NO INTEREST

Psalm 15:5 He who does not put out his money at usury nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

A friend or family member has come to you to borrow money. If you have enough to make the loan, do you? Do you charge interest and set a deadline for repayment? That’s what banks and loan companies do. It’s their business to loan money and they expect it back with interest. But how about you?

Could you “loan” money to someone knowing it would never be paid back? Would it cause a problem between you?

God’s word says that when we lend, we should not charge interest, nor should we expect to get it back. If you are not able to do that, then don’t loan the money. Give it if you can but don’t loan it.

God’s word has a lot to say about the poor and how they are to be treated:

Exodus 22:25 If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Leviticus 25:35-37 If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.

Deuteronomy 23:19 You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.

Proverbs 22:22-23 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppose the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Get the picture? When someone needs to borrow money, it is because they don’t have enough. Adding on interest makes it harder for the poor to repay the loan. The poor person may be desperate, willing to repay any amount. That’s when the wicked take advantage of them.

Can you help the poor? Lend but not expect repayment?

Luke 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.

I have been poor and I have needed to borrow money from family members. I was never charged interest by them. And I paid them back. I have also loaned money to family members. I have never charged interest. About 90% of what I have loaned has never been paid back. I don’t expect that it will. I have considered it a gift. I knew up front that it would most likely not be repaid. If someone wants to pay it back, I will accept it. I do not hound them for the money. I consider it gone. Whatever I get back is a gift from God.

Loan sharks take advantage of the poor. If they do not repent and choose Jesus as their Savior, there will come a day when God will deal with them. You do not want to be in that group.

What if a money loan has already caused problems in your relationship? Go to the Lord first and ask for forgiveness for your part in the problem. Then ask for wisdom to resolve it. It may mean letting go of the loan – treating it as a gift to that person. Some will have a hard time doing that. Especially if you loaned money that was meant for something else. It could cause bitterness. You will need to pray to keep the root of bitterness from getting established.

When someone can’t pay their bills and they need a loan – go to the Lord before you give an answer. God may use you to help that person. But He also may not. God may want to use that person’s situation to draw them closer to Him. He may want to teach them – to strengthen their faith. When we rescue people (outside of God’s will) we do more harm than good. Pray about it and wait for an answer. Remember, you are not the Savior, Jesus is.

Back to Leviticus 25:35-37 and Deuteronomy 23:19.  Who is your brother? Is it a family member, an actual sibling? Is it a friend or someone in your church? Yes, it is a brother, a family member, a friend, a neighbor and someone at church. Typically we don’t lend money to strangers – people we don’t know. Banks and loan companies do that.

God does not want us to hold onto money too tightly. He wants us to open our hands and freely give.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GIVING AND RECEIVING

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

When you give something, how generous are you? Is the cup full, ½ full, less than ½? What if that same cup is used to give back to you – with the same amount that you gave? Would you want more?

We need to treat others the way that we would like to be treated. To give an amount of time, energy, resources that we would want to receive. We can’t be stingy with others and then expect to be treated with generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Are you stingy? With your time, abilities, love? If you are stingy with your money, chances are you will be stingy in other areas of your life. Being stingy is a matter of the heart. We can be selfish, not willing to share what we have. A lot of things can create that kind of attitude within us. As a child, we are very selfish right from birth. Everything is “mine”! Just watch a couple of toddlers for a while and you will see a selfish nature. It comes naturally – no training needed! But we can be taught to share. If that training wasn’t part of your childhood and you grew up to be a selfish adult, there is hope. Decide today that you want to make changes. Go to God and ask for His help. He will give you opportunities to share. It will take some effort in the beginning – we are going against our nature. Once we learn how to share and to share abundantly, we will be amazed at how satisfying our life has become.

So, how generous are you? If you got back only the amount that you have given, would you be satisfied? How we treat people reflects what is in our heart. If we love our neighbor, we will want to do them good. It is hard to be stingy with someone you love. So, it is not a question of how big your bank account is, but how big is your heart?

Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

Proverbs 11:24
There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

“Scatters” means to freely give. When we freely give, we end up with more. When we are stingy and withhold it all, we end up with less. Do you ignore the needs of others? Do you realize that you are missing out on blessings from God?

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor and that God will reward those who bless the poor. Check your heart. What can you do today to bless the poor?

Proverbs 22:9
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE?

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What do you treasure? Make a list. Then open your checkbook. Does your list match up with the money spent? Our checkbook (and credit card statements) will tell us where our heart is because that is what we spend our money on. You have heard the saying, “Put your money where your mouth is.” Are you saying all the right things but your money doesn’t back you up?

Is your treasure: Things? People? Power? Fame? God? Do you know what your heart wants? Do your actions line up with your heart? How do you spend your free or spare time?

If God is your treasure; if winning souls for Christ is your treasure; if reaching the lost is your treasure; then your calendar and checkbook will show it. Do you pray for the unsaved? For the missionaries? For your church? Who or what do you pray for? If a stranger were to watch what you spend your time and money on, would they know that you are a Christian?

Our heart breaks when we see pictures of people that are suffering or being killed for their faith. What do we do with that? Do we turn our backs and go on our merry way to the mall? If our heart was truly broken, we would do something. Maybe make a donation to one of the many causes that will help those people. Maybe we could pray for them . . . earnestly pray, not just a quick prayer and then forget them. Maybe we would send ourselves on a mission trip to bring them the good news. We would do something with our time and our money.

But, you may say, I go to church every Sunday and I even give money to my church. Doesn’t that show where my heart is? Not exactly. What happens on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday . . . what things do you treasure on those days?

When you get up in the morning, determine to notice exactly what your heart desires. At the end of the day, look back on all that things that you noticed. What did you do with your time? What did you spend your money on? Are you able to see what you treasure? Are you okay with what your heart desired? If not, are there changes you can make?

What do you treasure on Sunday morning? Sleep? After a long week of work, sleeping in on Sunday sounds good. Do you sleep in so late that you miss church services? No problem, most churches have their services available online – you could watch it once you get up. But, do you?

What about a devotion time with the Lord? In many cases it means getting up earlier in order to make that time. Do you hit the snooze button and promise to spend time with God later in the day? But, do you?

If we are only focused on ourselves, then that is what we treasure. If we want to do something, we will find a way, the means, and the time to do it. So the question is – What is your treasure? Is it God or something else?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

NEEDS AND WANTS

Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:8
Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

God knows what we need. He is aware of everything that is going on. He has not forgotten you. Isn’t that a relief? Knowing that someone is taking care of us and we do not have to worry.

There is a caveat to that. We cannot just sit on the couch and wait for stuff to drop from heaven. We need to be active in our faith that God will supply our need.

We get ourselves into trouble when we confuse our needs with our wants. God has promised to supply our needs, not our wants. Do you need steak and lobster for dinner? No. We just need food to eat. Do you need designer clothes? No. We just need clothes to wear.

Matthew 6:31-33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The intent of our heart is an important part of this. We don’t do things for God just to see what we can get from Him. We do things to put ourselves in line with God’s word. When our heart lines up with His, there is no limit to what God will do.

When the Israelites traveled thru the desert, they had no food or water. All they had brought with them was gone. They were hungry and thirsty. God fed them and He gave them water. He didn’t give them steak and lobster. But they were fed. They had exactly what they needed.
Exodus 15:22-27 (water)
Exodus 16:4-5 (manna)
Exodus 17:5-6 (water)
Exodus 16: 11-14 (quails, manna)

God did supply what they needed. But, they still had to go out every day and collect it. They worked for it and God made it available to them. It didn’t just drop into their lap. Our faith needs to be active, not stagnant.

Are you living within your means? Do you have enough money each month to meet your obligations and provide food, clothing and shelter for your family? If so, then you have what you need and you are living within your means. If not, then you are living a lifestyle that doesn’t fit your means. Are there too many “wants” coming out of your paycheck?

God will supply what we need, not what we want. If we are not satisfied with what we have, we will never be satisfied with more. God will give to us as we are able to receive it. When we trust God with our needs, He will provide.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

IS GOD FRUGAL?

What do you think? Is God frugal? I think He is! Let’s look at John 6:10-13:
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost”. Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

Did you catch it? Jesus had His disciples pick up the leftovers! Our God, who has cattle on a thousand hills, saved the leftovers! Why? Obviously he could make a ton of fish and loaves anytime He wanted to. This story is mentioned in all 4 gospels – Mark 6:41-44, Matthew 14:18-21 and Luke 9:14-17 – which is known as the feeding of the 5000.

The Amplified version of the Bible puts John 6:12 this way: When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, gather up now the fragments (broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted. The NIV says this: When they had all had enough to eat, He said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

Now, I am no Bible scholar, but I think Jesus is making a point here. We need to be good stewards even when the stuff is free.

We never read in the Bible – or at least I haven’t seen it, where Jesus is frivolous – just throwing money around. He could have been – He had the ability. But, He took a coin out of a fish’s mouth to pay His taxes. He could just as easily have gotten a bucket of coins. He only took what was needed – no more, no less. When He multiplied the loaves and the fishes, I wondered why He didn’t make just enough. Why did He allow for leftovers? This is one small verse and yet it is powerful. When it came to blessing the people, Jesus gave them an abundance. When it came to Himself, He only took what was needed. Jesus isn’t cheap with His children. He is not a tightwad. But He is frugal and He shows us that even in times of abundance, we need to be good stewards with ALL that He has given us – even the extras! Don’t waste it just because it didn’t cost you anything. When I make dinner and there are leftovers – enough to eat for lunch – I feel like I’ve just gotten a free lunch. If I throw away the leftovers, I am being wasteful. So, the next time your kids won’t eat leftovers tell them that it is in the Bible!

Now, I am sure that you all have heard it said, that when the Bible mentions something more than once, we should pay attention. I have already mentioned that the feeding of the 5,000 is in all 4 gospels. There is also another story – the feeding of the 4,000. Matthew 15:35-37 says:
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children.

This is not the same miracle as the feeding of the 5000, even though many things are similar. This section mentions a different place where they were, a different amount of time that had been spent with Jesus, a different number of people and a different amount of food left over. Plus, Jesus said it was 2 different events in Matthew 16:9-10 which says: Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the 5,000 and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000 and how many large baskets you took up? This is also recorded in Mark 8:1-9. Jesus performed the same miracle twice – it’s like He knew we wouldn’t get it the first time.

One last scripture and that is Colossians 3:17: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus. How much is all? Is it some things some of the time or most things most of the time? I think it means ALL things, ALL the time. Being a good steward is a lifestyle, not just a once in a while event. Start today. Choose to be a good steward of all that God has given you.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GREED

What causes greed? For some people it may be fear. Fear of running out of something. Fear of losing it somehow. Fear of going without. Fear that someone else will have more. Fear there won’t be any more to get.

What does God say about fear? 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Where do you stand on greed? Here are some questions to help figure it out.

1) Can you be bribed? Can someone offer you enough money to do something illegal that you would do it?

2) Do you take a bigger slice of pie leaving the smaller piece for someone else?

3) When you were a child and went out trick or treating with your friends, how did you act when you saw an unsupervised bowl of candy? The sign said “take one”. Did you take one piece? Or did you grab a handful?

4) Walking along the aisles in a grocery store and you see a sign that says “free samples, take one”. What do you do? You are not a child anymore – is your behavior different or the same?

5) Let’s say there is a great sale on a certain product. The price is so good, you just can’t pass it up. Do you buy all of it, leaving none for anyone else?

6) When you go to an “all-you-can-eat” buffet, do you pile your plate high? How many trips will you make to get more – 2, 3, 4? Do you eat until you are so full you can barely move?

7) Do you steam roll thru the crowds on Black Friday to make sure you get the “door buster” item? Did it make you mad when you saw the exact same item on sale for even less later in the year?

8) How do you act during extreme weather events such as hurricanes? Do you run to the store and buy as much water as you can, leaving the shelves empty for others?

How did you do? I think we all can answer yes to at least one of those questions.

We are tempted with greed on a regular basis. Stores tempt us. Manufacturers confront us with sales. “Prices will never be this low again! Buy now!” The greed in us makes us react to those offers. TV commercials play with our greed. They entice us. Seduce us. Make us think we need this item and then we will be better than someone else. It is all a lie.

Even when a store is going out of business, we feel this “need” inside to buy up whatever they have because it is 90% off. Later, we see that we don’t need any of it and we have a yard sale.

Greed can also lead to gluttony. Oh, you wanted to get your money’s worth at the “all-you-can-eat” buffet? If you eat to satisfy hunger and you are full – you have gotten your money’s worth. When you continue eating, you have entered into greed and gluttony. And then you have regrets . . . your tummy hurts and you don’t feel well at all.

Are you consumed with getting more? To the exclusion of all else? Then you are wasting your life and causing problems for yourself. Proverbs 15:27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

When you are greedy, it runs your life. There is no room for anything else. Relationships suffer and families are broken. At the end of the day, all you will have is your greed and nothing else. Greed is never satisfied. Proverbs 1:19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

Generosity is better than greed. Proverbs 11:24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

Greed can be stopped. But you will need God’s help. Start with prayer. Focus on God’s Word. He is willing to speak to those who are willing to listen.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GENEROUS vs STINGY

Proverbs 22:9
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 22:16
He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Proverbs 31:20
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Proverbs 22:22-23
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor and how they are to be treated. Are you poor? How does it feel to know that God has made provision for you in the Bible? And yet, no matter how poor you may be, there is always someone who has even less than you. How do you feel about those people?

Being poor will mean different things to different people.  Is a homeless person, who lives on the street, poor? Quite possibly he/she is not.  Some people have chosen this way of life. They would rather beg for money and live on the street than do anything that would change their circumstances.  There are many organizations that will help a person get back on their feet.  Job training, food pantry, free medical clinics, etc.  Amazing as it may seem, some people don’t want a job or a home.  They would rather rely on the kindness and generosity of strangers.

How do you help the poor? When you see a homeless person on the street corner with a sign asking for food, what do you do? You may not want to give him/her money because “they will only by alcohol”. Is there something else you can do? What about donating to a local food pantry or soup kitchen or volunteering at a homeless shelter? I know of someone who keeps a “homeless kit” in their car. It is a Ziploc bag with some toiletries and non-perishable snacks. When they see a homeless person, they give it to them. You could also include a tract telling them about Jesus – He is what they actually need!

One afternoon, my husband and I were out running errands. There was a homeless man living under a bridge by the interstate. He was not begging for anything – that was just where he lived. We went and bought him a sandwich and a drink and gave it to him. He had some apples that he couldn’t eat and he gave them to us. A homeless man wanted to bless us! He happened to be a Christian and talked about Jesus and he wanted to make sure that we knew His Savior! We found out that he witnesses to everyone who stops to talk to him and he offers to give them a free Bible. He was giving – not taking! He didn’t complain about his life and he shared what he had. What was his secret? I would have to say it was his faith in Jesus.

Back in biblical times, God had set up a system for the poor. The poor were usually widows and orphans with no family to take care of them.

Deuteronomy 24:19-21
When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

Even though God has provided for the poor, the poor still need to go and get it. It is not delivered to them. They would still need to work in the fields to get what was left for them. Even Adam and Eve worked in the garden (Genesis 2:15)

Where do you fit in? Are you poor? Is it because of circumstances beyond your control? Do you avail yourself of the services and organizations available to you that can help you get back on your feet? Do you make a cardboard sign and stand on a street corner? Do you take advantage of people to get more? The choice is yours.

The phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible. God helps those who call on His name. And God is honored when we bless those who are less fortunate. Choose today to make a difference in someone’s life. Share Jesus with those you come in contact with. Give them the Bread of Life!

Do you know the story of the sheep and the goats? It is in Matthew 25:31-46. Check it out!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GOOD STEWARD

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

What does it mean to honor God with our possessions? Do we take care of what we have? Do we waste what we are given?

There is a truth that says “if you work for something, you will take care of it.” Think of a teenager when he/she graduates from high school and their parents give them a car. Do you think they will take care of that car the same way that a teen would who worked and saved for many months to buy their own car? Maybe, maybe not. The teen who worked to buy their own car will most likely take good care of it as it would be hard to replace it if they don’t. The other teen may not even think about it – they may feel they will just get another one.

God gives us all that we have. Sometimes it’s a job to work and get a paycheck. Sometimes it’s an unexpected blessing that we didn’t have to work for. Do we treat both the same? Are we more protective and careful of the things we work hard for? Even though God has given us all things and He can give us plenty more, we should not be cavalier with what we have.

God gives to us according to our ability to handle what we are given. If we are not faithful with what we have, He will remove it from us. Do you have plenty? Then much is required. Do you have a little? You still need to be a good steward of it. God sees how we handle what we have been given. And He knows what we will do with future resources.

Are you struggling to pay bills – keep your head “above water”? How did you get to this place? Look back over the way you have handled money. Did you use it wisely? Or were you foolish – buying things that were unnecessary? Most of the time when we have fallen into a money pit, it is because we have caused it ourselves. There are exceptions – employer goes bankrupt, natural disaster destroys your home, etc. But, for most of us, we have caused our own troubles.

Do you truly want to get out of the hole you are in? Then start today! Every time you open your wallet, take a moment to think about what you are buying. Is it really necessary? Could you do with a less expensive version? Take a look at the bills you are paying each month. Do you need the high end cable package? Do you really watch all those channels? There are lots of options today to reduce that expense. Now, that is just one of the bills we pay each month. Take a look at each one and see if there is a less expensive alternative. Decide what are “needs” verses what are “wants”. There is no way our barn can be filled with plenty and our vats overflow if we are throwing money away on unnecessary wants.

Are you worried about what your family and friends will say if you drive a less expensive car, bring your lunch to work or have a “staycation” instead of an expensive vacation? If that is true, then you have identified the problem! It is pride that is causing you to go into debt and stay there.

When we stop pretending that we are something that we are not and use our resources to honor God, we will have a “rich” life. Not “rich” as in lots of money but rich in contentment and enjoying what we have. We all have a lot more than we think we do.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GOD OWNS IT ALL

Haggai 2:8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 50:10-11 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

Why does it all belong to God? Because He made everything. And I mean every. single. thing. See Genesis chapter 1. God started with creating light (Genesis 1:3). Then He created the land and the bodies of water (Genesis 1:9). Next was vegetation (Genesis 1:11), then fish and sea creatures (Genesis 1:20-22). Next was all the animals (genesis 1:24-25). Lastly, God created man (Genesis 1:26) and woman from whom all peoples would come from.

And what did He do with all that He made? He gave it to the man and woman to take care of. They had dominion over everything. They lacked nothing. They were able to enjoy everything . . . except one tree (Genesis 2:16-17). What’s one tree? They had everything else. Why do we want the one thing we can’t have?

All we have to do is watch babies, toddlers and young children at play. The one toy they want, someone else is playing with. The one who has the toy, won’t give it up. The one who wants the toy, won’t give up trying to get it. Neither one is happy. The one who wants the toy is not content with the toys he has. The one who has the toy is not generous with what he has. And so, we have a stand off until mom or dad takes the toy and then no one has it.

How generous are you? You have heard the saying “he would give the shirt off his back.” The meaning behind this saying is that this person is so generous that he will give whatever he has and go without for himself. An example of that in the Bible is found in Mark 12:41-44. The widow gave what she had – it wasn’t much but it was ALL she had. If you have a million dollars and give away $10,000 – you would still have $990,000. But, if all you have is 2 cents and you give it all, leaving nothing for yourself, then who gave more? The one who gave 2 cents. She gave it all – leaving nothing for herself to live on. The one with a million dollars still has plenty left over – it was not a total sacrifice.

God gave you all that you have and He does not ask you to give it all away. But what are you doing with His resources? Do you give any of it to your church, missionaries, local food bank, etc.? If not, why not?

Bottom line: God doesn’t look at the amount you give – He looks at the heart that is giving it. Do you give willingly or grudgingly or not at all? It does make a difference and it matters to God.

2Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Did you catch it? Money isn’t evil. But the love of money is. What is your relationship with money? Is it in your thoughts continually on how to get more? When you get more, then what? Are you still thinking on how to get even more?

Money is necessary in our day and time. We need it to pay for housing, food, clothes, utilities, insurance, etc. Back in the good old days, they were able to barter with each other – exchange one thing or service for another. That won’t work in today’s grocery stores, mortgage companies or department stores. We need money to live.

But there are those who want money, no matter the cost. If we were to visit a prison and talk to the thieves, burglars and embezzlers, I wonder if they would say it was worth it. I can’t imagine they would. After all, they are in prison and unable to use any of what they have stolen. But what about those that haven’t been caught? They may have fooled themselves into believing that it is worth it as they are enjoying their ill gotten gains. But will it be worth it when they stand before God?

The root of evil starts out small. Maybe when you were a child you stole a pack of gum from the candy store. Did you feel guilty? Did the guilt eat at you until you confessed? Or did you rejoice that you did not get caught? Your thievery was a success! And now you want to try to get bigger and better stuff. The root starts to grow. It seems easier to steal than to work for the money. You see what someone else has and you want it, so you steal it. You lie to yourself saying that they have lots of money. Or, they have insurance to cover it, so it’s no loss to them. Lies start creeping in and soon we have convinced ourselves that we are not hurting anyone. Really? No one? We have traded our soul for things that will perish. You have heard “the one with the most toys wins.” God has something to say about that.

1Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Timothy 6:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
1Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

When we die, we leave it all here (1Timothy 6:7). All we have is our soul. Unless we sold it to the devil because of our love for money. It’s true we can’t take it with us, but we can send it ahead.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So, what lies do we tell ourselves? At work, do we take little things here and there (pens, pads, paper)? Do we think “I haven’t had a raise in years – this is owed to me!” The lies start out small. Typically, a job is 8 hours a day and there is usually a lunch break somewhere in the middle. Do you work all the hours – all 8 of them? Do you steal a few minutes here, an hour there, for personal business? Your employer may allow this – especially when business is slow and that is a wonderful benefit. But for those that don’t allow it, this becomes theft to the employer. You are stealing their time.

The root can then continue to grow and then you're skimming cash off the top. Who’s gonna know? God! We can do nothing behind His back. Skimming cash can lead to embezzling the employer’s funds. Many have gone to jail for this very crime. You see, it’s not just a sin – it is also a crime.

Contentment is the answer. When we are content with what we have, we won’t be looking for ways to score riches.

Look around you – what do you have? A place to live? Even if it is only sleeping on a friend’s couch - it is still shelter. Do you have food? Even if it is only ramen noodles – it is food. Do you have transportation? Even if you don’t own a car, there are other ways to get around – bus, taxi, a friend. Do you have clothing? Even if they are not designer jeans or the latest fashion – they still cover your body.

God’s word says that He will provide and He does. If you have a place to sleep, food to eat and clothes to wear, you have been provided for. God does not promise luxury homes, expensive cars, designer clothes or gourmet meals. He gives us what we need. How we use what He provides will determine what we end up with. If we squander what He has given us, it is our fault if we go without.

What have you done with the things God has provided? Did you use the resources wisely? If so, then you most likely have what you need. When we waste what we are given, it creates a need in us to want more. And then the root starts growing.

So, instead of complaining about things you don’t have, give thanks to God for the things you do have. Focus on all that has been provided. Be grateful for the little things. If we are faithful with a little, we can then be trusted with more.

Luke 16:10-12 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

The secret to enjoying life? Be grateful, thankful and content with what you have.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

CONTENTMENT

Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

“I wish I could win the lottery – that would solve everything!” Would it? Or does it just raise the level of what you want? I have read stories of lottery winners that have squandered all their money. It didn’t solve anything. But it did create a whole new set of problems. Now some may say “that’s okay – I would rather have those problems than the ones I have.” Really? Without even knowing what that could mean? Why do we think that money is the answer? Because Ecclesiastes 10:19 says so! Unfortunately, we misread what is being said. Money is needed to buy food – solves that problem. Money is needed when we want to go out and have some fun with our friends – solves that problem too. However, it doesn’t solve everything. Solomon had all the money in the world and yet he still wasn’t happy.

What will make us happy? Contentment. If we are not happy with what we have, we will never be happy with anything else. Contentment is the key to happiness.

“I would be content if I could just have a bigger house.” I don’t think so. A bigger house may give you more room but it also creates a want to fill it with more things.

When you are sad or unhappy, how do you find comfort? Do you run to the Lord? Or do you run to people, food or things? You have heard of retail therapy. We have a bad day so we go shopping. There is something about buying something new that brightens our spirit. But why does it? It is just a thing. Once we get home, the feeling passes and we are back to where we started. Now we need to go shopping again. Retail therapy does not last long. We have to keep doing it. We spend money we shouldn’t on things we don’t need. Our house gets full but our hearts don’t. Only God can give us the kind of comfort that lasts and He doesn’t use things to do it.

When you are feeling down, pray. God can lift your spirit. When you are feeling sad, pray. God can put a smile on your face that doesn’t cost any money. Are you unhappy? God can fill your heart with joy. God is the answer to everything – not money.

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

When we are not content with what we have, it can lead us into sin. (the 10th commandment). Wanting what our neighbor has is an age old problem. Keeping up with the Jones’! Who are the Jones’? And what do they have that is so wonderful we all want it? Now we have entertained another sin – jealousy. We don’t like it when someone else has something that we don’t have. Along with that is envy. When we are not content it opens up the door to sin and more sin.

But what do we do about it? Well, the answer is prayer. Pray that God will give you more? No! Pray that God will change your heart so that you can be content with what you have. Talk to the Lord. Tell Him why you are not content. Do you think others look down on you because you don’t drive an expensive car? Does it hurt your pride? Oh boy. Now we have another sin to deal with.

Covetousness, jealousy, envy and pride. All because we are not content with what we have.

“How do I change things? I created a lifestyle I can’t afford so that I can look good.” Ahhh . . . so, it’s not that God didn’t provide but that your eyes were bigger than your paycheck. Changes will need to be made. Pray that God will help you get rid of the pride issue. Pride is what leads you into debt. Envy and jealousy keep you there. If we can get rid of pride, jealousy and envy will follow. Then our hearts can be content.

Change won’t be easy but it will be worth it. Think of it! No longer caring what others have. Just enjoying your own life. Not worrying about when the bills are due – because there won’t be any. Living beneath your means gives you room to breathe. The bills are paid on time and there is money left over. You would have enough. Contentment. Wouldn’t that be a great feeling?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

TAXES

Romans 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Taxes! Don’t we hate that word?! There is an old saying: “There are only 2 sure things in life – death & taxes!” People have been taxed for thousands of years. We pay taxes for our government. We may not like those who govern us – after all we didn’t vote for them! But, someone did. A lot of someones. We put the people in power that make the laws concerning our taxes. And God’s Word says that we are to pay our taxes to whom they are due.

Okay, okay, I’ll pay my taxes. But I am going to pay as little as possible! As long as we are honest, there is no problem with that. Do we lie and cheat on our taxes just so that we don’t have to pay them? That brings us to the 8th commandment (Exodus 20:15). When we lie and cheat on our taxes, we are stealing what is owed to the government.

But the taxes aren’t fair! What is fair? Things that are fair for you may not be fair to anyone else. And vice versa. Not only that, but nowhere in the Bible does it say that life is fair.

So what can we do about it? Pray!

1Timothy 2:1-2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
1Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

When elections come around, we pray that the right people will be elected. People that will make good decisions and godly choices. People that will use God’s wisdom. If those people don’t get elected, then we pray that God will touch the hearts of those elected. That God will show Himself to them and that they will respond to His voice. No matter who runs the government, they all need prayer. We must remember that God is in control.

God makes it clear that we are to submit to our government.

Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

1Peter 2:13-14 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

1Peter 2: 15-16 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
1Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

God puts people in power and He takes them out. Those in power are there for a reason. Sometimes He uses a ruler to punish the people of that nation – a consequence of their sin. As you read the Old Testament you can see how the people behaved under their kings. A bad king can lead his nation to do bad things. But the people still have a choice! God will use other nations to discipline the bad ones. Bottom line is that God is in control.

When we are honest in filing our taxes and paying them we honor God. Remember, God provides and gives us the means to pay our taxes. (Even Jesus paid taxes. Matthew 17:24-27) God has provided for us and given us enough. Are we telling Him that He is lacking in what He provides? Or is it the way we handle what we are given?

I know one of the problems with paying taxes is that we have no control over what the government does with our money. Some of it is used to help the poor and low income families. That’s a good thing! But some of it is also used for war. Not a good thing! Some of it is used to provide healthcare for the elderly and low income families. A good thing! But some is also used to provide funding for organizations that perform abortions. A very bad thing! So how do we reconcile this? We don’t. We have no control over these things but God does.

Prayer is the only way to have a say in what happens to our taxes once it is paid. God will use it according to His will. Sometimes it will be a blessing. When laws change and we get a bigger tax refund, we rejoice. But laws can also change that take a bigger chunk out of our paycheck. There is no tax law that everyone will consider fair. People will always complain that they pay too much while others pay too little.

But who gave you the money to begin with? If God has provided the money and if God is in control of the governments, shouldn’t we trust Him to do whatever needs to be done?

Taxes are necessary to run our government and keep our nation free. It comes at a cost. You have heard the saying “no such thing as a free lunch.” Well, freedom costs money. (It also costs lives, but that is another story.) We have much to enjoy and be thankful for in this country. Someone has to pay the tab. And those in government that control how the “tab” gets paid need our prayers. We can’t control the government but God can (and does!). Every time we start to complain about our taxes, let’s lift up our leaders in prayer instead. Prayer changes things!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

A DAY OF REST

Nehemiah 10:31 “ if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year’s produce and the exacting of every debt.”

Let’s start with the first part of 10:31 - “if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day;”. Nehemiah is talking about being separate from the peoples of the land (the non-Israelites). The Sabbath was a day of rest and worship. No work (no buying or selling) was to be done on that day. (see Exodus 20:8 – the 4th commandment).

“Not buy stuff on Sunday? That’s not practical!” we may say. Today’s lifestyles are different than they were in Biblical times. But that doesn’t change God’s word. The Sabbath was on a Saturday back then. Today, Sunday is the Sabbath for many of us. The point is that we need a “Sabbath” – a day of rest and worship. Remember Genesis 2:1-3? God created for 6 days and rested on the 7th.

Now, let’s get back to our verse. The Israelites were not to buy on the Sabbath. Why? The Sabbath is a day to rest and worship God. If we are buying (shopping), then our focus is not on God. It is on self. God wants all of us on the Sabbath, not just a little piece. Going to church is just part of the day. What do we do with the rest of the day? Are we doing things that we didn’t have time to do the other 6 days because we were too busy working to pay for our lifestyle?

Somewhere along the line, Sunday became a “free” day. A day to do whatever we want. And worshipping God doesn’t fit in with our plans. But it could!

What does worship look like? Going to church is a good start. Dragging ourselves out of bed is putting God first and ourselves second. Once we get out of church do we stop thinking about God? Incorporate God into all aspects of your life. Maybe you have a pile of laundry to do – you just can’t rest – everyone needs clean clothes for Monday. Can you pray for each person in your family as you load their clothes into the washer? Can you have worship music playing in the background (maybe even singing along)? Can you thank God that you have a washer? Can you thank God that everyone has clothes to wear? If you have to clean the house, focus on God as you do it. Be thankful that you have a house (or apartment or room . . . ) to clean. The same thing goes for making dinner - being thankful for the food you have to eat.

Being thankful to God for all things is a form of worship. Worship takes many forms but we can start with being thankful. And when Monday morning comes and you are dragging yourself out of bed to go to work – be thankful that you have a job. Being thankful isn’t limited to Sundays.

Then there’s the “selling on the Sabbath” (working). Wait a minute! I have to work on Sundays – my job requires it. Can you pray for your co-workers, your boss, the company you work for, your customers?

What about the middle part of this verse - “and we would forego the seventh year’s produce”. (see Exodus 23:10-11) God’s original plan outlined how to have what was needed and still be able to rest. Farmers would work the land for 6 years and in the 7th year they would not farm it. They would store up the harvest to see them thru that 7th year. Whatever grew on its own would be available to the poor. The land would benefit as well as it would have time to get back the nutrients it used to grow the previous harvest.

But we are not farmers – at least most of us aren’t. Today it is not so much storing up the harvest for a year. It is more about wasting what we have. We work long hours and then are too tired to make dinner so we stop at a fast food place. We have food in the fridge that we aren’t using because we just bought a pizza. When we waste food, we are wasting money. Now we need more money so we work even harder and longer hours. It’s a vicious cycle.

God has given you the job that you have to provide for your needs. What? You say that you worked for that money – no one gave it to you? (see Deuteronomy 8:17-18, Psalm 24:1, Haggai 2:8). Who gave you that job? Who put you in the right place at the right time? Who gave you the skills and abilities that you have?

Okay, God gave me the job, but there isn’t enough money from that job to provide what I need. Why? Did you create a lifestyle that didn’t fit the paycheck? Envy & jealousy play a role here. (see Exodus 20:17 – 10th commandment). We see what someone else has and we want it. But we can’t afford it. So we buy it anyway. That creates debt. God fulfilled His promise in providing that job. We ruined it by wanting more . . . and wanting it now. When we look for fulfillment, happiness or contentment in things, it will never be enough. Take a look at your checkbook. How we spend our money shows where our heart is. God has trusted us with an abundance and He watches how we use it.

Now, the last part of 10:31 – “and the exacting of every debt.” (see Deuteronomy 15:1-6). Exacting of every debt. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t it be great if all our bills were erased after 7 years? No more mortgage! No more credit card debt! No more loans to pay! What would we do if that were to happen? Would we make a covenant with ourselves to never have debt again? Or would we go and make new debts since we don’t have the old ones to pay?

And now the flip side. It would be great to have our debts forgiven but are we able to forgive others that owe us? (see Matthew 6:12) At the end of 7 years all debts were canceled. What if someone owed us a lot of money? Could we cancel their debt? Reminds me of the parable of the unforgiving servant (see Matthew 18:21-35).

Who gives you breath and wakes you up in the morning? God. Only God. We all have a reason to be thankful and grateful to the one true God. And Sunday is a good day to start.

Feel like you are being taken on a guilt trip? Before you start collecting frequent flyer miles for that trip, remember this: We all make wrong choices. But we can also choose to start making the right choices.

"Okay! I admit that I am guilty of those things. But what do I do now?"  Good question! Even though we have created a lifestyle that doesn’t include rest & worship, all is not lost. We can make changes. God wants our heart and that is where we start. We put God first in our decisions. We carve out time for God. As we make small changes, it will eventually lead to bigger changes. Even though we may not be able to change our financial circumstances immediately, we can change how we handle it. Change must happen in the heart before it can happen anywhere else. God knows what we need (see Matthew 6:31-34). Do we trust Him to provide it?

Shift your focus to God and see what He can do in your life. Spending time with God is never wasted time.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

OBEY & BELIEVE  (All She Had - updated)

2Kings 4:1-7  A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves."  So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."  Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few.  And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."   So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought [the vessels] to her; and she poured [it] out.   Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "[There is] not another vessel." So the oil ceased.  Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you [and] your sons live on the rest." 

History:  During this time in the northern kingdom of Israel there was no functioning priesthood.  God raised up prophets who traveled and taught students – training young men in the ancient law. These students were called “sons of the prophets” and this woman’s husband was one of them.

All the woman had was some oil and it wasn’t enough to pay off her debts.  It is not known what her debts were – all we know is that her husband had died and he was most likely the provider of the family.  No life insurance back then.  No social security benefits either.  What kind of debt did he leave behind?  Did she have any other family members who could have helped?

This woman was down to her last dime.  She had nothing except a lot of debt and she was about to lose her children.  As a mom, my heart breaks for this woman.  Her husband was in ministry and served the Lord.  Now, not only was he gone but her children would soon be gone also. 

The woman called her husband a servant of Elisha’s.  She also called herself his maidservant.  Her husband may have been a student and I think he may have told his wife about the things he was learning and she wanted to serve also.

We don’t know the age of her sons but they were probably young boys.  If they were grown men, they would have provided for her.  The woman finds Elisha and tells him what is happening.  It sounds like Elisha may have known the husband and that he was a believer.

Back to our verse – I wonder if she really had nothing in the house but oil – did she not have any clothing, furniture, or utensils?  Was her house completely empty except for a jar of oil?  It is possible that she sold everything to help keep them going and the oil was the last thing she had.  Was the creditor coming because the husband was dead? Or would he still have come if he was alive?  Did the creditor see an opportunity to get 2 slaves because she had no one to protect them?  Lots of questions, but no answers.  The Bible doesn’t give us any of that information.  All we know is that she was poor with no way to care for her sons.

Elisha started off by asking what she already had & went from there.  He worked with what she had.  We already have what we need – we just need to use it.  Elisha asked her how he could help.  When someone dies we usually say “let me know if I can help”.  This woman needed help and she asked for it.  She didn’t try to handle things herself.  She could put her pride aside and ask for help.  Verse 1 says she cried out – and her cries were heard!

There are many times that I cry out.  And God hears my cry and gives me that first step.  Sometimes I don’t understand that first step and God has to give it to me again and again.  Other times I want to know all the instructions up front.  Maybe I can skip a couple of steps and get things done quicker.  But God is not concerned with how fast we complete the process but that the process is completed in us. 

Then, she believed what Elisha told her to do – step 1.  She didn’t question him as to how this going to help. “Why do I need all these empty jars?  I don’t have enough oil to fill them.”  Instead, she sends out the boys to get jars.  Then she started filling jars – she was on a roll and asked for more jars – she wasn’t ready to quit!  I wonder what she was thinking when she filled one jar, then two jars and the oil was still flowing out of the one jar that she had.  I think I would have stopped and taken a peek inside that jar! No record of what she did except that she kept pouring until she ran out of vessels. She was going to keep going as long as God wanted her to. (We don’t know what sizes the jars were.  We also don’t know if she gave any oil to any of the people who gave her jars.) And then there were no more jars.  Her task was finished.  Elisha was not in the house – only the woman and her 2 sons.  No one else saw this miracle.  When she was done, then she went and told Elisha and he gave her the next instruction.  She didn’t complain about running out jars.  She didn’t scold her sons for not getting more jars than they did.  How much oil did she end up with?  Apparently, it was quite a bit.  Enough to pay off her debt and then enough to live on.  It doesn’t say how long it would last but it gives the impression that it was enough for her and her sons to live on – no need to acquire any more. Quite possibly it was enough to last until her sons were old enough to work and provide for her.

She accepted the amount that God had provided.  And it was enough.  In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit.  All this women had was oil. So, all she had was the Holy Spirit and that was enough. God provided miraculously.  She may have been poor but her faith was rich.

We don’t get the instructions all at once.  Elisha gave her the first step – collect the jars and fill them with oil.  Then step 2 – sell the jars, pay your debts and live on the rest.

God will give us the first step.  When we obey and do that first step, then we get the next step.  If we don’t obey, we don’t get the next step.

Do you have enough?  If not, who are you looking to in order to have enough?  Is your faith starving and in tatters?  Feed your faith (on the word of God), believe His promises and watch your faith grow.

This woman obeyed, trusted and had faith. I can learn a lot from this woman.  To have the faith to know that when I cry out, that God hears me.  Not only does He hear me, but He also answers me.  His answer puts me on the right path, one step at a time.  She didn’t seek the counsel of the ungodly.  She went to the one person who would guide her with the wisdom of God.  This woman had faith and she relied on that faith.  Where do you seek counsel?

Psalm 1:1-2  – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.