It's Alive! It's Alive!

I've often heard that the Bible is just a book from 2,000 years ago and doesn't apply to the world today.  I think I probably have said that once or twice before, but now as a Believer I know that this is simply NOT the case.  The Bible is completely relevant to the world today.  The Bible is "God breathed" meaning, it contains His words for His people.  It's been described as a handbook for mankind, a love letter from God.  Since God has no beginning and no end, His words (the Bible) also can not have a beginning or end.  It's as timeless as God Himself.  It is in fact ALIVE!

I'm going to write some blog posts where I will try to show how Scripture has spoken directly to me in my life with regards all sorts of topics I'm dealing with in today's world.  Hopefully,  my experiences will cause you to also seek out God's guidance through Scripture.

Today's topic - Money

There are hundreds of quotes in scripture that can be connected to money and how to manage it.  Obviously dealing with money is important to God.  Below are some of my thoughts regarding money and scripture to support them;

Money and wealth and all those "things" we have all come from God
"Every good and perfect gift is from above" James 1:17

Money is not important, but rather your love of God is the most important
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:19-21

"Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”  The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:21-25

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13

It's right to be generous with your money
"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for god loves a cheerful giver" 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

"All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" Acts 2:44-47

Be honest in your dealings with money and finances
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?" Luke 16:10-12

"Dishonest money brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live" Proverbs 15:27

Don't be greedy!
"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income" Ecclesiastes 5:10

"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.  Therefore do not be partners with them" Ephesians 5:5-7

God blesses those who give
"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Malachi 3:10

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." Proverbs 3:10

^"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Don't be generous with your money just to try to earn favor
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" Matthew 6:1-4

Be sure to tithe at your church
"Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always." Deuteronomy 14:22-23

I'm sure many of these comments/thoughts/ideas about money are things you may have learned growing up.  Honesty, generosity, etc are likely not hard concepts to comprehend.  But seeing these ideas as coming from God puts things into a much more important perspective.  If God is the absolute highest authority in your life, the creator of all things living and you accept these words come from Him, it makes it even more important for a person to try to live the best they can by His commands.   

If I had a million dollars

Remember that song by BNL from the 1990's?

"If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd but you a house ( I would buy you a house)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd buy you furniture for your house ( maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman)
If I had a 1,000,000 (If I had a 1,000,000)
I'd but you a K-car ( a nice reliant automobile)"  

It's fun to imagine what you'd do with a million dollars.  Maybe pay off your mortgage, go on vacation, quit your job or even buy some slick new wheels like a K-car.  A million dollars is a lot of money to an adult, probably at the same magnitude as $20 to a 6 year old.

Last year my 6 year old son was at the local Farmer's market where he found a $20 bill.  He looked around to see if anyone had dropped one, but couldn't find the owner.  When he got home he was very excited about what he was going to buy with the $20.  Maybe some toy spiders (he loves spiders) or a book about spiders (again, the boy likes spiders) or possibly a t-shirt with a spider on it (spiders are a big deal, you get the picture). 

Although we didn't want to burst his spider-bubble, we felt this was a great teaching moment for him.  We explained to him that the money, even though he had found it, wasn't really his.  Someone had lost it and was likely missing it.  We told him that the right thing to do would be to turn it in to the Police Department so in case the owner was looking for it, they could find it again.  He was reluctant to give up the $20 because he was seeing eight legs and spider webs by this point.  Once we asked him how he might feel if HE lost $20 and couldn't find it because someone else took it for their own, he changed his mind.  We were trying to debunk the "finders keepers, losers weepers" theory. 

He hoped that if someone found something of his, they would turn it in so perhaps it could be returned to him.  I loaded up my two boys in the car and we drove to the village Police Department.  We walked into the building and went up to the window where there was a Officer standing there.  He asked how we were doing and if he could help with anything.  My son held up the $20 and said, "I found this."  The Officer smiled, I think because of the insignificant amount of money that $20 is to an adult, and knowing it was a lot of money to a kid.  We filled out a form, handed him the money.  He said that if no one claims it, then the money would be ours.  He then gave both boys "Junior Police Officer" badges that they proceeded to wear nearly everyplace they went over the next 2 days.

My son asked several times over the following days if the Police would call and tell him the money was his now.  Eventually, he forgot all about it as did I.  1 year later, I got a voice message on my phone from a Detective at the Village Police Department asking me to return his call.  When you get a voice message from a Police Detective, you return that call quickly which is what I did.  He was calling to say that no one claimed the $20 and the money was now ours.

How excited my son was when I told him about the $20!  Dreams of spider merchandise began to dance through his head once again.  I packed up both boys again and drove to the Village Police Department.  We met the Detective, signed some papers and he handed my son the $20.  The detective told us about the "Found Property Law" and that we had waited the required length of time after turning in the money, so it was now ours.  We chatted with the Police Officers for a few minutes more and the boys inquired about a jail.  They wanted to know if there was one at this Police Department.  Sure enough, there was and the Officer asked if the boys would like to see it.  Sure enough, they did!  So after a tour of jail, we went home, $20 in hand. 

Once home we divided up the $20 into his 3 money jars, "Give", "Save" and "Spend".  Then my son gave his little brother some of his money because he wanted to show his little brother about doing the right thing.  

Although my 6 year old was "rewarded" for doing the right thing by getting the $20 back.  He learned that very lesson a year earlier just after turning it in.  "I hope the person who lost the money calls the Police and gets it back".  He also said it felt good knowing that the person might be able to get their money back.

Of course we had to go to the store and buy a toy spider with his "Spend" money.   

"Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for who are not holy will not see the Lord.  Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God"

Hebrews 13:14-15

"My Savior my God"

There's nothing quite like a really powerful worship song. 
Below are the lyrics to one of my favorites "My Savior, my God" by Aaron Shust

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands One who is my Savior
I take Him at his word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior


My Savior loves, my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is
My God He's always gonna be


Yes, living, dying; let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior