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Every six months or so my husband Reed and I intentionally sit down together and assess how we’re doing with habits, routines, and working towards our life‐long goals. We want to make sure we establish good patterns now, so we reap their blessings later in life. We also want to make sure our priorities align with Scripture and God’s will for our lives. Well, we recently discovered a resource to help us do a very thorough assessment.

Reed was gifted a book called The Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley¹. I started reading it almost by accident, since it is really targeted towards guys, but I’m always intrigued by books that have a Biblical finances section. That section was so good that I kept reading!

In the book, Patrick Morley helps readers examine 24 areas of their lives to see how they line up with Scripture. Some of the areas include identities, relationships, finances, time, temperament, and integrity. The author says, “My dream is that by reading it you will find contentment and a success that really matters.” The Man in the Mirror is a biblically based and empowering book to help Christians live an authentic life and truly find their purpose in life. It’s a great tool to have in our “strategic toolbox”.

A Count‐Down List of Priorities

“When we don’t have a sense of where we are going,
where we are now isn’t that important.” ~Patrick Morley

God has laid the following list of priorities on our hearts for daily living, many based on concepts that we gleaned from The Man in the Mirror. These are key areas for us to focus on so we don’t waste our time, efforts, or resources. They are biblical priorities that guide our decisions, goals, and dreams, in order to live strategically!

While this is not an exhaustive list, we hope it is thought-provoking and challenges you to do your own life assessment. Does it bring to mind any course corrections that you need to make? Are there other areas that you have been called to focus on that aren’t included in our list?

#10 – We will live a balanced life, not neglecting times of rest, and living daily in the strength of the Lord.

“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:29‐31

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy‐laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28‐29

#9 – We will live with contentment, not seeking a higher standard of living. We know riches do not give fulfillment nor lead to true victorious living.

“If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” 1 Timothy 6:8

“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you’…” Hebrews 13:5

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15‐16

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6

#8 – We will honor the Lord from “our wealth” and from the first/best of all “our produce”. We give back to God because He gives so abundantly to us, and He is the true owner of all things. We are His stewards.

“Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce,” Proverbs 3:9

“As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all…the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and placed them in heaps.” 2 Chronicles 31:5‐6

“In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

#7 – Being self-employed, we will ask God to give us favor in the eyes of our clients and bless the work of our hands.

“The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 28:8

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight..” Genesis 39:2‐4 a

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17

“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52

#6 – In ministry and at the office, we will practice the proverb of steady plodding, remembering that God causes the growth.

“Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Hebrews 10:36

“So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

#5 – We will invest our lives in things which endure and have eternal impact, living each day as if it were our last.

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” 1 Timothy 6:17‐19

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15‐17

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20‐21

#4 – We will nourish our marriage, a relationship that comes before everything, except our relationship with God.

“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,” Ephesians 5:28‐29

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:22‐24

“Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33

#3 – We will spend time daily in the Word of God and prayer, in order to live by the counsel of the Holy Spirit and be able to discern good and evil in this world.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,” Colossians 3:16 a

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1‐2

“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8

#2 – We will live lives of obedience, a trademark of a biblical Christian, and a great witness tool to an unbelieving world.

“…for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; if you obey the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. ‘For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.‘ ” Deuteronomy 30:9b‐11

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3

#1 – Our foremost purpose in life is to glorify God. He will remain the top priority of our lives.

“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

“Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” Isaiah 43:7

“…be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” Colossians 1:9b-10

A Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,

Make our messes into Your masterpiece. We want to live by Your priorities and follow Your will for our lives. Please guide us daily in this spiritual journey.

Please make our lives count, for Your glory! At the end of our days, we want to be able to say what Jesus said in John 17:4, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.”

Amen,
Elizabeth and Reed Hewitt

¹ The Man in the Mirror written by Patrick Morley and published by Zondervan in 1997, updated in 2014.

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Article originally published October 2013. Updated May 2025.

“You make me know the path of life…” Psalm 16:11

A strategic Christian follows God’s righteous path in the land of the living. The Bible tells us that the path of life is not an easy one, as we know all too well in today’s culture, but God promises “to smooth the path for the righteous” (Isaiah 26:7). Those who stay the course will be blessed!

A Christian’s Journey

John Bunyan’s classic allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, first published in 1678, represents the Christian life quite well. It tells the story of a man’s journey from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City, through many trials and temptations. At the start of the pilgrimage, Evangelist tells the main character, Christian, to stick with the path that leads to the narrow gate and he will find everlasting life. Jesus describes two different gates in His “sermon on the mount”:

“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, CJB)

In another passage, Jesus tells us that He alone is the gate that gives abundant life. “I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe…The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure” (John 10:9-10). In contrast to the thief (who is our adversary the Devil), our Savior is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

Staying On Course

Another character that Christian encounters in Bunyan’s story is Worldly Wiseman, who offers him a shorter and easier path that promises to be less burdensome. Christian learns a hard lesson when he sees that this wicked man almost led him to destruction. Thankfully, Evangelist intervenes and turns Christian back from the “forbidden paths”.

Likewise, we have a choice to make when life-stealing temptations of this world entice us. God’s wisdom, found in Proverbs 3:5-6, tells us to:

Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him; then He will level your paths.

God levels our paths for our own good but also for the sake of His name (see Psalm 23:1-4). And it is the Holy Spirit who guides us to level ground (Psalm 143:10). The psalmist David prayed, “Make me know Your ways, Adonai, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth, and teach me; for you are the God who saves me, my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).

The Holy Scriptures are “a light for our path” (Psalm 119:105) that always leads us to the way of truth. We are to carefully stay on course, neither deviating to the right or the left, which means obeying God’s instruction and keeping our feet from evil.

Therefore you are to be careful to do as Adonai your God has ordered you; you are not to deviate either to the right or the left. You are to follow the entire way which Adonai your God has ordered you; so that you will live, things will go well with you, and you will live long in the land you are about to possess. (Deuteronomy 5:29-30, CJB)

Similarly Proverbs 4:25-27 reads:

Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze on what lies in front of you. Level the path for your feet, let all your ways be properly prepared; then deviate neither right nor left; and keep your foot far from evil.

Rest for Our Souls

Until we reach our final eternal destination, we are like pilgrims on a journey in a foreign land. The character Christian reached the Celestial City with a fellow traveler and brother-in-Christ named Hopeful. At the gate of the heavenly city, there was written in gold letters, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Bunyan, page 279). Other travelers, who did not follow God’s commands and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, were turned away at the gate.

We read in Jeremiah 6:16 that when we stand at the crossroads of various paths that life has to offer, we must chose the Good Way. When we take it, we “will find rest for our souls”. Now is the time to harken this message and chose the Path of Life!

All Scripture taken from the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB). Photo credit: Lightstock.com.

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Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19 (NASB)

Whether you are raising a family or constructing a building, it takes a solid foundation to keep things standing. As Christians, we believe that firm foundations are rooted in the Word of God and on Jesus Christ.

Just a few months ago, a Christian couple in East Texas laid a foundation as franchise owners of a soon-to-be Chick-fil-A restaurant in Marshall, Texas. As the concrete trucks started pouring, a Bible was placed in the foundation so their building would literally be built on the Word of God. The franchise owners declared, “Our purpose here is simple—to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”

This couple is strategically dedicating their business to God from the beginning. Likewise, this is something we’ve done when moving to a new residence.

Dedicating Our Home

Over the course of sixteen years of marriage, we’ve moved around a bit. We’ve rented a number of apartments, owned a townhome, spent almost 7 years full-time in an RV, and now have a brick-and-mortar home in order to care for a relative suffering from dementia. With each move, we dedicated our new abode to the Lord on day one.

My husband, Reed, plants his great-grandmother’s Bible into the soil at our new home.

Typically our dedication ceremony will include a time of prayer and worship, consecrating our home unto God, who is the true Homeowner. We commit to use His resource as good managers and for kingdom purposes. We pray that God will place a hedge of protection around the property as long as we reside there. And we ask for opportunities to shine as lights of His love to our neighbors.

Most recently, we literally sowed the Word of God into the soil of our new property. Many years ago, my husband, Reed, had acquired the Bible of his great-grandmother at a family garage sale. We realized it would be such a neat addition to our home dedication ceremony, representing four generations of Hewitts who faithfully served the Lord in the town where we now live.

To us, this act also represents our heart’s desire to use this home to serve the Lord by sowing His Word to reap a harvest for the kingdom. We do this from our computers through the Living Strategically website, but also when we minister to people in person at our home. We intentionally welcome people from our community into our home so they can experience the peace and joy of a Christian home environment, which is quite a contrast from today’s secular culture. When our neighbors see Scripture verses hanging in frames throughout our home and the content of our character as we live it out in front of them, they can tell we are set apart from the world around them.

A Distinguishing Mark

From the Old Testament, we see many examples of how God separated His people and their homes as holy unto the Lord.

When the Hebrews’ time of sojourning in Egypt was coming to an end, God intervened with a “special ops” rescue plan that started with the first Passover. God’s people were to distinguish themselves from the Egyptians by sacrificing a goat or a lamb and marking their homes with the sacrificial blood.

“The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13

“For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel (top beam) and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.” Exodus 12:23

Later, when God’s people were preparing to enter the Promised Land, God instructed them to hold firmly to His Word and His commands. This would set them, their families, and their homes apart.

“You shall therefore impress these words of Mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates…” Deuteronomy 11:18-20

Visitors to our home are greeted with this Bible verse of dedication hanging at our front door.

As our culture continues to turn its back on God, it will be increasingly important for Christians to be truly committed to the Word of God and wholeheartedly serving the Lord. God examines our hearts and minds, and He knows if we’ve compromised our faith.

Reed and I believe that dedicating our home unto the Lord is similar to being baptized after receiving God’s gift of salvation. We’re making a public statement that from this point forward, “me and my house” are serving the Lord (Joshua 24:15). For us, there’s no turning back.

Finally, in the book of Ezekiel, we read where God instructed His angels to separate His people with a distinguishing mark. God was sending judgment to Jerusalem because the land was full of blood, perversion, and apostasy. The angels distinguished between the righteous and the wicked with a mark on the foreheads of the righteous. That mark saved them from God’s imminent judgment.

“The Lord said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst…but do not touch any man on whom is the mark.’ ” Ezekiel 9:4, 6

In these days of evil all around, it’s a good thing to be on God’s side!

Making an Eternal Investment

A home can be just another building or it can be a place of spiritual investment. Those who lay foundations in the Word of God and on Jesus Christ will be able to weather any storm and have a lasting impact. Whether you live in an apartment, a condo, or a traditional house, gather your family for a dedication ceremony. Make the commitment today to start serving the Lord from your dwelling place.

“But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

In the end, you’ll reap the benefits of your eternal investments (but the things of this world will go up in smoke!) May your home and all who enter be blessed.

Thankfully my dad took the time to explain to me that this “too good to be true” offer was exactly that.

I can look back and smile at the naiveté of my third-grade self, but unfortunately, not every scam is so easy to spot. This world is full of subtle lies and empty promises when it comes to money and possessions, and countless people get caught up in them every day.

But we’re not in this alone. We have a heavenly Father who has taken the time to warn us about financial pitfalls. God knew that money would be one of our biggest struggles, so His Word is full of principles and instructions to guide us.  He explains how to get back on track when we’ve gone astray, and He tells us exactly what it takes to become a success in His eyes.

The Study of Stewardship

Like what you are reading? Click on this image to download our FREE eBook on Biblical Stewardship.

My wife and I have been intrigued by what the Bible says about money and possessions for the past 20 years. Around the time we started our courtship, we also started listening to Christian financial experts like Larry Burkett and Dave Ramsey. Over the past two decades we’ve studied the topic of biblical stewardship, as well as taught it and put into practice. In our latest podcast series, we take a look at the key elements for a biblical understanding of personal finances.  (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for links to all the episodes.)

If you listen to the podcast, you’ll hear us talk about stewardship a lot. It is an old-timey word, but it’s still very useful today because whether you realize it or not, a steward is exactly what you are. A steward is a person who manages something that belongs to someone else. A steward’s job is to act according to the instructions and interests of the owner. Sure, we all have things that belong to us, but the Bible says that, in the ultimate sense, everything belongs to God simply because He created it all. When you follow that truth to its logical conclusion, it has a profound influence on how you handle money.

A Spiritual Perspective

For one thing, we realize that how we spend “our” money really comes down to spiritual decisions. And if our job is to be stewards, then we probably can’t do a very good job unless our priorities are aligned with those of our Boss.

We also find reassurance in the fact that we are dependent on God, and that He is completely trustworthy! When we do things His way, it actually works out really well for us. (But we also find out how much trouble we can get into when we think we can control everything on our own.)

Above all, the Bible shows us that all the money and all the material possessions that pass through our hands are temporary, but we have an opportunity to use them to accomplish things that will last for eternity.

We hope you’ll join us for this podcast series and embrace what we call the ultimate paradigm shift in your financial life. It may seem daunting at first, but God is faithful to help His children walk in His ways. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t give up. The reward is treasure that will outlast this world!

Podcast Episodes

• • The Ultimate Paradigm Shift (Episode 11)
    Acknowledging that everything under our care ultimately belongs to the Lord.
  • Biblical Stewardship (Episode 12)
    Christians managing God’s resources in accordance with biblical priorities.
  • Cultivating Contentment (Episode 13)
    Living with the attitude of gratefully accepting what God gives, while gracefully releasing what He withholds.
  • Debt-Free Living (Episode 14)
    Viewing debt as bondage and hazardous to our financial health.
  • Reaching Financial Freedom (Episode 15)
    Living an abundant life when we connect our faith with our finances.

Suggested Resources

• • • Video: Why Has America Been Blessed by Reed and Liz Hewitt
    • Article: What is Biblical Stewardship by Liz Hewitt
    • Article: Money, Wealth, and the Book of Proverbs by Reed and Liz Hewitt
    • Class: Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey
    • Book: Master Your Money written by Ron Blue and published by Moody Publishers in 1986/updated in 2016.
    • Book: Debt-Free Living written by Larry Burkett and published by Moody Publishers in 1999/updated in 2010.
    • Book: Managing God’s Money written by Randy Alcorn and published by Tyndale House in 2011.

In the final episode of our podcast series on managing money and possessions as wise stewards, we take a look at what it means to find true financial freedom. We talk about our goals as we aim for financial freedom, and the character traits required to get there. We also share our take on Dave Ramsey’s “baby steps”, as a guide for transforming your finances.

Want to go deeper in this study? Click on this image to download our FREE eBook on Biblical Stewardship.

Christians managing God’s resources in accordance with biblical priorities is what being a wise steward is all about. Join us on the journey of reaching true financial freedom!

Scripture from this Episode

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20-21, NASB

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24, NASB

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5, NASB

Suggested Resources

Video: Why Has America Been Blessed by Reed and Liz Hewitt

Article: What is Biblical Stewardship by Liz Hewitt

Article: Money, Wealth, and the Book of Proverbs by Reed and Liz Hewitt

Class: Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey

Book: Master Your Money written by Ron Blue and published by Moody Publishers in 1986/updated in 2016.

Book: Debt-Free Living written by Larry Burkett and published by Moody Publishers in 1999/updated in 2010.

At Living Strategically, we define contentment as “the attitude of gratefully accepting what God gives, while gracefully releasing what He withholds”. We believe that contentment is not about a number, or achieving a certain amount of wealth to be satisfied. It’s about the attitude of the heart, being content with whatever God blesses you with to manage for His glory.

Christian financial advisor Ron Blue summarizes contentment this way:

“No financial principle can have a greater impact on you or free you up more than this truth: Money is not the key to contentment! Contentment has everything to do with your relationship with God and nothing to do with your money. Once you are free from the love of money and the pursuit of it, you can have a lot or a little and be content all the same. At that point you have learned the secret to contentment.”

If we want to take hold of that which is life indeed, then we need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness! By prioritizing that which really matters in life, sort of recalibrating our priorities, we can reach a point of true fulfillment in life. Now that is thinking strategically!

Scripture from this Episode

Want to go deeper in this study? Click on this image to download our FREE eBook on Biblical Stewardship.

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6, NASB

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.” Eccl. 5:10, NASB

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Deut. 8:11-14, NASB

“Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deut. 8:17-18, NASB

“Then He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.'” Luke 12:15, NASB

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” I Timothy 6:6-10, NASB

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” I Timothy 6:17-19, NASB

Suggested Resources

Video: Why Has America Been Blessed by Reed and Liz Hewitt

Article: What is Biblical Stewardship by Liz Hewitt

Article: Money, Wealth, and the Book of Proverbs by Reed and Liz Hewitt

Book: Master Your Money written by Ron Blue and published by Moody Publishers in 1986/updated in 2016.

Book: Managing God’s Money written by Randy Alcorn and published by Tyndale House in 2011.

You can probably think of many more examples, but the type of balance we will study here is the most elusive of all: balance in life. This type of balance is most conspicuous by its absence, and it is not hard to find many examples of unbalanced lives. Most of us do not have to look beyond ourselves.

If you suspect that unbalance is taking a toll on your life, here’s a quiz to help you diagnose some problem areas.

• Do your projects, commitments, and “to-do” items stack up faster than you have time to complete them?
• Do you frequently rely on credit cards to make ends meet?
• Is it hard for you to leave work at a decent time? (Maybe your spouse should answer this one for you.)
• Are family dinners an endangered species in your home?
• Does it seem impossible to provide for the wants and needs of your family while also giving them substantial quality time?
• Do you feel like you are neglecting your spiritual life?

My definition of balance is this:
To manage one’s resources by God’s principles, resulting in a life of peace, joy, and contentment.

Notice I define balance as a verb. I am not talking about a motionless state of equilibrium; balance is an ongoing activity. Like riding a bicycle, life requires forward motion to maintain balance.

The definition above contains two parts: the criteria (God’s principles) and the outcome (peace, joy, and contentment).

The Bible contains no shortage of principles:

• Love God & others (Matthew 22:37-39)
• Live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4)
• Work hard (Proverbs 10:4-5)
• Make time for rest (Exodus 20:10-11)
• Take care of your family (1 Timothy 5:8)
• Help the needy (Deuteronomy 15:11)
• Be content (Hebrews 13:5)

And the list goes on—you can probably think of many, many more. Collectively, these principles create a framework that guides every area of life.

Even so, God does not micromanage. The Bible doesn’t tell us how much time we can spend in front of the TV each day. We must ask ourselves, “How much TV can I watch without neglecting God’s priorities?” Likewise, “How much time can I spend at the office without diminishing my ability to serve God’s purposes in my family?” God typically requires us to answer these questions on our own, but doing so requires wisdom, which comes from Him (James 1:5).

Faith and Flexibility

On top of His generally revealed principles, God also has specific tasks in mind for each of us individually. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Sometimes these are direct leadings of the Holy Spirit; other times God makes His will apparent through our circumstances. He closes one door and opens another. Recognizing these things requires us to pay attention. Acting on these things requires us to have faith and flexibility.

Here’s an alternative definition of balance:
To focus on the important while minimizing or eliminating the unimportant.

In John 15:1-17, Jesus uses the word “abide” ten times. To abide in Jesus is to be connected to, supplied by, and directed by Him. Christians talk a lot about bearing fruit, but I think it’s important to note that Jesus does not command us to bear fruit; he commands us to abide in Him and then fruit is the natural result. A life that bears the kind of fruit that God desires to cultivate is the ultimate description of a biblically balanced life.

Take Action

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien

1. On a scale of one to ten, rate your level of excellence in each of these priorities:

____ Work

____ Finances

____ Marriage

____ Spiritual Life

____ Physical Health

____ Family Life

2. Remember the words “peace, joy, and contentment” from our definition? Throughout the day, whenever you notice one of those things missing, take it as a reminder to refocus your thoughts on Jesus Christ.

Efficiency

How do you get the greatest mileage out of a tank of gas? If you drive too fast, the increasing drag from the air and road combined with the physical limitations of the engine will sap your efficiency. This is called the law of diminishing returns. If you drive too slowly, on the other hand, the vehicle’s auxiliary systems will continue to draw a fixed amount of power from the engine and reduce your miles per gallon. You can, in fact, run out of gas in a parked car. The greatest efficiency, and thus the greatest performance, lies somewhere in the middle.

One key purpose of balance is to get the most out of your life. We’ve now looked at the definition of balance, which starts with managing one’s time and resources in a way that serves God’s purposes. God has placed certain assets in your control that He expects you to manage: we all have varying amounts of talents, skills, influence, and money. And we all have exactly twenty-four hours each day. Balance is all about utilizing those assets as effectively as possible.

There are several ways to increase the “efficiency” of your life: first by pacing yourself and finding the sweet spot between over-exertion and lethargy. Then you can reduce your fixed costs by eliminating wasteful financial and time obligations. Finally, you can train yourself to increase your effective capacity for work. 

For starters, we must carefully consider the most important point of all: how does God measure effectiveness?

How do you live a strategic life? How do you make the most of the resources that God has entrusted to your care, and avoid the pitfalls that distract you from His calling on your life?

In this video, we share 5 keys for Christians to live intentionally and effectively. When these 5 strategic elements come together, Christians can live the fruitful and abundant life that God has called us to live.

You can dive deeper into this study by listening to our podcast series that starts with podcast episode six, which is called “Living a Strategic Life”.

As you listen, we hope you’ll see that there is no greater joy to be found in life than in fulfilling the calling that God has given you.

Simple living is an attitude of the heart that can help us align with God’s plan for our lives and find true fulfillment. The world will tell you to aim for quantity over quality. And we are always supposed to want more, more, more.  But that actually leads to a stressful life. Simplicity creates margin and it helps us prioritize the essential.

An Aspect of Stewardship

We see the topic of living more simply as an aspect of stewardship and it also goes along with living with an eternal perspective. Those are two of our five pillars of living a strategic life. In our key verses for Living Strategically, Ephesians 5:15-17, God tells us to pay careful attention to how we conduct our lives, making the most of our time on earth.

So how do you know if you need to live more simply? You must learn to spot the warning signs that something needs to change:

• Do you lack peace of mind?
• Are you losing sleep at night?
• Is your daily schedule overwhelming because you are over committed?
• Is your health suffering?
• Are you drowning in debt?
• Do you feel unsatisfied, as if you have to continually chase after more?

You must discern when enough is enough. In fact, it’s even better when you can recognize those warning signs as early as possible, before natural consequences take their course.

Ecclesiastes 6:13 tells us, “There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.” And verse 18 goes on to say, “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.”

King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, knew a thing or two about having a complicated life.  Maybe he was looking at his own life when he saw “riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.”  In fact, most of the book of Ecclesiastes is about Solomon trying to find meaning and fulfillment in all the ways that the world has to offer, and yet coming up empty handed.  But his conclusion in 6:18 is beautifully simple: basically, we should enjoy the simple pleasures in life and be content to do an honest day’s work.

They Weren’t Satisfied

We live in a society of excess, but God designed us to live simply. Consider Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God provided everything they needed in that beautiful garden. They had food, water, shelter. They had companionship with God and with their spouse. And their God-given calling was to be stewards of the garden. Genesis 2:15 says, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”

But they weren’t satisfied. There was a boundary that God told them not to cross, a tree they were not to eat from. God told them the consequence would be death if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

But read what happened in Genesis 3:6, “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

So, first of all, it brought delight to Eve’s eyes. It was desirable to make her wise. And then she shared it with her husband. In the end, Adam and Eve had many sorrows from their sin. They had to leave the garden, and their relationship with God was greatly impacted.

Eve got caught up in the sin that started from not being satisfied with the life that God had provided. It wasn’t enough for her. She went on to cross the boundary that she knew was wrong to cross. So, what about in our own lives?

Pleasing God

It says in Galatians 1:10, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” This verse reminds us that serving God is more important than striving to please men or even our own desires. The Lord should be our focus.

And in Hosea 13:5-6, God tells the Israelites, “I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore they forgot Me.”

God cared for the children of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness, but when they finally settled in the Promise Land, which was flowing with milk and honey, they became proud and ungrateful. And this verse tells us they forgot their God. Again, the Lord should be our focus in life, but too often we become complacent with what the world has to offer and we lose our focus.

Our chaotic culture tries to sell us a bag of lies in this area. But here’s the truth:

• You cannot maintain an overwhelming schedule. It will damage your health and important relationships will suffer.
• You cannot financially afford an endless cycle of consumerism and increasing your standard of living. You’ll end up in a financial crisis.
• And a larger home or a nicer car will not give your family true happiness. Only the Lord can give you lasting happiness, not physical possessions.

Not to mention that continuously striving for more is an unhealthy way to live. God wants better for us.   Over the years we’ve learned that contentment is the attitude of gratefully accepting what God gives, while gracefully releasing what He withholds. And God’s plan is the only way to find lasting contentment and true fulfillment.

Getting Personal

For us personally, we made the commitment to be better stewards and live with an eternal perspective in 2013, after being married for 7 years. (That’s also the year we started Living Strategically.)

The first seven years of our marriage were invested in various ministry opportunities, getting college behind us, paying off all debt besides our home, and becoming self-employed. Those seven years were jam-packed, and we finally reached a point where we knew we needed to intentionally slow down and live more simply. We needed more safeguards in our lives to make sure that God was our #1 focus in all areas of life.

We basically started saying “no” more often than “yes”… and being more intentional with how we spent our time, our money, how we served in ministry opportunities, and even in some activities with family and friends. Now we are in our seventh year of intentionally living more simply, and we have found such a deep level of contentment.

Time to Prune

In order to do this, we had to prune off the things that were not yielding a return for their investment of time, money, energy, etc.  And when you prune something, you see new growth. It was a strategic move that has paid off!

Some areas where we set some strategic boundaries included:

• Time wasters like social media and spending too many evenings in front of the TV. We deleted our social media accounts and no longer own a television set. (We will say, though, that in our free time and for educational purposes, we do watch videos on YouTube.)
• We also became more intentional about our purchases. This has saved us money and stopped the flow of excess from coming into our home. It saves us time because we own fewer items to maintain, and it helps us practice contentment and delayed gratification.
• We intentionally take a Sabbath rest day once a week, which gets us refreshed and gives us extra time with God.
• And a big area of de-stressing our lives was limiting our church and ministry commitments. We took a hard look at where we were serving and only stayed in the areas that aligned with our God-given calling. In some areas, we had been “volun-told” to do tasks and some of those tasks eventually didn’t make the cut. This required a lot of prayer to make sure we were making wise investments for God’s kingdom.

Evaluating the Spiritual Value

One thing that helped us prioritize in these areas was asking “What is the spiritual value in this activity, project, or commitment?” Honestly, some things added up to “busy work” and we had to let those things go. We realized that God doesn’t call us to do it all. And we found that simplifying our commitments and our finances gave us more time for our priorities in life: our relationship with God, our marriage, and our life’s calling.

Being human means that we have limitations, including limited time and resources.  We had to decide what was making a lasting impact for God’s kingdom and lining up with God’s will for our lives. And we also needed more margin. We needed more times of rest in order to be our best. And more margin gave us time to evaluate which areas were unfruitful for us.

It’s All About Balance

Balance is a very important part of this equation. Some people go to an extreme and see how minimally they can survive. Some people take it to the opposite extreme and become hoarders. Either extreme can be an unhealthy obsession, rather than a simple way of life, because the focus is on stuff rather than on God.

As Christians, we should be using our resources to serve God, serve others, and provide for the needs of our family. That’s wise stewardship. It’s not about having the least amount of stuff or the most amount of stuff.

And the goal of living simply is not to reach a point where we can relax and take it easy, either. We want to find a healthy balance in our daily schedule between being consumed and being lazy. We need a work-life balance, with times of rest and renewal.

Getting Strategic

The key is finding the point where you are the most effective for God’s purposes for your life — in your investments of time, energy, money, and talents.

This requires a strategic process and we came up with an acrostic that spells “SIMPLE” to help us describe the process: Stop and take inventory, Invest in what really matters, Manage your resources wisely, Peace and Love, and Evaluate. Let’s expound…

S – stop and take inventory, evaluate where you need to implement changes in your life.

I – invest in what really matters, prioritize the most important and say “no” to what doesn’t line up with God’s priorities for you.

M – manage your time, relationships, assets, and abilities as good stewards…remembering that God owns it all. Managing things on a daily basis for an eternal impact.

P – peace: If you are losing peace and stress is setting in, that is an indicator that something needs to change. As you are managing things, monitor your level of peace and make changes where needed. We are always making adjustments when needed.

L – love: God’s greatest commandments are to love Him and love others. We keep margin in our schedule in case we need to spend extra time with God or others, filling our love tanks or someone else’s love tank.

E – evaluate: daily, weekly, monthly, annually. Make changes where needed, being guided by the Holy Spirit. Life is full of changes. We grow, we need to refocus in certain areas, we have a life changing event.  The point is to keep evaluating things and be flexible.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to cultivate a simpler lifestyle. But remember, this process is ongoing and takes a daily commitment to stay the course.

The Parable of the Sower

Now we want to close with a passage from the book of Mark that tells the parable of the sower and the four soils. Specifically, the verses that talk about the seed sown among the thorns.

Mark 4:18-19 says, “And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the Word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

Living more simply is about the attitude of your heart. Don’t get distracted with riches, desiring things, or the worries of the world. Those thorns are part of a temporal world that is passing away and they lead to an unfruitful life.

Living strategically means being a faithful steward with an eternal mindset. And keeping God at the center of your life. Living simpler is the answer to so many worries in life, but only the courageous will make the necessary changes to take hold of that which is truly life.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

In these verses, we find a biblical prescription for living wisely and making the most of our short time on earth. They form a foundation for Christians who want to build a life of purpose and true fulfillment.

Five Keys to Living a Strategic Life

Whether it’s a podcast episode or blog post, everything we produce at Living Strategically touches on one or more of these five key concepts. We see these five pillars as essential elements for any Christian who wants to make the most of their life.

1. 1. Eternal Perspective

      “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise…”
      The Bible tells us that part of living wisely is remembering that this earth is not our home. Our real citizenship is in Heaven and we are to invest our temporal assets in ways that gain eternal dividends.

      Related verses: Matthew 6:19-21 and 1 John 2:15-18

   2. Stewardship

      “…making the most of your time….”
      God is the owner of all that we manage, which makes us stewards. Wise stewards use their time, energy, money, and talents in ways that bring God glory and advance kingdom purposes. When we are faithful stewards, God’s blessings follow.

      Related verses: 1 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, and 1 Peter 4:7-11

   3. Freedom

      We know from the full counsel of Scripture that God desires for His people to be free — free from sin and encumbrances that hinder our effectiveness as Christians. We find this freedom when we walk daily by the Holy Spirit, because He keeps us on the straight and narrow and helps us to see sin for what it really is (captivity) and submission to God for what it really is (freedom).

      And in our foundational verses, we see what we should be doing with that freedom: choosing to walk with wisdom and managing our time for maximum impact.

      Related verses: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 12:1-3

   4. Prophetic Urgency

      “…making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
      Because we are living in the end times, it is crucial to use our days wisely. We must also stay on the alert because our culture will only become increasingly evil. We need to be doing the will of God and studying the Bible, in order to be bright lights in the darkness.

      Related verses: Mark 13:33 and Matthew 24:37-51

   5. Biblical Framework

      “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
      To know the will of God, we must be getting daily nourishment from God’s Word. This practice builds our faith and keeps our focus on Christ. A biblical framework is the most important key to living a strategic life!

      Related verses: 1 Timothy 4:6-16 and Hosea 14:9

When these five strategic elements come together, we can live the fruitful and abundant life that God has called us to live.

“Five Pillars” Podcast Series from Living Strategically

We encourage you to dive deeper into this study by listening to the following five podcast episodes. Through this series, we aimed to unpack the five pillars of living a strategic life and study what the Bible says about a life lived with intention.

• Living a Strategic Life
• Living with Purpose
• Living Unhindered
• Living More Simply
• Living in the End Times

This study shows us that there is no greater joy to be found in life than fulfilling the calling that God has given you. And the impact it can have on others, both here on earth and for eternity, is astounding! We pray that you will apply these five strategic keys to your own life and reap the blessings that follow.

We also encourage you to watch this 4-minute video that sums up the podcast series.

Simple living is an attitude of the heart that God calls His children to live by in order to find true fulfillment. The world will tell you to aim for quantity over quality, but that actually leads to a stressful life. When we stay content with a more simple lifestyle, it helps us prioritize the essential and live more intentionally.

In our upcoming episode, we’ll continue to “unpack” the core principles of Living Strategically, so be sure to subscribe to this Christian podcast!

Scripture from this Episode

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17, NASB

“There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.” Ecclesiastes 6:13, NASB

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.” Ecclesiastes 6:18, NASB

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15, NASB

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6, NASB

“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10, NASB

“I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore they forgot Me.” Hosea 13:5-6, NASB

“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the Word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark 4:18-19, NASB

Sometimes we Christians come against obstacles that hinder our effectiveness, even hindering us from fulfilling our life’s calling. And that’s why the topic of freedom is so important. We need to aim for living unhindered! Here are some examples of encumbrances in our modern culture, that may not cross the line of sin, but can still keep you from living in freedom:

• • the endless accumulation of possessions
  • the pursuit of financial success and status
  • financial debt
  • being distracted with screen time and social media
  • being too busy
  • disfunction in a family or a workplace
  • tolerating toxic relationships

1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” That’s the standard we have to apply to everything in our lives. Whenever you feel something weighing you down, or competing with the Holy Spirit for control of your life, that’s probably something that you need to prune back or remove entirely.

The bottom line is when we walk by the Spirit, it keeps us on the straight and narrow, because we see sin for what it really is (captivity) and we see submission to God for what it really is (freedom). We pray that you will pursue things that lead to freedom in your life, so that you can live a life unhindered!

In our upcoming episodes, we’ll continue to “unpack” the core principles of Living Strategically, so tune in weekly and subscribe to this Christian podcast!

Scripture from this Episode

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

“…through Him [Jesus Christ] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

“…walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

“…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

Suggested Resource

Living Strategically Book Recommendations

We also talk about the special calling that God gave to Abram/Abraham in Genesis 12 and how he demonstrated intentional focus and obedience to head toward the Promise Land as soon as he received that calling. It says in Genesis 12:4, “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him…” His obedience reminds us of the quote: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” This is where you start walking. Just like Abram, you start taking steps in the direction that God is leading you.

As Christians, we should live each day purposefully and intentionally. In order to do that, we must live our lives in response to God’s call. Once you answer that call, you are on your way to a fruitful and abundant life!

In our upcoming episodes, we’ll continue to “unpack” the core principles of Living Strategically and study what the Bible says about this concept, so tune in weekly and subscribe to this Christian podcast!

Scripture from this Episode

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31

“Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” Isaiah 43:7

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2

“So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him…” Genesis 12:4

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Suggested Resource

Living Strategically Book Recommendations

There’s no greater joy to be found in life than fulfilling the calling that God has given you. And the impact it can have on others, both here on earth and for eternity, is astounding! In our upcoming episodes, we’ll continue to “unpack” the core principles of Living Strategically and study what the Bible says about this concept, so tune in weekly and subscribe to this Christian podcast!

Scripture from this Episode

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20, NASB

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17, NASB

Suggested Resources

Jonathan Cahn at the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9xMxkNROto&list=WL&index=3&t=0s

Why has America been blessed?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoN9-Qnpmfg

Purchase online from ChristianBook.com!

Reading these books, we are amazed at how little the Ingalls family had to make do with and yet how much abundance they felt like they had. They were pioneers and knew how to live off the land. At times they had harsh weather and endured financial hardships. Through it all, they had contentment, which is a strategic mindset, multiplying the effectiveness of their circumstances.

The Ingalls family also lived a very simple lifestyle, especially compared to American standards in today’s culture. They held possessions loosely and valued relationships over material gain. Being content with what God supplied allowed them to overcome challenges and leave an enduring legacy that still inspires readers today.

Scripture from this Episode

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” I Timothy 6:6-8, NASB

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13, NASB

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” I Corinthians 9:24

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Suggested Resource

Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Proverbs takes many different aspects of our financial lives and reveals the unifying thread:

In the long run, prosperity is inextricably linked to character.

In this post we have listed 39 passages from Proverbs that cover topics from tithing and generosity to greed and debt. Take a moment to see what these verses say about your approach to money and wealth!

Wealth & Riches

Proverbs highlights the fact that wealth is neither good nor bad on its own. It tends to be the natural result of diligence and integrity (albeit not necessarily right away). But we are cautioned that wealth is not always what it seems!

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.” Proverbs 22:4, NASB

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.” Proverbs 21:5-6, NASB

“Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.” Proverbs 23:4-5, NASB

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” Proverbs 27:23-24, NASB

“There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.” Proverbs 13:7, NASB

“A rich person’s wealth is a strong city or like a high wall—in his imagination.” Proverbs 18:11, TLV

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have a common bond, the LORD is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:1-2, NASB

Hard Work

Even though Proverbs warns us more than once not to wear ourselves out in pursuit of riches, it also emphasizes the importance of a good work ethic. There is also a measure of “work smarter, not just harder” in these verses, encouraging us to work at the most opportune time and to improve our skillset.

“Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house.” Proverbs 24:27, NASB

“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” Proverbs 10:4-5, TLV

“He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.” Proverbs 12:11, NASB

“Plans of the diligent surely lead to gain, but all who are hasty come only to loss.” Proverbs 21:5, TLV

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29, NASB

Wisdom

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In a classic example of God’s economy, we are told to seek wisdom instead of wealth… and then we come to find that wisdom leads to success on many different levels, often including our finances.

“Receive my instruction instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than jewels, nothing you desire compares with her.” Proverbs 8:10-11, TLV

“How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.” Proverbs 16:16, NASB

“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise person’s dwelling, but a foolish person devours all he has.” Proverbs 21:20, TLV

“Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the LORD will stand.” Proverbs 19:21, NASB

“Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22, TLV

“Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” Proverbs 11:14, NASB

Righteousness

Looking for a good insurance policy? Try righteousness! Of course we know that the righteous do experience trials and tribulations, but the principle here is that godly living ultimately brings God’s blessing.

“The house of the righteous has great wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.” Proverbs 15:6, TLV

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28, TLV

“The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:33, NASB

Being Satisfied & Content

As an important corollary to the three verses above, Proverbs also explains that contentment is a more important ingredient in prosperity than the actual quantity of your riches.

“Two things I asked of You, do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:7-9, NASB

“By the fruit of his mouth a man will be satisfied with good. The work of a man’s hands will reward him.” Proverbs 12:14, TLV

“The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is made fat.” Proverbs 13:4, NASB

“The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” Proverbs 19:23, NASB

Tithing & Generosity

Giving is one of the healthiest financial actions we can take. It breaks the power of greed in our lives. It allows us to be God’s blessing to someone in need. But perhaps most importantly, it is how we walk out our belief that God is in control and that He can make more out of what we have left over than we could have made if we hoarded our money.

“Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10, NASB

“There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:24-25, NASB

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Proverbs 3:27, NASB

“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” Proverbs 28:27, NASB

“One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.” Proverbs 19:17, NASB

Greed

The thing about greed, Proverbs tells us, is that it generally results in the opposite of what it seeks. Greed is often a shortcut to poverty, and even when a greedy person succeeds in accumulating wealth, they will not find the fulfillment that they expected.

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich. Be wise enough to restrain yourself.” Proverbs 23:4, TLV

“A stingy man chases after riches, but does not know that poverty will overtake him.” Proverbs 28:22, TLV

“A faithful man will have many blessings, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 28:20, TLV

“A greedy soul stirs up strife, but one who trusts in Adonai prospers.” Proverbs 28:25, TLV

“All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives.” Proverbs 16:2, NASB

Debt

Proverbs speaks bluntly about the danger of debt. It also has many verses that don’t mention debt directly, but which accurately describe modern, debt-fueled consumerism. Debt tends to be a shortcut that looks like a blessing at the time, but results in years of regret.

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Proverbs 22:7, NASB

“Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?” Proverbs 22:26-27, NASB

“He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not become rich.” Proverbs 21:17, NASB

“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” Proverbs 10:22, NASB

In this first episode, Reed and Liz compare their upcoming trip to a Christian’s journey through life. It starts with preparing for what is to come and knowing your purpose. You must also have a plan, while staying flexible and dependent on God’s guidance. And remember to “pack light” and take only what is necessary.

There are many more spiritual truths to be discovered on this trip of a lifetime, so tune in weekly and subscribe to the new Living Strategically podcast!

Scripture from this Episode

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

“Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Psalm 144:4

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

“Then He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.’ And He told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.'” Luke 12:15-21

“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

The Bible says that “man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” It also says that we “are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

In other words, life is short. Life is also unpredictable. We don’t know what tomorrow holds.

So how do we make the most of the brief, uncertain time we have on earth? You have to have a strategy.

We created Living Strategically to encourage Christians to live with a strategic mindset.

Living strategically is all about using our time, energy, money, and abilities in ways that make an impact for eternity. It’s investing our temporal assets to gain eternal dividends. It’s acting with great intention and purpose, knowing that one day we will give an account to the Lord for our stewardship of His resources.

Our key verses for Living Strategically are found in Ephesians 5:15-17: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise; making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Join us on this journey as we help you strategically pursue your God-given purpose.

www.LivingStrategically.com

When it comes to the topic of money and possessions, the Bible contains over 2,300 verses. Why would God include that many verses on one topic? He knew it was a topic we would need lots of guidance on. Randy Alcorn, author of one of my favorite books, Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide, says, “The sheer enormity of the Bible’s teaching on this subject screams for our attention.” ¹

But, have you been putting His words into practice? There’s nothing like operating your life like a wise man! (Matt. 7:24‐27)

Let’s uncover a few of the truths that God has given us, and while we do, test yourself and see how you’re doing…

• God owns it all…

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1, NIV

“Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all…” I Chron. 29:12a, NASB

Food for thought: You don’t own your money or possessions, God does. You are merely a steward, being trusted to use it wisely and for His purposes. Therefore, spending decisions are also spiritual decisions.

“Wisdom is the ability to view life as God perceives it.” ~Chuck Swindoll

• God does not want us to trust in or love riches…

“He who trusts in riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” Prov. 11:28, NASB

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world.” I John 2:15a, NASB

Food for thought: We should trust in the Lord rather than money and possessions. He is the One we should love and the One who protects and provides for the righteous.

“Whether or not we own nice things, He wants to be sure that we aren’t owned by them!”
~Chuck Swindoll, The Owner’s Manual for Christians

• God wants us to be content…

“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’ ” Heb. 13:5, NASB

“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” I Tim. 6:7‐8, NASB

“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” Eccl. 5:10, NIV

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” Prov. 23:4, NIV

Food for thought: The dictionary defines contentment as “a state of happiness and satisfaction”. This “state” can only be found when we make Him our main focus in life. Nothing else compares!

“In contrast to materialism’s emptiness, there is joyful liberty in Christ.
Those who hold tightly to the true God will loosen their grip on money and
thereby loosen money’s grip on them.” ~Randy Alcorn ¹

• 

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  God wants us to give of our “firstfruits” (tithe)…

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house…” Malachi 3:10a, NIV

“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year…so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” Deut. 14:22 and 29b, NIV

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Prov. 3:9‐10, NIV

Food for thought: When we receive income, we acknowledge that it comes from God by first giving a portion back to Him. In the Old Testament, ten percent was required as the tithe. Since the New Testament was written, givers are encouraged to give sacrificially, which may mean more than just 10% in your case. Definitely something to pray about!

“[Tithing] should be a meaningful expression of our dependence upon God
and gratitude to Him.” ~Randy Alcorn ¹

• The wise save for the future…

“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” Prov. 21:20, NIV

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Proverbs 6:6‐8, NIV

Food for thought: Living paycheck‐to‐paycheck or using up all your financial resources each month is, as the Bible says, foolish.

“Out of the will of God there is no such thing as success;
in the will of God there cannot be any failure.” ~Author Unknown

• The wise have a “game plan”…

“For which of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him.” Luke 14:28‐29, NASB

“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.” Proverbs 27:23, NLT

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Prov. 21:5, NIV

Food for thought: It is wise to know your financial situation and have your affairs in order. We can’t predict the future, but we should plan for one!

“I like to think of budgeting as goal‐setting, not limit‐setting. A budget helps us align our day‐to‐day actions with our long‐term hopes and dreams. It’s about living purposefully, not carelessly.” ~Amy Suardi

• God wants us to be debt free…

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another…” Romans 13:8a, NASB

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.” Prov. 22:7, NASB

Food for thought: Debt adds stress to our lives and God has a better plan for us than that! Remember Proverbs 23:4, it is better to “show restraint”.

“Spending your life trying to look like something you’re not isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s time to take some pressure off yourself!” ~Dave Ramsey

• The wise care for the needs of others…

“…he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” Eph. 4:28b, NASB

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” Prov. 11:24, NIV

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3, NASB

Food for thought: Some of the money God puts in our possession is to be allocated for others. We shouldn’t use it all for ourselves, but rather, also look out for needs that others may have.

“But giving away our excess does something for us that keeping or spending it doesn’t. It makes us dependent on God…”~Randy Alcorn ¹

Our Response

“We can change the way we think, which will change the way we act. And as we change the way we act, the way we feel also begins to change. In the breaking of every habit, someone wills it first and feels it later. Whatever you do, don’t shrug your shoulders and decide the prospect is too hard to do and too much to ask.” ~Beth Moore, So Long, Insecurity

Whew! That was a lot of material to cover in a short time. But aren’t you glad that God gives us instructions on how to manage finances the right way?

Our heavenly Father knows that if His children live by these standards we will avoid a lot of grief (I Timothy 6:6‐19). He tells us that the quest for more money can be a distraction from our life purpose (Matt. 6:25, 31‐33 and Luke 12:15). It causes Christians to put their trust in the things of this world instead of Him (Deut. 8:13‐14). And it leads us to being less generous with those in need (2 Cor. 9:6‐9).

God wants us to be 100% obedient in handling our finances in the ways that He has prescribed in His Word. Anything less is disobedience.

¹ Managing God’s Money: A Biblical Guide written by Randy Alcorn and published by Tyndale House Publishers in 2011.

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Do you believe that God has blessed America? Most American Christians do, but not many stop and think about what we’re supposed to do with all those blessings.

As Christians in a land of plenty, we need to take a long hard look at what our Lord expects of us — and at the extraordinary results that obedience will bring. Once we do, the idea of giving our wealth and our lives for the Kingdom starts to look less like a sacrifice and more like an investment.

Download

For your small group Bible studies, we have a printable, one-page discussion guide that digs deeper into the issues addressed in the video.

License

“Why has American been blessed?” by Living Strategically is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This means you can download and share this work as much as you like at no charge.  However, you must not alter this work or sell it.  You also must attribute this work to Living Strategically, which you can do simply by allowing the logo to show at the end of the video.

The Sabbath is being observed less and less with the passing of each century in the United States. In colonial days, the colonists enacted the first “blue law”, which used the militia to enforce church attendance. (If you think that’s extreme, consider the Old Testament punishment for working on the Sabbath in Exodus 31:14‐15.) Many other “blue laws” followed over the next 400 years. These laws prohibited certain activities (especially retail sales) in an attempt to make people spend time in church and rest, rather than working on Sundays. According to Wikipedia, most of these laws have now been repealed. But why did our forefathers put such a special emphasis on Sunday in the first place?

In the 10 Commandments, we are commanded to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” and “in it you shall not do any work” (Exodus 20:8, 9). Many Christians live their lives at an unsustainable pace with nary an empty square on their calendars. God knows we all need down‐time in a world that constantly invites us to overcommit, so He gave us a great gift to refresh us, the Sabbath.

Balancing Life’s Demands

“‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you
throughout your generations…as a perpetual covenant.’
It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth,
but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” Exodus 31:13b, 16b‐17

In a world that seems to necessitate not just hard work, but workaholism, meals‐on‐the‐go, and a constant flow of media, it can be difficult to realize when you’re stretched too thin. At some point, we need a break from the noise, a retreat to “recharge our batteries”. If we’re not careful, our emotional or physical health will throw us a warning sign that we need some boundaries, and the sooner the better! Also, our marriages and families need time together to reconnect. Thankfully God directed us to a better way of life, one that is not dictated by the priorities of our culture.

My wife recently read the book 10 Smart Things Women Can Do To Build A Better Life. The author, Donna Carter, says the Sabbath is “a commandment designed to make us more effective and available to the people around us and to help us build better lives.” It may seem illogical that taking a day off can make you more productive. You might be thinking, “I’ll just get more behind on _______ (fill in the blank) if I take a day off each week.” However, every step of obedience also requires a step of faith. We must believe that God, as our Creator, knows what is best for us. Carter also says, “We experience life like someone watching a parade. We see one event at a time with no idea of what is coming around the bend…[God] is in a much better position to judge what is best for you and for me.”

Our Response

“I just continue to believe that if God is able to make 90 percent of a tithing person’s
salary go further than 100 percent, He is able to make six days better than seven.”
~David Green, owner of Hobby Lobby (which closes on Sundays)

In Judaism, the Shabbat (Hebrew for rest, a.k.a. the Sabbath) is the last day of the week and the most important holy day on their calendar. Unfortunately they have overshadowed it with legalism, creating 39 categories of work that are forbidden on this holy day. As Believers, we have the blood of Christ covering our sins so the Law has been fulfilled (Matt. 5:17‐19) and we are no longer slaves to the Law. Observing the Lord’s day should not cause quarrels over what is or is not allowed (Rom. 14:1‐6). Rather, as with all of God’s commands, we should focus on obedience in our hearts, not only with our outward actions.

It is critical to understand why God gives us boundaries. God is love, which means He wants to protect us from harm. Once we make this connection, we will see the Sabbath as a blessing rather than a burden (1 John 5:3). It may take some time to readjust your priorities, but don’t get discouraged. In the end, the things that you give up to observe this day of rest may not seem so significant after all.

Digging Deeper

“Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always,
that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” Deut. 5:29

From the time of Moses to the New Church, the Bible has many examples of people who observed the Sabbath and were blessed, or failed to keep the Sabbath and were punished.

Take some time to look up the following passages or do a search online to see what else Scripture says about the Lord’s day. What can you take away from these verses to apply in your own life?

• Genesis 2:1‐3
• Exodus 16:22‐30
• Deuteronomy 5:1, 12‐15, 29
• Nehemiah 13:1‐18
• Isaiah 58:13‐14

What will bring you true and lasting happiness? Among the many supposed answers to that question you will find some of Satan’s favorite lies.

From the beginning, humans were created to want things—good things, like knowledge, food, and fellowship. Those desires motivate us to learn, work, and love our neighbors, but we run into trouble when our desires get focused on the wrong objects. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent’s lie that they would find ultimate fulfillment in the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:6). In today’s age, the advertising industry carries the same message twenty‐four‐seven on more than 200 channels (in high definition, no less).

How should a Christian respond to both the cultural and internal drive to want, want, want? How can we find true and lasting happiness? The answer is contentment.

Contentment is the attitude of gratefully accepting what God gives, while gracefully releasing what He withholds. Notice Paul’s “secret” to contentment in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Let’s look a little closer into how Christ enables us to be content in all situations.

Contentment has several building blocks:

• Love – allows us to put others first and de‐emphasize our own desires
• Joy and Peace – finding these in God releases us from seeking them in possessions
• Patience – because even when we want a good thing, we can’t always have it now
• Faith – believing that God will provide what we need
• Self‐control – to keep our wants in check

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If those character traits sound familiar, it’s because they are all found in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22‐23). A life lived in the Holy Spirit will bear those traits, and those traits collectively result in contentment. They are the building blocks and contentment is the house. They are the fruit and contentment is the fruit salad. That’s all well and good, you may be thinking, but it doesn’t make contentment any easier. That’s true. Contentment, like any other worthwhile character trait, takes practice. In the practice of contentment, here are a few helpful tips:

• Contentment does not mean avoiding money. Money is not the root of all evil; the love of money is what gets people into serious trouble (I Timothy 6:10, Heb. 13:5).
• God knows you need certain things to survive. He promises that if you make the kingdom of God your top priority, then God will supply what you need (Matt. 6:31‐34).
• Contentment is not an excuse for laziness. The Bible teaches that we should work hard and plan for the future (Prov. 6:6‐8). It also teaches that prosperity is the typical result of hard work (Prov. 21:5). However, scripture balances these teachings with the warning that peace and joy should not be sacrificed to gain wealth, which is fleeting (Prov. 23:4‐5).

Christian financial advisor Ron Blue summarizes contentment this way:

“No financial principle can have a greater impact on you or free you up more than this truth: Money is not the key to contentment! Contentment has everything to do with your relationship with God and nothing to do with your money. Once you are free from the love of money and the pursuit of it, you can have a lot or a little and be content all the same. At that point you have learned the secret to contentment.”

Digging Deeper

Read Exodus 20:17 (the last of the Ten Commandments). Why is this commandment necessary and how does it differ from the rest of the Ten Commandments?

King Solomon, perhaps more than any other person in history, had it all. Read Ecclesiastes 2:1‐11. What was Solomon’s response after attaining everything the world had to offer?