Pay What You Owe

March 13, 2023 John (Manager)

Many who find themselves deep in debt may be tempted to look for an easy way out. Bankruptcy or refusing to pay the debts you owe may seem an easy solution to their financial difficulties.

What does the Bible say about debt?

The Bible warns against the danger of debt, encourages and praises avoidance of debt, but does not explicitly forbid all kinds of debt.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. [Proverbs 22:7]
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. [Romans 13:8]

If you take on debt, the Bible also has a lot to say about how to handle it. Pay the debt you take on… do not default.

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. [Psalm 37:21]
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. [Romans 13:7]
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” [Luke 6:31]

If you do find yourself in a position where you cannot repay, you should be humble and repentant and change your lifestyle to avoid such an outcome in the future. If you agreed to a loan agreement, take responsibility personally. You agreed to it. Don’t just blame the person or business who loaned you the money.

Similarly, we are not as lenders supposed to take advantage of those seeking a loan by crushing them with large interest payments… knowing that they will then never be able to repay. Better not to loan the money in the first place than to make the problem worse for those seeking help through a loan.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Control Spending, Optimizing Life, Proverbs

The Greater Treasure

March 9, 2023 John (Manager)

As we go forth in pursuit of our daily activities and priorities in life, such as providing for our families, let us not be deceived that monetary wealth is the greatest treasure. There are greater treasures… such as godly wisdom. Often when we pursue God, and thus godly wisdom, we will also find sufficient or even abundant finances. This may have more to do with how we view our finances and how we spend and not always how much we can earn. Of course, succeeding financially is not the primary reason we should pursue a relationship with our Creator, but a godly perspective on finances should come along with the relationship. Often we already have sufficient or abundant finances, but don’t recognize it because we lack true wisdom even in understanding “wants” vs. “needs”. There is always more money and always someone else with more stuff. We need not compare ourselves to them, but rather look first to God and find our peace and rest in Him.

Proverbs 8

1Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?

2On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:

4“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.

5“O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.

6“Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.

7“For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8“All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.

9“They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.

10“Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.

11“For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.

13“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.

14“Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.

15“By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.

16“By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.

17“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.

18“Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.

19“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.

20“I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

21To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.

23“From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.

24“When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.

25“Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;

26While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.

27“When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

28When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,

29When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;

30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,

31Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.

32“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.

33“Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.

34“Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.

35“For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the LORD.

36“But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”

Not sure how to get started in pursuit of godly wisdom? Fear the Lord and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all that you need will be added to you.

Proverbs 9:10

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Matthew 6:31-33

31“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way and use it for His glory rather than your own. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Control Debt, Proverbs

He Who Is Guarantor For A Stranger Will Suffer For It

March 6, 2023 John (Manager)

Surely as God’s people we are called to be generous and giving to help one another. However, that does not mean we are to stop being wise. We must thoughtfully consider to whom we lend money or for whom we guarantee their debt.

Proverbs 11:15

15He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

This scripture warns about strangers. It is very likely that it is not only referring to people we never met before but also people we do not know very well. Perhaps we know their name and see them at work or in church, but we do not really know them. It seems unlikely one would need to highlight not being a guarantor for what we consider today in our culture as a total stranger… someone we never met before. Not many would ever consider this risk.

Of course the obvious risk is that we do not know them well and they may not have the character or means to pay back what they borrow. If we become guarantor for them then we are at risk to lose the money they took as we pay for their debt. Out of a good heart and desire to help, many get themselves in financial trouble.

Notice that it does not say “Do not give to a stranger”. If the sum of money is such that you would be willing to give it… go ahead, if you feel that is appropriate. You understand the financial impact with no expectation you will be paid back. This mindset helps us use wisdom. We will be less likely to extend ourselves as responsible for major expenses we really can not afford in our effort to help others.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Optimizing Life, Plan Carefully and Seek Wise Advice

Choose Your Own Adventure… But Do So Wisely

March 2, 2023 John (Manager)

I remember as a child reading a style of book that was called a “choose your own adventure” book. Basically this style of kids book has a basic story line with several outcomes for each situation the characters encounter based on which choices you as the reader make for them. For example… if in the story the main character faces a choice to go into a cave, or continue in the forest… the reader chooses and turns next to the page that continues the story based on that decision. The outcome is always different based on the choice the reader makes.

The same is true in life. Yes, for each of us there are some preset assumptions for our adventure… who our parents are, where we are born, what value system we are taught, etc. However, we each have the opportunity to make choices for ourselves that influence the outcome of our personal story. This is true whether or not we choose to admit that we are making decisions that matter. Do we get up and find a job? Do we work hard? Do we show love to others? Do we obey God?

We make decisions every day. It is just that we at times overlook the importance of how even our seemingly daily, “small” decisions influence the outcome of our life.

I used to think it would be helpful to have a guide to help me choose wisely as each situation came up in those kids books. What if I had a map that showed which choices led to success and which to destruction? Wouldn’t that be great! It would help me navigate to the best possible outcome for whatever story I was in.

While no one made a guide or map for the choose your own adventure books, God did in fact provide a guide for helping us in our every day life decisions while we deal with other people and with God. While the Bible as a whole provides much value and insight here, Proverbs in particular comes to mind as providing lots of specific applications of wisdom for how we make our daily decisions. Many of the Proverbs are laid out in such a way as to contrast righteousness and wisdom to wickedness. We do well to study Proverbs consistently and apply it as God intended as the guide to help us navigate our lives to the best possible outcome.

Consider this as you read excerpts from Proverbs 17 below. Do not think of it as something old and out of date. Instead, think of it as part of an instruction manual that God has given you… yes you, specifically… for your life. Read it as if God meant for you to use it in making your daily decisions, because He did!

Proverbs 17

1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the LORD tests hearts.

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

13He who returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

18A man lacking in sense pledges
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

Think of situations and decisions you are facing today in your life. Which verses in today’s reading is God putting on your heart to apply in your life to help you make the right decisions?

God may also show you through His word some examples of where you handled a situation well, even if the outcome was not what you wanted… thank Him for the encouragement!

Continue to study and apply the wisdom contained in Proverbs to specific issues in your life. Use the wisdom God provides to help your find the best outcome based on choices you make that influence your own personal adventure in life!

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Guiding Framework, Stewardship

Use Well What God Has Given You

February 27, 2023 John (Manager)

God gives to each of us different talents and resources in different amounts. We are all called to be faithful and good stewards of what He provides no matter how small or how big. None of us are insignificant to God. He wants us to use what He gives us for His glory.

The parable of the talents Jesus shares in Matthew 25 can be applied directly to money, but also can be extrapolated to include how we wisely use (or foolishly squander) the personal abilities and time on this earth that God has given us. It reminds us both that we should be good stewards of our resources by checking on how effectively they are being invested / utilized and that God will hold us accountable for how we have used the resources (e.g. money, ability, time, etc.) He provided us in this life. Even those to whom He gives seemingly little, are still accountable to use it wisely. Further, they are to use it for His purposes, not their own.

Matthew 25:14-30

14“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15“To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16“Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17“In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18“But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20“The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30“Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

God wants us to effectively use what He provides for His kingdom, whether it is financial resources or personal talents and gifts He has given us. This applies directly to every aspect of your personal financial strategy and to all areas of your life, even those not directly linked to financial matters.

Develop your skills/abilities and work hard to generate income.
Control spending and debt.
Invest wisely to grow your financial resources, considering concepts like diversification and seeking wise advice.
Steward your financial performance / progress in all areas, including reflection on both success and failure.
Remember that how we pursue our results matters to God. Honor His instruction with your actions for what is right and acceptable. (e.g. ethics)
Avoid the trap of greed… taking foolish risks to try to get rich quickly or never having enough money to stop pursuing more, even at detriment to other aspects of your life.
Give and give generously and cheerfully to others in the name of Jesus Christ and in ways that honor God.

Click the following link for more information in our Guiding Framework.

Serve God with all that He has given you, whether big or small! We will one day have to give an account to Him for how we used all that He provided.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Proverbs, Treasures In Heaven

The Integrity of the Upright Will Guide Them

February 23, 2023 John (Manager)

All the riches in the world will not deliver you on the day you perish. Each of us will stand before Yahweh for judgment and go either to heaven with Him, or to hell apart from Him. The decisions we make in this life have far greater affect on where we spend eternity than most people ever take time to consider. Oh… and studies show that five out of five people perish. The thing about life is no one gets out of it alive. Let us take heed to submit to Yahweh through Jesus Christ. Our actions should reflect our faith in Him as Lord.

Proverbs 11:1-6

1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.

2When pride comes, then comes dishonor,
But with the humble is wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

Our actions should reflect our faith. If we truly accept Jesus as the Christ, we should reject a false balance or other “cheating” in finances. We should remain humble and guide ourselves with integrity. If we truly submit to Christ, than that will be reflected in our behaviors.

Of course we must remember that it is not our “works” that saves us but rather we are saved by Yahweh’s grace through our faith in Christ. However, genuine faith is naturally demonstrated in our actions and attitudes.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Guiding Framework, Stewardship, Taxes, Treasures In Heaven

Give to God What Is God’s

February 20, 2023 John (Manager)

Consider you are an owner of a business. Do you care how your employees spend the company’s money? Do you want them to spend in a way that is consistent with your instructions when you gave them access to the money or just spend however they feel best, even if completely selfish and not furthering the business? Is it any different if we consider a family situation in similar fashion?

Of course we care! Whether running a company or leading a family, we have limited resources, and it is important to use them wisely and consistently with our guiding values and purpose. Anyone who does not see this… just let someone have access to your checkbook and tell them to spend your money however they want… and you will quickly understand the point. You appreciate those who use the resources appropriately and correct those who do not.

Would it matter if they only wasted half of your money? What about 25%? We care about how they use all or any of the money. We gave instructions with the money and we want them followed, or next time we give the money to someone else.

So why do so many people have a problem with understanding that God (Yahweh in Hebrew) cares how we spend the money and other resources He provides to us? Typically we struggle with this concept because we don’t want to submit to Him in regards to finances. We prefer to do things our own way. We may even be “generous” and set aside 10% of what He gave us and then tell Him we will manage the rest our way. This is not honoring God, but rather honoring ourselves. As a matter of fact, almost all of us give a higher percentage to someone who serves us food at a restaurant as a tip to thank them for serving us.

Give to God what is His. It all belongs to Him, so manage all your resources, time… talent… money, to further the kingdom of God.

Luke 20:21-25

21They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23But He detected their trickery and said to them, 24“Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Proverbs 3:9-10

9Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;

10So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Malachi 3:10

8“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9“You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 11“Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the LORD of hosts. 12“All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the LORD of hosts.

Have you submitted all your finances to be stewarded on behalf of God or are you holding some back for your own purposes? This does not mean writing a big check to give all your money to a church. Not at all. It means stewarding wisely all that you have and spending in such a way as to be responsible and further the kingdom of God. Obey His general commands regarding money as we find them in the Bible. Take time to learn to pray effectively and seek God’s specific instructions for you, if any, regarding money. Remind yourself it all belongs to Him and you are only the servant who is asked to take care of it and manage it on His behalf.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Ethics, Generate Income, Optimizing Life, Proverbs

How We Pursue Our Finances Matters

February 16, 2023 John (Manager)

Do not be so enthusiastic in your pursuit of profit that you neglect God’s instruction. Our Father constantly reminds us in the Bible that His ways are best. We should take care and heed His advice. Yes we are to work diligently, but we must first commit to working righteously, that is to say “do things God’s way rather than the world’s way”.

Proverbs 10:2-5

2Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.

3The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

4Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

We are to seek first the kingdom of God in determining how we live our lives. We are called to be diligent in our pursuits rather than lazy, proactive rather than putting things off to another day.

Take some time to reflect on how this applies to your life. Pray God would lead you and help you make any necessary changes in your life.

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Remember that all you have belongs to God. Manage your money God’s way. Visit GrowGodsMoney.org .

Uncategorized

Seek Wisdom Rather than Wealth

February 13, 2023 John (Manager)

For those who are short-sited and pursue only what money they can gather today, any wealth they gain will likely not be long lasting. It will come and go quickly. We see this even in extreme situations with people who win the lottery and get many millions of dollars. If they did not understand how to earn and save and spend their money wisely, they can run out of even a mountain of money over time. Along the way, while you pursue income, pursue wisdom to go with it.

Proverbs 8

The Commendation of Wisdom