To be a responsible money manager, you need to learn the principle of accounting. It’s part of God’s plan for blessing our finances. The Bible says, “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” (Proverbs 27:23-24 NIV).

In Bible times, business interests were all caught up in people’s flocks and herds—those were their assets. That’s why they would talk about the value of knowing the state of their flocks. Today we’d say, “Know the state of your stocks.” That’s where our business interests largely are.

Maybe you’re thinking, “My stock flocks are looking a little scrawny this week.” That’s the point! The point is you’ve got to know the state of things. You have to be aware so you can understand where your finances are and how you can deal with that reality.

Proverbs 23:23 says, “Get the facts at any price” (TLB). There is a cost to good accounting. It takes time to keep records. You’ve got to invest your time and your energy and yourself—but it’s worth it.

As you keep good records, focus on four things about your finances: what you own, what you owe, what you earn, and where it goes. You’ve got to know those four things in order to be financially free.

That means you write it down. You keep a log. You get some software. You do whatever it takes. If you’re not doing it already, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t have time to do this.” You’re right. None of us have time to do this!

God wants to bless you financially. But you’ve got to make time to keep good records.