For the governments of this world, they don’t have a clue.

They turn to one man, thinking he is the solution,

And forget about God who is the father of creation.

“See that you be not troubled

For these things must come to pass.”

Who has the solution?

The church of God you should ask.

Prophecies in the Bible are fulfilling.

In this time of recession

Only Jesus Christ can give healing.

The answer they seek is only in God,

But they turn to money, and that is so sad!

The economic crises were inevitable;

Who is to be blamed? Is it the devil?

Eternal Father, you are forever;

You alone have the power to make things better.

Restoration for all nations is only through you,

Jesus Christ our Savior, who died at Calvary.

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• no-fail investment plan
• the secret of financial wisdom
• roots of all kinds of evil
• luke 16:9

Humanity has walked away from God, the real source of wealth and life. The direct consequence is greed and excessive materialism. There is urgency for the Church of God to inform and educate the world regarding this concept. Yet in many ways, the Christian community has lost sight of the truth.

This article will attempt to deconstruct the image we have had about wealth and tithing. We will do so through the only one truth, God’s Word. By doing so, we can look at the two principles from God’s perspective.

wealth

Many people, Christian or otherwise, associate wealth with amassing material possessions. The Collins English Dictionary throws up different dimensions of the word. While wealth is often associated with material possessions, it also includes other important elements, a wealth of gifts, desirable qualities, as well as natural resources. There are vital lessons we need to learn about wealth from the definitions.

• There is a source for the wealth for which we strive. Psalm 24:1 makes this point clear: “The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it…” (NIV). This truth indicates our total reliance on Him for our survival. When things do not go according to plan financially, He is the one on whom we need to call.
• Secondly, when God created man, He gave him the responsibility of managing the resources of the earth (Genesis 1:28-31). This we have failed to fulfill because we shifted our focus from wealth as a means to an end to seeing wealth as an end in itself. As a result, we often wear ourselves out trying to make more of it.
• In spite of this, God is still in the “business” of empowering people with wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). He also empowers us with ideas which in turn creates wealth without adding sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). This is His way of making sure that we have what we need in order to live our lives in accordance with His will.
• Wealth is not only measured by material possessions. It includes skills, gifts, talents, and abilities graciously given to us by God. This is why it’s not appropriate when we say we are poor because then we have failed to recognize the talents and abilities God has given us. These gifts are worth more than what millions of dollars. With these gifts, we can become the “salt” and “light” of the earth and create lasting wealth (treasures in heaven).

Wealth is one of the many blessings God bestows on us so we can be channels of blessings to humanity. However, we stand the risk of losing out on eternity when we focus entirely on wealth accumulation. As Jesus put it in Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (NIV).

tithing

In the Old Testament book of Malachi, God repeats the basis for wealth creation for the people of Israel. He reminds them that the tithes must be brought into the “storehouse” and in return, He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that you will not have room enough for it…” (Malachi 3:10). A tithe is a tenth part of every increase God gives us. “But you shall remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). In the book of Genesis, Abraham offered a tithe of the spoils from his battles to Melchizedek, King of Salem (Genesis 14:20).

Following Abraham’s example, we tithe because God commands it and because of our indebtedness to Him. Our faithfulness in tithing enables His body, the church, to carry out its mission of broadcasting the gospel to the ends of the earth, being the pillar and foundation of truth, and caring for orphans, widows, and others in need.

Tithing is one of the ways we show our gratitude and appreciation to God for the life, energy, and ability He has given us so we can create wellbeing for our families. In the context of Malachi, God demanded the tithe because the people of Israel had robbed him of 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 because you are robbing me…” (Malachi 3:8-9).

When we do not tithe, we do not acknowledge Him as the source of our life and wealth. On the other hand, when we acknowledge Him as the source, He creates the opportunity for us to create more wealth.

wealth and tithing

Thus, one could conclude that wealth, to some extent, is connected to tithing.

• Wealth and Tithes have one source- God. He is the owner of all the wealth, and with our tithes we recognize that He allows us to amass wealth
• God uses our tithes to open doors of opportunity for the gospel. In turn, God places more opportunities our way so we can continue to place Him at the heart of what we do.
• Both wealth and tithing are a means to an end. On one hand, so God’s work can be executed. On the other hand, the wealth God gives us places us in a position to bless others.

We have an opportunity to go back to the source of life and wealth-God-to get our priorities right. As Christians, we can enjoy abundant life in the midst of economic turmoil. There is still hope for our future; the choice now lies with us…

tags

related posts

• He is Lord over money
• wall street, main street, church street
• mission
• the secret of financial wisdom
• the principle of ownership

money makes the world go round

Our first order of business must be to come to some agreement about the importance of money. But aren’t Christians aspiring to be children of God and supposed to shun money. After all, money is the root of evil right? No, WRONG. The scripture says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. But that’s not the primary rebuttal of the statement. The point is that money is not just important, but integral, especially to Christians or those striving to be Godly. It is significant in one’s spiritual growth. Not many take the time to even think along this line; hence I consider this the first secret of financial wisdom.

secret #1: money matters

To some, this might be the hardest secret to accept. There must be an appreciation for the importance of money. It can be self-defeating to master the important spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and Bible studying, while totally ignoring our finances. After all, this stuff is hard enough as it is, right?

Well guess what, it becomes even harder when we don’t check the books. Financial vows can significantly affect one’s spirituality. At times we tend to forget the commission once delivered to the saints in Matthew 28:19. For the gospel to be delivered effectively, the church must have access to funding. With money, we are in a better position to assist brethren and others who are in need. It also teaches us to fight against sin. At times we might be tempted to disobey God due to the cares of the world; we then grow in faith as we rely on God to help us overcome these challenges.

secret #2: the 3-s principle

This secret refers to three important keys to financial wisdom: Save, Sacrifice, and Simplify.

save

According to Robert T. Kiyosaki, financial wizard and author of the best-selling book Rich Dad, Poor Dad, the differentiating factor between those who foster a healthy economic life style and those who don’t is the emphasis placed on saving and investing. The book only restates what is counseled in many of the Proverbs; we must save. Here’s the secret to curtailing payments and actually getting the savings separated from the bills. Pay yourself first. For Christians, the rule is to pay God first and ourselves second. Kiyosaki suggests that this builds self-discipline. We have to be extremely disciplined to practice this secret of saving. But one thing’s for sure: it works. So we must promise to pay God first and then pay ourselves; embrace what may be the healthiest habit of saving.

sacrifice

Compromising will be a must. The funds allocated to savings will slightly reduce our spending power. We will experience what some call “short term pain for long term gain.” At times we will be tempted to buy that new I-Phone, Laptop, or purse, etc. This is especially the case when we have the options of spending money allocated to savings; however, we must remember the goal we have in mind. We are developing financial wisdom for long-term stability. As Christians, we are continually exercising sacrifice for a greater cause (one which is more meaningful to us); thus, our finances are just another area for us to practice this habit.

simplify

This principle calls for self-examination. We will have to look at our lives and see where things can be made less complicated. It may mean deciding whether we really need a car and an SUV. We must ask, “Do I have to have a new knapsack every semester, or does my clothing have to come from a well-known designer who charges a higher price?” These are personal decisions everyone must make. However, we should ask, “What can I do to downsize my expenses?” Remember keep it simple.

secret #3: budgeting made simple

The most critical criteria of a budgetary system is to pin-point where our money is going. There are many formants from which to choose. Hence, I encourage you to research and choose the one with which you are most comfortable. Remember, a budget must give accurate information about expenses versus savings and investments.

secret #4: be informed

We have established the importance of money, especially to Christians. This article by no means deals exhaustively with the issue. It serves as an introduction to stir excitement about continuing the journey of learning. Now, be responsible to gain more education about financial wisdom. Attend seminars, consult books, it will be worth it.

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• solution for the recession
• roots of all kinds of evil
• no-fail investment plan
• He is Lord over money

For example, if you don’t talk that much on the phone, get a prepaid phone; they seem to cost more, but you really don’t need to talk for 500 minutes. I use an average of $10 a month, save $30 a month, and that translates to $360 annually.

2. savings

Open a savings account that receives automatic transfers from your checking account. You will save and earn interest without knowing it, which is a bonus.

3. small things add up

A pack of gum, a cup of Starbucks Frap, a magazine that you read and throw away-these all take bites from your budget. By the end of the month, I look at my bill and see $100 spent on nothing, absolutely nothing.

4. communicate with God daily

In the end, financial stewardship is best learned from the God who created us and understands the world’s monetary systems. Obedience comes from our love and relationship with Jesus Christ. This, my friend, is cultivated daily.

5. research and learn about God’s work today

He is leading multitudes from other religions to Christ and strengthening missionaries being persecuted to death in anti-Christian countries. We must come to realize God’s heart is for people to fall in love with Him-that is where our money must be invested.

There is a story about an American who goes to France on an extended vacation, to one day return to America. Upon entering France, she is told that nothing she buys will transfer or ship back to America. The only thing that does transfer is the money she deposits into her American bank account. Therefore, it would be ignorant for her to purchase a lot of land, houses, furniture, and things that she is not able to see in America.

The wisest thing, then, is for her to deposit into her future destination and goal. For us, we must realize the things in this world are temporary, able to disintegrate, and will be destroyed. We must deposit into our future destination, the Kingdom of God, because it lasts forever. God must be all for us.

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• solution for the recession
• no-fail investment plan
• luke 16:9
• He is Lord over money

Ever since I could speak, I had a bad mouth too. I talked back incessantly, especially when it came to money. My money was mine and I hoarded every cent, even if I just found it on the street. Soon we moved to America and in elementary school. I learned to sell toys to fellow classmates who seriously had no money sense. Some came from McDonald’s and some were ones I randomly found in my house. Later, in middle school I began running errands for people in exchange for money. With the liberty I had, I felt free to earn my own cash and I wanted to save whatever I earned.

Everyone thought that I would become a business woman and that path changed slightly when I gained an interest in music and fashion design. However, the saying appears quite true that you can predict what a child will become by the way they act when they’re young .

making Him Lord of every aspect of my life

During those years, God slowly opened my eyes and heart to my selfishness and love for money through verses, such as “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” I also read the passage about the rich man who asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied that he obeyed all the commandments, except “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). To emphasize the importance of this passage, “when he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.” In reply, Jesus said “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Over the years of my spiritual walk, God has not only convicted me of different idols in my life- such as pride, love of human praise, and lust in the flesh, but He has also convicted me in areas of finance. When we call Jesus Lord, we must make Him Lord over each and every aspect of our lives including our physical and material lives. I have several times when He spoke clearly to me, especially after I read Revolution in World Missions. I became disgusted by the way I had been selfishly using my money compared to the selfless missionaries in the field. They were willing to be beaten, live off of nothing, and wear rags in order to share the Gospel. Me? I was hoarding my own earnings, albeit not much, in order to guarantee success and security in this world.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6: 20-21).

During my high school years, God confirmed this radical calling in my life. He told me to be different, to cry for the lost, to heal the brokenhearted, to live for His cause. He deeply desired for my heart to be where His was and is to this very day. “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45). I had found this pearl and I knew that I would have to align my bank account with His heart too.

In fact, all good gifts come from the Father, He allows us to own possessions, but He also longs for us to bless others with them. God convicted me of this with my first car. I loved it and every time someone wanted to drive it, I would cringe inside and tell them no. Gas was expensive and my baby consumed it fast. I knew I was being selfish, but I denied it in my heart. One day, I woke up with this in my head: “Did I not give you this car?” I knew God was speaking and was reminding me that He gave me the money to buy the car, energy to work for the money, and life so that I can live in this world. God continues to convict me of specific areas and ways I use my money. There were times God told me to give all my savings to a certain missionary. I have found that when I give, God continues to supply my needs. In addition, I am freed from the chains of materialism when I submit to His authority. How can we live in obedience in every part of our lives except in the areas of money? Now that I have learned this lesson, I believe that Christians should talk about money and finance more in church and in society.

final words: His heart beats for us

Finally, I want to thank God for providing for me during the past three years of college. In my senior year of high school, I told God that if He wanted me to go to a fashion school (costing over $21,000 a year, excluding housing) I would need Him to provide. I then applied for a billion scholarships and was granted many. I can say to this day, I did not ask my parents for one penny of my college tuition and I never had to take out a loan. Praise God! Out of this, I have learned numerous lessons including how to be a good steward of my money by budgeting wisely and how to be resourceful. Now that I am trying to start my own business, I am able to invest wisely. I also sense that God doesn’t want me to have debt because He is sending me overseas to continue my missionary journey. Most importantly, out of daily surrendering my finance to the Lord, I find the most fulfillment in blessing Him by blessing others. For example, because I want to make Him known, I live simply so I can give to missionaries. I live simply so I can use the money when I am ministering to lost friends. I call it ministry money. I count all my possessions as dung; they mean nothing in comparison to the souls that can be saved for eternity because of my “simple living.”

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• wealth and tithing
• roots of all kinds of evil
• no-fail investment plan
• luke 16:9

Whether it is work commitments, that promotion we’re working our socks off to achieve, or that degree for which we are aspiring, we seem busy all the time. These goals may be commendable; however, we may have lost sight of why we are achieving them. As a writer, I too have asked myself this question. Am I writing as a way of showing off how good I am in the English language? Why do we do all the things in which we are so engrossed? There are as many answers as there are motivations for doing the things we do. Whatever the reasons-have we asked ourselves whether God is the single most important factor in what we are striving to achieve?

At the beginning of creation, God intended for man to manage his earthly domain. To enable man to carry out this task, He infused into him the very characteristic nature of Himself- hence, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea…” (Genesis 1:26). Thus, man was to receive power and authority to effectively carry out his responsibilities in accordance with God’s laws. Unfortunately, with Adam’s rejection of God’s rule over him, man lost sight of his purpose. What was the result of this sudden shift in relationship with God?

Mankind sought refuge in things other than God. We elevate materialism to the position once occupied by God. We find solace by inventing and evolving political systems, ideologies, philosophies, and knowledge. Solomon described these strivings as “vanity.” To prove this point, we seem lost without our ideologies, gadgets, and other things to which we have attached ourselves. It is almost as if these things are our lives. They were not meant to fill the void inside of us.

Solomon did all there is to enjoy “life” yet did not find satisfaction. David, his father and another great king, questioned the purpose of man:

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life…Each man’s life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro…he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it” (Psalms 39:4-6).

We work so hard to make money and get all the trappings of the world. What we often fail to notice is these trappings are meant only as a means to an end, rather than an end in themselves. Solomon expressed this sentiment clearly when he said:

“I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?..This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19).

the ‘economic’ issue

The central issue of economics is how to use prudently, the scarce resources at our disposal to satisfy our insatiable desires. In order to solve this problem, we often prioritise our needs putting them on a scale-with (what we consider) the most pressing need occupying the top spot. We then decide to forego the items that may not be very important in order to get what we most need. Similarly, the central issue with humanity is how to regain our salvation-something we lost as a result of disobedience.

In order to achieve this goal, we must again draw a scale of preferences putting God first and relegating the many things which have taken His place. The apostle Paul puts this into context in his letter to the church in Corinth:

“Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power” (1 Corinthians 6:12 Amplified).

Although everything is permissible, there are things that, when allowed to dominate one’s life, would eventually take the place of God. This would be vanity. This may be avoided when we prioritize our lives and build into our lives “treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).

So what practical steps can we take to put God first in our lives?

• Understand the whole purpose and duties of man (Genesis 1:26-29) and walk in it.
• Put God first in the center of everything we do (Proverbs 3:5-60).
• Acknowledge God as the source of life, power, and authority, and seek His help.
• Avoid the vanities of this world and the incorrect focus on material wealth.
• Submit every thought, imagination, and idea to the Word of God (Psalm 37:5).
• In the words of Solomon, “fear God and obey His commandments for that is the whole duty of man.”

tags

related posts

• He is Lord over money
• wealth and tithing
• wall street, main street, church street
• the secret of financial wisdom
• solution for the recession

Jesus says in Luke 16:9, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Jesus doesn’t say: “Use your worldly wealth unless there is a recession and, in that case, keep it for yourselves.”

He wants us to use our “worldly wealth” to “gain friends” regardless of our outside circumstances or economic condition.

In the King James Version, “worldly wealth” is called “unrighteous mammon.” It is literally money or wealth that is not unrighteous in its own right, but becomes unrighteous because people treat it as their own, when they are really only stewards.

Jesus calls us to use what He entrusts to care for the needs of others—to “gain friends.” By meeting those needs, those you help see Christ through you—through your love, compassion, and mercy. “Gaining friends” simply means to win people for Christ.

This concept is also seen in Jesus’ parable of the talents (Luke 19:11-27). A king gave his servants 10 minas and said, “Put my money to work until I come back” (Luke 19:13). The first servant invested the minas and earned 10 more. The second servant also invested the minas and earned five more. But the last servant was afraid to lose the minas so he buried them in the ground and did not earn anything. When the king came back, he was furious and took the minas away saying, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away” (Luke 19:26).

Therefore, whatever God entrusts you with, He expects you to invest it wisely in eternal things—not bury it in the ground. Otherwise, like the king did to the servant, He will take it away.

how to invest

1. realize it’s God’s paycheck, not yours

Remember “for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (Romans 11:36)—that includes your paycheck, your tax returns, your year-end bonus, and your raise. Every cent flowing in and out of your bank account is from Him and therefore ultimately is His. He is simply entrusting you with it to glorify Him.

2. pay God first

Tithing has been encouraged for centuries throughout churches. Literally meaning “one-tenth,” God challenges us to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Malachi 3:10a). However, many of us only write the tithing check after the bills have been paid, groceries bought, and gas tank filled. Throughout the Bible, God wanted the first tithe of the harvest, the first tithe of the herd. By giving God your first 10 percent, you are truly trusting in Him to provide for your needs…and He will.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33).

3. find a need, fill a need

Being called to care for the needs of others is one thing. Choosing where to give your money is quite another. To simplify the search, remember that the church (not the building but the group of believers) is a representation of Christ on Earth. It should hold all the characteristics of Christ (see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22). When one member or part of the church is weak, it is the responsibility of the other members to lift him/her up. Therefore, your first priority should be toward the church (other believers).

This should not be your only priority, however, as God also calls us to provide and protect the poor, orphans, and widows (Zechariah 7:10).

4. be prepared for serious ROI (return on investment)

God promises big rewards for your investments in others. As mentioned in Malachi, God says that when you invest, He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10b). Considering that God is the Creator of the universe and has the power to make and do whatever pleases Him, this is a powerful promise.

Also, in the story of the talents, the king says to the investing servant, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with small things; I will put you in charge of greater things” (Luke 19:17). God promises that if He can trust you with small responsibilities, He will give you bigger responsibilities.

Lastly, investing in others is a way to “store your treasures in Heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Treasures in Heaven can never be destroyed or stolen and ultimately pleases God.

will you take the risk?

Investing money in others might scare you and conjure up questions of doubt:

Am I really enabling their financial problems?

What if they aren’t thankful?

Will I have enough to live on if I give so much away?

But remember what God commands in Luke 16:9 and that He wants to use you—and the money He entrusts—to fulfill His purpose. Will you stand in His way?

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• roots of all kinds of evil
• solution for the recession
• luke 16:9
• He is Lord over money

I’ve read several articles, blogs, and commentaries about this verse and many writers suggest that Christ is telling His followers to “win souls for the kingdom” by using money to take care of people’s physical needs. They believe that in this verse, Christ is telling us to be charitable. By doing so the recipients would be converted and be in the Kingdom where they would welcome you there “into eternal dwellings.” This interpretation seems to fit a little closer to the other teachings of Jesus. Unfortunately, upon closer examination it appears that they are reading too much into what Christ says and not being honest with His simple statement.

To understand this verse we must first put it into the proper context. It is actually the end of a parable that Christ was telling His disciples. The Pharisees had been misusing the tithe-money they received from the people and the parable addressed this corruption in an interesting way. We know the verse is related to these religious leaders because of their response in verse 14: “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”

Christ begins the parable by introducing a dishonest manager who was working for a rich man. The rich man accuses him of wasting his possessions. Seeing that he is about to be fired from his job, the dishonest manager formulates a plan for his survival. “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses’” (Luke 16:3-4).

The dishonest manager goes to all the people who owe his boss money and makes deals with them. He offers one debtor a debt settlement for fifty percent of what is owed and to another he offers to settle for eighty percent. With these deals he is swindling his boss so that he may have a place to sleep and eat after he loses his job. His motivations are clearly selfish.

We read in verse 8 the rich man’s reaction: “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” Some people take this statement as an endorsement by Jesus that Christians need to act more shrewdly like the people of the world. However, by what He tells the Pharisees, this is not what He is saying: “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15 NKJV). Just because the rich man commends the manager’s actions does not mean he justifies them. This parable is condemning these worldly activities that paralleled many practiced by the Pharisees. The “people of light” should not act like the dishonest manager.

Christ now ends the parable with the controversial verse 9. I believe the NKJV translation makes the meaning a little clearer: “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” This is Jesus punctuating the meaning of this parable by using hyperbole. He is in effect saying that if you are going to be dishonest like the manager and then fail, you’d better buy yourself some friends so you will have a place to stay. Some people get hung up over the “everlasting home” part of the verse. They believe it possibly represents the Kingdom of God. However, this interpretation is not supported by the context of the parable nor the explanation that He gives of it in the next few verses. A better conclusion is that it is simply an exaggerated use of language to make a point.

In the explanation of this parable Christ shows us how to truly approach monetary responsibilities in this life. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). Here Jesus tells us that we need to be trustworthy in the things that we are given in this life. The dishonest manager was not trustworthy and is an example of behavior to avoid. In our jobs and dealings in this world concerning money, we should not try to be shrewd and dishonest; instead, we should be trustworthy. Jesus convicts the Pharisees because they were dishonest in how they dealt with the money they received from the people. That is why this parable made them so angry.

There are no contradictions in Christ’s teachings about money. As “people of the light” we should be known for our integrity. All our financial dealings should glorify Christ so that we may one day manage the “true riches” in His Kingdom.

tags

related posts

• wall street, main street, church street
• no-fail investment plan
• He is Lord over money
• solution for the recession
• roots of all kinds of evil

The Bible provides the keys to success in all aspects of life including our spiritual life, interpersonal relationships, and yes, financial management! In this article we will seek to extract some of the main principles set out by the Word of God pertaining to financial stewardship.

The first principle is “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” [Matthew 6:33 NIV]. This is the very first step. No financial goal should take precedence over the purpose for our life, which is to honor God and enter His kingdom. It is also a promise of God that once we do this, we need not worry about what we will eat or drink or wear, because all these things will be given to us.

The second principle is that of giving our tithes and offerings. The Lord admonishes us to “test Him in this” [Malachi 3:10 NIV] that He will open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings we will not have room for it, if we pay our full tithes. Apart from tithing being a command from God, the Lord will bless you richly if you give with a cheerful heart (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

The third principle is to manage our money. Budgeting is the basic financial skill that requires the most discipline. We must properly manage the money that we get otherwise it will leave. Whether it is an allowance or a paycheck we must make a solid plan of how every dollar will be used and stick to it! Credit card spending is another area we need to manage, and we must do so even more vigilantly. It is a very convenient way to spend money we do not have at the moment; however, if that payment cycle comes around and we still do not have the money, it will cost dearly in interest and penalties.

The fourth principle is to invest – the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 shows that God expects us to multiply what he has blessed us with or he will take it away and give it to someone who will multiply it. It is good to work hard for money but working should not be our only source of income. Ecclesiastes 11:6 says, “Sow your seed in the morning” meaning to invest “and at evening let not your hands be idle,” meaning we must work “for you do not know which will succeed.” Essentially, we must diversify our income streams, earning money from various sources.

The fifth principle is to understand the difference between assets and liabilities. An asset is anything that puts money into our pockets such as stocks, bonds, real estate rented to others, or a small business. In contrast, a liability is anything that takes money out of our pockets. These include loans, cars, or a house for which we are paying rent or mortgage with no equity. The financial rule of thumb is to accumulate assets and use the returns from those assets to purchase liabilities. You also need to be patient with taking on liabilities. We have a tendency to want to spend money on the latest gadgets, that newest cell phone, new clothes, and new cars. We want them now, but the truth may be that we do not need them right now. So we can wait, and when we do buy them we should try use the extra money generated by our assets.

The next principle is to use leverage. Any tool we can use to generate income at an accelerated rate with small effort on our part can be considered as leverage. If we take a loan to invest in a business, that would be money we do not have to work for initially. The strategy is to borrow and use this money to make a whole lot more; enough to pay back that loan and still make a significant profit. That is leverage. Advanced education and marketable skills are other forms of leverage. Proverbs 22:29 tells us that if we are skilled in our work we will serve before kings. If you are the most skillful chef around and you cook for a king, chances are you are making more money doing so than someone cooking in a school canteen.

Last but not least, we should not wear ourselves out to get rich (Proverbs 23:4). Devote our time to the Lord and His work. Try to let our money work for us as much as possible. We should spend time doing the things we love, with the people we love. There is really no point in being financially “well-off” if we are not living a fulfilling life in other areas.

tags

related posts

• He is Lord over money
• wall street, main street, church street
• the secret of financial wisdom
• luke 16:9
• wealth and tithing

There was a woman who had three young children to feed. She sat down and prayerfully made a careful shopping list and had just enough money to buy the food she would need for the coming week.

Before she could get to the store, her friend who also had young children called to ask for help. Her friend needed food but had no money.

The first mom joyfully gave her friend one half of her money and then went shopping. As she went up and down the aisles, she put each item on her list in her basket and each item was on sale for half price! She went home with all but one item and money left over.

The woman knew that her heavenly Father would provide, but when He fulfilled her needs so completely, she knew that only God could have done this. Both families were able to give glory to God and bless His holy name.

This is a true story and the woman mentioned used the three easy, yet important steps to Godly stewardship.

1. ask:

Be specific in your prayers. God knows what we need (food) but until we know specifically what we want (shopping list) He can’t give us the desires of our heart (good gift) that will perfectly suit our tastes and bring glory to Him (Matthew 7:7-11).

2. seek:

When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we want to be a blessing to others and bring His work into their lives. Our motives will be unselfish, not to bribe or manipulate others, we will seek their good only (Matthew 6:25-34).

3. knock:

Having given our heavenly Father the praise, glory, and honor for the earthly things, He will also give us His Holy Spirit so that we can continue to be His effective and faithful stewards (Luke 11:9-13).

Then when we have done these things, we will hear the words of our Master, “Well done good and faithful servant, you were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).

tags

related posts

• the secret of financial wisdom
• no-fail investment plan
• wall street, main street, church street
• the vanity of life without God
• the principle of ownership