Acquiring a Long Perspective

One of the greatest blessings for a young person is gaining a long-term perspective on life. Eugene Peterson defined faithfulness as “A long obedience in the right direction.” The problem with our culture, and often with youth, is that we want things now. We want instant gratification, and we are not willing to wait. This unwillingness to wait robs us of so much in nearly every area of our lives.  Take money, for instance: if a young person develops a long-term perspective and is willing to work hard, save, invest, and wait, that perspective will bring rich dividends over time. This is what Solomon tells us: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

First, remember that you are God’s steward and that everything you have and receive is God’s—you are the manager. Second, managing money always starts with a grateful heart—grateful to God and to others who have contributed to your life. Gratitude reflects how you feel about what God has done for you. Third, start small, but start: start saving, start investing, start giving. Never wait until you have more. Tithe what you have now—not doing so robs God. Fourth, plan to give. Plan to give each week from what you earn. Plan to give to missions and other worthy causes. Fifth, trust God to meet your needs. Trust God to bless you as you give to his work. Sixth, set priorities for what you want to accomplish with the money that comes through your hands. Reflect on these words: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).   

As you save and invest, time will be on your side, and the money and assets will grow. Being generous with what you have and being a good steward will keep you from becoming selfish and greedy. If you use your money wisely, you can be the lender instead of the borrower. Your money will pay you interest instead of you paying interest to someone else. This is what God promised Israel if they were faithful to follow Him: “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” (Deuteronomy 28:13).

You must be willing to start small and resist the temptation to get rich overnight because you will not. Take what God gives you and make it grow. Money is only part of your life—your life is so much more. It is your relationship with God, your family, and all the ways you can bless others. If, however, you use the money that comes to you in the right way with the right perspective, you will be a blessing to others in ways you could not have even imagined.    

                                                

Author of Crianza Responsiva:

https://www.amazon.com/Crianza-Responsiva-Principios-conectados-saludables-ebook/dp/B08FW8Q7D5/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=crianza+responsiva&qid=1610663595&sr=8-1

Making The Best Of Every Situation

 

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12). These are the words of the Apostle Paul written from prison. This didn’t come naturally; it had to be learned. The Apostle says he makes the best of those times when he is in need. When he doesn’t have enough to eat or a warm bed to sleep in, he says he has done this even now when he is in prison. He is grateful for the times when there is plenty, but equally grateful for those times when he doesn’t have enough.

What is this secret that Paul has learned—that has changed his life? The secret that enables him to be content in any and every situation. I think he states it in these words: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). That is an amazing statement which translates to “I can manage with less food, uncomfortable living conditions, because I can do this through Christ who gives me the strength I need. Equally important is that he accepts those times when he has more than enough. These times don’t seem to spoil the Apostle or make him think he deserves to live this way all the time.

Isn’t this a secret we all need? We often think, “If I just had more money, more opportunity, more success, more influence, how different my life would be.” This secret teaches us to believe that God is in control and that He gives us the plenty and the want, the feast and the famine. If this is true, we can, like Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” This is a life-changing mentality. We don’t need anyone else in life; we don’t need anything else to make us fulfilled because we have Christ. He gives us the strength to face each situation.

What situation is robbing you of your joy? What need is causing you to envy your neighbor and think I would be happy if I had what he has? No, if you have Christ, you have all you need to experience real, authentic joy.

Paul exhorts us to work on our thinking: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). There is a serious connection between what we think about and how we feel. This is also part of the secret.

 

Author of Crianza Responsiva:

https://www.amazon.com/Crianza-Responsiva-Principios-conectados-saludables-ebook/dp/B08FW8Q7D5/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=crianza+responsiva&qid=1610663595&sr=8-1