more.
  3. Only an idiot thinks he can succeed without an ox.
  4. Much increase and prosperity require the ox’s strength.
  5. A transferable skill is a sharp axe and a strong ox.

A Job Can Be Dangerous!

  1. It deceives you by cash flow to think all is well e.g. auto factories in the north during 50’s to 90’s.
  2. It deceives you to neglect a transferable skill.
  3. It deceives you with security that is not security.
  4. It deceives you to settle for long-term poverty.

A Working Wife Can Be Dangerous!

  1. Her income causes you to think all is well.
  2. Her income leads you to neglect a transferable skill.
  3. Her income leads you to settle for long-term poverty.
  4. Her income leads you to likely abuse her (overwork).

Spirituality Can Be Dangerous!

  1. It is a RC lie that God wants monks or nuns. He has not called us to read the Bible and pray all the time.
  2. The N.T. emphasizes practical godliness, which includes serving the Lord heartily in a profession.
  3. We disgrace Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God by neglecting financial prudence and transferable skills.
  4. You cannot excuse professional slothfulness or financial foolishness by reading or praying.

Hobbies & Idealism Are Dangerous!

  1. Love of a hobby can seduce you into a job without sufficient income … drawing, photography, flying, etc.
  2. If you follow a hobby, it will not pay enough, and there will be too many entrants for too small a pie.
  3. “Little House on the Prairie” idealism can seduce you into farming or ventures without sufficient income.
  4. A bustling wife with 10 children at home is idealistic: can you support the 12 of you and save her for you?

How Will It Cost You?

  1. You will never earn what your peers are earning.
  2. You will have a future of pressure and trouble.
  3. You will never be able to help others in need.
  4. You will have to expect more of your spouse.
  5. You will have to deprive your children.

How Will It Cost You?

  1. You will have to work MORE HOURS.
  2. You will have to work TERRIBLE HOURS.
  3. You will sacrifice YOUR BODY by hard labor.
  4. You will sacrifice YOUR BODY by bad conditions.
  5. You will have to work with LOWLIFES.
  6. You will have to supervise LOWLIFES.
  7. You may risk your life by taking dangerous jobs.

It Is Not a Transferable Skill … If

  1. Others consider it a hobby e.g. starving artists.
  2. If your job can be replaced by unskilled labor.
  3. If your job can be replaced by a machine.
  4. If your job can be replaced by illegal aliens.
  5. If your job can be shipped out to India.
  6. If it pays less than 1.5 times your age.

What Is a Transferable Skill?

  1. It is transferable … it is in demand everywhere.
  2. Other companies in town will pay for your skill.
  3. Other towns, cities, or nations must have it also.
  4. You can take it with you and apply it anywhere.
  5. It is a skill-set of some sort recognized everywhere.
  6. It is not dependent on one company or operation.

What Is a Transferable Skill?

  1. It is expertise at something clearly setting you apart.
  2. It is not working hard. Working hard is not a skill.
  3. It is an identifiable ability that men gladly pay for.
  4. It usually involves certification or formal evidence.
  5. It is something you can do that others cannot do.
  6. It is the right to do something others cannot do.

What Is a Transferable Skill?

  1. A CDL Class A is a transferable skill.
  2. An M.D. heart surgeon is a transferable skill.
  3. A certified plumber is a transferable skill.
  4. All these are transferable skills: nurse, engineer, auto mechanic, accountant, lawyer, programmer, pilot, sheriff, teacher, chemist, chef, welder, electrician, veterinarian, architect, CRNA, network administrator.

How Can I Get a Transferable Skill?

  1. Study and prepare (Prov 24:27; I Thess 4:11)!
  2. Stop playing and sleeping your way through life!
  3. Humbly ask everyone that has one for advice!
  4. Take every possible aptitude and intelligence test.
  5. Identify the careers fitting your aptitude.
  6. Identify the training necessary to obtain it.

Are There Alternatives?

  1. You can marry a spouse with a transferable skill!
  2. You can keep your wife working 40 hours per week, which is not a sin; it just may cost you in other areas.
  3. You can work two jobs or even more to cover the deficiency of not having a transferable skill.
  4. You can save money and invest in income-producing equipment like a backhoe, franchise, business, etc.

I Do Not Want a Transferable Skill

  1. Then you are sinning against the Lord and wisdom.
  2. Then you are doomed to a life of difficulty and pain.
  3. Then stop borrowing or taking from the rest of us.
  4. Then you better have a rich uncle to support you.
  5. Then you better have a mountain of capital to invest.
  6. Then you better know the president’s wife.
  7. Do not expect any help when times get tough.

Conclusion

  1. Commendations to those obeying the Bible.
  2. Warning to those not obeying the Bible.
  3. America has opportunity to do anything you want.
  4. We must all help one another obey the Bible.
  5. We cannot pray for help, if lazy or rebellious.
  6. Every father is responsible for his family.

For Further Study

  1. Sermon Outline: Bible Economics 
  2. Proverb Commentary: Proverbs 14:4 
  3. Proverb Commentary: Proverbs 21:17 
  4. Proverb Commentary: Proverbs 21:20 
  5. Proverb Commentary: Proverbs 24:27
  6. Proverb Commentary: Proverbs 22:3
  7. Thinking Smart Financially … Not in E-format
  8. Sermon Outline: Cost Cutting Strategies 
  9. Ecclesiastes Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes
  10. Break-Even Income Statement …Not in E-format
  11. Education and Employment …Not in E-format