Pastor Dwane continues his series on how to enjoy God’s full blessings in the second half of life. Empty Nest, Full Life Part 6a: I’m Not Daddy Warbucks! You may not be Daddy Warbucks, but you CAN have a healthy financial future by following the wisdom of King Solomon! Worship with the Grace Church Worship Team. Sermon Notes: Empty Nest Full Life Part 6a: I’m NOT Daddy Warbucks All of us worry about money from time to time. 64% of all COUPLES worry about money. 51% of divorcees: marriage failure had something to do with their finances. Canadians carry nearly $2 in debt for every dollar of disposable income! The shoddy way we handle money negatively affects our walk with the Lord. “…sincere Christians have been lured by riches and the love of money; they have squandered their lives and given up their spiritual fruitfulness.” BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE: Start believing and acting like everything we have is God’s. The WAY we handle our money is a spiritual issue. Solomon was EXTRAVAGANTLY wealthy and God inspired him to share his money management wisdom in the book of Proverbs. So, what would Daddy Solomon-bucks teach us? 1. Daddy Solomon-Bucks says keep good RECORDS. “Accounting” simply means “Keeping count.” Proverbs 27:23-24 Set up your record keeping to know four things: What we OWE, what we OWN, what we EARN, and WHERE it goes. 2. Daddy Solomon-Bucks says: Plan your SPENDING. This is the principle of BUDGETING. Proverbs 21:5 How MUCH money you make is irrelevant if you don’t control how you SPEND it. We SPEND too much. We spend too much is because we SHOP too much. Proverbs 21:20: “Foolish people spend their money as fast as they get it.” How can you break the habit of impulsive buying? -Bring someone along/have an accountability limit. -Use cash. -Plan your shopping/date night/entertainment as part of your budget. -Delay purchases/gratification. Solomon’s wisdom: BUDGETING-by planning your spending and sticking to the plan no matter what. 3. Daddy Solomon-Bucks says SAVE FOR THE FUTURE. Proverbs 6:6-8 – even INSECTS – BUGS! – are smart enough to save! People earn hundreds of thousands but at retirement they have little to show for their work. Why? Because, all those years they paid everybody but themselves. Our problem is many of us are spending our future instead of saving for it. We are using debt to enjoy things now, and not saving for the future. Then, instead of INDEBTING the future, SAVE for the future. Daddy Solomon-Bucks Has Financial Wisdom for Us! -Remember that it all belongs to God. -Keep good records. -Plan your spending. -Save for the future.