Greetings O Ye Bean Counters...how's da count.
"There is one who SCATTERS, and yet INCREASES all the more...and there is one who WITHOLDS what is justly due, and yet it results in only WANT. The generous man will be PROSPEROUS, and he who WATERS will himself be WATERED. he who WITHHOLDS grain, the people will curse him...but BLESSING will be on the head of him who sells it."
(Pro-Verbs 11:24-26)
I have been married for 39 years to Brenda. For 39 years...our household has been on a BUDGET. Thank God for Brenda...because without her...I would be BROKE. She is the ultimate Pro-verbs 31 Woman...the Excellent Wife. (Read Pro-Verbs 31:10-31 for a portrait of Brenda).
Love...is reflected in giving. "For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him (the Son) shall NOT PERISH...but have EVERLASTING, ETERNAL LIFE." (John 3:16)
This is not only reflected in our "spiritual life" but also in our "secular life" as well. Well actually...secular means godless...and if you are a true believer...every area of your life...is spiritual...even what appears to be the non-spiritual...including our MONEY.
One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is "money is the root of all evil." Not so. In I Timothy 6:10 it says..."For the LOVE OF MONEY...is the root of all sorts/kinds of evil, and SOME by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (I Timothy 6:10)
The LOVE of money...is really a LUST of money...avarice, covetousness of money...so money in an of itself is nothing but currency. Also...the concept of money being the root of ALL evil...is a misconception...because the root of all evil is sin...brought about by disobedience...by believing the lie of the devil over the truth of God. The lust of money IS the root of all kinds or sorts of evil...because it entices/tempts you away from faith and trust in God. Remember temptation/enticement is not designed to pull you into anything (however that is a side effect) but it is designed to pull you away from who you really are.
The Pro-Verbs encourages us to be generous. One scatters and increases while the other withholds and is want. Wow....grasping, holding on, hoarding...and you still want. Water and you will be watered. Bless and you will be blessed.
This is laid out in Luke 6 where it talks about this principle of giving/receiving, sowing/reaping,
seedtime/harvest. "GIVE and it will be GIVEN to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your STANDARD OF MEASURE...it will be MEASURED TO YOU IN RETURN." (Luke 6:38) This principle works for money, grain, love, etc...and also in the negative...don't give and it won't be given to you.
"Do not be deceived...God is not mocked...whatsoever (anything) a man sows...that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
WARNING: You can't violate the principles of God...or try to twist God's arm...or try to manipulate your financial situation by holding God to a contract. There are variables that each individual must deal with...especially in the areas of sin, flesh, presumption versus faith, bad business sense, etc. James is very specific..."You ask and do not receive (have not because you ask not)...because you ask WITH WRONG MOTIVES...so that you may spend it on your own pleasure (consume upon your own lusts)." (James 4:3)
Also...for you to walk in Philippians 4:19 where it states..."My God will SUPPLY all your needs according to the riches in glory in Christ Jesus."...you have to walk in THE SECRET found in
Philippians 4:12)...where you learn to be CONTENT in humble means and how to live in prosperity...in any and every circumstance...of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and SUFFERING NEED."
It hinges on HOW YOU SPEAK. Do yo speak from want...or contentment.
FINAL THOUGHTS...FINALLY
Again...it was a long one...BUT...I think I needed to hear this.
Love and Financially Blessed Kisses
Rodney "Blessed and Not Cursed" Boyd
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