Struggling to Save? Unlock Abundance with Proven Systems (Including God's Timeless Principles)

By Theo Le Roux, Founder of Asset Chain Solutions

The desire to save money is universal. We all want that financial cushion, that peace of mind, or the capital to invest in our dreams. Yet, for many, the gap between wanting to save and actually saving feels like a chasm. Bills pile up, unexpected expenses hit, and it seems impossible to set aside anything meaningful.

If you're battling to build your savings, it's not a sign of personal failure. Often, it's a lack of a clear, disciplined system. And what if I told you that some of the most powerful and time-tested systems for financial abundance aren't just found in modern finance books, but in ancient wisdom, precisely in what many refer to as God's system of doing money?

Let's explore practical, proven systems – both contemporary and timeless – that can transform your saving habits and lead you towards true financial freedom.

The Problem: Why Saving Feels So Hard

Before we dive into solutions, let's quickly acknowledge the common culprits:

1. No Clear Goal: Saving without a purpose is like driving without a destination.

2. Impulse Spending: The immediate gratification trap.

3. Lack of Budget: Not knowing where your money actually goes.

4. Inconsistent Income: Making it hard to plan.

5. The "Scarcity Mindset": Believing there's never enough, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

These are common, but they can be overcome with a structured approach.

Proven Contemporary Systems for Consistent Saving

These modern financial strategies are effective because they remove emotion and automate the process:

1. The "Pay Yourself First" System:

   • Concept: As soon as you get paid, immediately transfer a predetermined percentage (e.g., 10-20%) of your income into a separate savings account. This isn't money left over; it's a non-negotiable expense.

   • Why it works: It prioritizes your future self. You learn to live on what's left, rather than saving what's left. Automate this transfer with your bank.

2. The "Budgeting by Category" System (e.g., 50/30/20 Rule):

   • Concept: Allocate specific percentages of your after-tax income to different categories:

     • 50% for Needs: Housing, utilities, groceries, transport.

     • 30% for Wants: Dining out, entertainment, hobbies.

     • 20% for Savings & Debt Repayment: Building your emergency fund, investments, paying down high-interest debt.

   • Why it works: It provides a clear framework for spending, making it easier to identify areas to cut back and redirect funds to savings.

3. The "Envelope System" (or Digital Equivalent):

   • Concept: For variable expenses like groceries or entertainment, allocate a specific amount of cash (or a digital equivalent via separate bank accounts/apps) at the start of the month. Once that money is gone, you stop spending in that category.

   • Why it works: It creates tangible boundaries and forces you to be mindful of spending in real-time.

Unlocking Abundance: God's Five-Dimensional System of Doing Money

Beyond practical budgeting, ancient Hebraic principles offer a profound pathway to financial well-being, focusing not just on accumulation but on abundance, stewardship, and generosity. For those who seek wisdom beyond the purely contemporary, God's system provides a powerful, covenantal framework for managing and multiplying wealth. This isn't just about charity; it's about activating spiritual principles for financial well-being and blessing.

Let's delve into the five distinct dimensions of this system:

1. Terumah (First Fruits): Sanctifying the Harvest & Connecting to Increase

• Definition: Often misunderstood, Terumah means "to lift up." It's an ancient offering, distinct from the tithe, that predates Mosaic Law, appearing with Cain and Abel and Abraham. It was God's system to cultivate a culture of setting aside a portion and ensuring margin.

• Calculation: Historically, 1/40th of the gross increase of a crop (approximately 2.5% of one's gross income today). This is often the proportion of a crop that buds first.

• Recipient: Specifically given to the "man of God" in one's life (e.g., priest, pastor) for their personal support, signifying an acknowledgment of spiritual authority. It required being "lifted high" and placed directly into their hands.

• Significance:

  • Sanctification: If the first fruit is holy, the entire "lump" or harvest is considered holy. Withholding it "curses" the entire harvest.

  • Connection to Increase: Terumah directly connects individuals to multiplication and exponential increase of their wealth.

  • Blessing on the House: Honoring Terumah brings a blessing to one's entire household, including family and vocation.

  • Covenant of Salt: Establishes an "everlasting covenant of salt," symbolizing an inseparable relationship and imparting spiritual "flavor" from the pastor's life.

  • Revelation: Jesus' teaching on the "eye full of light" refers to Terumah; generous giving (1/40th) brings revelation and clarity to see what God sees, while stinginess (1/60th) leads to darkness.

2. Ma'aser Rishon (The First Tithe): Supporting Ministry & Opening the Windows of Heaven

• Definition: Ma'aser Rishon is the "first tithe," meaning "a tenth." It is the foundational 10% contribution.

• Calculation: One-tenth (10%) of the gross increase for the year's crop (gross income in modern terms). This is taken after Terumah is separated.

• Recipient: Given to the "storehouse" or church, primarily to care for the Levites and the upkeep of all ministry. Pastors were intended to be supported by Terumah, not the tithe.

• Significance:

  • The Lord's Tithe: It is considered God's portion. Spending it is seen as "robbing God."

  • Opening Windows of Heaven: This act opens the "windows of heaven" over one's "land," pouring out blessings that cannot be contained, bringing divine vision and a broader perspective on life.

  • Rebuking the Devourer: Tithing protects one's "seed" (investments, efforts) from the "devourer," ensuring the harvest takes root, produces fruit, and matures fully.

  • Connecting to Blessing: It is a vital part of God's covenant, preceding Mosaic Law (exemplified by Abraham).

3. Ma'aser Sheni (The Second Tithe): Saving for Generational Wealth & Inheritance

• Definition: Ma'aser Sheni is the "second tithe."

• Calculation: One-tenth (10%) of the net income, calculated after taxes, Terumah, and Ma'aser Rishon have been paid.

• Recipient: Given to oneself or the family.

• Purpose: Primarily for saving money and building generational wealth. God is as interested in you saving as He is in you giving. This practice was designed to help leave an inheritance for children and grandchildren.

• Significance:

  • God's Plan for Abundance: The consistent saving of 10% net income throughout one's working life is presented as God's design for significant financial well-being and becoming debt-free.

  • Preventing "Robbing God": Not saving for your family is also considered "robbing God," as He desires for His people to be prosperous.

  • Breaking Generational Patterns: This tithe is crucial for changing negative financial patterns in a "family tree" and establishing a legacy of blessing.

4. Ma'aser Ani (The Third Tithe): Generosity to the Poor & Repairing the World

• Definition: Ma'aser Ani is the "tithe to the poor."

• Calculation: One-tenth (10%) of the net income.

• Recipient: Given to the poor, strangers, orphans, and widows.

• Crucial Distinction: Ma'aser Ani is given in lieu of Ma'aser Sheni (the saving tithe) every third year. (Theo's modern application: I personally practice this quarterly, setting aside the equivalent of my "second tithe" for the poor in March, June, September, and December.)

• Purpose & Significance:

  • Remembering Grace: A command to remember God's underserved kindness (e.g., being redeemed from "slavery in Egypt") and extend that grace to others.

  • Knowing God: Linked directly to the definition of "knowing God" – defending the cause of the poor and needy, reflecting Jesus' teachings on caring for "the least of these."

  • Righteousness and Generosity: The Hebrew words for generosity (sadaqa) and righteousness (sadoc) are the same, implying that true righteousness involves active generosity.

  • Repairing the World (Tikkun Olam): A practical way to participate in "repairing the world" by entering into brokenness to make things better.

5. Offerings (Zechut): Practical Expression of God's Love

• Definition: The Hebrew word for offerings, Zechut, is defined as a kind and generous act done towards people who don't deserve it and can do nothing in return.

• Purpose: The reason these offerings are made is to show the love of God to them in a practical manner. It is a tangible demonstration of divine love and grace.

• Significance: Zechut moves beyond structured tithes and into the realm of spontaneous, heartfelt giving that embodies divine compassion and practical impact.

Integrating Systems for Unstoppable Progress

Imagine the power of combining the practical contemporary strategies like "Pay Yourself First" with the profound, five-dimensional wisdom of God's system of giving. By consistently honoring Terumah, Ma'aser Rishon, Ma'aser Sheni, Ma'aser Ani, and Zechut, you don't just manage your money; you activate principles of abundance, stewardship, and generosity that can lead to an unstoppable flow of financial well-being. This is about living in a "circular field," where you always have margin and are consistently setting aside portions for giving and saving, rather than consuming your entire "harvest."

These five steps constitute God's complete system of doing money. If one consistently applies these principles, your financial life is designed to succeed, no matter what you do or how much you earn. It’s time to move from wishing to saving, from scarcity to true financial independence, and to build a legacy of abundance for generations to come.

Call to Action: Which of these systems resonates most with you? How have spiritual principles impacted your financial journey? Share your insights in the comments below! Ready to explore how decentralized finance can be part of your abundance journey? Visit https://www.google.com/search?q=AssetChainSolutions.com to learn more.