Shhhh, don’t tell anyone that I use the “B” word, it’s almost against the law within the Christian community. In fact Christians only use it when no one is around to hear them. I’m not afraid to say it. I’ll say it in front of my Pastor, in front of my wife, my mom and my daughter.

I’m talking about the word “BUDGET.”

Why do we avoid the word budget? Why do we have to create different names, like Spending Plan, just to make budgeting an easier pill to swallow? Isn’t budgeting just a written accountability plan, like the Ten Commandments?

I think I know why we stopped using the word… our thinking is too limiting. We all have a little Adam and Eve in us that tends to focus on the limitations of God and not on His abundance. Adam was told not to eat from a tree in His abundant garden, yet focused solely on what God told them not to eat. They missed the 90% and focused on the 10%, sounds a bit like tithing right? Similar to that particular time in history, we look at the limitation of a budget instead of looking at it simply as a way to manage our current possessions so God can bless us with increase. Remember, He’ll never put more on us than we can bear…

In the American culture we’re surrounded by consumerism and materialism, but where is the accountability? Is anyone holding you accountable to your goals? Of course we all want to be debt free, but how do you do it without a written plan?

But before you get started with the application of a plan, let’s start with cultivation. Cultivating takes work, takes discipline and takes a breaking up of old thoughts in order to align our thoughts with God’s. In Matthew 13:8, a commonly used scripture for financial blessings, we often look over the fact that increase comes from planting seed in “Good Soil.” The question we have to ask ourselves is… Does God think of me as Good Soil?

Sure God wants to bless us one hundred, sixty and thirty fold, but most importantly He wants us to be good soil. Cultivate your mind by learning what God expects from you and your finances. Cultivate your mind by learning more about how money works and how you can make it work harder for you. It’s not hard, but it is work. Then you’ll be ready to develop a budget and realize that this “B” word will lead you to God’s abundance.

It’s ok, you can use the “B” word too, as long as it’s Budget!