Know Your Flocks: Why Financial Ignorance Isn’t Holy

Proverbs 27:23-24 “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.”

Do you know the condition of your finances? Have you been subtly avoiding your bank account?

In the scripture above, we have a proverb—a piece of advice/wisdom that is telling us to pay close attention to the condition of what we have, because things are always changing, and money does not last forever. The opposite of awareness is ignorance, and therefore if we are not aware of our finances, then we are ignorant to them.

And you may have heard the saying “ignorance is bliss.” This is referring to the idea that not knowing something unpleasant or difficult can feel more comfortable or peaceful than being aware of it. But let me ask you this question… are you comfortable and peaceful with not knowing if your card is going to decline at the next swipe? Are you comfortable and peaceful with not knowing if you’ll have enough money set aside for retirement? Are you comfortable and peaceful with not knowing if you can financially withstand another unexpected expense/emergency?

You see, we have to be careful about the ideologies we adopt, because in Proverbs 27: 23-24, I would argue that it is suggesting we pay attention to the condition of our money because the more we know about our finances, the more power we have to improve, prepare, and make changes.

Ignorance and avoidance keep us powerless; however, knowledge and awareness allow us to make informed decisions and gain control over situations before they take control of us. Knowledge and awareness allow people to confidently invest, make spending decisions based on value rather than emotion, and adequately prepare for a secure future. Once we know the condition of our finances, then we can determine what step 1 would be in order to improve them.

So, how can we live out this scripture and take the advice? Below are 3 things you can do to become more aware of the condition of your finances:

1. Review your last month’s bank statement and list out all of your monthly expenses.

2. Calculate your net worth to see your progress is building wealth.

   (NET WORTH = total value of assets - total liabilities)

3. Receive a financial health score based on your income, expenses, savings, debt, and investments through a budgeting app.

The app I recommend will calculate your financial health score, centralize and connect to all of your accounts, automatically track and categorize your spending, and give you weekly reports about what’s happening with your finances. The Green Line Budget App will make becoming more aware of your finances and living out this scripture a lot easier.

Green Line Budget App

For more information about the app, CLICK HERE. Don't let a lack of awareness or understanding keep you from achieving the stability and prosperity you desire. Right now, is the best time to start! Waiting until tomorrow or the next week will only delay your financial awareness and keep you ignorant to the condition of your finances.

Gain the awareness you need to make improvements. By applying the proverb and downloading the app, you'll be able to replace the anxiety of not knowing with the confidence in making informed and smarter financial decisions.

GET STARTED!