Sunday, August 29, 2010

Money Principles Talked About In The Bible

The following guest post was written by Mark who regularly writes for BuyLikeBuffett.com.

The world would be a much better place if everyone applied biblical principles to their everyday lives. The Bible teaches foundational principles that help develop holistic individuals. You can improve your spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional life by living by the Bible’s time tested truths. Did you know that the Bible also has great advice that you can apply to your money matters? There are over 800 scriptures that address the topic of money (here are 250 of them). From getting out of debt to saving money, the Bible has a solution for getting your financial house in order.

Lets’ take a look at a few principles talked about in the Bible that can help you improve your financial life.

1. Sowing and Reaping

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Sowing and reaping is a biblical principle that was established back during Old Testamentary times. It’s an agricultural fact. If you plant and cultivate a seed then you will reap a harvest from it. Whatever you sow, you will reap. This principle applies to thoughts, actions, attitudes, and habits. If you sow kindness and goodness then you shall reap likewise. So, how can you apply this to your financial life? Plant seeds for your financial future. Aim to be a liberal giver and tither. Sow seeds of generosity. Donate to causes that help others and you will reap in ways that you never thought possible.

2. Being a Good Steward

Matthew 25:21 “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

The Bible discusses that you shall give an account over everything that God has placed under your charge. Are you make effective use of all of the talents that God has given to you? Are you a good financial steward? You should be a wise steward over all of your financial matters. Save for the future and maximize the income that God has provided you with. Do not frivolously just throw money away on entertainment and unneeded luxuries. If you are a good steward over whatever God has given you, then you are proving that you can be trusted with additional resources.

3. Living Debt Free

Deuteronomy 15:1 “At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.”

Debt is an albatross around the neck of many individuals. This may be the reason that Christ specifically taught that you show owe no man anything. The Bible gives the principles to living a debt free life. If you live a life unconcerned with the materialistic cares of this world, then you will not go leveraging yourself up just to fit in with society. For those that did get into debt, their debt was forgiven every 7 years. Every 50 years property would revert back to its rightful owner. Today, companies seek legal judgments to keep people enslaved in debt forever. Wouldn’t this be a good teaching to apply in our society at a time when so many people are losing their homes to foreclosure and buried under a mountain of debt?

4. Saving For The Future

Proverbs 6:6-8 “Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.”

Solomon’s proverb advises the wise to save their provisions. You need to store up and save money so that you can survive when the lean times come. In the Old Testament, Joseph gathered up all of the grains in Egypt so that he and his house could survive the famine. His foresight allowed the entire land of Egypt to survive and flourish after the famine was over. Emergency savings accounts and retirement accounts are great vehicles to help you survive times when the lean times come.

Remember that money is a tool to be used to help improve the lives of others. It is not something to hoard for yourself o that only you alone will benefit from it. As you prosper in every area of life, you should give back to ensure that others can share in the blessings that God has given to you.

What other financial principles in the Bible can you think of?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Five-Point Prayer of Forgiving

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Harold Graham suggests that you ask the Holy Spirit to help you make a list of everyone you need to forgive; then list each person's offenses. Remember that some of these names will be from past situations not related to the breakup. This exercise will help make the forgiveness process complete.

Rev. Graham describes a five-point prayer of forgiving. Follow these steps for each name and offense on your list:

1. Confess the real problem, which is unforgiveness.
Confess to God that you've been holding hatred, grudges, resentment, and disgust and that you've been holding that person in the bondage of unforgiveness. Then apologize to God for it.

2. Thank God that He forgives you.

3. Open yourself to the cleansing that comes from God.
If you follow the first two steps, He will cleanse you of all unrighteousness. See 1 John 1:9 above.

4. Declare forgiveness for each offense listed.

5. Transfer ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Give your burdens to God: Lord, these sins are too heavy for me to bear. I give them to You as Your property. Please nail them to Your cross so that I can't take them back anymore. Then give the Lord ownership of the person who hurt you: Lord, I invite You to lay Your hands on that person, convicting of sin and unrighteousness so that at an appropriate time, he or she will ask Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

"Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown" (Proverbs 24:17 AMP).

Lord Jesus, guide me through this prayer of forgiveness and transform my life in Your name! Amen.