Financial Tidbit

Have you noticed the social pressure in our culture and financial system to spend every penny you earn instead of saving for a rainy day? Not only that, but the temptation to buy and pay later has become so common that using credit cards, loans, and many new ways to finance your purchases is an everyday practice.

The Bible speaks clearly in many areas that it is foolish to spend your money irresponsibly; yes, these are schemes to steal from you legally. Yet, we all indeed need our basic necessities. It is also okay to purchase things we desire that could improve our looks, health, and daily enjoyment of life as long as you do not go overboard. But to keep seeking after all the possessions that this world has to offer is not only unhealthy but can be sinful.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.”

Those of us who seek the understanding of God see that it is all designed to keep you enslaved to the modern monetary system, to their system of spending more and more of your income on things you don’t need. The Devil is no chump; he has been up to no good for thousands of years, and his deceptions and schemes are nothing new. He has always been in the business of lying, cheating, stealing, and killing. But Jesus came to save you from the deception of the Devil.

Jesus said in John 10:10-11 “The thief(Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Take a step back and realize that there is an unseen spiritual war going on for the hearts, souls, and pocketbooks of mankind. As the Apostle Paul stated through the leading of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6:12, there are evil forces at work to destroy the soul of every human being possible.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

I encourage you to seek the wisdom of Jesus Christ as you live your life and consider the use and purpose of money. God has given everyone natural talents to work, supply good things for their families, and share with others. I assure you that if you work hard to earn a living and choose to give to the poor and help those in need instead of buying things only for yourself, you will be happier, and God will be proud of you. His honor will benefit you infinitely more than anything you could earn of worldly value.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Proverbs 11:23-28 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath. One gives freely yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.