Few years ago, a study was conducted by SUNLIFE Philippines about Filipinos financial Literacy and reveals what keeps Filipinos awake at night: 33% on Kids education; 20% on Food; and 17% on Family’s Health. Relate ba kayo? 

Sa totoo lang mabigat talaga sa kalooban yung meron kang financial issues. Naalala ko yung kapitbahay namin sa Cabanatuan, may malaking signboard sa harap ng tindahan nya “Ang tao na baon sa utang, bumaha man hindi lulutang.” Bilang isang pastor, that’s one of the major reasons ng hidwaan sa marriage, issue ng finances. 

I’m no expert in this, I can only share what I have observed in my own financial life, kung gusto mo talagang maging expert in improving your financial literacy dapat mong I visit ang website ng barkada kong si Chinkee Tan (chinkeetan.com) But top of mind lang, madalas kaya madami tayong financial woes is because of poverty mentality. Dami nating dahilan para gumastos, kesyo deprived tayo nung bata tayo, iisang pares lang sapatos mo, pag kumakain kayo noong araw ng pamilya mo, sa paboritong kapatid mo porkchop, sayo ketchup. Kaya ngayon na may trabaho kana, panay ang treat mo sa rili mo sa mga restaurant habang nilalapang mo yung steak nakatingin ka sa malayo at may ngiti sa labi at sa isip mo sinasabi mo “Never Again” hahaha. Tapos dumating na waiter para I swipe ang credit card mo na gasgas na gasgas na kaka swipe ng sangkatutak na bagay na na deprive ka nung bata ka.

Kaya heto ka ngayon laging petsa de peligro, isa kang certified “LONDONERS” loan dito, loan doon, lahat ng mauutangan pinapatulan, SSS salary loan, ATM sangla, COOPERATIVE loan, PAG-IBIG loan etc… May pag-asa pa ba? OFKORS meron.

Let me share 3 C’s on How to Get Out of Debt:

1. CHRIST – In Matthew 6:33 it says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – First thing first, si Jesus ang kailangan natin to overcome this poverty mentality. Only in Him will we know our true identity, otherwise, we will always draw our identity from created stuff (bags, shoe, cars etc) We are constantly seeking for things that will complete us, will make us happy, and will satisfy us, but then again again we often find ourselves running on fumes eventually. Seek Him first and we will view wealth and possession differently.

2. CONTENTMENT – I know it’s easier said than done. But the starting point of being content is keeping our lives free from the love of money. Don’t be ENSLAVE by the lure of money. It says in Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Contentment is the assurance that God’s presence and protection will always be with us.

3. COMMUNITY – we cannot do this alone. We need people around us who will encourage us, rebuke us out of love. Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

So guys para we can sleep like a baby sa gabi at  hindi magaya kay Mang Delfin, let’s have these 3 C’s.

Application:

1. Mag Garage Sale kai benta mga gamit na binili mo at di mo naman ginagamit. I post mo sa Carousel.
2. Mag PLASTIC SURGERY ka, guntingin mo sa gitna lahat ng credit cards mo. Huwag kang kukuha ng bago, hanggat hindi mo pa fully paid lahat.
3. Look for a church near you that is Christ-centered, and find a group where you can join a group

#pastorJeffph
#TheDailyBrad