MoneyWalk 439: Love your neighbor as yourself

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

Many people have been socialized by their family, neighbors, and society to believe that a person must take care of himself/herself first and only when he/she are self-sufficient can he/she then possibly help someone else. This man-made made belief has touched each one of us in some way. However, it is contrary to the law of God and we must remember that what God said is what is truly for our benefit. Things that we think and what others say that have no foundation in God’s Word can wind up ruining our lives on earth and possibly throughout eternity.

The plan of God is that we will love Him by way of Jesus Christ with all our hearts, souls, mind, and strength and because His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit we will love our neighbors as ourselves. Each one of us can do this and have an obligation to do this and is better off for doing it as directed by God. Such love does not mean that you simply do anything that a person asks of you or requires of you. Rather, it means you study scripture to find out the types of things that the Lord commands you to do and what it shows is good for you to do. Also, that you ask him daily and throughout the day what He would like you to do and listen intently to the Lord’s voice to direct you. Then, simply obey his guidance received from scriptural understanding and His voice speaking inside you.

Ways in which you carry this out are:

1. Being respectful, kind, and cordial to everyone around you making sure that you are not a respecter of persons based on people’s position or power in the workplace, politics, society, etc.

2. Having an attitude of heart that desires and seeks opportunities that connect people with the Lord, recognizing that they need His loving guidance, correction, and blessing just as you do.

3. Being responsible to live according to biblical principles so that you are focused on doing the will of God personally and among your family, neighbors, co-workers, and other relationships.

How you handle the financial part of your life plays a great role in your ability to accomplish these three goals to the greatest degree possible. It’s not about “he who has the most money and toys win the game.” You can accomplish these three goals without having much money in your possession on earth at any given time. First, you must remember that those whose lives are hid in Christ through salvation have the heavenly treasures at their disposal when truly needed. Isn’t it great to know you have a Father who has everything you’ll ever need and that nothing is impossible with Him. Second, you must understand that God never judges you on the basis of what you do with what you don’t have but rather on the basis of what you do with what you do have.

So, the question you must ask yourself is am I doing what I should be with the income and resources that I have so that I am able to bear much fruit in accordance with God’s will? This should lead you to begin or continue to manage your finances in such a way that you budget income and expenses, that you eliminate debt and refuse to enter new debt situations, that you refuse to co-sign on debts, that you save and ultimately invest a reasonable portion of your income, and that you treat other people in the manner that you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes, having mercy on many who don’t even deserve it based on your skewed view of what they should or shouldn’t be doing (working hard, producing at breakneck speed, rising up the corporate ladder, being responsible with their finances, etc.).

Remember, we are created and called by God to be helpers one of another and only to be judges when we have had such trust and authority put in us by ordained authorities (God thru parents, churches thru elders, businesses thru owners and managers, and government (we the people) through elected/appointed positions and managers they appoint). Adhering to these principles of spiritual authority and managing money will allow you to carry out the goals through:

1. Living in a committed relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. Fellowshipping with His saints (those who have confessed Him as Lord and Savior) in a local bible believing church.

3. Tithing and offering in the local church and through para-church ministries that spread the gospel and practical help in your community and around the world.

4. Putting your hands to the ministry work plow showing that your faith has action behind it which means it is not dead. This is done not only in the church but in your home, neighborhood, and employment.

5. A greater ability to directly help some who are truly in need. Taking into account that money and resources that you do have that can help others is for the needy and not the greedy.

Never be ashamed of the income, possessions, and influence God has allowed you to obtain when you have sought to do the will of God and have not greedily grafted after gain, power, position, and fame and/or torn and pulled others down to get there. Simply continue to learn more about biblical principles, use them, and use the fruit of His blessings and your labor to meet the goals and produce the results mentioned above. Whether you are a business owner, executive, politician, or manager you should refuse to think more highly of yourself than you do of other people You should always refuse to oppress people and work them like slaves and you should pay them fair wages based on God’s standards whenever it is in your power to do so. Also, when sacrifices need to be made you should make deep and sometimes greater sacrifices than you ask of those under your authority.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Leviticus 19:18, Proverbs 21:13, Mark 12:31, Romans 13:8, Galatians 6:2