Financial Freedom February: The Parable of the Talents and Why Financial Management is Our Problem
Financial Freedom February: The Parable of the Talents and Why Financial Management is Our Problem
Greetings Beloved,
Welcome to My Beloved Women’s Weekly, the #1 publication that teaches women how to flourish in business, ministry, motherhood, and marriage.
As you know, we’ve launched our 1st annual Financial Freedom February, a month-long endeavor that focuses on establishing good financial habits each year.
A part of our monthly education includes exploring resources that help us perfect this area so our social empires thrive.
One of the many challenges confronting women, especially single mothers, deals with money.
It’s safe to say, 99% of us believe we don’t have enough money each month.
But explored in proper perspective, what we do have, we aren’t managing well.
At times, when we feel like we are drowning financially, we ask God for more.
Yes, God is our supply.
But He has specific principles that we must uphold if we are to be trusted with more.
Today’s teaching will pull from Matthew 25: 14-30.
At the time, Jesus taught his disciples about a powerful principle, which is applicable today.
The Parable of the Talents is one you must know as we pursue greater financial opportunities.
14 For [the kingdom of heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
You will notice an important lesson here: The master gave to each person a talent according to what he believed each one was capable of managing and multiplying.
To the one with the most, he gave him more because he doubled his master’s investment.
But the one who had the least, he buried his talent.
He did not manage what was given to him. And this resulted in his demise.
Back in 2016, I realized I needed to be more intentional with my finances. I did not have the steady, predictable income I once did. I had to learn how to generate wealth in a creative way using entrepreneurship.
With each dollar I received, I had to spend it wisely.
That meant if I earned $100, I could not spend it frivolously on clothes or shoes as I did when I had a traditional job.
Instead, I had to learn how best to manage or budget my resources.
This was a major struggle for me, because I developed the habit of shopping to my heart’s content. I could do so, because I knew more money would hit my account within weeks.
But something about the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship compelled me to learn what it means to walk by faith WHILE managing finances well.
Over time, I learned how to create a comfortable lifestyle for me and Aaliyah. In fact, we lived in one of the best areas in Elk Grove, CA on a $24,000/year budget.
Yes, you read that correctly.
That’s $24,000 a year for two people in 2016 in California … one of the most expensive states in the union.
I created this new lifestyle by adopting new behaviors. I practiced minimalism. I adopted the communal living/room rental business model. I broke my shopping addiction. I used available resources to meet our needs. And I was strict about ensuring our finances were used to propel us higher.
I learned to maximize the dollar as much as possible without becoming a hoarder or miser.
And the lessons I learned during that period were more empowering to me than when I made $60,000+ a year working for the school system.
It’s funny how a little money will teach you bigger lessons.
What seems like lack is actually you learning how to make the most of your current possessions.
And as you master these lessons when you have a little, God promises to make you master over more.
Otherwise stated, if you learn to master $100, you will know what to do with $1,000.
And that is what God is looking for: financial managers who will use the resources given to them for wise purposes.
As we continue looking at how to better manage finances, I want to share more articles with you from Clever Girl Finance.
Today’s featured post is “The 15 Best Financial Literacy Books For Women.”
I encourage you to check out these books and add them to your library. Then join me for a new financial experience that will help you reach your financial goals this year.
The Felecia Killings Foundation has launched our newest financial online course called My Beloved Women’s Workshop: Building Wealth and Establishing Financial Freedom.
This 4-week group course teaches you how to manage money wisely.
Pulling from the lessons found in Clever Girl Finance, I will facilitate our group’s discussions and teachings to help each of us reach new financial goals in 2023.
Clever Girl Finance was founded by Bola Sokunbi. Her organization was “voted one of the top personal finance websites for women.”
For more than five years, I have followed Bola’s platform as she provides easy-to-use strategies to help women thrive financially.
Bola's book, Clever Girl Finance, will be the training resource used during the entire online course.
During this workshop, you will enjoy an empowering 60-minute video that dives into the 4 pillars of successful financial management.
Teaching sessions include:
Getting Started with a New Mindset and Financial Organizational Strategies
Learning How to Budget and Handle Debt
Tapping into Investments and Mastering Credit Properly
Protecting Your Financial Assets and Making More Money This Year
At the end of each video presentation, you will be given a weekly home work assignment that helps you put action behind your lessons.
Because you will be working alongside other women, you can share your results in our empowering group portal.
Truly, now’s the time for us to thrive as women!
Beloved, don’t miss this opportunity. When you enroll today, you can gain lifetime access for just $50.
Use coupon code: FFF23 to take 50% OFF the regular price.
During the 4th week of the training, I will go through specific steps to help you generate income using your authorship.
A published book has the power to open many doors of opportunities for you. My clients are building businesses and virtual ministries around their authorship.
And you can join this exclusive group, too.
So, connect today.
Sign up for our financial class.
Apply to our business school.
Launch your new work using your authorship.
And build a powerful, profitable virtual empire that generates income annually.
Until next time, Beloved, be blessed.
And as always, let’s grow together.