The Holy Book does not teach just scripture and the word of God – it also gives us instructions and advice on how to live a comfortable, happy and satisfactory life by following a few simple tenets. When it comes to money, the Bible is rich in parables that teach us both the value of this precious asset and the evil that it could bring if it is misused and abused. There are other verses scattered throughout the Holy Book that show us how to lead a disciplined life, and here are three of them:

• Proverbs 27:12 – A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences: This verse from the Bible reminds of that old adage – Look before you leap. It could also be version of the Boy Scout rule – Always be prepared. And it could refer to that pearl of financial wisdom which exhorts us to – Always save for a rainy day. In simple terms, it means that you need to look ahead to the future and be prepared for any eventuality. Don’t spend all the money you earn on frivolous pursuits; take care of your basic necessities and put aside the rest so it will come in handy when crises strike. This way, you are dependent only on yourself and don’t have to run from pillar to post begging for money or ending up deep in debt that you cannot afford to repay.
• Luke 14:28-30 – For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish: If you’ve ever suffered from credit card debt, you’ve probably never understood this verse from the Bible. It tells us that we must not spend money that we do not have – just as a man must not plan a building without knowing if he has the money to finish it in its entirety, so too must we know that money spent using a credit card is borrowed money, not that which we own. So when you buy products using a credit card, you must stop to think if you have the money to pay it back; for if you don’t, you’re digging a deep hole of debt, one that is very hard to climb out of without dirtying and debasing yourself.
• Proverbs 6:6-8 – Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who, having no guide, no overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest: This is a lesson that we all must learn from the humble and tiny ant – it is a creature that works hard for a living without anyone telling it to do so. It does not fall prey to the sins of laziness and sloth, and that is why it is able to fend for itself through any season, rain or shine. Like the ant, you must know that hard work is the only way to earn money, money that will stay with you and which is earned through legitimate means. It is this money that really matters, not the kind you get through underhand and shady methods.

Now that you know how to earn money, how to save for the future, and how to spend only within your means, it’s easy enough to stay out of debt.