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Michel A. Bell  |   What We Believe  |   Invitation  |   Biblical Facts Sheet  |   Stewardship Covenant

Managing God's Money is a private, Christ-centered organization devoted to teaching individuals, couples, and groups to use money, time, talents, and other resources, for God’s glory and to further His Kingdom. We do this by God's grace through sessions with individuals, couples, and groups at seminars, workshops, and through print and other media. We are not a charity, do not represent financial companies or sell their products, and we do not seek funding.

The GAS Principle is the foundation of our teachings. We believe and teach that you can't manage money and so, when we refer to money management we mean lifestyle management; our lifestyles decide how much we spend- types of homes and cars we buy decide how much we spend. That's why we stress ABC's as critical money drivers. Your attitude is your worldview; what you believe, and it decides how you behave. Your attitude decides too, your choices. Choose Jesus and His teachings as the source of your choices, and you will learn to spend under His direction. This is difficult, especially in today's consumer driven world. But by God's grace, you will be able to withstand continuing seduction from merchants.

Understanding the Money Triangle will help you see more clearly that money isn't manageable and point you to the key variable that needs managing ... you! In each financial transaction, we have three parts: a merchant, me, and money. The merchant produces stuff and tries to get me to buy his stuff, even if I don’t need them. The merchant uses advertising gimmicks such as no "money down," "sales," and "deals," tricking me to think I save when I spend. Folks don't realize they save only when they set aside funds at no risk! So, the merchant succeeds in convincing many to spend. They tell folks the more they spend the more they save, and they loan money to people who can't afford to buy stuff, so they can buy. And of course, many people end deep in debt! Bottom line: the merchant's strategy works; he comes out on top!

The second item in the triangle is me. Long ago, to sell his stuff, the merchant focussed on advertising products or services, but not today. No, today, she appeals to me with enticing financing schemes. Sales, deals, no money down, 50% off, zero percent financing are some tactics she uses. Folks succomb because they define affordable as ability to get merchant financing; not ability to accomodate the full item cost in their household budgets without stress and strain to the family!

Money completes the triangle. What is it? Merely a means to an end; it's anything the merchant will accept in exchange for goods or services he provides. Which of the three Ms, in the money triangle can I manage?

I can’t manage the merchant who tries constantly to get me to spend. I can’t manage money because it’s just the means, the bridge between me and the merchant. I can manage me only; my lifestyle, my needs, my wants, my greed! So, before you spend, recall the money triangle. Look at how your lifestyle choices might affect spending. Look at you (me) and your (my) behaviour and take your (my) eyes of the merchant and money! Let's ask Jesus to help you and me tackle the merchant and his gimmicks!