“Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow”. (Proverbs 13:11)
If you could plan your financial future, how would it end up? Would you be a billionaire? What ever plan you can dream up for yourself, God can do better. He has a plan better than you can think of. It might not have anything to do with money but it is better than your biggest money dream.
If we always knew exactly what our financial future held, we wouldn’t have to trust God. God often waits until the last moment to pull us out of a financial crisis but He always does.
If God has given you a vision, He will provide the resources. Move forward in that vision and you will find the resources are there.
If we ask for the desires of God’s heart, we receive them. Then if we ask for the desires of our heart, we are asking for God’s desires. A sincere desire for God’s heart will allow us to die to our flesh.
God prunes His branches in order to help them bear more fruit. Being pruned can be uncomfortable but think of the result it brings. See John 15:2
If God’s Word says you have it, you have it. If God’s Word doesn’t say you have it, you don’t have it.
If I fill a pitcher with water all the way to the top and God fill a pitcher one inch full of water, which one will run out of water first if they are poured out at the same time?
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (Psalms 37:3-5).
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Anyone who lack faith in their financial situation can receive a needed boost by picking up God’s Word and reading His promises.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalms 1:1-3).
Luke 5:1-11 tells of Jesus getting into Peter’s boat. Peter had work all night fishing and had caught nothing. Jesus told him to drop his nets for a catch. This defied all the experience and expertise Peter had as a fisherman. When he did what Jesus said, he found great success. Listening to God can save us a lot of time and trouble.
I believe the Christian family unit has slowly become out of whack over time. The divorce rate in Christian homes is about the same as it is in non-Christian homes. It has become politically correct to over emphasize how a husband is to behave toward his wife instead of what his role is. Maybe this is because men are afraid of being accused of being chauvinist control freaks if we discuss the issue of submission.
Many men hand over the leadership role to women from the time of their first date. This is not biblical and not God’s way. It is our culture’s way. Our culture says men should be in touch with their feminine side. Maybe, but God never intended for men and women to switch roles. How has right become wrong and wrong become right in so many areas of our culture?
My motive in writing this is not to diminish the fact that husbands are called to give their lives for their wives just as Christ gave His life for the church. On the contrary, I want to evaluate how a husband should give his life for his wife. I want to examine some issues that I believe have slowly fallen through the cracks. I will try to do this by leaving out political correctness and the psychology of the day.
In 1 Samuel chapter 3, the Lord tells Samuel that He will judge Eli’s family for the sins in his family that Eli new about. Eli failed to restrain his family. Eli was responsible for his family but just stuck his head in the sand.
In Ephesians chapter 5, wives are called to submit to their husbands in all things and respect their husbands. The husband is the head of the wife. Husbands are to do like Christ did for the church by giving themselves for their wives in order to present them as holy and blameless.
1 Peter chapter 3 talks about how Sarah submitted to Abraham, obeyed him, and called him master. Wives are Sarah’s daughters if they do what is right and do not give way to FEAR. This is one of those biblical truths that is not politically correct. Husbands are to be considerate and respect their wives as the weaker partner. They are heirs with their husbands of the gracious gift of life. Husbands should be considerate and respectful of their wives so their prayers will not be hindered. The beginning of this chapter also says that husbands who do not believe the Word may be won over by the actions of their wives, NOT words.
Colossians 1:22 proclaims that we are reconciled by Christ’s death so we can be presented holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. The only way husbands can present their wives holy and free from accusation is by completely submitting to God and being led by Him. Before husbands hassle their wives about not completely submitting to them, they might want to evaluate how well they are completely submitting to Christ.
Colossians 3 starting in verse 18 also discusses some guidelines for Christian households. The fact that wives are to submit is repeated here as it is in many places in the bible. However, one thing that stands out to me here is that husbands are not to be harsh with their wives. To me this means husbands should not boss their wives around or use an unloving tone.
In Genesis 2 verse 18, God gave Adam a helper suitable for him. That was Eve. The wife is the husband’s helper. Before God gave Adam his helper, He told him not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam this. He was leading and directing Adam not Adam’s helper. Adam’s leadership obviously failed. He followed Eve instead of God. Adam let Eve lead.
I do not know of anywhere in the bible where God instructs the wife to lead the husband. I can’t find anywhere where it says the husband should ask the wife’s permission for anything. I can’t find a single place in God’s word where He says everyone in the family gets an equal vote.
I own a number of businesses. My vote is the only one that counts and that vote carries tremendous responsibility. I have managers in those businesses. I never contradict the manager or diminish his or her role. I respect the manager’s position but I lead the manager. They don’t lead me. The proverbs 31 woman is an amazing manager of the home who is more valuable than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her. That’s cool because she doesn’t have to be and shouldn’t be micro managed. She only needs to be led. In many Christian homes the men are not leading. Why? The wife begins to FEAR and tries to be the leader. The husband lets the wife lead because he is afraid he will get nagged if he doesn’t let the wife have the control she wants. She wants the control because in her mind that will help to remove the fear. It makes sense that an enemy would attack at the weakest link. That is the wife. This is exactly what the serpent did with Adam and Eve.
If we meditate on the scripture mentioned in this blog, it becomes obvious to me that the husband should lead and the wife should submit. That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect but at least if these two things are done the Christian home will be in line with God’s order.
Many men are not leading their families. That is the husbands fault not the wife’s. It is the husband’s responsibility to lead and the wife’s responsibility to submit in ALL things. If a husband will lead his wife in a godly way, he is giving his life for her and protecting her. A husband throwing the submission issue in his wife’s face is not respecting her. I really believe if husbands will LOVINGLY lead, wives will happily and fearlessly submit to that leadership.
It will be given to us according to the measure we give. See Luke 6:38
The poor widow in Luke 21:1-4 gave a good measure.
Faith is more valuable than gold. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
Guarding the tongue brings blessing. “For, ‘whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil’”(1 Peter 3:10).
A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him (Proverbs 28:22).
People often discuss with me the legalism of tithing. There is no condemnation for those in Christ. We are not under the curse of the law. This is all true. However; I think a lot of Christians use this as an excuse not to tithe. These arguments are often made to defend a person’s fear or greed when it comes to money. Most Christian can agree that we are not cursed. Therefore; we certainly are not cursed if we pay tithes and offerings. I also believe there is a blessing for those who tithe and pay offerings to God.
Putting God first with our tithes and offerings is the right thing to do.This shows our trust and love for God. James 4:17 says “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it sins”. Just because we are not cursed if we don’t tithe doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. Just because we are saved by grace doesn’t mean we should make a habit of not doing good things. I believe we pleases God when we tithe. It certainly doesn’t anger Him and He will not penalize us for tithing.
Many have asked me why some people who do not follow biblical financial principles or even any kind of ethical principles have so much money. My response is, they don’t. They can’t take it with them. I like this verse. “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous” (Proverbs 13:22).
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
If we believe the Word of God, we will do this.
Whoever loves money, never has money enough; Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
Once we commit whatever we do to God, our plans will succeed. We shouldn’t judge success. Just believe.
Anyone who wants to be trusted with much, must first be trusted with little. Luke 16:10 discusses this.
In Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 22, the tithe is discussed. Tithing will help us to revere the LORD always. I really don’t think God asks us to tithe just to have a rule to follow. I think it helps bring us and keep us in relationship with Him by acknowledging that God provides for us.
In 1 Kings chapter 17, a widow had a handful of flour and a little oil. She thought it would run out that very day. She trusted God and did as Elijah said. The flour and oil did not run out.
Does God want people to be poor? I don’t think so because of what it says in Galatians 2:10. If God wanted people to be poor He wouldn’t instruct us to help the poor in so many places in His Word.
When Christians celebrate Christmas, what are they celebrating? Everyone knows they are celebrating the birth of Christ. When Christians celebrate Easter, what are they celebrating? Everyone knows they are celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Many non-believers celebrate Christmas and Easter. They can pretend that they are celebrating something else but they are partaking in Christian celebrations.
When Christians celebrate Halloween, what are they celebrating? Of course they don’t think they are celebrating the “Roman feast of Pomona”, which is the goddess of fruits and seeds. Of course they don’t think they are celebrating “The festival of the dead” called “Parentalia”. They don’t think they are acknowledging harmless or harmful spirits. They aren’t practising harmless divination. Christians are just pretending that Halloween is just a fun time for the kids to eat sugar and scare each other.
I wonder what God thinks about Christians who celebrate a holiday that represents pagan idols, witchcraft, and spirits? I wonder if He thinks it’s okay if we dress the kids up as angels in order to celebrate these things? I wonder if this grieves the Holy Spirit?
In Deuteronomy chapter 8 starting in verse 10, the bible says to remember God when things are good. It is God who gives us the ability to build wealth. If we become proud and forget God when things are good by following idols (stuff), well, let’s just say it isn’t good.
Many believers in Christ have become hung up on their stuff. If you are afraid to lose it, you are hung up on it.
When I fear losing what I have, it helps to remember how what I have got there in the first place. God put it there. God can put more resources under my management just like He always has.
Contentment is easier to find when we review all the blessings we have. Focusing on what we have instead of what we don’t have or might lose is a benefit.
There is a debate in the church about whether God wants people to be rich. The only people who are really rich are the ones who are rich toward God and have put their treasures in heaven. No one is truly rich with earthly materials. I believe there are many people who think they are rich who really are not. God wants all earthly possessions to be used for Him. They belong to Him and should be used to help others gain the riches of heaven. We shouldn’t waste material resources on ourselves. That is often easier said than done.
People who want more stuff are not content and have a poor mindset. People who have enough are content and have a wealthy mindset.
In Luke 14:33, Jesus said we must give up everything in order to be His disciples. In Matthew 19:21, Jesus was talking to a rich man. He told him to sell everything and he would have treasure in heaven. Jesus also said it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Why did this amaze His disciples? I think it is because many people in the time of Jesus believed that Godliness was a means to gain. Paul refutes this in 1 Timothy chapter 6.
I wonder just how rich this rich man in Matthew chapter 19 was. We don’t know what he had but we do know what he didn’t have. He didn’t have a computer, automobile, cell phone, plasma TV, electricity, or running water. I would estimate that most people in the U.S. have more luxuries than the rich man I have discussed.
I believe God owns everything. If we take ownership of our stuff we are taking ownership of things that won’t last. We need to put everything in God’s hands. Once we realize it belongs to God, we can manage it for Him. I believe the parable of the talents demonstrates that God wants what He puts under our management to grow. It belongs to Him though. If He tells us to sell the car, that is what we should do. If He tells us to buy a car, we should do that.
In John chapter 6, Jesus fed 5,000 men with five loaves of bread. Then He instructed His disciples to pick up the leftover pieces so nothing would be wasted. Jesus does not want us to waste anything. I think that includes wasting things on ourselves also.
A person with $100 who gives $20 gives ten times as much as someone with $10 million who gives $200,000.
Just because someone has little does not mean they are not rich. Just because someone has much does not mean they are not poor.
In John chapter 6 verse 12, Jesus asked His disciples to gather up the scraps of bread that were left over after feeding 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread. Jesus said not to let anything be wasted. They picked up 12 basketfuls of scraps. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus didn’t want any of the increase wasted? Did He need the bread or was He just concerned about leaving a mess? I wonder what He did with the leftovers.
In Mark chapter 8 verse 15, Jesus warned of the yeast of Pharisees and of Herod. We often don’t think of Herod in this passage, but who was Herod? He was the government.
The Forbes list of the riches people is out. The richest people in the world have lost billions of dollars. I have a question. Where did it go? Do they have less stuff?
One of my favorite and efficient ways to evaluate a company and its management is to look at insider trading. Insiders are officers and directors of the company. These are the leaders and decision makers in a business. They hold titles such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), Director, President, and Chairman of the board. When they are buying up the stock of the company they own and manage this is an indication they are confident in themselves and their company. They would not be buying stock unless they believe it is undervalued and will increase in value sometime in the future. I especially like it when the CEO (the top executive) buys large amounts of stock in his company consistently. The CEO has more knowledge of himself or herself and of the company than anyone. If the CEO is selling stock on a regular basis, this is a huge red flag. If multiple insiders are selling stock, this is also a huge red flag. There is no explanation insiders can give me for multiple insiders selling. I am skeptical of everything people say. Sometimes insiders paint a rosy picture of the company while they are selling and give reasons why they are selling. I prefer to look at people’s actions. If insiders are buying, I am buying. If they are selling, I am selling.