Thursday: Seeking Godly Counsel
There are scores of secular money management gurus out there, but God warned us against consulting them for the management of the assets He has entrusted to us. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3, NKJV).
Image © Sally Weimer at Goodsalt.com
So, the man who delights in the law of the Lord (the law here could be understand more broadly as the Word of God) shall be blessed. How simple is that? And he will prosper — be successful.
Read Proverbs 3:5-8. How do we apply this principle in our basic financial matters?
An overview of the biblical counsel on financial management gives us very valuable points to follow. Let’s look at seven of them.
- Get organized. Develop a spending plan (Proverbs 27:23-24). Many families just exist from paycheck to paycheck. Without a simple plan for earning, spending, and saving, life is much more stressful.
- Spend less than you earn. Determine to live within your means (Proverbs 15:16). Many families in Western countries actually spend more than they earn. This is made possible only because of the availability of credit and debt. Many problems plague those who are in debt.
- Save a portion from every pay period (Proverbs 6:6-8). We save to make larger purchases in the future and to take care of unplanned expenses, such as accidents or illness. Some savings can be used to plan for the time when because of advancing age, we are no longer able to be employed.
- Avoid debt like COVID-19 (Proverbs 22:7). Interest is one expense you can live without. A person or a family living with debt — that is, on borrowed money — is really living today on money they expect to earn in the future. If any life changes occur, then serious financial embarrassment can result.
- Be a diligent worker. “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4, NKJV).
- Be financially faithful with God (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). No family can afford to live without God’s blessing.
- Remember that this earth is not our real home. Our management says a lot about where our ultimate priorities are (see Matthew 25:14-21).
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When I was in Thailand, I found myself in a country where religious observation was much more overt than in Australia. I was there during the Buddhist equivalent of Easter and wherever there was a statue of Buddha there were people praying with their hands in the prayer position. It was quite different from Australia where you would probably be considered a bit loopy if you were involved in a public display of prayer.
I did ask some of my Thai friends what they were praying for and mostly they said they were praying for good luck in the lottery, or that they would find a nice spouse. In fact, the depth of their prayers was illustrated to me one day as I weaved through the crowd praying at a popular golden Buddah when one of the worshippers, seeing me as a tourist, stopped his prayers and engaged me in conversation. It was not long before the intent of this interaction became patently obvious - he wanted to sell me a suit.
I gained the impression that Thai people, deep down, are not all that different from Australians - they want to get rich.
Right from the start, prayer is not about getting rich quickly without doing anything for it. I remember one of my less-than-studious friends praying for success in his exams and I said to myself that God was going to give him the success he had worked for. Likewise, our prayers over financial matters should be about gaining wisdom and understanding, seeking wise counsel, having unselfish goals, and about finding opportunities to work towards those goals. We have the old adage that "God helps those who help themselves" and to a large extent that is true.
Some people comment when they see my bird photographs, "Phew, you were lucky to get a photograph like that!" And indeed I was lucky, but I go out every day when the birds are active, I know what they eat, and how they behave. And I go back to the same locations again and again. The more I do all this, the luckier I get.
I will leave you to work out the application.
Deuteronomy 28 discusses the blessings and curses that come by following or disobeying God's commands.
“6. Be financially faithful with God (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). No family can afford to live without God’s blessing”
On the other hand, Deuteronomy 28:15-68 describes the curses that would come upon the Israelites if they disobeyed God's commands. Remember that these curses, along with the blessings, were directed to the nation of Israel as a whole.
These curses include:
1. Diseases, plagues, and illnesses (Deuteronomy 28:21-22).
2. Drought, famine, and crop failure (Deuteronomy 28:23-24).
3. Defeat and humiliation by enemies (Deuteronomy 28:25-26).
4. Oppression and slavery (Deuteronomy 28:29-33).
5. Mental anguish and confusion (Deuteronomy 28:28, 34-35).
6. Barrenness and infertility (Deuteronomy 28:18, 30-31).
7. Invasion and destruction of cities (Deuteronomy 28:52-53).
8. Scattering and exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:63-64).
9. Disobedient children, poverty, and lack (Deuteronomy 28:41-43, 48-57).
It's important to remember that blessings and curses aren't just about money. Being spiritually blessed with peace and joy is of more value than material blessings.
Also, being poor doesn't automatically mean that you're cursed by God. There are many factors that can cause financial struggles, like a lack of opportunities or unfair treatment. Therefore, it's often not correct to blame someone for their financial situation.
Instead, Christians should be trying to make society fair and just, while doing our part to use resources wisely in helping others.
I beg to differ with the author regarding financial council and “secular money gurus”. There are a wide variety of money mangers. I agree to stay away from brokers who recommend moving your money around to the latest fad while they make their commissions. A wise financial planner who takes his/her fiduciary responsibility seriously can be of great benefit to the novice investor. The trick is finding one you can trust with your life and/or your kids lives because he/she holds your financial life in their hands. I know many good ones and have seen some bad gurus but investing on your own is like getting a pilots license and thinking you’re a pilot. Someone is going to end up dead.
A wicked/worldly money manager who’s trying to line his own pockets should be avoided like hanging out with a drunkard or druggies but a wise manager with sound character and integrity is an asset to seek out for financial council.
These Passages are not job specific. They are character specific.
I agree with Jim. A financial advisor that advocates the seven points outlined today will give a person a good foundation for a successful outcome. I know of and have dealt with "financial advisors" who were church members and who were nothing more than sales persons hawking "financial products" and "get rich quick" schemes. These products were more aligned with remunerating them and the companies they worked for than for the benefit of the persons who were purchasing them.
And I have paid for the advisement services of secular persons who promoted biblical principles for financial security and have seen the benefits of that advice. Biblical principles are valid regardless of who uses them.
Just because someone is a church member or religious does not mean that they are godly or Christian or that their financial advice is sound and are in your interest or God's. If you apply the godly financial principles we have studied this quarter and focus on the author of those principles, you will have the financial success God intends for you and your family.
Will someone please discuss or give some acknowledgment on today’s lesson, for “seeking Godly Counsel “ . It is extremely important for us as God’s children not to seek counsel from the Babylonians because their counsel is not wise. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…." Ps 1:1-3
I think that it is simply an instruction to get your perspective right. Worldy (Babylonian) wisdom seems to be to get as rich as you can as fast as you can so that you can do whatever you like. God's wisdom is to manage your financial affairs so that you can be useful to your family and community now and that your actions will encourage them to give glory to God.
I don't feel it's wrong to get financial advice from non-Christians. I've benefitted a lot from articles and books on finances that are not Christian. We get counsel from non-Christians on all sorts of things (for example, we don't typically have issues having a non Christian work on our car or give us advice on how to grow flowers or renovate our houses), so I don't really think finances are different. However, it's important that our overall framework is solid before we get advice from anyone. We need to be able to discern what advice is compatible with our beliefs as a Christian and what is not. Embracing a secular framework is dangerous. Learning specific principles and practices from secular people may be quite helpful. I Thessalonians 5:21,22 is helpful. "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
Personally, I shun as much as possible the exposure to risk and can not fathom the insecurity of those who depend on the stock market for their retirement pay-outs. Even if I knew more about how the stock market works, I would not participate, because I see it as another tool used to ensnare the unsuspecting in a money scheme to make everyone depend on riches through engaging in never-ending 'commerce'.
It appears that no nation is safe from the devaluation of the purchasing power of their currency due to inflation. Also, neither the seller of stocks nor the purchaser are protected from unforeseen circumstances which could turn the stock market upside down in a heart beat. It appears that large banks and investment institutions always land on their feet while investors are left destitute.
I learned, especially from the experience of my mom who lost everything in the war, how to be frugal. The German government gave each citizen 50 marks to start new after the collapse of Germany and its currency. Some had extra assets safely tucked away somewhere, but most truly had only those 50 marks to start out life again; my parents were among them. Our heavenly Father is merciful and gracious; He watches over His children. My parents were blessed in many ways, as life gradually became easier through living rightly.
The seven points in today’s lesson show me that my parents were on the right path from the very beginning. ‘Seeking’ God’s counsel is not difficult for those who have given their life into the hands of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The moment we confess to believe and start walking by faith in the way which God declared to be righteous, we choose to live God’s way of truth, light, and life and apply it daily.
There is no switching back and forth between one’s own and God’s counsel. Once we are committed, it is a 24 hour, seven days a week way of life – Psalm 103:1-2; Daniel 2:20.
It might be difficult to stop controlling my own direction, but it is wise to delegate this to a perfect and omnipresent God. Not only because He is the owner of the Universe, but because He knows the future.
With the explanation of Psalm 1:1-3, I now get it. The world is so full of financial knowledge but not good for us, especially in relationship with God. Imagine seeking financial advice from an ungodly friend. Do you think he/she will advise you to give 10% tithe, 10%+ offering, the other offerings? I don't think so. They'll simply tell you to spend 50 invest 50. Worldly counsel flatters.