What really is wealth? Well, first let us look at the meaning:
wealth (wlth)n.
1.a. An abundance of valuable material possessions or resources; riches.
b. The state of being rich; affluence.
2. All goods and resources having value in terms of exchange or use.
3. A great amount; a profusion: a wealth of advice
Hmm. Ok. Let us go ahead and take first meaning and identify abundance:
abundance (-bndns) n.
1. A great or plentiful amount.
2. Fullness to overflowing: "My thoughts . . . are from the abundance of my heart" (Thomas De Quincey).
3. Affluence; wealth.
4. Chemistry The amount of an isotope of an element that exists in nature, usually expressed as a percentage of the total amount of all isotopes of the element.
So, in short wealth is "a lot more than what you would need to survive". Should you take a look at some of the words used to express wealth and abundance, you will discover a common theme: fullness, a large amount, overflowing, abundance of resources.
Now we are told to find a balance. Recall when we talked about Proverbs 22:7 "..borrower is servant to the lender"? So we know we do not wish to be in-debt, but we also do not want to have over what we require. Through the Bible we know the Kingdom of Heaven is reserved for the poor, and that the rich have the toughest time getting into heaven.
So we must live in the balance. What extra have you got? In what areas of life can you share more? I know for me personally, by studying Dani Johnson's "War On Debt" program, I have realized where there is excess within my own budget. While keeping better track on where I shell out my money; we have decreased our monthly spending by hundreds of dollars.
So what do we do with this money now? We take advantage of this money to give more. We tithe our 10% to the church each and every month and we have chosen 12 charitable groups that we share with each year. We give to four charities for three months, and the move on to the next four charitable organizations, and then the final four charitable groups.
This is our "planned" offering. I do a Bible study with a lady and this subject matter virtually brings her to tears. She is always working to do more and share more and she never feels as though she can do enough. One vital thing she said recently that stuck with me is, "serve to every person who actually asks" regardless if it is $5.
Should you be anything like me, probably you do not even know how much you get asked for funds until you really start giving each of those organizations or people money. Start now and discover
Now, please let me make clear. Giving of money is not the sole method to focus on living in the balance. It is, nevertheless, a method to shove you out of your safe place. In our Beth Moore Bible study this week, "Mercy Triumphs" we discussed dignifying others. Be aware of their existence! Just how many people do you move past daily without saying a word? Beth told an account about how she said hello to a cleaning woman in an airport bathroom. The lady told her, "you are a kind person" and Beth, kind of taken back by this announcement asked how she could claim that, without knowing her in any way. And the lady responded by saying, "the majority of individuals do not even notice I am here."
James 2:14-16
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, "go, in peace, keep warm and eat well" but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?
Share your wealth- whether it is money, time, groceries, dialogue, carpooling, whatever!
I would always like to hear your giving tales and just how you are living life (or trying to live life) in the balance.
Our God is great!
wealth (wlth)n.
1.a. An abundance of valuable material possessions or resources; riches.
b. The state of being rich; affluence.
2. All goods and resources having value in terms of exchange or use.
3. A great amount; a profusion: a wealth of advice
Hmm. Ok. Let us go ahead and take first meaning and identify abundance:
abundance (-bndns) n.
1. A great or plentiful amount.
2. Fullness to overflowing: "My thoughts . . . are from the abundance of my heart" (Thomas De Quincey).
3. Affluence; wealth.
4. Chemistry The amount of an isotope of an element that exists in nature, usually expressed as a percentage of the total amount of all isotopes of the element.
So, in short wealth is "a lot more than what you would need to survive". Should you take a look at some of the words used to express wealth and abundance, you will discover a common theme: fullness, a large amount, overflowing, abundance of resources.
Now we are told to find a balance. Recall when we talked about Proverbs 22:7 "..borrower is servant to the lender"? So we know we do not wish to be in-debt, but we also do not want to have over what we require. Through the Bible we know the Kingdom of Heaven is reserved for the poor, and that the rich have the toughest time getting into heaven.
So we must live in the balance. What extra have you got? In what areas of life can you share more? I know for me personally, by studying Dani Johnson's "War On Debt" program, I have realized where there is excess within my own budget. While keeping better track on where I shell out my money; we have decreased our monthly spending by hundreds of dollars.
So what do we do with this money now? We take advantage of this money to give more. We tithe our 10% to the church each and every month and we have chosen 12 charitable groups that we share with each year. We give to four charities for three months, and the move on to the next four charitable organizations, and then the final four charitable groups.
This is our "planned" offering. I do a Bible study with a lady and this subject matter virtually brings her to tears. She is always working to do more and share more and she never feels as though she can do enough. One vital thing she said recently that stuck with me is, "serve to every person who actually asks" regardless if it is $5.
Should you be anything like me, probably you do not even know how much you get asked for funds until you really start giving each of those organizations or people money. Start now and discover
Now, please let me make clear. Giving of money is not the sole method to focus on living in the balance. It is, nevertheless, a method to shove you out of your safe place. In our Beth Moore Bible study this week, "Mercy Triumphs" we discussed dignifying others. Be aware of their existence! Just how many people do you move past daily without saying a word? Beth told an account about how she said hello to a cleaning woman in an airport bathroom. The lady told her, "you are a kind person" and Beth, kind of taken back by this announcement asked how she could claim that, without knowing her in any way. And the lady responded by saying, "the majority of individuals do not even notice I am here."
James 2:14-16
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, "go, in peace, keep warm and eat well" but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?
Share your wealth- whether it is money, time, groceries, dialogue, carpooling, whatever!
I would always like to hear your giving tales and just how you are living life (or trying to live life) in the balance.
Our God is great!
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