| Course | BUSI 223 Personal Finance (BUSI223) |
|---|---|
| Module/Week | 1 |
| Assignment | Discussion Board Forum 1 |
| Paper type | Discussion thread and reply |
| Length | about 325 words (thread and replies). Course guide: one thread of at least 150 words and one reply of at least 100 words, with assertions supported by at least 1 Bible citation in current APA format |
| Format | APA 7 citations and reference list |
| Points | 40 |
| School | Liberty University Online |
| Program | BS in Business Administration |
| Where it sits | Module/Week 1 in Liberty's published BUSI 223 course guide; current sections can differ |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for BUSI 223 Week 1
Discussion Board Forum 1: Should Christians Make Long-Term Financial Plans?
BUSI 223 Personal Finance, Discussion Board Forum 1 (Thread and Reply)
Thread by [Student Name]
The prompt and the classmate's thread are composites; the textbook and Scripture cited are real.
Thread
Christians should make long-term financial plans, because what Scripture forbids is anxiety about tomorrow, not preparation for it. Billingsley et al. (2017) describe financial planning as a process of defining goals, developing plans to reach them and reviewing progress as life changes. Nothing in that process requires worry.
When Jesus tells His listeners not to be anxious about tomorrow, He is speaking to people consumed by fear over food and clothing, and He points them to seek God's kingdom first (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Matthew 6:31-34). Yet Luke records Jesus using a builder's budget as a model of good sense (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Luke 14:28). Proverbs ties careful, diligent planning to plenty (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Proverbs 21:5). Planning is how a steward cares for what God has entrusted; worry is what happens when we forget who owns it.
For a student, a first budget is a good place to start. Writing down income and expenses, setting aside savings and planning for large purchases is faithful stewardship, provided we hold the plan with open hands and remember that God, not our spreadsheet, provides.
Reply to Nathan
Nathan, I appreciate your warning that detailed budgets can become a way of trusting money instead of God. The rich fool in Luke 12 is a sobering example of planning that leaves God out entirely. I would suggest, though, that the problem in that parable is the man's greed and self-reliance, not the act of planning itself.
Proverbs pictures a person mapping out a route while God directs where each step actually lands (English Standard Version Bible, 2001/2016, Proverbs 16:9). That verse assumes we will make plans while recognizing that God directs the outcome. Billingsley et al. (2017) note that a good plan is reviewed and revised as circumstances change, which is a practical way of holding plans loosely.
Do you think a budget could actually help a Christian give more generously, by showing where money is going?
References
Billingsley, R., Gitman, L. J., & Joehnk, M. D. (2017). Personal financial planning (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
English Standard Version Bible. (2016). Crossway. (Original work published 2001)
What the BUSI 223 Week 1 instructions ask
BUSI 223 opens with the syllabus checklist, class introductions, the first sections of Billingsley et al. on the financial planning process and on financial statements and budgets, Exercise 1, Quiz 1 and Discussion Board Forum 1. The forums in this course explore the Christian approach to the financial decisions every person must make. Within a single module/week, students post a thread of 150 words or more and then answer a classmate in 100 words or more, grounding what they claim in Scripture cited in APA style. All four forums carry equal weight, 40 points apiece. The checklist and introductions are simple, so most of the module/week's effort goes into the exercise and this forum.
How this BUSI 223 Week 1 example is built
The thread answers the question in its first line and then reconciles two passages that seem to pull in opposite directions. It uses the textbook to define financial planning, explains what Jesus forbids in Matthew 6, which is anxiety rather than foresight, and shows that Luke 14 and Proverbs 21 commend careful planning. A short paragraph applies the conclusion to a first budget. The reply then meets a classmate who called budgeting a lack of faith, agrees with the warning against greed, and uses Proverbs 16:9 to show that people plan while God directs, ending with a practical question about holding plans loosely.
BUSI 223 Week 1 grading rubric: where the points go
Forum posts are graded on whether they answer the question thoughtfully from a Christian perspective, meet the minimum lengths of 150 words for the thread and 100 for the reply, and support their assertions with Bible citations in current APA format. Instructors also look for accurate use of course concepts, such as the steps of the financial planning process, and for a reply that engages the classmate's argument rather than simply agreeing. Proof-texting, quoting a verse without regard to its context, tends to weaken a post. A clear position, a fair reading of Scripture and a practical application make for a strong forum grade. Habits formed in this opening discussion, such as citing each verse properly, carry into the three forums that follow.
BUSI 223 Week 1 help: mistakes that cost points
Answer the question directly, then support your answer with Scripture read in context, especially when verses seem to point different ways. Use the textbook's vocabulary, such as goals, budgets and the planning process, so the post shows course knowledge as well as faith. Cite each verse in APA style with the Bible version and year. In your reply, find something specific in your classmate's thread to discuss, and add a verse or idea the classmate did not use. Keep both posts above the minimums, but focus on clarity rather than length. Getting the thread up early gives classmates time to respond. A short personal example, like a first budget, helps make the reasoning concrete.
Related BUSI 223 sample papers
Other BUSI 223 weeks
- BUSI 223 Week 2: Biblical Response 1
- BUSI 223 Week 3: Discussion Board Forum 2
- BUSI 223 Week 4: Biblical Response 2
- BUSI 223 Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
- BUSI 223 Week 6: Biblical Response 3
- BUSI 223 Week 7: Discussion Board Forum 4
- BUSI 223 Week 8: Biblical Response 4
More BS in Business Administration sample papers
- BUSI 101 Week 1: Forum 1 Thread
- BUSI 240 Week 1: Forum 1 Thread
- BUSI 300 Week 1: Forum 1 Thread
- BUSI 301 Week 1: Forum 1 Thread
BUSI 223 Week 1 questions, answered
What is BUSI 223 Discussion Board Forum 1?
Opening the course's discussions, it asks for a 150-word-plus thread and a 100-word-plus reply on how faith shapes money choices, backed by Scripture, for 40 points.
Where can I find a free BUSI 223 Week 1 sample paper?
This page offers a full BUSI 223 Week 1 forum sample, a thread and a reply on whether Christians should make long-term financial plans.
Does the Bible say not to plan for the future?
Jesus warns against anxious worry about tomorrow in Matthew 6, but other passages, such as Luke 14 and Proverbs 21, commend counting the cost and planning carefully.
What are the steps of personal financial planning?
Personal finance textbooks describe a cycle of defining financial goals, developing plans and strategies to reach them, carrying out those plans and reviewing progress regularly.
What else is due in BUSI 223 Module/Week 1?
Students complete the Course Requirements Checklist, class introductions, Exercise 1 on financial statements and Quiz 1, a 30-minute open-book quiz of ten questions.
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