Harry Pitts teaches that financial health requires margin (leftover money), capacity (ability to handle more), and multiplication (growth with responsibility). He cites 2024 Federal Reserve data: 63% of adults can't cover a $400 emergency. Small habits like saving $25 weekly or canceling a subscription build the foundation.
Chapters
When fear starts talking, I mute that talk.
I want to honor who's in the room and who's watching online. We have students that are watching us online. We have educators that are watching. We have entrepreneurs that are present in this space and room today and those that are online. We have business owners. We have professionals. We have people who manage budgets for households. And we have people who manage budgets for organizations. We have people who are doing well financially. We have people who are under pressure. So I want to be clear, this is not a talk for financial beginners. It is not. This is a foundation for all, all of us, because pressure is what people are experiencing today. Pressure is not only about income. Pressure is about structure.
Amen.
We've been in a series on economics and ownership and stewardship for the last several weeks. And that was not by accident. It was not accidental. That was foundational. Stewardship, stewardship answers the question, who owns it? Ownership answers the question, who is responsible for it? But there is a third question we must answer honestly. Why do so many disciplined, faithful, Intelligent people still live under financial pressure. If you are a professional, you understand this. People can have degrees and still have stress. People can have income and still be fragile. People can be generous and still be one emergency away from panic? That question deserves more than motivation, Pastor Keith. It, it deserves structure. Here is the thesis for today: before growth comes capacity, before increase comes structure, before multiplication comes margin. Let me make that plain. If your life is already carrying the maximum weight it can carry, and any added weight to your life becomes stress, not a blessing, it becomes a stressing. Let me give you another example. If your monthly budget is already tight, And a new opportunity shows up, a certification, a business idea, a move, a house decision, you might not be able to take it, not because you do not have faith, but because you do not have the room or the capacity to take it. So today is about room. Today is about space. Today is about building. Yeah, someone say building.
Building.
Someone say building.
Building.
Today is about building the kind of life that can hold what you're praying for. Not tomorrow, now, because today we're serious about this. We have to agree on the language about what's being taught today. In any serious discipline, listen to me, those that are watching, in any serious discipline, whether it's economics, whether it's medicine, whether it's engineering, whether it's theology, they define terms. So before we dive into this, we have to do the same thing. If we do not define terms, we confuse the outcomes.
Amen.
If we confuse the outcomes, we misdiagnose the problems. And if we misdiagnose the problems, if we misdiagnose the problems, we prescribe solutions that fail.
Amen.
So before we talk about saving, investing, ownership, or business growth, Our legacy. We are going to define a few words precisely. Let me give you a definition of margin. Margin is the money left after your needs are paid and your commitments are covered. That's what margin is. Someone shout margin. Let me give you an example. If you bring home $3,000 a month, if you bring home $3,000 a month and your necessities and minimum obligations total $2,850, your margin is $150. Your margin is what is left over. after you handle your responsibilities. Let's be clear on this. Margin is not being rich. Margin is about having room. Let me give you the second definition. Let's talk about the word capacity. I mentioned that earlier. Capacity. Capacity is your ability To handle more without breaking. Capacity is your ability to handle more without breaking. Capacity not only is— not only money. Capacity includes money, time, emotions, discipline, and decision-making. Capacity is not only money. Capacity includes money, time, emotions, discipline, and decision-making. 2 people can both earn $4,000 a month. Listen to this example. Person A has a plan, an emergency fund, And calm decision-making. Person B has no plan, spins fast, and reacts in panic. Same income, different outcomes. One person has a plan. One person does not have a plan.
Same income.
Different outcomes. That is capacity.
Amen.
You see a person that can handle the room. You see a person that cannot.
Amen.
Number 3, let's talk about, let me give you a definition on multiplication. Multiplication is growth that adds weight and responsibility. We're gonna get to the text, but I need to lay a foundation because I'm going to be, mentioning or stating terms, and I need everyone in the church to understand exactly what I'm talking about. We're going someplace. Multiplication is growth that adds weight and responsibility. When your income grows, decisions grow. When your options grow, Temptations grow.
That's right.
When your influence grows, accountability grows. So that's just not for you guys, that's for the preacher as well. So the goal is not bigger numbers. The goal is stable growth. Because if you have growth that is unstable, you have an unhealthy, body, an unhealthy ecosystem. The goal is stable growth. Learning check, quick and simple. Simple as that. Learning check it, quick and simple. I want people— I want 2 people to answer this question out loud. Just think about this. When I say margin And you, you don't have to say that publicly if you don't want to, or you can think it out loud. I've given a definition. When I say margin, what do I mean?
What's left over.
What's left over. Exactly. And to those that are watching, when I say margin, you should say the same thing. What is left over? Now I want to start in a place people Do not expect. Genesis chapter one, verses one through three. Now you know we had to get to the text. Genesis chapter one, verses one through three. This is going to. You're going to say, Pastor Pitts, how does this fit into economics? Just listen to me. We're going to work the scripture this morning. Genesis chapter one. verses 1 through 3. I'm going to be reading from the King James Version of the Bible. It says, in the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, let there be light, and there was light. Pastor, what does this have to do with economics? Just bear with me. I'm going to explain this to you. You'll understand the principles. Here's what this shows. God moves toward what is without form, but he does not leave it without form. He begins with order. He begins with structure. He begins with a word that creates clarity. He speaks light before he builds life. He brings definition before he brings fullness. Plain meaning for our subject today: God does not ignore structure. God establishes structure. So when we talk about finances, this is not a secular topic. This is a creation principle.
Amen.
God forms first, then he fills after he forms. Let me give you an example. In, in normal life, In normal life, if your schedule has no structure, your days feel chaotic. If you're— if you have no structure and you wake up in the morning and there is no, no direction, and there's confusion, then your day feels chaotic.
Yes.
If your home has no structure, then things get lost.
Amen.
If your finances— if your finances have no structure, money leaks. Then your finances are spent and they're leaking, and you have no idea where the money is going. So we do not start with how much. We start with how arranged, structure, order. So let's explain margin with these examples that I want to give, with pressure examples and real data. Let me connect this to real life. A lot of households are not failing because they're lazy. They are failing because they have no The Federal Reserve tracks financial resilience, and in their survey of household economics and decision-making, about 63% of adults in 2024 said they would cover a $400 emergency expense completely using cash or its equivalent. That means a large share of people who need to borrow, sell something, or find another way There's a problem. They got to find another way because they can't even cover a simple expense, an emergency expense of $400. This is not judgment. This is information to make you think that we've got to do something. And this same report says 55% of adults in 2024 reported having set aside 3 months of expenses in an emergency emergency or rainy day fund. So, what about the other 45%? So, when a $50 or $150 emergency arises, they can't cover it. So, when we preach margin, we're not preaching luxury. We are preaching stability. And stability is in fact spiritual. It is a spiritual principle because instability creates fear, stress, conflict, and impulsive decisions. The Bible says in Proverbs 21:20— I'm reading from the King James Version— Proverbs 21:20 says this: There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up, spends everything. Plain meaning, the wise do not consume everything. They store, they retain, they plan. Treasure is not only gold. Treasure is resources. Someone shout resources!
Resources!
Oil in scripture often represents provision, readiness, and supply. So the Bible is not shy when it starts talking about provision. It says wisdom includes stored provision. Let me give you an example because I want to remove the confusion. If every paycheck is gone within a few days, you are not evil, but you are exposed. Now that, that settled really— I can tell that settled really strong just then because you could hear a pin drop. If every paycheck is gone within a few days, you are not evil. Hear me, you are exposed. And Proverbs is telling you a different pattern exists. Learning To check and balance things. Say this with me: Wisdom stores have the room. Wisdom stores have the room. You need to get that in your heart. Now I want to ask another question and explain it fully so there is no confusion. If your take-home income pay If your take-home pay doubled next month— you don't have to answer it publicly, just say it in your heart, or you can wink at me. If your take-home pay doubled next month, would you build stability, or would your spending increase until the extra income disappears?
Ouch.
Let me say that again. If your take-home pay doubled next month— are you listening to me? If your take-home pay doubled next month, would you build stability, or would your spending increase until the extra income disappears? Let me explain what I mean by disappears. A lot of people increase Lifestyle costs as income rises.
Yes.
Let me give you another example. Examples you see every single day. Higher car payment.
Yes.
More eating out.
Yes.
More subscriptions.
Yes.
More convenience spending.
Yes.
More I deserve it purchases. Bigger house costs, not only the mortgage, but the utilities, the maintenance, the furnishing. This is why some people earn more over time and still feel stressed. Their spending rises with their income. That's true. Economists call part of this the tendency to spend a portion of additional income. What some sources describe as marginal propensity to consume. I'm not using this language to impress you. I'm using it to say this is a real pattern, a real pattern. It is measurable. The simple takeaway: more income does not automatically create margin. Systems that you build, systems you build create margin. If there's no system, there's no margin. Systems create margin. The Bible says in Luke chapter 16, verse 10, I'm reading from the King James Version of the Bible. Luke Matthew 16:10. It says, he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Amen.
In plain language, big outcomes are built by small decisions. Big outcomes are built by small decisions. Now I want to define least so nobody walks away confused.
Amen.
Least is not only dollar amount. Least is daily practice, small habits. Tracking what you spend, saying no to impulse purchases, praying— excuse me, paying essentials first. Ah, that's a strong one right there. Paying essentials first, saving something consistently. If you cannot manage small habits, Larger money will not fix your existing problem. If you cannot manage small habits, larger money, pay increases will not fix your existing problem. What will happen with the larger money? It will only amplify an existing problem.
That's right.
Let me give you another example. If $50 disappears without you knowing where it went, then $500 will also disappear. It will just disappear in bigger ways.
Amen. Amen.
That's so true. So we do not start By praying for increase. I've heard a number of Christians say this, and I know that some people may get upset with me, but that's okay. I know that this is accurate. We don't start praying for increase. We start by practicing faithfulness. The scripture says he that is faithful in what the least says nothing about increase. You've not been faithful in that which is small. How do you expect for God to increase you in that which is large or bigger? Because if you receive much, then it's only going to amplify an existing problem you already have.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
If you were drinking before, then that means that you're going to be a bigger drunk. You've got to deal. Y'all pray for me. Maybe I could have given a better example, but you know what I mean. Y'all pray for me. Let's say you're gonna have a bigger problem. So we we don't start by praying for increase. We start by practicing faithfulness. So if you're upset with me still, pray for me. Just get delivered. Amen. Help me, Jesus. Sweet lips, sweet lips, Lord. Sweet lips. Genesis chapter 41, verses 33 through 36. King James Version of the Bible. King James Version of Genesis chapter 41, verse 33 through 36. I'm— I have to do what my pastor did. Pastor says he, he'll go down a rabbit trail. He said, sweet lips, son, sweet lips. I'm gonna emulate my pastor, Dr. Dollar. I pray for you, son. Sweet lips. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 41, verses 33, 36. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the 5th part of the land of Egypt in the 7 plenteous years, and let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the 7 years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land perish not Through the famine. Minister Philia, I know some folks are probably wondering now, Pastor, what does this have to do with economics? Just stay with the preacher. I'm going to show you. I'm going to teach you the plain meaning, Pastor Keith, of what is going on is Joseph did not save because he was scared.
Right, right, right.
Are you guys listening to me?
Yes.
He didn't save because he was scared. He saved because he was informed.
Amen, amen.
And I'm informing every single one of you that are listening to me, that follow us, that hear these words. I'm saying to you, you need to save. You are now informed.
Amen.
You need to save. Now I want you to notice the words that were in this scripture: discreet and wise officers. That is administration. He said a 5th part. You guys recall that? A 5th part. He said a 5th Now this is a powerful lesson. A 5th part, what does that mean? He said a 5th part, that is specific, that's a specific plan. Then he said to lay up, that is storing. Keep in the cities, that is access And distribution. That the land perish not, that is protection. None of what he's doing is panic. All of this is strategy.
Why?
Because he's informed.
Yes.
So when we teach savings, we're not teaching fear. We're teaching preparedness. If you hear the word save and you think fear, I want you to correct it today. That's not what you're hearing. Saving is stored obedience. Let me define stored. Stored obedience plainly means this: stored obedience is choosing discipline today so your future options for tomorrow are broader than you could even imagine. Stored obedience is choosing discipline today so your future options are broader than you could even imagine. Let me give you an example. You save before you shop. I want you to— I'm going to pause for a moment. Oh my goodness. You save before you shop. You pay essentials before entertainment. You plan before you swipe that card.
Oh my God.
You delay a purchase to build stability. It's not that you cannot have the thing at that time. But you delay it because you need to save so that it does not become stress to you or drives your finances bonkers.
Yes.
Use a simple word, bonkers. That means haywire. That means stress, problems. So you delay that purchase. Now I wanna bring this down to a simplistic street level. So nobody feels this is theatrical. I don't want you to think that this is theatrical. Let me bring this down to a street level.
Bring it down.
If you save $25 a week, that's about $100 a month. In 10 months, that's $1,000. That is one major car repair without a credit card. Example 2, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2024, household spending on food away from home— away from home, listen to this— away from home averaged $3,945. That's away from home.
Wow.
Yeah. Now let me interpret Let me interpret that carefully. That's not condemnation. That is a mirror.
Amen.
If a household cuts that— cuts that category by even 25% over time, that's close to about $1,000 a year. Now, to me, that's real margin. I don't know about you. That's real margin. Let me give you example number 3. Higher income earners or higher income households still need margin. If you earn more, your margin should grow, not your lifestyle. Oh man, I just heard it get quiet out there. If you earn more, your margin should grow, not your lifestyle. Higher income does not remove the need for systems. You have to have structure.
You have to have systems.
You have to have boundaries. When you go outside of the boundaries, you create stress.
Right.
Higher income does not remove the need for systems. It increases the consequences of unsupervised spending because bigger spending commitments are harder to unwind. So this applies to everyone, me included. Not because everyone is broke. Let me explain that. We're not broke. We need systems.
Yep.
Because everyone needs structure, systems. Now we're going to do something intentional as well. This is not about embarrassing anybody. This is about accuracy. We cannot build the next phase of this series Based on guessing. We want to teach what is needed, not what sounds good.
Amen.
So I want to answer this— answer these privately. If you're online, answer them in your notes. If you're present today in church, I'm gonna answer these privately. So I want— excuse me, I want you to answer these privately.
Amen.
Listen to me. Question number 1, if your income stopped today, how long could you cover basic bills? If your income stopped today, can you cover basic bills 0 weeks, 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, 9+ weeks? Answer that question. Question number 2, do you have an emergency fund right now? The first answer is no, I do not. Do you have an emergency fund under $500? An emergency fund between $500 and $1,000? An emergency fund from $1,000 to $3,000? Do you have an emergency fund over $3,000? These are simple questions. These are not asked to embarrass anyone. Question number 3, where is your biggest leak right now? Is it food? Is it subscriptions? Is it impulse spending? Helping others beyond your capacity? Is it debt payments? Or is it other?
Mm-hmm.
Is it so much— when I say others, is it so much that you just don't even want to answer it, or it's too painful for you to answer? Question number 4, what is your biggest fear about money? Short answer, write it down. Question number 5, what is your primary goal for 2026? Is it debt freedom? Is it savings? Is it home ownership? Is it business start, startup, or growth? Is it investing? Is it stability and peace? If your response— if you use a response card, you can collect all of them and write them down and answer them. So take a card. You can take a card, a sheet of paper, write the answer down, and go back and look at that response and see how you answer. Now, here is your assignment for the week. Answer these questions. Here's your assignment for the week. That was part of it, but here's the rest of it. One step, not 10. This week you'll create your first layer of margin. I need you to do this for me this week. That was part of your assignment, the questions I asked. Here's the next part of your assignment. This week you'll create your first layer of margin. I'm gonna give you a couple options from A to E. Listen to me. Here are your first options. Save $25 this week is option A. Option B, cancel one subscription and save that money. Option C, no drive-through, no delivery for 7 days, then transfer what you would have spent into your savings. Option D, sell one unused item, save the cash. Boy, the looks I'm getting right now. Lord have mercy. Cover me, Holy Ghost. Option E, set an automatic transfer, even $10 per paycheck, and put it in your savings and do not touch it. Why only one step? Because consistency beats intensity. One step. You got to do it one step at a time. If you do one step and keep it, you are building capacity. Capacity is room. Let me close, close with this. God's increase is not meant to crush you. It is meant to carry you.
Amen.
So we're not chasing money. We are building margin. We are building capacity. We are building stability. Then we are preparing for ownership. Next week we'll deal with a hard reality where money leaks and why. Where is your money leaking and why is it leaking? Not with shame, but with precision. And we're going to build a plan that many of us can follow. We got to do these final learning checks. I want you to say this with me: margin is space, capacity is what my life can hold, wisdom stores. Amen. Father, I thank you for this word today. I pray, Lord God, that all of those that were listening and watching online hear this and operate and be disciplined and focused. Those that are in this sanctuary today, Father God, that they will do the same exact thing. They are informed just like Joseph was informed that we need to save. We thank you for this day. In Jesus' name I pray, and everyone said amen.
Thank you.
Give God a hand clap of praise. Many of you, if you're watching me online, this word is given to teach and inform because you need to save. We need to be disciplined in the area of our finances. And I want to say this, that if you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It is in your best interest because guess what? We were teaching on saving. We were teaching on saving. Guess what? Guess what God wants to do? He wants to save you.
Amen.
And that's where saving begins. It begins with you. I want you to pray this prayer with me. Say, Father, I thank you. Come into my life. Jesus saved me, redeemed me. Father, I dismiss anything that separates me from you. I confess all of my sins, my iniquity, those things that were embarrassing, those things that did not please you. Father, I thank you for Jesus saved me. I denounce wrong things this day. I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. If you prayed that prayer with me, Jesus is now your Savior and you are a part of the family of God. Do us a favor, go to our website www.514gracechurch.org, message us. Go to— if you're on social media, Facebook, send us a DM wherever you are. If you're in Canada, if you're South Africa, if you're in Ghana, if you're here in the United States, Chicago, Philadelphia, message us and let us know. Hopefully one of these good days we'll eventually be able to come and visit you in your city, and we'll have a word of God for you. The leadership here at 514 Grace Church, we're praying for both you and your family. We love you. We want you to be blessed in Jesus' name. We look forward to talking to you. If you're in the West Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area, do us a favor. Come look us up. Come fellowship with us. Tracy and I would love to meet you, shake your hand, hug you. We love to pastor you. The leaders here would love to be able to mentor you, and and maybe that's not a good word. I don't want to say mentor. I want to say that we want to teach you the ways of God. We want to elevate you. We want to see you and your family blessed. Come visit us. We love you in Jesus' name. God bless every single one of you.
Purpose to apologize. We don't chase doors. We build destiny. Ignites awaken. Awake. Yeah. I came from the silence. Now my sound got wings. Purpose in my pulse. I was made for big things. Pressure made the diamond stones made the crown. Now I move light like can't hold me down. Vision in my veins. I bleed clarity. Destiny's emotional gravity. When fear starts talking, I mute that tone. Faith don't find I'm fully grown.
Emerging Ignite. Yeah.
Born for the fight. Yeah.
Purpose awakened, I'm shining bright.
I'm done playing small, I'm in my flow. Heaven's got my seats, I'm ready to go. Emerging Ignite. Power in my name. Ain't no limits, ain't no chains, destiny's calling my name.
