HOW TO MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL RESOURCES(Time, Energy, Money)

Before we dive right into today’s topic on how to manage our Personal Resources, I want to share something real quick. I remember growing up, there was this phrase my dad loved using. It goes like this “Reserve made America strong”. Whenever I tried asking for the meaning, he would smile and say “learn to save for raining days”(another idiomatic expression :))

I am sure what he was trying to tell us in simple terms was to use our resources wisely.

Wastage of resources is not from God.He expects us to put it into proper usage.-Pastor Meshack

What Are Resources?

The definition of resources differ slightly in various fields but dictionary.com defines it as “a source of supply, support, or aid especially one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.

Some resources are renewable(can be replaced when depleted) while others are not renewable.

What Are Personal Resources?

These are things that can help you reach a goal and live a productive life. They include your abilities, your time, your energy, money, relationships etc. Everybody has three(3) basic resources–time, energy, and money. The proper usage of these can help you attain that personal growth you so desire. The mismanagement of any of these three can also affect and hinder one’s growth.

Is God In Favour Of Wastage?

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are leftover. Let nothing be wasted.”
John 6:12 NIV

From the story in John 6:1-14, we see Jesus feeding the multitude. After everyone ate and were full, He instructed them to gather the remaining(we don’t waste around here!). This made me understand that God is not in support of wastage, we are stewards of whatever He gives and He expects us to use them wisely.

wisdom is needed to manage one’s resources. Wisdom is the right, proper, true and effective application of knowledge given by the Holy Spirit. It is also the ability to gain mastery over a thing/situation. Ways to acquire wisdom includes:

• Asking God(James 1:5,2 chronicles 1:10)
• Genuine listening and sound learning(Luke 2:46-52)

God always provides but He also gives us wisdom to preserve so that we don’t eat our fruits with its seed”

Pst Meshach

How Then Do You Manage Your Personal Resources

In this post, we are going to focus on the three most important human resources:

1.TIME:

This is one of the most important Personal Resources. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. In today’s society, we have so many distractions and our productivity depends on how well we use our time. Below are a few tips to help you use your time wisely.

1.Learn To Prioritise:

find out what is important to you and pay attention to it. Put those activities on the top of your to-do list and make the intentional decision to get them done at the time allocated for each

2.Create a TO-DO list:

Back then when I was in High School, We had class schedules/class timetables. On those timetables were durations/times allocated for each activity that was to be done. Both teachers and student followed their timetables and at the end of the day, we were able to accomplish everything that was set for that day.

You can still adopt that method(it’s not old school). Create a TO-DO list the day before(usually a few hours before bedtime). Write down all you wish to do the next day in sequential order(eg urgent, important, etc) and commit it to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you out and be intentional about it.

I created a daily planner, it’s available in the resource library. You can download and print as many copies as you like.

3.Learn To Say NO:

Helping people is very good–No doubt! However, you cannot be available to all. Being too busy with other people’s stuff and neglecting your own doesn’t make you productive. Saying NO and declining some invitations will save you a whole lot of stress(trust me when I say!)

4. Be Discipline:

Self-discipline is key to managing one’s resources wisely. Sadly, this is not as easy as it sounds(but it’s attainable). The flesh is difficult to tame because it likes to be comfortable, no stress! (lol). We all struggle with self-discipline here and there.

Imagine me setting my priorities, creating a TO-DO list, and declining an invitation to a party. One would naturally think I’m on my desk working on that important task. Sorry to disappoint but my favourite show is on and I just want to watch it for 15mins. I turned on my TV, sat on the sofa and before I knew what’s up…..an hour has gone by.

Now I’m feeling guilty for wasting time and not doing the “urgent”(the sad fact is that the show would be repeated…now am feeling really bad and unmotivated to start). So being disciplined with our time(plus any other resources) is very important

2. ENERGY:

My high school physic teacher defined energy as the ability to do work. As humans, we were created to work, we love to work! For us to work effectively we need energy. From my Observation, one’s energy is dependant on your emotional/mental health. If you’re stressed or unmotivated you practically have little or no strength to do anything. So to effectively manage/conserve your energy you need to stay mentally and emotionally healthy. How?

1.Try Going to bed early:

Coming from someone who stays up late watching movies and is now trying to go to bed early(I now sleep at 10/11pm instead of 4am), I notice I wake up earlier feeling more energetic. I get enough sleep. Sleep is very important, it’s the body’s way of rebooting itself.

Early to bed,early to rise ,makes man wise.

2.Start your day with God:

God is our source. It’s in Him we live, move, and have our beings. When we start our days with Him we go about our day feeling more energetic (the Holy Spirit is an energizer). Spending quality time with Him is a good way to kick start your day. If you are the type that gets really busy it’s beneficial if you wake up earlier. This will enable you to spend quality time with Him.

3.Have some “ME” time:

Solitude which is the quality of being alone(not to be mistaken for Isolation) is something that’s overlooked. Time with friends and family matters–but time for yourself matters too.

Throughout the Bible we see Jesus withdrawing from the crowd to pray, to get a refill (you can’t pour from an empty cup). A little “ME time” is a must! Go to someplace quiet, listen to your favourite song, go for a walk, enjoy nature, listen to an audio bible/book, etc –anything that relieves your stress-just do it! You would come back feeling more energetic and motivated. Also, don,t forget to eat well and exercise.

3.MONEY:

I am not some expert or financial consultant but I know for sure that money is one of those Personal Resources that needs proper managing. If you don’t want to run into debt, start paying close attention to how you spend.

Here are a few tips to manage your money(especially if you are a student like myself)

• Have a budget: You don’t like maths-I get it (I don’t either) but some basic addition and subtraction here and there won’t be bad.

• Stick to your budget: What’s the use of a budget that you won’t use?

Be content: But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that(1 Timothy 6:6-8)

All fingers are not equal so cut your coat according to your size. They got a new phone so you too you want one?

• Save/Invest: Invest your money in things that will bring you profits.

Paying your tithes/offerings: Tithing has become a controversial topic in today’s society, I really don’t know why but, the bible is clear

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it-
Malachi 3:8-10 

The Lord will rebuke the devourer which could come in the form of a basic necessity for your sake. You can’t just go wrong when you bank with God!

What’s The Importance of managing your personal resources?

• You will be productive and get things done.
• Proper management of your resources enables you to be wise and avoid wastage.
• You gain satisfaction and feel goood about yourself.
• You will be effective and efficient in all you do

Our time, money, and energy is a gift from God. Although it’s a gift, we are accountable to God for how we use it. Let’s Learn from The ANTS(PROVERBS 6:6-8)

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.