Take the rest that Jesus gives by doing what is necessary to be intimate with Him and use the standards He established to govern your life: accepting Him as Savior & LORD, daily reading / studying the bible, praising / worshipping / praying to Him, fellowshipping weekly with like-minded believers, and exhibiting good stewardship with the income and assets He allows to come into your hands.
With regard to the latter character building tool you should tithe and give, save an emergency fund, and develop a plan to pay off all your debt and live a debt free lifestyle. Thereafter, you should use disposable income to give abundantly and grow the money that remains under your control. Total stock market, no load, low expense index mutual funds with a great long term history that mimics the 11% or so that the market has returned over the long haul will be a great starting point from which you can get more educated on acceptable risk and reward and investment products that fit the tolerance you need to build wealth that will be a great asset for you, your family, church, and other people as you move into the future.
Encumbering yourself with debt disappoints you and wears you out, because you can never really achieve a level of prosperity that’s secure. The material things you’ve obtained are subject to be taken when you can no longer pay the bills that are due. This could occur due to job loss, business revenue reductions, increased expenses, economic downturn, or catastrophes. Repossession occurs when you owe everybody and can no longer pay on the loans. This does not occur when you have no debt outstanding.
The pressure to compare yourself with others leads you to get more expensive homes, cars, clothes, and jewelry than other people so you can look like you're prospering. This misuse of resources eliminates your ability to pursue the will of God through serving and giving because you’ll become a slave to worldly ambitions and desires that focus more upon self than upon evangelizing and making disciples in order that God receive glory while you’re on earth. Also, using worldly, respecter of persons success models to determine with whom you’ll have relationship drains you of the opportunity to lead others to God while giving into their lives to help them become all that God wants them to be.
Never base your worth on your view of other people’s incomes, assets, position, power, or fame in comparison to your position. As a believer your worth is in Jesus Christ and no matter what the surface looks look right now you have all His treasures and abilities necessary to be fruitful and successful in the endeavors, employments, and services for which He made you and is calling you. Greater success, fruitfulness, and prosperity are sure to come as you maintain your focus on Him. This allows you to truly enter His rest no matter what others are doing and no matter where you are in life.
Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!
Psalms 116:6-9, Jeremiah 6:16, Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:1-4
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