The Bible does offer insights into enjoying God's gifts of food and drink, and emphasizes responsible stewardship of resources, applicable to any business, including those in the food and beverage sector.

*Here's a breakdown of relevant biblical themes:*

*Enjoying God's Gifts:*

The Bible encourages people to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, including food and drink, as gifts from God.

*Ecclesiastes 2:11, 18–23:* "I have seen that the best thing for people is to be happy and do good while they live. Also, that they should eat and drink and find satisfaction in their toil. All this is a gift of God."

*1 Corinthians 10:31:* "So whether you are eating or drinking, or whatever you are doing, do it all for the glory of God."

*Responsible Stewardship:*

The Bible emphasizes the importance of using resources wisely and not being wasteful, which is relevant to any business, including those in the food and beverage industry.

*Serving Others:*

The Bible encourages people to use their skills and resources to serve others, which is relevant to businesses that provide food and drinks.

*2S*

Everyone today needs a shelter to rest and sleep in. They either rent or own a home house. Construct houses for rent or sale.

The Bible emphasizes the importance of providing shelter and refuge for the vulnerable, particularly the poor and needy, as seen in verses like Isaiah 25:4 and Psalm 91:1-2.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

*Providing Shelter as a Moral Imperative:*

The Bible consistently portrays God as a protector and provider, and it encourages humans to emulate that by offering shelter and refuge to those in need.

Specific Bible Verses:

*Isaiah 25:4:* "You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall."

*Psalm 91:1-2:* "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

*Focus on Vulnerable Groups:*

The Bible places a strong emphasis on caring for the vulnerable, including the poor, widows, orphans, and the oppressed.

*Beyond Physical Shelter:*

While physical shelter is important, the Bible also speaks of spiritual shelter and refuge, as seen in verses like Psalm 91, which speaks of finding refuge in God.

*Business as a Means of Service:*

While not directly mentioning a "shelter business," the Bible encourages Christians to use their skills and resources to serve others, which could include providing shelter or other forms of assistance.

*3. CARING FOR PEOPLE - COSMESTOLOGIST BUSINESS*

Starting a haircut business, facial makeup, hair makeup and styling business or a spar business. Taking care of people is a great business venture.

*Matthew 25:40* “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

*4. CLOTHING - TAILORING BUSINESS*

Learn tailoring business of clothes making. People all over the world wear clothing, rich or poor none go naked everyday in life.

*Proverbs 31:22-25*

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. ' Clothes are more than fashion; they are also a livelihood.

*5. TRANSPORT BUSINESS*

Engage yourself in business of transportation of people and their goods. Serve in Boda motorcyclist driving, car special taxi hiring. All this service takes you to richness as you serve others to fulfillment of their needs and desires.

Transport is fundamental to supporting economic growth, creating jobs and connecting people to essential services such as healthcare or education.

*Proverbs 16:3* "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

*CONCLUSION*

The five business plans are Food - Refreshments, Sleeping- Shelter, Clothing/tailoring, Caring for people, and lastly transport business. These are required and used in daily living all over the world.

*| SEKAMANJE EDDY Tel: 0772415972 - 0708561543 © MARCH 2025 |*

Manage Money: 7 important Financial Tips from the Bible - Verses About Money

Personal finance books are hot sellers. Bestsellers include such well-known titles as Robert T. Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” Dave Ramsey’s “The Total Money Makeover,” and Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” However, there’s one book that’s more popular than any of these and offers plenty of sound advice about money: the Bible.

Of course, most people don’t think of the Good Book as a personal finance guide. To some, it’s the literal Word of God; to others, it’s a beautiful work of literature; still others view it as a historical text that’s had a profound influence on our society.

Whatever else the Bible is, it’s also an incredibly useful source of guidance on money matters. Numerous stories and sayings from the Bible, written thousands of years ago, illustrate basic financial concepts that are as relevant as ever in the modern world.

Money Tips From the Bible

1. Set Priorities

Proverbs 24:27 – Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

This piece of advice from Proverbs seems a little surprising at first. To a modern reader, it’s not clear why planting the field should be a higher priority than building the house, since both appear to be necessities of life rather than luxuries.

However, if you think about it, the answer to the question becomes obvious: Your “field” isn’t just something you need for survival – it’s actually a means of survival. If you’re a farmer, your crops are your source of livelihood. If your field isn’t properly planted and prepared, you won’t have the money you need to build a house or provide for any of your other needs.

Today, few people rely on actual fields for their income. However, we all have certain basic needs that we have to meet in order to survive. And to meet those needs, most of us need some form of gainful employment. What good is a house if you don’t have the means to put food on the table, or pay the rent or mortgage?

So in modern terms, this proverb means that you need to set priorities with your money. Make sure you save enough to cover the essentials – what you need to keep yourself alive and able to work – before spending money on creature comforts. In other words, set aside money to pay all the bills before you spend any on new clothes.

2. Make a Budget

Luke 14:28-30 – Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”

This Biblical saying is about budgeting. You know you need to cover the cost of necessities first – but those costs don’t always come up right away, so you need to plan for them or make a budget. Some major expenses, such as rent payments, only come due once per month. Others, like home insurance premiums, only come due once annually. Planning ahead and saving for those intermittent (but known) expenses is a key component of budgeting.

For example, suppose you earn $600 weekly. Out of that, you spend $50 on groceries, $10 on gas for your car, and $40 to pay the monthly electric bill, which happens to be due this week. At this point, you might think you’ve covered all your essential expenses, and the remaining $500 is free to spend as you like. However, if you just blow through that “extra” $500 every week, you’ll be in for a rude awakening when your $700 rent is due at the end of the month.

By sitting down with a pen and paper – or a computer and budgeting software, such as Mint – you can figure out exactly which expenses you have to cover – not just in the immediate future, but over the long term. Then you can determine how much money you need to set aside to cover all your financial needs, from paying your weekly grocery bill, to financing your retirement years down the line. That way, you can make sure your “tower” – your personal finances – can be completed, from bottom to top.

3. Build an Emergency Fund

Genesis 41:34-36 – Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.

In this passage from Genesis, Joseph interprets a dream the Pharaoh has had about seven fat cows grazing by a river that get swallowed up by seven skinny cows. Joseph concludes that the seven fat cows in the dream represent seven years of prosperity for Egypt, which will be followed by seven years of famine. To plan ahead for this disaster, Joseph advises the Pharaoh to store up grain during the seven good years and use that stored grain to get the country through the seven hard years to follow.

No matter whether you believe Joseph had a divine gift for interpreting dreams, there’s no denying that the advice he gives the Pharaoh is fundamentally sound. It always makes sense to save resources in good times so you have them to help you get through lean times. In modern-day America, “lean” years are less likely to be a literal famine than some sort of financial crisis, such as a job loss or a health problem that saddles you with hefty medical bills. Regardless, Joseph’s basic strategy – setting aside money for future emergencies – still holds true.

Of course, present-day financial experts tend to modify Joseph’s advice a little bit. Instead of storing up cash for seven years, they say you should set aside roughly six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund (more if you’re self-employed or have a fluctuating income). And since you can’t predict exactly when a financial crisis will hit the way Joseph could, this money should be kept in cash or safe investments that should hold their value, so your money is there to draw on whenever you happen to need it.

4. Avoid Debt

Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

This proverb takes no skill to interpret. It describes debt as a kind of slavery – and modern Americans appear to agree. A survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that for many Americans, debt is a condition that lasts a lifetime and is impossible to escape.

The survey found that 80% of all Americans are in debt, and a majority of the oldest Americans are still carrying some form of debt in retirement. And 70% of those surveyed said debt was a necessity in their lives – something they didn’t want, but still couldn’t imagine living without.

All that debt takes a toll on those who carry it, both mentally and physically. A 2014 article in Health reports that high levels of debt are associated with anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. Debt can also be linked to high blood pressure, lowered immunity, and a host of physical symptoms, including headaches, back pain, and ulcers.

However, the Pew survey also found some signs that Americans’ attitudes toward debt are changing. Younger Americans – those in the Millennial generation – are more likely to take a negative view of debt, saying it has burdened them rather than expanded their opportunities. They’re also more inclined to say the way Americans use debt is irresponsible. And in their own lives, they’re less likely to take on new debt, such as credit card debt or mortgages.

These young Americans, it appears, have taken the Bible’s advice about debt to heart. They view debt as a type of enslavement, and they want to avoid new debt and pay off the debts they already owe.

5. Diversify Your Investments

Ecclesiastes 11:2 – Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

This line from Ecclesiastes is a short, clear explanation of why it makes sense to diversify your investments. Nearly any type of investment can fall victim to “evil” of some sort, whether it’s a plague of locusts that wipes out a grain crop, or a market crash that reduces the value of stocks or real estate. So it makes sense to put money into many different types of investments so that a single disaster can’t cost you everything you have.

For instance, if you were a merchant in Biblical times, hoping to make money by trading cloth or spices with neighboring countries, it wouldn’t make sense to load all your cargo onto a single ship. If that one ship sank, you’d lose everything you had in one blow. However, if you divided up your cargo among seven or eight ships, all headed along different routes, the chances that all of them would sink would be very low. So even if you lost one or two ships, you could still hope to earn enough from the others to make a profit.

It’s a basic principle of investing that the more you diversify, the more you reduce your risk. Investing in 100 different stocks – for instance, by buying shares in an index fund – is far safer than investing in just a single stock.

Admittedly, there are some who argue that diversification is a myth. Their claim is that you can earn a much better return by putting all your eggs in one basket – as long as it’s the right basket. However, it takes a true genius to figure out which basket is the right one, and investors who try it are far more likely to end up losing their shirts than becoming millionaires overnight. For the ordinary investor, diversifying to reduce risk is a much safer and sounder plan.

6. Reduce Risk as You Age

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 – I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.

In this story from Ecclesiastes, a father loses everything on a bad investment and has nothing to leave to his son. This is unfortunate for the son, but in the modern world, it could be a disaster for the father as well. That’s because his bad business venture wouldn’t just wipe out his son’s inheritance – it could wipe out his own retirement savings as well.

People today live longer than ever before. According to data from the National Institute on Aging, the average life expectancy in many developed countries is more than 80 years, and about 12% of the population is over 85 years of age. This number is expected to grow dramatically over the next few decades.

Because people are living longer, they’re also spending more years in retirement. Today’s 65-year-old retirees could easily need their retirement savings to last them 20 years or even longer. So if you speculate with your income when you’re in your 60s, it’s not just your kids’ inheritance you’re putting at risk – it’s the money you need to live on for the next 10, 20, or even 30 years. If you lose a big chunk of your nest egg, you could end up having to put off your retirement because you don’t have enough savings to support yourself.

If you want to be sure you have enough to retire on – and, ideally, something to leave to your kids when you’re gone – you need to reduce your investment risk as you age. As you approach retirement age, you should gradually move your money out of high-risk investments, such as stocks, and into lower-risk investments like bonds and annuities that can give you a modest, steady income.

You can still leave some of your money in the stock market – in fact, you probably need to in order to earn enough to support yourself through decades of retirement. However, at least a good chunk of your nest egg needs to stay protected from market risk so you always have something to draw on for your income.

7. Make a Financial Plan

Proverbs 21:5 – The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

This final rule from Proverbs more or less sums up all the others. Budgeting, planning for retirement, saving for emergencies – they’re all different ways of being diligent by planning ahead.

Making a financial plan is a three-step process:

Identify Your Goals. It’s much easier to convince yourself to save and invest when you have a clear sense of what you’re saving for. Depending on where you are in life, your financial goals could include paying off student loans, buying your first home, financing your kids’ college education, or investing for retirement. Write down your personal goals, and go back to them from time to time to see if they’ve changed.
Evaluate Your Situation. Next, figure out what your current financial situation is. This is a step you can take on your own or with help from an accountant or financial advisor. Determine your current net worth, how much you’re earning, how much you’re spending, and what kind of return you’re currently getting on your investments.
List Steps to Take. Now that you know both where you are and where you want to go, all you have to do is figure out what steps you need to take to get from point A to point B. For instance, suppose your goal is to buy a house in five years and you think you need $55,000 for a down payment. If you already have $15,000 saved up, then you know you need to save another $40,000 over the next five years – an average of $8,000 per year. If you’re currently saving only $5,000 every year, then you need to either make more money, spend less, or earn more on your investments – or all three – to hit your goal within five years. Alternatively, you could revise your goal, planning to buy a cheaper starter home that requires a smaller down payment of only $40,000 – a goal you can meet without making any changes.

Without a financial plan, it’s easy to drift through life, earning and spending money with no real thought for the future. Writing out a financial plan, and checking it every few months to see whether you’re on track, helps ensure that you know what you want out of life and are on a path to get it.

Final Word

If you’re a Bible scholar, you’ve surely noticed by now that many Bible verses about money weren’t covered in this list. For instance, it doesn’t include “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:4-5) or the single most famous Bible verse relating to money, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10).

At first glance, this seems contradictory. Some parts of the Bible are talking about how to take care of your money, while others appear to suggest that it’s a mistake to care about money at all. However, when you look at all these different verses side by side, you begin to get a more balanced picture. The overall message the Bible sends about money isn’t that money itself is bad – it’s just that it isn’t the most important thing in life.

When used wisely – to support yourself, care for your family, and help those in need – money is a useful tool. However, you should control your money – you shouldn’t let it control you. Rather than obsessing about how much money you have and how you can make more, take some time to be grateful for what you already have. That’s a bit of Biblical wisdom that can benefit even the most experienced investor.

Can you think of other Bible verses that teach useful lessons about money?

Studying..... Engineering

Studying ... Engineering?

The first time I'd really thought that God might have something to do with being an engineer was sitting in a lecture on the 'Professional Responsibilities of Engineers' at the University of Sheffield.[1] I had an uncomfortable feeling that something vital was missing. We'd looked at the role of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), some engineering disasters such as the Hatfield rail accident, and gone through various philosophers and ethical systems such as utilitarianism. The point was that we should take our professional responsibilities seriously, in the light of the fact that unchecked calculations, or putting money above risk factors could lead to the ultimate consequence – loss of life.[2]

The thing that bothered me was that clearly many engineering projects had valued money above life, and even the assumption that people are valuable was never explained or discussed. I wanted to know why. Why should we be responsible to others? Why is human life valuable? I never had the guts to say it, but the basic answer must be: God made us in his image, and thus gave us inherent value. If atheism is true, then ethics and the value of life is just flapping about in the wind with no foundation.[3]

What Does it Mean to be a Christian Engineer?

A few years later, at a church conference in 2007, someone articulated this very simple question: "What does it mean to be a Christian Engineer?" At the time, I'd just graduated with my degree in Mechanical Engineering and was about to start a job in the railway industry. So, given these two significant passions in my life – following Jesus and engineering technology, I decided I ought to try and find out the answer! So, here are a few thoughts in this direction.

Work is Part of God's Mission

God is an engineer. Well, the Bible doesn't put it quite like that, but we are his design and make project – as is everything else in the whole of the universe too![4] What's more – he made us to participate in his world. It's not like work is somehow not important to God and he'd rather we were singing hymns or doing something 'holy'. Work can be holy – so engineering can be holy! Work was God's original design plan for human beings on planet earth.[5] Although there is more to say than this, such a simple fact should give us happiness that our job is part of God's will for us.[6] Work should not be our idol (as it is for workaholics); it should not be just a means to an end (money); nor should we think the only Christian bit about work or study is evangelising our course-mates or colleagues (though that is part of it). Work itself is an aspect of God's mission for us. Worship is Monday to Friday 9-5 as well as Sunday 10:30-12:00. Whilst that applies to pretty much any university subject or career choice, being a follower of Jesus does have implications for issues specific to engineering.

The Complexities of Ethical Career Choice

God is concerned for the poor and the vulnerable[7] and for his world which he made[8] – and which he will redeem.[9] So it's not too difficult to see how we can use our engineering skills to serve Jesus as we pursue God's mission. There are plenty of ways engineering can help with humanitarian aid or environmental care. You don't have to be a follower of Jesus to care about alleviating poverty – but of course we have all the more reason to do so. A friend of mine worked on a portable stove where the excess heat was used to generate electricity for charging mobile phones in a poor and power-short central Asian country. Brilliant! Christians definitely ought to be doing this kind of work, and there are organisations which can help – such as Engineers Without Borders,[10] or Remap – a charity run by volunteer engineers who design and modify equipment especially for disabled people with specific needs.[11] It's possible for students to get some real world experience alongside helping people and so it’s worth talking to these organisations about possible final year projects or voluntary work experience during the holidays. When it comes to job opportunities though, this kind of work is either in short supply, badly paid or voluntary. But those should not be excuses to avoid considering voluntary work – especially if there are also significant opportunities to take the message of the gospel as we go.

But what about other types of engineering? Designing luxury gadgets for the UK market doesn't sound very Christian. And it doesn't feel very Biblical to work for a (Godless?) company that is just out to make money. Those sort of questions were rumbling around in my head during my final year university project. I was involved with testing and simulating a smart damper for a mountain bike suspension system. It's still the most interesting project I've ever been involved in as an engineer, and my supervisor invited me to carry on being involved in the project as a researcher after finishing my studies. One of the things that put me off going down this route long-term was that it felt a bit frivolous at the time. If God cares about the poor and the vulnerable and wants me to be involved in his mission, then shouldn't I be digging a well in Africa or something, rather than playing with some very expensive 'toy'? That was part of the reason I decided to take a job in the rail industry which I thought had a bit more ethical kudos. But looking back at the mountain bike project I think there were many positives to take out of it. The same type of smart dampers I was testing are actually installed in the framework of large buildings in Japan to provide earthquake vibration protection. I wonder if they saved anyone's life during the earthquake and tsunami in 2011? There's not a direct link, but I like to think that I've contributed something positive to the wider body of research for a technology that could literally be a lifesaver. That's without considering that promoting bike use in general is good for the planet (which God appointed humans to manage), good for the health of our bodies (which God created in his image, and if we're followers of Jesus, re-created to be the dwelling place of his Spirit) and even good as a sport for us to relax and enjoy God's world! So I've come round to the fact that whilst there were some elements of consumerism and hedonism in that project, there was plenty in it that was honouring to God in terms of what he made and redeemed us for.

In a similar vein, a Jaguar Land Rover engineer came and did a talk at my church – and he told us how he wrestled with feeling guilty about working on the Evoque – a gas guzzling 'Chelsea tractor'. In the end rather than just quitting and doing something that he thought was more ethical, he decided to stick it out and try to improve the environmental credentials of the car and company in general.

These stories might sound like a cop-out or a bit of self-justification – but there is a biblical precedent doing mission wherever God has put you. Nehemiah was employed by a Godless company (the Babylonian government). He worked diligently at his civil engineering project (rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem), but refused to compromise his faith in the face of difficulty, and was a witness to the transforming power of God in his community.[12]

Engineering for the Kingdom of God or for Myself?

Although it's easy for Christians to have too negative a view of engineering, we ought not to think too highly of it (or ourselves) either. I get the monthly Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) magazine, Professional Engineer, and if there's one topic that you can guarantee comes up in almost every issue, it's a moan about how engineers are underpaid and undervalued. "Nobody knows what I do." "Most people think the most famous engineer is the car mechanic on East Enders." We like to justify our profession as not only the most important: "Manufacturing is the heart of the export economy", but also the most virtuous: "Engineers have done more for the health of the UK than doctors" (designing sewerage and clean water systems and thus reducing water-borne disease being the prime argument behind that one). This quote from an article entitled 'Only technical talent can save the world' is typical of this kind of thinking:

There are two fundamental problems faced by the world today – global warming and depletion of natural resources. And both of those challenges can only be solved through technological innovation. That is why it is absolutely imperative that we encourage young people in the UK to opt for a career in engineering. Only if we have the necessary numbers of young engineers coming into the profession will we be able to tackle the key issues that we face as a society.[13]

Even if engineering is a positive thing to do, we ought not to have such an inflated view of technology (and our abilities), or a misunderstanding of the nature of the problems in our world. Technical talent can honour God, it can advance his mission and help to curb the effects of sin – but only Jesus can save the world. Do we understand that whilst engineering can be part of God's mission, the world's problems are deeper than simply technological ones – it's as deep as the evil in the human heart. That is something only Jesus Christ can engineer a solution for – through his death and resurrection. The Hatfield rail accident had many causes, but one major problem was the two companies passing the buck to avoid the track repair costs.[14] Money was the prized value, not people. Jesus said you cannot serve both God and money, and that the love of it is one root of all kinds of evil. Although in this case the evil was ingrained in the organisational structure, it was made by people, and people need their hearts turned towards God and away from money.

One of my very first projects in my job in the rail industry was a safety improvement. To be honest it was little more than a big tie wrap and a bent piece of metal, but you would not believe the amount of (design) work (and lots of waiting around...) that went into something so simple. If you saw it, you'd not call it particularly exciting, elegant or world changing. If you happened to be travelling on the particular train it's installed on, you'd never know it was there, let alone that yours truly designed it. Gone are the days of Brunel when one man got all the fame and honour – engineering is very much a team effort, and the designers are mostly anonymous to the end user. Engineering recruitment adverts tend to show off the aesthetically pleasing side of the job – and there is some really cool technology to study and develop – but sometimes engineering is just dirty and a bit rough. I'm thinking especially about my student placement in the steelworks, where the air was thick with grime and metal dust – so I was always sneezing black snot! So, often an engineer’s work is behind the scenes; and sometimes it's just not that glamorous. But why are we working or studying engineering? For our career advancement or a pay rise? For people to pat us on the back and saying what a fantastic contribution we make to society? For people to envy how cool our job is? Or do we genuinely desire to help people through use of our engineering skills? Will we be happy to do a diligent job for the boss – God – even if we get dirty and little recognition from our peers in the process?

In Summary...

Ultimately, whatever our subject of study or profession there are going to be particular pressures to conform to the culture around us. The call to follow Jesus is not just to avoid these pitfalls, but to honour him through our day to day work. The secular world sees sustainability, environmental care, labour- and life-saving solutions positively, but followers of Jesus have even more reason to do engineering along these principles. We follow a God who made the world to be utilised but not trashed, and where people matter more than products. We're not all going to be making blankets out of crisp packets for the poor in Bolivia[15] but every Christian can bring the values of God's kingdom into the lab, the shop floor and the office.

A Dose of Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7 NIV

The Hebrew word used here for fear suggests reverence and awe. A person seeking wisdom is willing to bow down to God simply because of the awe and respect they feel for Him. This phrase also suggests total dependence on God.

I am reminded of my relationship with my earthly father. My Daddy was a wonderful man whom I loved with all my heart and respected so much. He was the perfect example of a godly father. Highly respected in our community, he was a fair and wise man. Yet I knew my boundaries with him. I had a proper fear of him. Not the kind born of a bad experience (unless you would call the holy discipline of spanking ‘bad’), but rather awe and respect for him. I loved him with all my heart and desired to please him. This is the ‘fear’ of which the Bible speaks.

Our culture does not teach this kind of fear or respect, therefore, it is a concept many people do not fully understand. Respect means that I trust the other person and esteem them, or hold them in high regard. It also means that I am willing to be submissive to another person. Oh yes, the 'S' word--submit. To respect another causes one to desire to please that person and perhaps even emulate them.

As Proverbs 1:7 tells us, a fool does not feel the need to respect God and therefore lacks the wisdom and knowledge that comes only from God. In fact, the fool chooses to go the opposite direction from wisdom.

I like this quote from Walter Lippman:

"It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf."

The fool is like a deaf audience. He has no way to gain wisdom because he doesn’t understand or respect the way to wisdom, which is the Lord. The fool refuses to submit to God because he doesn't trust God.

When I fear the Lord and walk before Him in respect, He makes me so much wiser than I should be. Really, I am a blonde underneath the Miss Clairol on my head, so sometimes I am stunned by the wisdom that God gives me.

I don’t want to be a fool!

How about you?

Let’s learn to respect, trust and submit to God in order to get a dose of WISDOM.

What Is God's Purpose for Man?

If you go back to Genesis, you find God telling men to "be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion..." (Genesis 1:28). God wants man to be fruitful. That can mean reproduction in terms of having children, but it also means spiritual reproduction. It means bearing fruit for the Lord, producing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23).

God wants human beings to increase and grow. Artificial limits on growth are not biblical. The concept of zero growth, for example, is not biblical; and the concept of the socialist-type government, which puts arbitrary controls on a man's ability to make money or create or invent, is not biblical. God wants man to be a fruitful, creative, reproducing individual.

God also wants men to have dominion over Satan. He wants us, as His representatives, to subjugate Satan. Jesus Christ gave us that authority. He wants us to do away with the works of Satan--to take away poverty, to lift the yoke of oppression, and to take away ignorance and lack of faith. He wants us to bring a blessing to people and to liberate them from the forces that would destroy them.

Then, when we have taken dominion over the things that will hurt our fellow man, He wants us to take dominion over the earth. We are to have dominion over the streams and the air, and the fields and the birds, and the animals in our world. We are not supposed to pollute the streams and befoul the air and rip up the minerals in this earth just for personal gain. We are supposed to be intelligent stewards, under God, of all these things. God wants us to manage the world as His sons and daughters. He wants us to bring about righteousness in this world. Our main purpose for being on earth is to be stewards of God's creation, to grow in God, and to function as God's sons and daughters.

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Presbyterians say that man's chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The mandate in Genesis to take dominion has no meaning apart from giving glory to God. We are to be subject to Him, to love Him, to walk with Him, and to have fellowship with Him.

The prophet Micah sums it up when he says, "And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8)?

Trusting God

In God I Trust

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

My life verses are Proverbs 3:5-6. What are life verses? Simply, they are favored verses that hold a deep meaning to us. What do these verses mean to me? They are how I live my life. They guide my life. They are my default verses. When I am faced with choices, struggles, and uncertainties—I run to these verses and apply them to each present situation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Trust is vital. Trust is faith in action. Trust is the essence of faith and the essence of my walk—my relationship with God. God has built trust deep into my being, and it lies at the core of how I live my life.

And lean not on your own understanding. We need to understand that we are not going to go through life doing things our own way — not in a trusting relationship with God — we will have a divided heart if we try. That is what I have learned. It was a valuable lesson when I learned to just let go of my own way and go His way. My heavenly Father knows best.

In all your ways acknowledge Him. Believe God is who He says He is and make Him Lord of your life. See His Holiness. See His majesty and power. See every knee bowed low one day. He is God. He is in control. He is sovereign.

And He shall direct your paths. My life is in His hands. As I follow Him I am going where He is leading and this is how I know I am where I am supposed to be, and going where I am supposed to be going. Even the twists and turns are sovereignly being navigated by God as I yield my heart and life to His will.

There is power to live the Christian life in these two amazing verses. As you read these familiar verses again today, I pray they plant themselves deep in your heart and grow an unshakable and lasting trust in the Lord your God.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Powerful Living Peace

Keys to Powerful Living: Peace

Peace: Finding God's Complete Rest For Your Life

It's a search that drives men and nations to great extremes -- the search for peace.

So much of our time, energy and resources are consumed with trying to find and keep peace with family members, friends and neighbors.

But often, no matter how hard we try, peace eludes us. The war in our minds and hearts rages on and on. Where can we find peace?

The War Within

If you are having trouble finding peace in your life, you must first understand the source of the conflict that is troubling you. This war within has little to do with your surroundings and has everything to do with your soul.

The Bible says that, apart from Christ, we are "far from God." We are actually His enemies (Col. 1:21).

Since mankind was originally created for fellowship with God (Gen. 3:8, Gen. 5:1), this separation from Him robs us of peace. Our own sinful actions leave us "without hope and without God" (Eph. 2:12).

The Prince of Peace

But God did not abandon us as if we were strangers. Because of His great love, God sent His only Son to restore peace between Himself and man and to die on the cross for our sins, enabling all men to come to God the Father through Him (John 3:16-18).

The Bible calls Jesus the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). He came to earth to bridge the gap between sinful man and a Holy god. "For He Himself is our peace." The Apostle Paul said, "and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall" (Eph. 2:14 NASB).

You can end your own separation from God by yielding your life to the Prince of Peace. Only then can you have perfect peace in the midst of troubled times in this world (John 14:27; Phil 4:6-7).

If you have never known real peace, then turn to Jesus right now in prayer. It's very simple. In fact, it's your right! The Bible says, "Some people accepted Him and put their faith in Him. So He gave them the right to be the children of God" (John 1:12). Become His child today!

The Promise of Peace

Every day will bring new challenges to your peace. But every day also holds a new promise of peace from God that is totally unlike the peace the world offers.

Jesus said, "I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It is not like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid" (John 14:27).

As we learn to walk each day in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will begin to experience the peace that is promised as part of the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22; Isaiah 32:17). Every time anxiety creeps into our lives, we can turn to the Lord and "God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand" (Phil. 4:7).

Enemies of Peace

But just as the devil tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, so, too, he tempts Christians to forsake God's promise of peace. In his warfare against our souls (1 Peter 2:11), Satan uses every strategy at his disposal to sidetrack us and rob us of our peace (John 10:10). This is one of the primary missions that he and his demonic host have (1 Peter 5:8).

The enemy fights us every day through the situations and people we encounter. Satan also battles us in our internal thoughts and feelings (1 Tim. 3:7; 2 Tim. 2:22-26; 1 John 3:7-10, 12-15).

Despite these fierce battles for our peace, we can be assured that God delights in His children and helps us maintain our peace. Through Christ, we can come to God as our "Abba," or "Daddy," knowing that His love and His peace are perfect.

Ensuring Your Peace

If you are struggling to find peace, you are not alone. Consider the following scriptural advice to help you find, or regain, that missing peace:

1. Change your focus. The Bible instructs us to fix "our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete" (Heb. 12:2). As we change our focus -- off of our problems and onto the Lord -- His peace will fill our lives.

2. Change your circumstances. Sometimes it is necessary to take a break from the things that trouble us, even for brief periods of time. Even great men and women of God have at times experienced times of devastating discouragement (1 Kings 19:3-5; 2 Cor. 4:7-10). Try altering your physical setting for a short time. Also, take a close look at your lifestyle. You may be lacking peace simply because you are not following God's pattern for rest.

3. Change your attitude. Are you facing a difficult situation? The Bible says, "Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do" (1 Thes. 5:18). Begin to thank God right now and soon you will experience His peace in the midst of the storm.

As You Pray

"Dear Lord Jesus, I am lacking Your perfect peace. Please help me to turn my heart and mind toward You. I know that I am involved in a spiritual battle and that the enemy seeks to destroy the peace I can have with God. Forgive me, Lord, for seeking peace apart from You and strengthen me according to Your Word. Amen."

God's Word on Peace

"Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel" (Phil. 4:6,7).

Scriptures for Study

Psalm 23:1-6 -- A portrait of peace

John 14:1-27; Ephesians 2:14-22 -- Establishing peace in Jesus

Romans 8:6; Ephesians 4:1-3 -- Peace in the Holy Spirit

Choices

Home

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, ...” Philippians 3:8 NIV

For the past few years, my husband and I have been searching for a new house. Our real estate agent tried to meet our needs. She took us out on several occasions, but each time we walked away empty.

Then one night while I was searching on the internet, I stumbled across the listing for a move-in ready spec house. Under the picture, it stated there was an open house the very next day. Since it seemed to be just what we were looking for, we decided to stop in and check it out.

As we pulled into the drive, I was almost speechless, “I think we found it,” I exclaimed…” With not even a step through the door, my husband said the exact same thing. Once over the threshold, we both stopped in amazement. It was perfect. Colors, décor, and even the layout of the home was exactly what we wanted.

You see, just as the real-estate agent thought that she knew what we wanted – each house came short of our expectation. Well, the enemy thinks he knows what we need also. He throws many things our way. He tricks us into believing that the things of this world will give us pleasure and meet our needs. But God created each of us with a vacuum that only He can fill. We try to fill it with all the things of this world that we think will make us happy, but the truth is, nothing will sustain us until we find Him.

I love what Paul shares with us in Philippians,

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ ...” Philippians 3:8-9 NIV

How true. Just as Paul was willing to give up everything, he knew that nothing could ever surpass what he found in Christ. In 2 Corinthians, Paul also reminds us,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

What a freeing feeling that is! To know that once we accept Christ, the old is gone and we become a new creation in Him. The things that were important to us before, will never bring the same satisfaction again.

Just like trying to find the right house, although we searched and searched, we always came up empty. Life is the same. We can spend our entire lives searching for love, for happiness, and for all the things that we think will bring us fulfillment. Only when we understand that the things of this world are a false pretense of what true happiness is, will we be able, to proclaim as Paul, “I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.” Phil 3:9 NIV

What are you searching for? What are you doing/using, to find fulfillment and acceptance in your life? Maybe today is the day to lay it all down, and try Jesus. Take a second to search your soul and ask the Lord Jesus to come in and take residence to fill that empty spot that only He can fill. Let go. Let go and try Jesus; what do you have to lose, but to be like Paul who says, “for whose sake I have lost all things that I may gain Christ!”

Prayer: Dear God, I have tried all the things of this world to satisfy myself. Although they lasted for a time, I always just felt empty inside. Thank you for providing Your Son, Jesus to bring me the peace, the love and the joy I can only find in Him.

A Christian Life

Choosing a Church

What is church?

Church is the "body of Christ." It can be a group of two or three Christians meeting in a house, or an assembly of hundreds meeting in a beautiful sanctuary. According to Matthew 18:19-20, as long as we gather together in Jesus' name, He will be in our midst.

Why is church membership so important?

As a Christian, it is essential to your spiritual growth to fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:25). We should not be isolated from the rest of the body of Christ, but should share our gifts and our wisdom for the benefit of all (1 Corinthians 12:7). Worshipping together unites our voices and spirits in praise. Hearing the Word of God from the pulpit feeds us scripturally and spiritually. Congregational prayer encourages the sharing of our burdens, while drawing support and strength from members of our church "family." ("Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ." Galatians 6:2) Finally, testimonies about God's work in the lives of others encourages our faith.

How do you find a local church that is right for you?

Finding a church that is right for you and your family is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, and then consider the following important factors:

Fellowship. Most active churches conduct Sunday morning and evening worship and mid-week services. Other opportunities for fellowship should involve people of all ages, such as children's clubs, youth groups, and adult gatherings. Church picnics, vacation Bible school, and annual Christmas and Easter programs often contribute to the year's activities. Bible studies or home fellowship groups will help you meet other church members and help you to grow in your faith. Children shouldn't be left out, either. Look for clean nursery facilities and attentive, caring nursery workers. Older children will eagerly attend and participate in a lively Sunday School with a strong emphasis on Christian training.

Leadership. Can you respect the pastor? Are the church leaders demonstrating a life style you would want to follow? (Hebrews13:17). They should know God and believe and preach the Bible.

Ministry. How can you minister to others? Look for a place where you can not only be served, but one where you can serve and contribute your talents. Aside from teaching and singing, many churches need people with organizational, leadership and planning skills.

Doctrine. Select a church that believes that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of Christians today. This view includes the power of prayer for salvation, healing and God's intervention in the lives of individuals. A time of worship, praise and prayer should be a central part of the service. Not to be overlooked are a strong missions program and outreach to the disadvantaged.

Church Size. Whether you choose a small or a large church depends on your personal and family needs and on where the Holy Spirit guides you. The intimacy of a smaller church offers a greater opportunity for individual care and a chance to develop relationships within the body. Larger churches possess the capacity, financing, talents, numbers and other resources to undertake larger projects.

Ultimately, you should worship in a place where you feel the presence and the power of God. Through His power, you will grow and develop into the person God wants you to be, ready to meet the challenges of daily living. And as an active member of a church family, your life will also be enriched through the many blessings and the transforming power of united worship.

Scripture references are taken from the New American Standard translation of the Bible.

Bible Truth Sharing

Inspirational Bible Verses

The Word of God is full of hope. These selected inspiring Bible verses remind us of God's relationship with us, his plans for us and his mighty power. God offers us the only true way to inner peace. These inspirational scriptures assure us of God's passion for his people.

Reassurance

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1, NLT

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8, NLT

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, NLT

For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11, NLT

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13, NLT

Encouragement

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28, NLT

Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3. NLT

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Zephaniah 3:17, NLT

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9, NLT

Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:2, NLT

God's Awesome Power

The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1, NLT

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him.Psalm 66:5-6, NLT

The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. Psalm 37:39, NLT

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Matthew 19:26, NLT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13, NLT

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7, NLT

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse