MoneyWalk 442: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

The word “slothfulness” is normally used as a synonym for “laziness” however it was used to translate original biblical thought that was in some instances aimed at “busyness doing things that should not be a person’s priority.” Though present language does not use the word in this manner, it is an important distinction to note because it helps us know that laziness is not the only enemy of productivity. Failure to maintain godly priorities in what you do is also an enemy of productivity because it does not profit you to gain the world, yet lose your soul!

The command to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy is the Lord’s guidance to help us overcome these enemies so that we can mature spiritually and be truly blessed on earth including in the financial arena of our lives. He does not want you to be lazy but hard working so that you can have consistent productive cycles in your life. With this in mind He exhorts you and encourages you to labor using your mind and hands in order to provide that which is good so you and others may be blessed by your productivity. He recognizes that the command to labor could develop in you a tendency to always be at work doing something believing that your worth is based on what you do, who you become, or how much you earn in this life. Thus, He also exhorts you to remember the Sabbath which means to spend time worshipping Him instead of engaging in the other work to which you are employed the remainder of the week.

This focuses you on rest from normal labors where you take time to develop a more intimate relationship with Him and on helping you understanding His will better and better so that during the remainder of the week you are not spending time doing things that are not His priority for your life. Most people think that continual busyness working at their trade is the key to success and it has moved society away from spending time with the Lord resting in His presence. We tend to think that if we start a business it must be open seven days a week or else it will fail and we think that there are so many things to do at home that we must spend every evening and the entire weekend trying to complete our “To Do List.”

Yet, biblical principles let us know that we can be successful working less than seven days per week and that we will be refreshed and have correct and renewed vision and energy as we take appropriate time each week to worship the Lord and rest our bodies and minds. There’s a entrepreneur who has operated a fast food restaurant chain for four decades who does not open his stores on Sundays so that he can honor the Lord and both he and his employees can rest from their normal labors, spend time with family, and hopefully choose to fellowship with other believers in order to mature spiritually so they can continue doing good on earth. Despite advice that he could not prosper unless his stores were open every day to compete against other fast food chains, he has become a multi-billionaire and his business has allowed many others to become multi-millionaires or take great care of themselves and their families. He operates over 1700 stores and 80,000 employees and his restaurants have by far the lowest rate of employee attrition (people leaving his employ) than any other fast food chain and most other businesses. In addition,

There are many more real life stories of businesses and individuals who have experienced great success while keeping the Sabbath. The Sabbath principle benefits you as much no matter whether you’re an entrepreneur or employee. This weekly time of rest with the Lord will help:

1. Invigorate you mentally and physically
2. Give you renewed focus
3. Produce as much mental and physical health as is possible for you
4. Re-energize you to engage in required activities in the most productive manner
5. Produce good family and friend relationships
6. Engage you in priorities that please the Lord and help you do good deeds that benefit you and other people.

Constant busyness places and keeps you in bondage whereas observing the Sabbath through weekly rest and focus eliminates bondage by providing the mechanism for freedom that you need to truly be fulfilled and prosperous in this life and prepared for eternity.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 20:8, Isaiah 56:6, Matthew 12:12, Mark 2:27
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MoneyWalk 441: Don’t misuse God’s name

This program will help you undo financial bondage.

The many financial problems this world is experiencing at the moment are a result of people’s failure to honor God’s name. We have misused His name and as a result we’re having problems in the housing sector, the banking sector, the investment sector, the personal finance sector, the family unit, and other areas of life. Many people believe they can do anything they want, fail to uphold moral standards, and choose to believe something other than what the Creator said is truth. Inevitably, they invite hardship and trouble into their earthly and maybe eternal existence.

God’s name is synonymous with truth and righteousness or right living. Each time we believe and act in a way that is opposite the principles of God we are misusing His name by in effect saying that His name is not really what He says it is, it does not produce what He says it does, and it does not bring the reward to believers that He says it does. This is why we should be careful to reverence His name by learning and applying biblical principles in the financial realm and otherwise. You will reap enormous blessings and rewards as a result and will find that hard times for others are simply opportunities for you to serve and produce to an even greater degree.

By living out biblical principles, you will find immunity from economic calamity because you are securely abiding under the shadow of the Most High God. You won’t be swayed and pull into risks that are not worthwhile because you will be guided by the Holy Spirit as He helps you understand what is practical for you to invest time, energies, and money into. Yet, you will take worthwhile risks as guided by practical learning and wisdom. Throughout your life and in very short order after you start you’ll begin to reap the blessings and rewards that come to those who truly follow Him.

When you accept man’s financial advice without measuring it by the Word of God you will misuse His name and bring negative consequence into your life. However, you cannot go wrong:

1. Working diligently at a moral trade
2. Serving in your local church and otherwise in a capacity that helps spread the gospel
3. Budgeting (planning by setting goals acceptable to God)
4. Living within your means
5. Tithing and offering
6. Eliminating debt
7. Eliminating cosigning
8. Saving
9. Investing
10. Diversifying your assets
11. Teaching others to do the same when opportunities arise

These practical actions are spoken of in God’s word in numerous instances and form the foundation for how to build a financial future that is strong and solid. They help mature you to use wisdom so that you’re not influenced to make stupid choices as some would encourage you to do, like pay down debts of deceased family members for whom you have no moral or financial responsibility. You will not be moved by emotion when making financial decisions, rather by the Holy Spirit as He enlightens your understanding and use of practical information and tools. In this way, you will rightly use the name of the Lord in a manner that will help draw other people to Him instead of repelling them by bad financial habits.

Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Exodus 20:7, Psalm 91:1-3, Luke 18:18-30, Galatians 3:3, Hebrews 6:6
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!