I do not claim to be an expert in this subject but I am learning and willing to apply what I learn based upon the Holy Word of God…
Psalm 24:1 is a statement of divine ownership and of the LORD’s full right to reign. In the succeeding verses, the reason is given.
The LORD our God is the One who made the world and everything about everything, including our money and wealth.
The subject about money is mentioned 140 times in the King James Version of the Bible.
If we include the words gold, silver, wealth, riches, inheritance, debt, poverty and related topics, you will notice that THE BIBLE PAYS A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION TO FINANCIAL MATTERS. And so must we as God’s people!
There are Christians who avoid the subject of money because according to them, “the love of money is the root of all evil.”
To Biblically correct that point of view, money is not the root of all evil, but rather, the love of money is the root of all evil.
As I continue, everyday of our life, we deal with money – spending, earning, investing, buying, selling, paying the bills etc. Money consumes a lot of our thoughts and time.
From the womb to the grave, money matters!
Moreover, money is such an important subject that publishing houses produce many books about it every year. Amazon.com lists almost 94,000 books on the topic.
Magazines and newsletters are also there to help people make money, make more money and how to use it wisely.
Money, Wealth & Stewardship is important to God. You see, how you deal with your money that God has given you is an indication of what is inside your heart and where your heart is.
We need to have God’s perspective with regards to Money, Wealth & Stewardship and not the perspective of this world.
In addition to this, another thing that I want to stress is the subject about Personal Finance.
Personal Finance is an area of our life where many people do not handle it well.
Mismanagement of it can lead to out of control finances, can cause lifetime stress, anxiety and hardships to our family even unto the third and fourth generation. And you know what,
Christians are not exempted from these issues.
DID YOU KNOW THAT!
50% of divorce is due to poor money management.
REMEMBER THIS!
As Christians, WE FAIL TO PLEASE GOD IF WE ARE UNFAITHFUL STEWARDS OF ALL that He has entrusted to us.
According to J.C. Ryle:
Another mark of growth in grace is increased holiness of life and conversation. The man whose soul is growing gets more dominion over sin, the world and the devil every year. He becomes more careful about his temper, his words, and his actions. He is more watchful over his conduct in every relation of life.
According to Charles Spurgeon:
Many can get money; few can use it well.
Money is a good servant but a bad master… If we make money our god, it will rule us like the devil.
Money spent on the brain is never spent in vain. Pour your money into your brain, and you will never lose it all. Education is such a gain, that it is worth all that it costs, and more.
Do good with your money, or it will do you no good. There is no power in it of itself to do real good to you. It may even do you evil; but, if used for God and His cause, and the poor, it will bless yourself.
As Christians, we need to set a godly example when it comes to Money Matters and the Holy Bible is our best and only source when it comes this subject, providing us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
How we handle our personal finance is a major part of our daily walking and living of our faith in Jesus Christ.
According to PEW RESEARCH CENTER:
- a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.
As of 12 of May 2016, about half of Americans rate their own personal financial situation as “only fair” or “poor” while 46% says their finances are in “excellent” or “good” condition. About 6 in 10 expect their own financial situation to improve over the next year, while 19% say things will get worse for them.
PH AMONG LEAST FINANCIALLY LITERATE
One of 30 countries in bottom of S&P ranking
By: Paolo G. Montecillo - Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:32 AM December 03, 2015
Filipino adults were among the least knowledgeable about their personal finances, presenting a major constraint to equitable economic development…
The Philippines was one of the 30 least financially literate countries in the world, with only 25 percent of adults aware of the basics of managing their money…
To further stress and have a bird’s eyeview about Money, Weath & Stewardship, allow me to share to you a few more truths and insights…
The first 21 years of our life is what we call GROWTH YEARS.
This is the phase where you are growing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
The second phase of our life is Career Years.
This is the phase where you are employed and you are supposed to be working hard to earn money.
We also call this stage of life as Asset Accumulation Years.
This should also be the phase where we are supposed to be saving and investing our money because you are preparing for the next chapter of your life.
And that stage is called Family Years.
You will get married, have child(ren), you will spend on academic education, you will desire for house and lot either rented or acquired etc. AND THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD IS FILLED WITH EXPENSES AFTER EXPENSES.
REMEMBER THIS!
From 0-50 years old, this is the period where God has given you the ability TO BE PRODUCTIVE - to earn more, save more and invest more!
But life does not stop at 50 years old. The next phase is Physical Deterioration Years.
You start to really feel the process called ageing or old-age.
You will often get sick and have illness such as arthritis, high blood, diabetes &etc.
You also start to lose so many things, your hair, your prime strength and including your job.
This is the period where your ability to earn goes down BUT YOUR EXPENSES GOES UP, such as medical health maintenance expense &etc.
REMEMBER THIS!
It’s not how much you earn but how much money you can keep.
It’s not how much you earn but how much percentage of your savings & investment is working for you.
It’s not how much you earn but how many generations of your family will your wealth reach.
It’s not how much you earn but whether God is glorified with the money, wealth and stewardship that He has given you.
As I end the INTRODUCTION to our topic…
I share the same sentiment, the same dream, the same desire, the same passion and the same mission for every OCWs and OFWs…THAT IS WHY I DECIDED TO TEACH YOU ABOUT MONEY, WEALTH AND STEWARDSHIP.
Here is what I exactly mean…
THE WAR IS NOT OVER, YET THE VICTORY IS NOW AT HAND (excerpt)
By: Pastor Danilo Calingasan (OFW turned President of 9 corporations)
2017 marks the 24th year abroad for my wife and I. We started working as Domestic Helpers for the first 12 years before moving forward to become entrepreneurs.
I would like to take this opportunity then to express our aspirations as fellow OFWs, messages that come directly from our hearts:
We dream, that one day every OFW will be set free from racial discrimination and hard labor, to be empowered to be the head and not the tail.
We dream, that every Filipino overseas may enjoy the same rights and privileges of other nationalities in their midst.
We dream that every OFW may see their children grow, be with them in sickness and in pain, in celebration and in victory.
We dream, a better economy and us being the owners of wealth in our country.
We dream, that our future be rewarded richly from hard work and our children reap the fruits of it.
We dream that our OFWs gain knowledge of sowing a seed with their hard earned income and be able to plant it in the ground.
We dream, that OFWs’ barn be full of harvest, in peak and lean season, while abroad…
Our courage to help (BIBLICAL FINANCIAL LITERACY) OFWs come from our deep conviction. Conviction, that comes from being OFWs ourselves. Understanding the same pain and struggle, that will help our families prosper.
With this conviction, we are lending our hands to fulfill every OFWs dream to remove the boundaries of poverty in their families. To live together with their loved ones, play and pray together. To share life’s struggle, enjoy inner peace and dignity.
Because we believe that one day, every OFW will be set free to live abundantly and express ourselves freely. Above anything else, enjoy the blessing of our God Almighty.
Some of you might say, “Well said Pastor, but it’s too late for me, some are applicable to me but others aren’t anymore going to be useful with my age right now.
You know what, you still need to listen to these Biblical Wisdom and you still should attend to this with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength and with all your soul,
SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEACH IT TO YOUR CHILD(REN), NEPHEWS AND NIECES, EVEN UNTO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION.
And when these kids prosper through your teachings from the Holy Word of God, they will then be able to take care of you and support you in your retirement years and until the day you die.
Moreover, they will thank you for the wisdom that you have imparted unto them and above all, GOD IS GLORIFIED.
My dearly beloved brethren, my sons and daughters in Christ, I love you so much that one of my personal goal and duty is to teach you the whole counsel of God and this includes Money, Wealth and Stewardship and most importantly set a godly example before you through the grace, wisdom and strength of the LORD our God.
I am an employer, an OFW/OCW but at the same time your Pastor, spiritual parent, brother and friend.
I am a Filipino and I love the Filipino people but most specifically, I love dearly and so much the household of faith regardless of our citizenship or nationality.
But today, I also would like to reach out to you as your Mentor in the aspect of Money, Wealth and Stewardship, I am extending and lending my hands to anyone of you who is humble and willing to learn. Please make the most this opportunity while I am still here with you.
Furthermore, I counsel you to apply what you learn amidst challenges, discouragements, mistakes, failures, disappointments and problems ALL FOR GOD’S GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE!
Proverbs 13:22a
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:
Commenting on Proverbs 13:22a by Dr. John Gill:
He (the good man) not only has a sufficiency for the present support of himself and family; but is so prospered and succeeded, as to leave an inheritance after him; and which is continued to and enjoyed, not only by his immediate offspring, but theirs also; for being got honestly, it wears well.