Here we come to the 5th step in life’s true way to prosper. Financial well-being in today’s society has become one of the most challenging area or issue which some of us still struggle to overcome and harness it in our every day lives. I’m sure we have heard many successes in other people’s lives of how their financial situation was handled, and indeed their lives were changed.
But I often wonder how many of us turn to the biblical principles which can lead us to experience life’s true way to prosper financially.
I recently found that money is frequently mentioned several times in God’s Word. So I got to thinking since money is mentioned so much in God’s Word, than this must be very important to God to give us the guidelines to follow.
How many of us would actually take this approach to see their financial situation being turned around by applying biblical principles? I don’t know about anyone else but I do know I would be among the first pupil to take action and apply these biblical principles to change my financial situation around for the good.
So with that said, let us continue on and find out what these biblical principles are and how to apply them to our financial well-being.
All the information will be taken from the New King James Version out of the New Spirit Filled Life Bible. I will also be using the Kingdom Dynamic feature in title Money Management in reference to the scriptures which will be used as well.
The first scripture I was directed to; was Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” This one verse shows us we must first choose either to serve money (mammon), or God we cannot serve both of them. Referring to the Kingdom Dynamic for this scripture explains how money can actually be a temptation to anyone who serves money as their master. So to choose to serve God fully means to have money issues under control. Money is just our tool to be used according to God’s word not something to be enslaved, which is what the word “serve” means here in this verse.
Now let us go to the next level in financial well-being. So after making a firm commitment to choose to serve God, then our next level takes us to Proverbs 27: 23-27. Starting with verse 23, it says, be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds; 24, for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. Verse 25, when the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26, the lambs will provide your clothing and the goats the price of a field; 27, you shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household, and the nourishment of you maidservants. Now I know we don’t live in a time where we all have herd of lambs and goats in our back yard. But let me show you the 5 timeless principles of money management that Solomon, known for his wisdom and wealth recorded here in scriptures and explained in the Kingdom Dynamic. 1) Accounting (v.23) “Know the state of your flocks” refers to diligence in record keeping. In modern times, this means keeping track of what we own, owe, earn, and spend. 2) Planning (Proverbs 21:5). Planning how we will spend money is essential to good stewardship. Planned spending brings satisfaction, but “impulse buying” can have devastating consequences. 3) Saving (Proverbs 21:20). The idea of “treasure” in the house of the wise implies that resources have been saved and will be available when we need them. 4) Contentment (Proverbs 15:16). We are deceived if we think having more riches or pleasure will make us happy. Scripture encourages us to enjoy what we have now without desiring to get more. (See Phil. 4:11; Heb. 13:5.) 5) Giving (Proverbs 3:9, 10). Honoring God with the first of our income and resources establishes His reign in our lives and begins a divine cycle of blessing.
Wow! I think this is awesome coming from the man known for all wisdom and wealth in his time and it still applies to us today even in the state of our economy right now.
So let me recap here, first we make up our minds to serve God no matter what. Then we apply the 5 timeless principles Solomon mentioned in Proverbs, they are; 1) Accounting, 2) planning, 3) saving, 4) contentment and 5) giving. Now I notice the first 3 principles most of us would say they we have been applying these for quite a number of years and that’s good. However, there are 5 principles to follow, not 3. Some of us might have to adjust our thinking in order to apply all 5 principles to achieve financial well-being. Well, let us look at it this way, by choosing to serve God I’m certain each one of us will indeed be more able to reach this level than any other way. This will allow us to experience our life’s true way to prosper in all areas of our lives.
Feel free to leave any comments or questions on any 5 of these essential steps to life’s true way to prosper.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Social Friendships
Social Friendships is the 4th area in experiencing life’s true way to prosper. We may think that this is only talking about friends we may know and family members or just a few people we met briefly. However, it involves much more than what we may think or say about this topic. I also find that there are other words related to this phrase which makes it more amazing and dynamic to have it a part of our daily lives.
Let me briefly bring to mind about the early Christian Church and Jesus’ followers. In the gospels we find many areas where Jesus from the beginning was with many of His followers even socializing with the sinners. So Jesus is still our first example of how we develop friendships with a variety of people that we come in contact, this is called Social Friendships.
Then we look at the early Church in Acts 2: 42, which says, “and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers.” As I have mentioned above there are other words related to Social Friendships. Here in this verse shows us how the early Christians "fellowshipped" with other people, shared God’s word, breaking of bread and prayers. Another word to associated with fellowship is the word Unity. Fellowship and Unity both go hand in hand in making new friends to socially grow healthy. So now that we know that this is not a new thing, God’s word shows us how vitally important it was back then as it is today to grow healthy in our social friendships circle by the examples of Jesus and the early Christians.
Now in today society we see a lot of what is called social networking, I believe, this is one of the newest ways to make new friends in a health way on the internet. However, we must not forget to continue to have physical bond with others in our community and in the society as well.
I truly believe many people today realize how important there social friendships are in their lives. But how important is our social friendships to include the one main person? Are we all including Jesus who is our main and vital source in every social part of our lives? I believe He is the one who really makes our social lifestyle dynamic. Since He is our light and life source, why not?
I would like to touch on the word Unity and how it relates to fellowship and social friendships. Unity in our social friendships which includes the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, together, gives our fellowship with other believers the power we need in our social lifestyle. Surely, we have heard it said that there is power in unity. This is absolutely true; when we get around other believers to fellowship it is awesome.
So in conclusion, to experience life’s true way to prosper with your social friendships circle, just remember to take Jesus and the power with you while socializing and fellowshipping with others and I’m certain your lifestyle will be fulfilling.
I would like to hear your comments and questions about this topic if you would like to share.
Let me briefly bring to mind about the early Christian Church and Jesus’ followers. In the gospels we find many areas where Jesus from the beginning was with many of His followers even socializing with the sinners. So Jesus is still our first example of how we develop friendships with a variety of people that we come in contact, this is called Social Friendships.
Then we look at the early Church in Acts 2: 42, which says, “and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers.” As I have mentioned above there are other words related to Social Friendships. Here in this verse shows us how the early Christians "fellowshipped" with other people, shared God’s word, breaking of bread and prayers. Another word to associated with fellowship is the word Unity. Fellowship and Unity both go hand in hand in making new friends to socially grow healthy. So now that we know that this is not a new thing, God’s word shows us how vitally important it was back then as it is today to grow healthy in our social friendships circle by the examples of Jesus and the early Christians.
Now in today society we see a lot of what is called social networking, I believe, this is one of the newest ways to make new friends in a health way on the internet. However, we must not forget to continue to have physical bond with others in our community and in the society as well.
I truly believe many people today realize how important there social friendships are in their lives. But how important is our social friendships to include the one main person? Are we all including Jesus who is our main and vital source in every social part of our lives? I believe He is the one who really makes our social lifestyle dynamic. Since He is our light and life source, why not?
I would like to touch on the word Unity and how it relates to fellowship and social friendships. Unity in our social friendships which includes the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, together, gives our fellowship with other believers the power we need in our social lifestyle. Surely, we have heard it said that there is power in unity. This is absolutely true; when we get around other believers to fellowship it is awesome.
So in conclusion, to experience life’s true way to prosper with your social friendships circle, just remember to take Jesus and the power with you while socializing and fellowshipping with others and I’m certain your lifestyle will be fulfilling.
I would like to hear your comments and questions about this topic if you would like to share.
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