Jason was the type of manager that any restaurant employee would want to work for. Happy, energetic, funny & always positive. Every morning as he awoke, he realized he could either choose to be positive or choose to be negative. Choosing positivity, is not easy, but it was his choice and people around Jason were drawn to work for him because of it.
One morning, he left the backdoor of his restaurant unlocked which is a major No-No in the restaurant industry. Three masked intruders came in and demanded he open the safe with all the restaurant’s cash. As he nervously tried to open the safe, hands shaking, he made a quick move, which scared one of the robbers, who preceded to shoot him. As he was rushed by ambulance into the hospital, he could tell by the faces of his doctors and nurses’ things didn’t look good for him. They rushed him into surgery and before they put him under, they asked if he was allergic to anything. He replied with the small strength he could muster, “YES! BULLETS!” Over the laughter of the doctors and nurses he exclaimed, “I am choosing to live, so operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”
Jason lived because of the masterful skill of his doctors and nurses but also because of his amazing attitude. His story is one that I believe we can use and apply to our finances.
One of the greatest books, that has influenced me in business and life has been Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Thinking. Negativity is addictive, even though positivity is so much nicer to feel. Forcing positive thoughts into your mind, does something to your brain that creates a mindset that allows you to see the world in a different way. People are drawn to positive people. Positive people fill their minds with positive thoughts and material.
Scripture & Finances
During one Sunday at church (shoutout to Westwood Alliance Church) we were studying Colossians as Pastor Luke took us through Colossians 2:1-3 which says, For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, (my emphasis here) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In addition to this John 15:7 tells us, If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My first thought was, this certainly applies to more than finance, but should we be filling our minds and hearts with scripture to improve our financial acumen and skills? As Dave Ramsey always says, a child that is constantly misbehaving is not going to be given more grace and leeway. Does God want us to have a better and right understanding of money, before he trusts you and I with more of it to manage? Very clearly the answer is yes.
Now let me start with this – I am not a theologian or anything close. Additionally, I am not a prosperity gospel guy. Far be it from me to lead people to a false gospel! But as I try to understand what these passages are trying to persuade us to, it is this…. Putting the Word of God in my mind and heart can have the same effect as Norman Vincent Peale was trying to appeal to us in his book. If we are going to be better with money, we need to put in our mind the thoughts and wisdom from the best! Who better than the creator of Heaven & Earth? The Deity that owns the cattle on a thousand hills. You can argue about the reality of God (although the creation argues for our Great God every second of every day) but you can’t argue that the book of Proverbs is a Masters Degree in Finance and Business. So let me encourage you, regardless of your religious beliefs, to put some scripture in your head and your heart because it can prove to be a powerful tool in educating and changing the mindset of the one person that typically messes up your money… YOU!
Here are some of my favorite Scriptures:
Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 10:4 – A slick hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 3:9 – Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Proverbs 13:22 – A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 – Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on the earth.
Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.