When I buy stock, I am buying a piece of a business. I transfer money into the form of business assets. Business assets have many forms. Office furniture, inventory, cash, labor, branding, management, and technology are some of the forms. If I am able to transfer the business assets in the form of stock, back into money at a higher value, I just bought low and sold high. Every time a stock is purchased, either the buyer or seller made a good choice. The other made a bad choice.
Stock values go up and down due to the value of the underlying business and supply and demand for the stock. The value of a business is determined by its ability or potential to earn income and turn that income into increasing profits. Supply and demand is determined by the number of stock shares available for purchase and the number of buyers willing to purchase stock.
The Bible gives the secret to great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
Now you don’t have to watch late-night infomercials about real estate.
In Mark chapter 8, Jesus fed 4,000 men with 7 loaves of bread and a few fish. He instructed His disciples to set the food before the people. What would have happened if His disciples didn’t begin handing out the food? NOTHING! They would have been standing there without enough food to feed everyone. When they finished giving, there was 7 baskets full of scraps left over.
If we believe the Word of God, our behavior should demonstrate that. Jesus fed 5,000 men with 5 loaves of bread. There were 12 baskets of scraps picked up afterwords. Then He fed 4,000 with 7 loaves.There were 7 baskets of scraps left over. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern here. If we believe Jesus did this, then we don’t have to figure out how to make the food in the food pantry last longer. He is never out of food. He just moves it around. Our offering should be to God. He will take care of the rest.
Why do we bring Spam and noodles to food pantries at our churches when we eat steak? I have nothing against Spam or noodles. A lot of people like Spam and noodles. If you eat Spam and noodles, take that to the food pantry at your church. That will please God. If you don’t eat that, take what you eat. God wants your first and best. He does not want leftovers.
God doesn’t need quantity. He wants quality.
Recently I have had conversations with a couple friends who like some of the concepts of communism. These are just concepts which have been proven not to work. The reason communism fails is because there is no motivation for success and no penalties for poor production. It simply promotes inefficiency and laziness. Hard productive work is not rewarded so there is no reason to work hard. Laziness is not penalized. Some people may think the theory is beautiful but it is simple to figure out why communism does not work and never will.
If inflation is cause by government actions, government tax revenue will go up without an increase in tax rates. However, everyone will pay more taxes. How? Inflation causes everything to go up which will move people into a higher tax bracket. Think about this.
If the Federal Government prints money in order to buy it’s own debt, it is monetizing the debt. This is basically borrowing air and pretending like it has some type of value. This has the potential to cause serious inflation.
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
The Pharisees wanted to see proof before they would believe. That’s not how it works.
The disciples where looking at what they saw, not what Jesus showed them He could do. Jesus wanted His disciples to act and behave like they were walking with God.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ”Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. ”And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Mark 8:11-21 (NIV)
Notice that when 5 loaves fed 5,000 there were 12 basketfuls of pieces after everyone had eaten. When 7 loaves fed 4,000 there were 7 basketfuls of pieces. The disciples trusted Jesus and began dispersing the bread. They didn’t know how much bread they really had. The only pattern I see here is that they ended up with more each time.
What would have happened if the disciples didn’t feed the crowd like Jesus requested? The answer is nothing. The disciples would have been standing there with not nearly enough food to feed even a few people. If they would have held the food long enough, it would have spoiled and they would have had nothing.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:1 (NKJV)
As long as we believe truth, faith is the proof of what we don’t see yet. The Word of God is truth. Believing something that is not truth will not make it true no matter how much we believe it.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse–the whole nation of you–because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
Mal 3:8-12 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14-17 (NIV)
Faith is what we do. We all drive to the grocery store because we believe it is there. If we didn’t think it was there we wouldn’t go there for groceries. No one would get in a boat and sail west if he or she thought the earth was flat. If you thought the earth was round you might try it.
I believe trusting God and acting like you trust God are two different things. If you just hold onto your resources they are NOT going to increase. Remember, our motive should not be to increase our stuff. It should be win the lost for Jesus Christ
Dealing with auto unions goes something like this…
Auto Union: Give us $20
Management: We don’t have any money.
Auto Union: Okay, just give us $10 then.
Here is a question asked and answered at www.biblemoneymanagement.com
Steve, I have been paying 10% and having my stuff turned off. I stopped and now I have my bills almost caught up. I have started giving what I can now. I am worried if I go back to 10% my stuff might be turned off again. What do you think?
Answer
Great question! Here are my thoughts. Malachi 3:10 says to pay the whole tithe. I believe if we don’t we are robbing God. Jesus himself also says not to neglect the tithe in Matthew 23:23.
It matters what we believe. I believe the Word of God is truer than what we see. What we do demonstrates what we believe. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says not to worry about our stuff. If we worry, we lack faith. When we worry about losing something we have made it an idol in our lives. Our stuff doesn’t really belong to us anyway. God owns everything and can move it wherever He wants. The bible says when you give; it will be given to us.
Luke 14:33 says if someone want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, that person must give up all their stuff. I believe we should all realize we are just managing stuff God has put under our management. We should manage it for His glory. Since it’s His, He can do what He wants with it. Once we have this sincere attitude, what is under our management will increase.
Be faithful with little and it will increase.
Raising taxes is about government control, not generating revenue. I own and operate health clubs. The lower our rates, the more members we get. The higher our rates, the fewer members we get. Taxes work the same way. When they are low, more people pay them. This is because there are more people working. Higher taxes put people out of work and lower taxes put people to work.
Here is an example I use. If I raise everyone dues $100 per month and spend what I think is coming in next month on credit, things won’t fall apart right away. But don’t think they won’t. They will!
It amazes me that people can’t understand that if they demand a wage higher than the market will bare, they will not have a job. Money is not green air. Why can’t people get this. Unions get this but union members don’t. The unions have other motives. They don’t care about members. Sad!
Here is an excellent question asked of me and answered at www.biblemoneymanagement.com
I’m looking to start a small group for Christian men who have interests in being called by God to become millionaires for the kingdom. Got any ideas on a DVD series to watch and learn?
I am not aware of any Christian DVDs teaching on growing resources. Starting a small group on this topic is an awesome calling.
Here is what I recommend for your small group. Bring the group together and start talking about each man’s passion. How can you tap the passion God has given each one of you in order to form businesses? Each man will have ideas and insight that will help the group. Have each man research different topics and bring it back to the group. These topics could be Business plans, grants, SBA loans, demographic studies, and raising capital.
You can have NO fear of loss. The third servant in the parable of the talents had fear. Teach the men to trust God for all their daily needs. He will provide. Teach them to surrender all of their resources to God. Your homes must become the servant’s quarters.
Give big. When you give it demonstrates your faith in God. His Word is true. Don’t judge the resources each man has under his management at this point. God can make a lot out of what appears to be nothing.
Remember, whatever you commit to God will succeed. Commit what you do to God and don’t judge success. If it is committed to God, it is succeeding. (Proverbs 16:3)
Here is an easy business that I am involved in. www.fitnessfor10.com
Charge the giant fearlessly just as David did. God will do miracles.
A goal without a plan or time frame is just a dream. A goal that is not obtainable is impossible. A goal that is too easy is not a worthy goal to begin with.
Leadership is not hand holding or telling people what to do. It is creating a platform where the vision God has given you can thrive.
Check out these Tea Party links. Americans are waking up.
http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/video/video/show?id=2488056%3AVideo%3A24070
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/04/going-galt-and-the-next-tea-party-wave/
Free markets are forward thinking. They go down when they believe current and future policy is not stimulative. They go up when they think current and future policy will stimulate the economy.
The Government’s proposal to reduce the mortgage interest rate and charitable contribution deductions is a very interesting proposition. It is extremely peculiar if this is an attempt to stimulate the economy, benefit the housing market, and help the needy. Does anyone wonder like I do what the real agenda is here?
I won’t even get into the carbon tax. I wonder if we will get taxed for breathing.
The important thing for Christians to remember is to trust God. God is the one who redistributes wealth. “A good Man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous”. (Prov. 13:22) NIV
What is the American Dream? I’m afraid many Americans are beginning to think it is something they dream about and then it is just handed to them. Our dreams are not rights. An entitlement attitude is dangerous. The dreams God gives one person are not necessarily supposed to pay for others in the name of fairness.
Remember the concept of hard work? Fault and responsibility are often two different things. It might not be my fault if I can’t pay my mortgage, but it is my responsibility.
Money is not green air. All labor is not equal. When an individuals labor produces more of something that is in demand and short supply, it is worth more. That person earns more.
Many people in this country think they should get portions of something for nothing. They are depending on government instead of God. We all have talents. That talent should be used for God. If we use our talents for God, we won’t need to hold our hands out.
God said “let there be light”. If God can make light out of darkness, why do we put Him in a box. He can speak words and make anything happen.
A pastor friend of mine said something to me today that is very profound. “If you can be a real Christian at church, you can be a real Christian just about anywhere”.
How often do we judge others by what they wear or the car they drive? We often make assumptions about people by what we think might be in their bank account instead of what might be in their spiritual account. In James chapter 2, God says when we do this we are discriminating and have become judges with evil thoughts. God can do anything and He can use anyone to accomplish His purpose.
I want to discuss tithing in what appears to be a difficult time. It just appears to be a difficult time. Not for believers in Christ. God’s Word is true.
Since God’s Word is true, what He says about tithing and giving is true. Giving to God first demonstrates who our first love is and our faith in God. He will do what He says He will do. For anyone who thinks tithing was just an Old Testament thing, please study Matthew 23:23. This is a hard one to spin. Jesus Christ Himself says not to neglect the tithe.
I believe any believer in Chist who does not tithe might as well flush their head down the toilet. They are robbing God. Many people have asked me, “what about people who have a lot of money who don’t tithe?” My response is, “they don’t have what they think they have”.
The tithe is 10% of the gross pay.
Charge the giant.
Bernard Madoff has pulled probably the biggest Ponzi scheme ever. A Ponzi scheme takes new cash invested by investors and gives a supposed return to previous investors who think they have invested their money in real assets. There are no assets. This is a perfect example of treating money like it is green air. Everyone is breathing some in a scheme like this. When enough people want to turn the green air into real assets, the scheme is exposed because there are no assets.
As I discuss in “A God-Made Millionaire”, money is not green air. Money must be backed my labor. That is a fair wage for honest work. Our government and financial institutions are playing games with money. Eventually, guess what will happen? Economies all over the world have become smoke and mirrors. What do you think the eventual outcome will be?
I recently saw employees protesting layoff on the news. This backs up one of the points I make in the book “A God-Made Millionaire”. The point is, many people think money is green air. Many people have no idea where money comes from or how it works. Money is labor. People’s labor produces a certain amount of value. Labor is not worth need or want. It has nothing to do with that. Many people think they should get paid what they want or need.
People protest layoffs because they don’t understand that their labor is not producing a profit. When people get laid off it is because their labor is producing a deficit. All these people know is that they are not getting what they want or need. That has nothing to do with a job. That is not how it works. These people think money is green air so they should have their fair share.
In the next few month, I have a feeling many more people are going to learn that money does not grow on trees. Every person who owns a business and works for a business is in it together. If a businesses pooled labor does not produce a profit, jobs will be lost.
Sooner or later supply and demand will rule in the economy. If the government buys dirt for $5,000 per pound, it will not stimulate the economy. It will just be a band-aid hiding smoke and mirrors. The supply of dirt does not warrant a demand that would equal the price of a pound of dirt at $5,000.
Compare this to what the little three American auto makers are asking for. I am not saying the automobiles made by these companies are dirt. I drive American made cars. I am saying you can’t sell them for $500,000. This is the comparison to my dirt example. The auto industry has knocked supply and demand out of whack. They have done this by paying employees 5 times what their labor is worth. Remember, money equals labor. Sooner or later supply and demand balance cannot be avoided.
If I make cars why wouldn’t I make them in a country where I can pay employees a fair wage instead of giving them charity? You have heard me say it many times. Need or want has absolutely nothing to do with the value of labor. If we want to keep seeing jobs go bye-bye, all we have to do is buy dirt for $5,000 per pound.
No matter how you spin it, unions are asking tax payers to pay the wages of their employees. In other words, they are asking you and me to use our labor to pay for ineffective labor just because union workers need money. This is called stealing.
The term “other people’s money” does not mean people receiving money from other people are taking advantage. Money is labor. People who invest are investing labor in the form of money. They are receiving a benefit from the people they invest with. One invests labor in the form of money and the other invests labor in the form of sweat.
Bailing out the auto industry is a welfare program. It would be foolish for the government to give billions of dollars to the auto industry. When a company loses billions of dollars, management is not running a wise and competitive business. Auto workers who make over $160,000 a year in wages and benefits, does not match supply and demand. Why should Americans who earn money give it to a company that does not? Even worse, why should Americans give money to companies and then let politicians, who know nothing about running a business, tell them what to do?
No one can tell me with a straight face that the auto industry in Detroit is run well or doesn’t over pay employees. The numbers don’t lie. You can’t pay people money you don’t have just because unions say they need it. Need has nothing to do with the value of someones labor. How will giving these companies money change their efficiency? A company that loses billions of dollars a year is a poorly run company. How will giving companies like this change anything in the long run?
As mentioned in “A God-Made Millionaire”, I would be very cautious of 401K plans. Money in most of these plans is trapped in company selected mutual funds or other investments. This money is often not managed. That is a problem and many are finding that out now.
I don’t hide money under a rock in this manner for a later day. I just feel like it is not trusting God.
The economy has been artificially stimulated in the past number of years. People have spent their labor that they have not performed yet. This is call buying on credit. The economy is going through an adjustment. People must work now and for years to come for purchases they have made years ago. When buying stops to catch up with past purchases, the economy stops.
Lenders are forcing borrowers to work now for what they received in the past. The borrowers are being cut off which will contract the economy until the future becomes less leveraged.
One of the points in the book “A God-Made Millionaire”, is that money is labor. Labor and money is interchangeable.
General Motors must be allowed to crash. This country was not founded on socialism. If GM and the others in the auto industry fail, we can start over without unions and $85 an hour wages. Why should every United States tax payer pay for such ridiculous wages. This country was not founded on welfare. It was founded on hard work and freedom, not free money.
The plants and equipment will be sitting there for smart management to pick up for pennies on the dollar and run the auto industry right.
Now that we know who our next President will be, many people might stop making pie and just eat their neighbor’s pie. This will go on until the neighbors figure out what is going on
A reoccurring theme in the book “A God-Made Millionaire” is that money is not green air. People with the poor mentality think money is green air. All you have to do is breathe it, right? You should give me some of yours because you hogged up all the air. Wrong, money must be supported by labor. GM employees make approxametly $85 per hour when you factor in all the benefits and perks. And we wonder why education is not popular in the areas where these high wages occur. These wage are not supported by supply and demand. They are supported by what unions believe someone needs. Need has nothing to do with the value of someones labor. I know nothing about building cars. I do know how to turn a bolt with a wrench though. How many people do you think would be happy to turn a bolt for $85 an hour in this world? I’m sure I just offended a few people, but we must all look at reality. Businesses cannot pay ridiculous wages like this. Unions had their place but they are no ones friend now. If you demand too much you will end up with nothing.
I wonder why GM is in trouble? Do you think the government could bail them out in the long run even if they wanted to? You figure it out.
Many people are saying what we are going through with the economy is scary. I know this is easy to say but, people who are scarred have fear. People who have fear can just follow that emotion to see where it ends up. It will end up at an idol. Jesus says he knows what we need and He will take care of it.
If we want to serve God with our resources, we cannot serve money. We can only have one Master. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24)
We can only be devoted to one master. Any master other than God is an idol. Dictionary.com defines an idol as: “Any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion. Or, a false conception or notion; a fallacy.” The notion that money gives us security is a fallacy. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
Even atheists have faith. They just believe something different than believers in Christ.
They believe the wind blow from no where and stops where we cannot see it. They believe trees grow magically. They believe the sun will come up tomorrow without any proof except historical observation. They believe these things occur without the existence of God. That is faith!
It does matter what we believe. The Word of God is the only thing that is true. What we can see is without substance. What is not seen has substance.
I believe the country of Benin exists even though I have not seen it.
What God says in His Word about finances and money is true. You can take that to the bank. I am more confident that the Word of God is true than I am of the existence of Benin.
Christians should not let fear over their financial situation creep into their lives. God says He will take care of us. We should just trust Him even if things do not always make sence to us.
Abel trusted God but Cain did not. Genesis 4:3-5 and Hebrews 11:4 are evidence of this. Cain and Able both brought God an offering. Over time Cain brought an offering of some of his fruits from the soil. Abel brought large portions of the first born of his flock. A key word here is “first”. Cain gave out of his abundance. He gave God leftovers. Able gave to God first and trusted Him for the rest.
The economy may be worse than it appears. I believe one of the reasons for this is that too many Americans do not save money and live hand to mouth. Americans are in debt. When gas prices rise like they have, people’s budgets or should I say lack of a budget crumbles like a house of cards.
Many people do not even have an extra $100 per month which means they can’t afford gasoline. Without gasoline they can’t get to work. This means the economy could crumble because individuals must choose which bills they will pay.
Being a good steward of the resources God has put under our management takes discipline, wisdom, and prayer. Luke 16:10 is a key to being able to manage wealth. It says that a person who can be trusted with little can also be trusted with much. If we are not trustworthy with worldly wealth, how can we be trusted with true riches?
Some CEOs of publicly held companies make tens of millions of dollars a year. Most pastors make peanuts. Personally I think a many pastors are worth more. Most people expect pastors to make very little.
Here is something I would encourage church goers to do. Give a $20 offering to each pastor at your church. This is above the tithe. Just make the check out to the church and ear-mark it for the pastor in the memo section. Our pastors serve us and work for us. They are Gods servants. If we can’t trust our pastors with with our money/labor we should find another church. If we all do this maybe our pastors will be paid at least 1/10th of what they should.
An offering is a gift in addition to or above the tithe. The tithe is paid to the church that servers the tither. It is used to operate the church, serve church members, and minister to the community.
Giving offerings is exciting but it should be taken seriously. We are called to be a good steward of the resources God puts under our management. If we are good stewards, those resources will increase. Being a good steward of our offerings is not as easy as handing out money to needy people or even buying them things they need. God owns everything. He can put it wherever He wants it. Jesus told Peter to go catch a fish and there would be a coin in the mouth of the fish. God could hand out money to everyone if He wanted to. He doesn’t do that so neither should we. The love of money can do us great harm. Giving money can often hurt the receiver.
We must seek God in how and where to give. If we put it in the place He wants it, He will trust us with more. Here is something to keep in mind. We are called to spread the Gospel and make disciples of others. We are also called to help the poor. Just be careful on how you help the poor. Make sure God is leading so what is intended for good will not be harmful.
Many in the American culture have become lazy self indulgent gluttons devoid of all discipline. Many people seek a quick fix for the lusts of their flesh, fears, and desires. Doctors do not hesitate to prescribe drugs for almost anything and our culture gobbles them up in order to fix depression, anxiety, or whatever acronym they or their children have been loosely diagnosed with.
It has become a contest between trendy restaurants to see which one can pile the most food on a plate. The plates seem to get bigger every year. A family of four is served enough food to sustain a family of twelve.
We are called to take up our cross and follow Christ, not ourselves.
Who is as sick as I am of hearing politicians blurt nonsense out of their mouths? These people are really dumb or think the people they are talking to are really dumb. Personally I think it is both.
Here is the latest coming from Washington. “Speculators are driving up the price of oil”. Once again I am surprised that no one is articulating common sense. Here is mine. I have not heard anyone say this.
Anyone that understands the futures markets knows how a commodity like oil is purchased. Anyone speculating that the price of oil will go up, must buy oil contracts and sell them before the oil is actually delivered to their doorstep. The only way to affect the price of oil is to affect supply or demand. People who consume oil or store it indefinitely affect the supply. They have taken supply out of the market. If demand remains constant or increases, this will drive the price up.
Speculators are not consuming or storing oil because they have to sell it back into the market before the contract expires. If they do not sell it, the barrels of oil will be deliver to their doorstep. When a speculator buys, the price goes up. When a speculator sells, the price goes down. Speculators must buy and sell before the contract expires. 1 – 1 = 0. GET THE PICTURE WASHINGTON?
“All In” is a term used in poker. It means a player is putting all the chips they have, in the pot. They do this because they believe they have the best hand.
My hand is Jesus. I have the best hand. Nothing can beat my hand. I want to be “All In” for Jesus. That means every chip.
I wonder just how rich the rich man described in Mark chapter 10 was. Jesus said it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. I am not sure what this man had, but I do know some things he did not have. He did not have a television, ipod, mp3 player, computer, cell phone, automobile, or central air in his home. This man did not even have running water or electricity.
In today’s age we have many more luxuries than he did. We also know from 1 Timothy chapter 6 that there were people rich in this present world who were believers. So what determines who will have a more difficult time entering the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle?
In my view it is not how much we have. Most Americans obviously have more than the rich man described in Mark chapter 10. The question is not how much do we have, but is it an idol in our lives? If we take ownership of our stuff and put our trust in it, “stuff” becomes an idol and a god in our lives. If we put stuff before God, it is harder to enter the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.