'The...years of abundance...came to an end.' GENESIS 41: 33

The Bible says: 'Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain...The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food' (vv. 49 - 54 NIV).

In his book 'Surviving Financial Meltdown', Ron Blue teaches us some valuable principles for achieving financial security:

1) Think long-term. The longer term your perspective, the better financial decisions you'll make. Set goals in writing for the future. Invest for the long term and worry less about short-term ups and downs in your investment portfolio.

2) Spend less than you earn. To accomplish this you need to know what you're earning and what you're spending. Make a spending plan (or, if we dare use that loathed term, a budget). Monitor how you're doing. Develop the self-control to avoid overspending. If you consistently spend less than you earn over a long period of time, you will do well financially.

3) Maintain emergency savings. A reserve set aside will help you ride out the surprises life throws at you. You must spend less than you earn to build savings. Savings will then help you avoid debt. These principles work together.

4) Minimize the use of debt. Debt increases risk. It may allow you to do more and have more now, but it will reduce your ability to have more in the future.

These four financial principles are so simple that they may easily be overlooked, yet they've stood the test of time.