Reflections on David and Goliath, God's Path and being a debt slayer...
Brent and I reflected for a minute last night on our path and purpose. We can look back on the past ten years and see clearly the path we went down blindly then. Every step along the way made us stronger and more capable. We could not do the job God has laid out for us today without first having gone down that path.
We made huge mistakes! Now those mistakes are the lessons learned we can share with others to keep them from walking down that same path and paying the price we had to pay.
We treasure each couple we have sat down and talked to about money. It is not just money, it is life. All laid out it is a map of the past. Every debt, every bill, every want and every need tells the story of that family. We can look in their eyes and tell if they are truly ready to make the sacrifices and the changes to make the rest of their life better. Not easy and smooth sailing but better. They want to be ready for the storm when it hits, they want to be able to breath when the sun is shining. Not everyone is at that point, we know that. They will get there though and when they do we will be here to help them out.
We can also see that God is bringing His people into our lives. People He has given purpose too. It's the test, the parable of the man who gave his servants money and then went out of town for awhile. Remember that one? You can find it in Matthew 25. God has given all of us money or well more the ability to make money. We all don't make the same amount though some make more then most some make less then most. In my experience those who make the least are just as hard working as those who make the most. Not always I am just referring to the small group within my own experience base.
Some God has placed even more responsibility, which is the growth and care of His kingdom.
Back to that test I was talking about. The master gave each of his servants a different amount of money and then left town. Each did as they thought was right. Two investing it wisely, one hiding it away and having nothing to show for it.
God wants to see what these people will do with the little He has given them.
That is the test!
God is saying here it is, this is all I am giving you for now, will you be wise with it?
Will you make each dollar count?
Will you put it towards the right investments so that it will grow?
Or will you hide it in a hole?
Being neither wise nor frugal.
In that hole it had no purpose. It neither grew nor did it obtain things of need. Those are the dollars with no name, those are the dollars sitting in your checking account while you swipe a credit card instead. They will be wasted on interest.
Every time God's people show wisdom with their finances He is faithful to bless them with more.
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21 NIV
Maybe not with money exactly but with blessings in other forms! Food, clothing, help in time of need.
Put God at the top of your budget and He will notice.
Malachi 3:10 (KJV)Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Kick out the credit card, student loans, car debt all those non-blessings because God does not bless you with debt he tells you to run from it, to release yourself from it as quickly as possible!!
We love the fact that God is using us to help others receive the blessings He has in store for them! These families and individuals are our treasures! Each time they leave our house with hope it is one more victory for Gods kingdom that we helped win.
If debt is Goliath and these families are David perhaps we are the sling that helps fling that rock (the working budget) and knock debt out! We already know God is the driving force behind it all!!
We made huge mistakes! Now those mistakes are the lessons learned we can share with others to keep them from walking down that same path and paying the price we had to pay.
We treasure each couple we have sat down and talked to about money. It is not just money, it is life. All laid out it is a map of the past. Every debt, every bill, every want and every need tells the story of that family. We can look in their eyes and tell if they are truly ready to make the sacrifices and the changes to make the rest of their life better. Not easy and smooth sailing but better. They want to be ready for the storm when it hits, they want to be able to breath when the sun is shining. Not everyone is at that point, we know that. They will get there though and when they do we will be here to help them out.
We can also see that God is bringing His people into our lives. People He has given purpose too. It's the test, the parable of the man who gave his servants money and then went out of town for awhile. Remember that one? You can find it in Matthew 25. God has given all of us money or well more the ability to make money. We all don't make the same amount though some make more then most some make less then most. In my experience those who make the least are just as hard working as those who make the most. Not always I am just referring to the small group within my own experience base.
Some God has placed even more responsibility, which is the growth and care of His kingdom.
Back to that test I was talking about. The master gave each of his servants a different amount of money and then left town. Each did as they thought was right. Two investing it wisely, one hiding it away and having nothing to show for it.
God wants to see what these people will do with the little He has given them.
That is the test!
God is saying here it is, this is all I am giving you for now, will you be wise with it?
Will you make each dollar count?
Will you put it towards the right investments so that it will grow?
Or will you hide it in a hole?
Being neither wise nor frugal.
In that hole it had no purpose. It neither grew nor did it obtain things of need. Those are the dollars with no name, those are the dollars sitting in your checking account while you swipe a credit card instead. They will be wasted on interest.
Every time God's people show wisdom with their finances He is faithful to bless them with more.
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21 NIV
Maybe not with money exactly but with blessings in other forms! Food, clothing, help in time of need.
Put God at the top of your budget and He will notice.
Malachi 3:10 (KJV)Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Kick out the credit card, student loans, car debt all those non-blessings because God does not bless you with debt he tells you to run from it, to release yourself from it as quickly as possible!!
Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 6:1-5
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
If debt is Goliath and these families are David perhaps we are the sling that helps fling that rock (the working budget) and knock debt out! We already know God is the driving force behind it all!!
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