Many people in our time are looking for ways and means to
find the best way to achieve financial success. There’s nothing wrong with this
kind of endeavor and we need to pursue it. However, it would be wise to hear
the Scriptural teaching and reflect carefully to its guidance: “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her
ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares
her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8).
Simply put, here’s what we need to learn from this simple idea: “The wisdom to have financial health is to
follow God’s plan precisely to the point as He prescribed for us to
do.”
Remember that the ant is renowned in all ages for its social
customs, prudence, frugality and productiveness. They know how to plan and collect their food in the right season and
hibernate during wintertime. They are secure as they eat what they need
today. Also, they eat enough to get them through the winter but don’t eat too
much. If they didn’t eat enough today, they’d die and if they stuffed
themselves on too much food, they’d burst.
Moreover, they find the perfect stability and this is what
financial health can be understood from their example. In other words, we need
to look towards the future, while keeping an eye on the present. If we live too
much in the present, while ignoring the future, we run the risk of abusing
credit cards to satisfy our every impulse. Then we will be in big financial
trouble in the future. If we live too much for the future, we risk not grasping
the present. If we work too much, we miss out on our children’s lives and growth.
W. Graham Scroggie, an English Pastor and writer observed, “There are two ways in which a Christian may
view his money—“How much of my money shall I use for God?" or "How
much of God's money shall I use for myself?" I hope that the last
question should be where we stand as God’s stewards of what He has given to us.
Fundamentally, this is where the dividing wall of genuine biblical success
comes about: having the full understanding that God owns everything in our
lives provides the basic premise for applying wisdom towards financial health.
In order for us to become wise, there are things that we
must avoid, (a) Watch out against
the snare of greed (2 Corinthians 9:6-8; 1 Timothy 6:10); (b) Never co-sign
unless you fully understand the liabilities (Proverbs 11:15; 22:26-27); (c) Don’t
get tempted with “get rich quick schemes” (Proverbs 15:27; 1 Timothy 6:9-11). But,
there are some things we must also adopt,
(a) A concrete budget system (Proverbs 24:3-4; Luke 14:28-30); (b) seek wise
financial counsels from godly people (Proverbs 12:15; 19:201-21; 1 Corinthians
15:33).
In addition, we must begin to adapt to a new way of living, (a) Aspire to become debt-free (Psalms
22:7; Romans 13:8); (b) Practice generosity (Deuteronomy 15:10; Luke 6:30); (c)
Recognize God’s ownership (Leviticus 25:23: Psalms 50:10-12). Finally, allowing
oneself to become fully adept at
these things will make a huge difference, (a) Live within your means and invest
wisely (Ecclesiastes 11:2; Matthew 25:14-30); (b) Obey God’s financial strategy
wholeheartedly to obtain success (Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 3:9-10).
Altogether, we must take heed to St. Augustine’s counsel, “Where your pleasure is, there is your
treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is,
there is your happiness.” While it is true that there are many voices that
compete for our attention, there can be only one source of genuine counsel that
we can truly trust, i.e., God’s counsel. Remember that God alone holds the key
for us to attain the financial health we all long for in our life and family. Here’s
one of His principles that we can mirror in our lives today: “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings
blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Thus, always keep in mind that God desires the best for us and aligning
ourselves with His principles will guarantee our financial health at all times
even at the worst of times. Believe Him and He will never let us down.
Let’s talk again
