Joel 3:10 says “Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I [am] strong” As students, managing our finances can be a daunting task. With limited resources and multiple expenses, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, God’s Word offers guidance on financial stewardship, empowering us to trust in His provision and manage our resources wisely. Even when it seems unlikely, things are hard and sources of finances are meager, The Lord still wants us to strengthen our feeble knees, and be faithful in the small things we have been given. What must we do as students to be counted worthy in the area of our finances?
1. We must first give to God: 2 Corinthians 8:5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. From this passage, we learn from the Macedonian church that before the act of giving gifts, it begins with giving ourselves to God, and then to the church before we can give acceptably anything material. Some may argue that you shouldn’t use your pocket money, you shouldn’t give it to the work of God that he understands. But I’ve also come to learn that if truly I’ve given Jesus my life, then He also owns my finances and as such I should be willing to part with it at any time and as a matter of discipline, I the first once any money comes in and I can give such to the church, fellowship, CMDA, missionaries, those in need etc. I give wherever I sense there is a need. After that, the remaining money still belongs to God just in case He makes a demand on helping someone else, I will still gladly do it despite having thed. When we give, this should be our watchword :2 Corinthians 8:12 If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don’t have.
2. Savings: Even if the money is as little as 1000 naira only, cultivating the habit of pung away some for later will go a long way in helping you save even in the future. Begin with keeping 20% of whatever comes into your hand in a separate account. Watch how that grows within the next couple of days
3. Writing down your expenses: when we write everything we spend, it helps us checkmate areas that really eat up our money. It also helps us budget beer next month. If perhaps you notice that you spent more money on sachet water than earlier budgeted, it helps you allocate more money to water in the coming days.
4. Budgeting: Even as students, it is fine to plan how to spend our (God’s) money.
5. Prayers: we must pray for the source of resources, be it parents, guardians or businesses. Deut.8.18 – “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
6. Thanksgiving: a hymn sang this “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God the Father who’s the source; Praise God the Son who is the course; Praise God the Spirit who’s the flow; Praise God, our portion here below!” We must thank God for all His provision whilst asking Him for daily bread. Make a list of all that has been provided for by the Lord and thank Him specifically. In all these, I believe God can strengthen anyone who is weak or feels they get too little money. Let’s prayerfully follow these principles of financial stewardship, which is a vital aspect of our Christian walk. By giving, saving, tracking expenses, budgeting, praying, and giving thanks, we can honor God with our finances. Remember, God’s provision is not limited by our circumstances. As we trust in Him and practice good financial stewardship, He will bless us and empower us to be faithful stewards of all He has given us. May we continue to seek His guidance and wisdom in managing our resources.
Dr. Ifeoma-Chiamaka Chukwu
