A Proper Perspective on Money

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)

Take a moment to think about how you view and treat money. Do you want more of it? I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who did not want more money. God’s Word has much to say about finances. In fact, it tells us many ways people can increase in wealth. Some of those are good and some are evil. You can increase in wealth God’s way and add no sorrow to your life, or you can increase in wealth apart from God and bring curses along with the money.

How you view money makes all the difference. Do you view it as a source of security or a defense in your life? How we view money truly influences not only our financial decisions but our values and behavior every day of our life.

Ecclesiastes 7:12 says that money is a defense. It can be used as a tool to protect you, but money will not be your protector. Do not allow your money to be your god, but also don’t make money the devil.

Money is a tool that is meant to be used for the kingdom. God wants to increase you, protect you, provide for you and many times, how He does that is through money. When we live our lives in fear of the Lord—respecting His authority, seeking His guidance, and aligning our actions with His Word — we gain access to the treasuries of heaven that provide for us the resources we need for protection and prosperity. Don’t seek money; seek wisdom from God’s Word. Money is a side effect of a life that prioritizes God.

Practical Application

The best financial literacy comes from finding what God’s Word has to say about money. The Bible is full of wisdom, insight, and the dangers and pitfalls that come from how we handle money. Search the Word for scriptures that have to do with God’s view on finances; it will help you handle money the right way.

Isaiah 33:6; Proverbs 3:18

Am I Saved?

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10)

What does it take to be saved? Do you have to join a church or pay some money or do a lot of good works? Romans 10:8-10 offers a roadmap to salvation. It says confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts are the steps to receiving salvation.

Your mouth dictates what happens to you. Jesus paid the price for your salvation, but you still have a part to play. You must confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead. If you do not confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you cannot receive what Jesus paid for.  You mouth plays a part in salvation.

The Bible tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. What you allow your mouth to say will lead you toward life or invite death every time that you speak. Train your mouth to speak words of life. Listen to the Holy Ghost and say what He tells you to say and speak in agreement with God’s Word. Declare that you receive it and believe it and the power of God will be released on your behalf. Declare what the Bible says about you. You are full of love, joy, peace, and long-suffering. You are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Second, declare how you are going to act in faith about what you believe. What are you going to do to show that your faith is active? When you say, “Jesus is Lord,” you mean He is your Master and Director. He tells you what to do and you do it!

Practical Application

How are you displaying that Jesus is Lord of your life? What are the evidences of your salvation? What kind of words are you speaking? Ask God to reveal ways to display Jesus’ Lordship in your life every day.

Luke 8:15; John 1:12

Faith, Hope and Love

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the Apostle Paul taught about the three virtues that abide. The word abideth in the Greek is menó and means to stay, to remain, to dwell and to continue. These three virtues will continue forever and should remain in our lives as we become more like Jesus.

Faith, the first of the three virtues, is the start of our relationship with God. Faith is cultivated through hearing the Word regularly, receiving the Word of God immediately, believing that it is so, speaking what the Word says, and acting on God’s Word. Genuine faith is a confident and fervent trust in God’s promises and character. Our faith enables us to walk confidently in the assurance that God will always be faithful even when life is full of uncertainties.

Hope is staying in the attitude of constant, confident expectation. It is the outlook that even when you don’t see an answer immediately, you act as if you know He is doing something behind the scenes. You can tell a hopeful person by the countenance of their face and how they use their words. They have accepted the fact that God is preparing something for them.

Love, however, is the greatest or the largest and biggest of them all. Why? Because God is love. His Love compels us to love Him and love others. Love, however, is not a feeling. Love is a verb that is demonstrated in our actions. Our sacrificial acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness are how we show God’s love to those in the family of God as well as those in the world.

Practical Application

How is your hope today? Hope is about our attitude and our outlook that focus more on the eternal perspective of God and not the natural perspective of our problems. In every circumstance, it is love that will compel you to reflect God’s heart.

1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:3