2021-12-22
Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV
Next to teaching your children how to walk with God, you will never teach them a more important life lesson than how to handle their money wisely. Dr. James Merritt writes: “We began teaching our kids early these principles of industry, honesty, and responsibility. Here are a few methods we used, which I recommend to you.
(1) Give your kids some jobs early on without pay, such as making up their beds, picking up their toys, and cleaning their rooms. Inspect their room each time, encouraging them as much as possible, but also letting them know the standard of quality that’s expected (no sloppy bed, toys left on the floor, etc.). This will begin to teach them the value of work, the fulfillment of doing a job well, and the discipline of following the commands of someone in authority.
(2) As your kids get older, choose some jobs they’re capable of doing (polishing shoes, washing the car, vacuuming the floor, etc.) and settle on fair compensation. This will begin to instruct them in the value of money and reinforce the rewards of a job well done. Again, have an understood standard of quality that’s expected, and don’t pay them until the job’s completed properly.
(3) Don’t give allowances or teach your children to expect them. Rather, teach them that money is earned through working for it. There’s nothing wrong with giving your child money out of love or as a reward (such as for good grades), but kids must learn the relationship between honest labor and just compensation.”
Bottom line: Those are three principles that will stand them in good stead throughout their entire lifetime.
Soul food: Malachi 1-4; Matt 1:1-6a; Ps 128; Prov 31:10-13
2021-12-21
Proverbs 10:22 NKJV
There are about five hundred Bible verses on prayer, and more than two thousand on handling money and possessions. It’s a make-or-break issue! It’s no surprise that money-related issues are often cited as a reason for divorce. And there’s good reason for this: money and stress often go hand in hand.
The Bible says, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich.” Not only does God expect us to make money, but when we honor Him, He will help us to make more. But there is a right and a wrong way to do it. The Bible teaches that money should come by hard work. “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4 NKJV).
“Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase” (Proverbs 13:11 NKJV). God expects those who “labor” to give a good day’s work, just as He expects those in management to pay a good day’s wage. Both labor and management are to make money. Labor helps management make a profit, while management helps labor make a salary. A profit well-earned and a salary honestly made are both pleasing to the Lord.
But your money must also be made by honest work. “He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches…will surely come to poverty” (Proverbs 22:16 NKJV). That’s a warning to those who rip people off by charging extortionate interest rates. Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: “Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates” (Proverbs 20:10 MSG). God makes it plain: Winners never cheat, and He will make sure cheaters never win!
Soul food: Zech 12-14; John 21:15-25; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
2021-12-20
Hebrews 5:14 NKJV
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 percent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented a concept for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they rejected it. All the other Swiss companies he approached did the same. They lived by the philosophy, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Believing that his design had merit, the inventor took it to a company in Japan. The name of the company was Seiko, the design of the watch was digital, and guess what? Today 80 percent of watches sold worldwide are digital. One discernment-driven decision can change the course of your entire life and bless others.
One expert says, “Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which half to believe” (emphasis added). Here are two things you need to know about God-given discernment: (1) It’s shaped by Scripture. “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word…But solid food belongs to those who are of full age [spiritually mature], that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (vv. 13-14 NKJV).
(2) It’s sharpened by use. The more you use it, the more seasoned you become. Will you sometimes make mistakes when it comes to exercising discernment? Yes, but like any muscle, the more you flex it, the stronger it grows. And here is an additional thought: The Bible refers to “discerning of spirits,” or attitudes and motivations (See 1 Corinthians 12:10). What a great advantage to have in life!
Soul food: Zech 9-11; John 21:1-14; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
2021-12-19
1 Kings 3:9 NKJV
“The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream…and…said, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?'” (v. 5 NKJV). Solomon said, “Give…Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (vv. 6, 9 NKJV). Next, we read, “The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing” (v. 10 NKJV). But God wasn’t through talking to Solomon: “I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days” (v. 13 NKJV). Discernment made Solomon one of the greatest kings who ever reigned.
You have probably heard the saying “Go with your gut!” Management consultant Robert Heller adds this advice: “Never ignore a gut feeling, but never believe that it’s enough.” Discernment doesn’t rely on intuition alone, nor does it rely solely on intellect or experience. The writer of Proverbs says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
There are two kinds of discernment: natural discernment and spiritual discernment. One can fail you – the other won’t. When natural discernment can’t take you a step further, spiritual discernment enables you to keep going with faith and confidence. How will you recognize the difference? James tells us, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17 NKJV). Can you imagine such a life? The good news is – you can have it!
Soul food: Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13; 2 Cor 3:1
2021-12-18
1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV
Who said, “I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle the matter by lunchtime”? Napoleon Bonaparte over breakfast with his generals just before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Who said, “I think there is a world market for about five computers”? Thomas J. Watson, the chairman of IBM, in 1943. Who said, “I don’t need bodyguards”? Jimmy Hoffa, a month before his disappearance in 1975. What did all these men have in common? Lack of discernment – and it cost them dearly.
When it comes to seeing life’s opportunities and solving life’s problems, you need discernment. It enables you to see what others don’t, fill in the missing pieces, and get to the heart of the matter. If you can see the root cause of a problem, you have a much better chance of solving it.
That means when you stay in the area of your core gift, your discernment will be stronger. So if you want to tap into your discernment potential, work from the areas of your strength. But do more. Pray for discernment. It’s one of the nine “gifts of the Spirit” promised to us in Scripture (See 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV).
Some of Israel’s greatest victories were won when David was king. And when we study the makeup of his army, we read, “The sons of Issachar…had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” Discernment enables you to see doors of opportunity where others see only brick walls. It will save you from life’s pitfalls and show you what you “ought to do” – so pray for discernment.
Soul food: Zech 5-8; John 20:19-31; Ps 67; Prov 30:29-33
2021-12-17
1 Samuel 30:8 NKJV
While David and his men were off fighting, the Amalekites destroyed their homes and took their families captive. First, David’s army wept. Second, they looked to David for guidance. Third, David sought God, saying, “‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.'”
Notice four important points: (1) Satan will attack your loved ones to get to you. It may be big stuff like your husband losing his job or your wife discovering a lump in her breast, or little stuff like low-grade family tension and lack of consideration for each other. You need to stay alert and discern Satan’s attacks so you can defend yourself against them.
(2) Love people but lean only on God. The people David fought side by side with one day turned against him the next day. That’s why your strength, strategies, and solutions for living must come from God, not others.
(3) Talk to yourself in the right way. “David encouraged himself in the Lord” (v. 6). If you want to end up discouraged, talk about your situation. If you want to be encouraged, talk to the One who can change your situation – the Lord. The Bible says, “A wholesome [uplifting, positive, inspiring] tongue is a tree of life” (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV). So learn to talk to yourself in the right way.
(4) You can get back what you have lost. God told David, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” And what God did for David and his men that day, He will do for you if you seek Him.
Soul food: Zech 1-4; John 20:10-18; Ps 57; Prov 30:24-28
