Back to: The Banquet (Wisdom Devotional)
The Reality Of Money
- Not everyone is meant to be rich.
- Some earn money from generational lineage ( Old money).
- Become successful through talent, smarts, illegally or ‘luck’.
- Sadly, most of us need to work hard for our successes.
- For those of us who are not- we are told to save, spend and manage our finances wisely however most Christians still struggle.
- Out of desperation, we resort to drastic measures, religious, traditionally or socially.
Perspective On Wealth
George H. Lorimer
Former American journalist news company said ‘ it’s good to have money, and the things money can buy; but its also good, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy’
Jay Gould
American multimillionaire entrepreneur on his deathbed said the following words ‘ I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth’.
Gordan P. Getty
One of the richest men in America, says this “ the best things in life require effort and study rather than money’.
The wisest & Richest man to ever live says this ‘Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done, and all was vanity and striving after wind’ Ecclesiastes 2:11
Gaining Wealth The Proper Way
To gain wealth at the expense of justice, integrity and honesty is to lose what money cannot buy and that is honor, self respect and a good reputation. Solomon also condemns bribery ( Proverbs 29:4) Bribery is secretive and seen as way to improperly influence people’s decisions. According to Solomon there is only one proper way of gaining wealth and that is through diligent work (Hard work) ‘Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich’ Proverbs 10:4. It doesn’t matter what work it is, hard work in any field is the right way to financial prosperity.
Avoiding Financial Entanglements
The most common financial entanglement is debt
- Living on credit is the biggest financial pandemic in the world.
- Human nature is drawn by the allure of ‘free things’ or ‘cheap things’.
- Through accounts, loans or get quick rich schemes.
Guidelines To Help Guard Against Debt
Giving to God & Those In Need
- ‘Happy is he, who is gracious to the poor’ Proverbs 14:21.
- Giving helps you appreciate what money can do for another person who has a need.
- There is great joy in investing in the Kingdom of God.
- When doing our budget, we should write the Lord’s check first then trust that God will meet our other needs with the rest.
- ‘He who lends to the poor –God will repay for His good deed’ Proverbs 19:17.
- Our spirit recognizes that giving back is godly.
- Give rather than lend- Instead of saying you will borrow R100 rather say you can give R50 to avoid the conflict and negativity that comes with it.
Possessing or Possessed
- To possess money is very well; it may be a most valuable servant; to be possessed by it is to be possessed by a devil, and one of the meanest and worst kinds of devils’.
- Money is a good servant but a poor master.
- Generously giving it to charitable affiliations frees us from being possessed by it.
- Our focus should be sowing into our eternal bank account and not our earthly one.
What Is A Budget
A budget is finding the balance between our needs & wants. A budget is ensuring that your needs list does not outweigh you.
Budget Template
Being successful means using what we have been given wisely and well. Godly stewardship of resources rather than the accumulation of wealth is the biblical measure of financial success.
