Provide things needful for yourself and your family (1 Tim. 5:8).

“The believer should make sure the family has the necessities and conveniences of life, that is, "a sufficiency of plain, wholesome food to eat, and clean raiment to put on" as well as a place to live. The believer must also insure that the family has enough to live on if something were to happen to the breadwinner.

--John Wesley

There is nothing in the Bible that condemns a person for accumulating wealth. In fact the opposite is true. The problem with money is not its possession but rather our relationship to it. In his writings on stewardship and money, John Wesley had this question that one should ask of themselves in the decision making of the use of money,

• In spending this money, am I acting like I owned it, or am I acting like the Lord's trustee?
• What Scripture requires me to spend this money in this way?
• Can I offer up this purchase as a sacrifice to the Lord?
• Will God reward me for this expenditure at the resurrection of the just?

Wills

If you are married, if you have children, if you want to leave money or possessions to someone, or wish to support others and organizations after you death, you MUST have a Will or Estate. Without your written and witnessed intentions the state will decide what becomes of your possessions. This plan must be reviewed frequently to make sure it is current with your situation. No one after your death can ask that distributions can be made without your pre-written permission.

Unfortunately, over 60% of people do not have a will. This is courting disaster in your family’s future. If, God forbid, you and your spouse should die in an accident, have you properly provided for their care. Who will raise them? If you prefer someone other than family members raise them you MUST have a will stating so.

Estates

Proper Estate Planning can help you to maximize the effectiveness and security of your assets in order to have them used as you want them to be used. Proper planning prepares you for your retirement needs and determines how much is enough to live on.

Endowments

One does not have to be rich to provide for Endowments. There are many types and reasons for endowments:

• Has the church or a particular Pastor been extremely important in you life? Consider an endowment gift to the church or a seminary in your planning to provide assistance for someone studying for the ministry.
• Has a particular part of the churches ministry been very important in your life? Maybe an endowment gift would help to continue funding that program or possibly even expand it serve even more people.
• Have you or your spouse been involved in teaching or education and found it to be extremely satisfying and rewarding in your lifetime. Maybe through an endowment you can provide for someone else to have that experience in their life.