Category: Christian Life

Money, Faith, and the Fruit of the Spirit: A Christian’s Guide to Financial Wisdom

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

As Christians, we’re called to grow closer to Jesus, allowing His life and teachings to shape every part of our lives—including how we handle money. The way we manage our finances can reflect Christ and influence those around us, especially in a world where many are struggling with financial stress.

Money is simply a tool—it helps us navigate life and conduct business—but it should never be the focus of our lives. Your worth is not determined by how much you have in the bank; it’s rooted in the truth that you were created by God, who loves you deeply. The way we handle money, however, should reflect God’s heart, shining His light in a world full of need.

In this blog, we’ll explore how the Fruit of the Spirit can guide us in our approach to money. Think of this post as an overview—a beginner’s guide or refresher on how these biblical qualities intersect with our financial lives. Over the coming weeks, I’ll dive deeper into each characteristic, offering more insights and practical tips for applying these principles in your finances. This series can serve as a personal study, a group discussion for Sunday school, or a home group study to help you grow in both your financial stewardship and your walk with Christ.

Love

When you accept Christ, God’s love fills your heart. In fact, He calls us to love Him with all that we are: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Desiring money isn’t sinful, but loving it can be. When we place too much emphasis on acquiring wealth, we risk letting it take God’s rightful place in our hearts. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

When we love money more than God, it can lead to destructive behaviors like theft, fraud, or worse. As 1 Timothy 6:10 warns: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

How Love Shapes Our Financial Choices

Joy

We all want joy, but it’s different from happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances—it’s temporary, like the joy you feel when you receive good news. Joy, on the other hand, is deeper and more lasting. It comes from knowing our sins are forgiven and that we are part of God’s eternal family.

Romans 15:13 tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” This kind of joy isn’t dependent on money or possessions.

While an unexpected windfall may bring a moment of happiness, it can’t provide the lasting joy that only comes from Christ. As Jesus reminds us in Luke 6:23–24, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”

Joy: Embracing Contentment Through Generosity

Peace

True peace comes from knowing we are secure in Christ. As Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). No amount of money can provide that kind of peace.

Even the wealthiest people often feel insecure. Studies show that even multi-millionaires regularly feel that they need even more money to feel “secure.” King Solomon understood this when he wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:10: “Whoever loves money never has enough.”

True peace comes from trusting in God, not in wealth.

Peace: Letting Go of Financial Anxiety

Patience

Patience helps us avoid rushing into poor financial decisions. It allows wealth to grow over time and teaches us to wait before making big purchases until we can afford them. Without patience, we might impulsively invest in get-rich-quick schemes or fall into debt by buying things we can’t afford.

Proverbs 13:11 teaches, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” And Proverbs 22:7 reminds us, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a servant to the lender.” Patience and self-control in money management are key.

Patience Transforms Our Financial Journey

Kindness

Kindness means treating others as family—especially those in need. As God’s people, we’re called to show kindness by helping those less fortunate, both with our resources and our time. True kindness eases others’ burdens and points them to Christ.

Job 6:14 says, “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” Jesus also taught that when we serve the least among us, we are serving Him (Matthew 25:31-46).

Isaiah 58:6-7 explains that true fasting is about meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed. “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the poor who are cast out into your house?”

The Power of Kindness

Goodness

Goodness is about using what we have to fulfill God’s purpose, especially in helping others. James 4:17 tells us, “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” When we fail to care for others, especially the poor, we miss an opportunity to show God’s love.

1 John 3:17-18 challenges us: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Proverbs 21:13 warns that if we ignore the cries of the poor, God may not answer us in our own time of need. “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”

How Practicing Goodness Can Transform Your Finances

Faithfulness

God is faithful to provide for us, and we are called to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us. This includes being faithful to give—whether through tithing or supporting others in need. Malachi 3:8-10 reminds us that failing to tithe is like robbing God, and that He will bless those who are faithful in their giving.

Jesus also promises rewards for those who use their resources wisely. In Luke 19:17, the faithful servant is told, “Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”

The Reward of Faithfulness

Gentleness

Gentleness compels us to help others without making them feel ashamed. It’s easy to judge those in financial trouble, but the Bible calls us to restore them gently. Galatians 6:1 reminds us, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.”

As we help others, we must remember that our fortunes can change. Today, we may be the ones in a position to give, but tomorrow, we might need help ourselves (Proverbs 23:5). We should offer assistance discreetly and with humility, following the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).

Financial Help with a Gentle Heart

Self-Control

Self-control is essential for avoiding impulse spending and debt. It also applies to giving. While it’s important to be generous, we must be careful not to give beyond what we can afford, trusting that God will meet our needs (Philippians 4:19).

Jesus warned against giving to be seen by others. “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). Self-control in giving, just like in spending, helps us maintain balance.

Proverbs 21:17 reminds us that “He who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.” We must practice self-control in all areas of life to manage our resources well.

Steward-well blog

A Personal Bible Study on Money and the Fruit of the Spirit

As you reflect on the principles of money and the Fruit of the Spirit, I encourage you to take a moment to think about how each characteristic applies to your own financial life. The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t just a list of qualities to admire—it’s a call to live out the very nature of Christ in every area of life, including how we handle our finances.

Would you like to make this a personal study?
Consider printing out this blog and keeping it in your Bible as a reminder. You can use it for daily reflection or as a study guide with family or friends. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your financial life where you can grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ask God to give you wisdom as you apply these principles, and trust that as you do, He will bless your efforts and help you reflect His character in all you do.

Trusting God in an Uncertain Economy

A few days ago, I was feeling pretty good about the economy. The stock market has climbed above 37,000, and gasoline prices in my area have fallen to around $3 a gallon. Then, a friend mentioned that she has been delivering groceries and meals after work to make ends meet. She has a secure job with an average salary. Her husband operates their family-owned business. Yet, they are struggling to make ends meet. 

As I reflected on my friend’s story, I realized that several people in my life are working full-time jobs and then making deliveries or doing other side jobs in the evenings and on weekends. Increased inflation weighs on many consumers, and Americans continue to struggle with higher prices on food, rent, and restaurant meals.

Will the economy improve over the next few months? Or are we in for a stock market crash? Economists study several indicators and make predictions. They often disagree because the reality is that no person knows what the future holds. The bottom line is only God knows the future. 

When we put our trust in Him rather than our jobs or wealth, we can relax and live in peace regardless of what is happening in the world. The privilege of calling Christ your Lord involves walking with the One who holds your future in His hand. “Command those who are rich in this age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Timothy 6:17

When you trust God with your finances, you will have peace even when bad economic news impacts you personally. My trust in God allowed me to have peace when my husband was laid off from his job during the Great Recession in 2009. I could face whatever was coming our way, confident that God would take care of us. We are His children, and God cares for His children.

It is easy for me to say, “Trust God.” But it may be difficult for you to do that in your current circumstances. If you are having trouble trusting God for your future and finances, I encourage you to read and meditate on Psalm 71. The psalm illustrates some steps you can take to increase your faith.

Remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness. The psalmist is in trouble and needs God’s help. He begins in verse 1 by saying, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust.” He reminds himself that God protected him in his mother’s womb and throughout his youth. He then asks God to preserve him when he is old, and his strength fails. He builds up his trust in God as he recalls God’s faithfulness throughout his life.

Praise God for His goodness and His love. The psalmist shares his troubles with God in verse 13, but in verse 14, he reminds himself to give praise to God, “But I hope continually, and I will praise You yet more.” (Psalm 71:14). And he promises to tell others of God’s faithfulness and righteousness.

Declare that God is faithful and is the answer to your needs. “You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.” Psalm 71:20-21. The psalmist tells himself and others that the God who has watched over him in the past will do so again. 

Thank God for what He has done and what He will do. “Also, with the lute, I will praise You— and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You, I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long.” Psalm 71: 22 – 24

Whatever trials you are experiencing today, God is the answer. God does not promise to take all your troubles away. But He does promise to be faithful to care for you in your problems and to bring you safely through them.  

Please read some of my other blogs for more encouragement on trusting God with your finances. If you want to go deeper, my Bible study, Honoring God with Your Money, is an excellent resource.

Learning From Your Financial Struggles

Financial struggles are a reality for most people. You can learn from these challenging times whether the problem is something you created or from an external source like an employer who laid you off or an extended hospital stay. Perhaps you invested in an opportunity that seemed to be sound but failed. Whatever the cause of your struggles, it is easy to blame yourself and feel that God is punishing you. What feels like punishment, however, may be God bringing you through a situation to draw you closer to Him.

Recently, I met with a client who shared that his passion for helping people facing food insecurities arose from a time when his finances were tight. The tenderness in his heart directly resulted from his own struggle with money. God saw him through that period and has blessed him, so now he can be a blessing to others. You can turn your personal struggles into a way to bless others. 

If you are going through financial challenges, remember that they will not last forever. You may feel like you are in a pit you will never escape. Try asking God what He wants to show you through this struggle. Remember, many of us have walked through lean financial times. 

Let’s look at what we can learn from financial challenges. 

Ask For Help from God: Learn to depend more fully on God. God cares about every aspect of your life. He wants us to rely on Him entirely. He might even use your financial challenges to remind us that He is all we need. The Lord cares for you and will take care of you. Start by asking Him for what you need. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

Open Your Heart: Like the client I mentioned above, God uses your time of struggle to open your eyes to the needs of others. If you have experienced homelessness, God may call you to minister to the homeless. If you have been out of work for a time, God may call you to start a business and create jobs. God uses our experiences to give us the insights needed to help others currently in those situations.

Accept The Challenge: Realize that you may be able to live on much less than you had previously thought. Financial challenges force us to make changes to our budgets and lifestyles. You may need to cut premium television channels or not dine out to make ends meet. Rise to the challenge, and you will emerge stronger and able to live comfortably with fewer amenities than before.

Change Your Focus: If your financial challenges mean you must dine out less, embrace cooking at home with your spouse and children. If you must cut back on television and streaming services, pull out a deck of cards or board games and spend quality time with those you love. If your clothing budget has shrunk, make a game out of going to thrift stores to find gently used clothing items that you need. Financial struggles can reawaken your spirit to what is important and give you a better quality of life.

Search For Free: Learn to appreciate “free” activities and quality time with family. Many activities in life do not cost money that you may have overlooked when you had more discretionary spending. Check to see if your community offers free concerts in the park or movie nights; visit state and national historic sites; take bike rides around your neighborhood; attend VBS and other free activities put on by local churches; or spend an afternoon geocaching.  

Receive Humbly: Humble yourself and accept help from others. No matter where you live, you should have access to a local food pantry that will provide food to help you during your down times. Local churches often distribute food at accessible locations throughout your community. Additionally, your local utility may have a program to help those struggling; our utility encourages its customers to donate a few dollars a month to help those in need. If you are struggling to pay rent, you may be able to get help from your church. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”  God often uses others to meet our needs, but we must make our needs known.

Generate Gratitude: Develop an increased level of gratitude for all that you have and God has done for you. Financial struggles are not enjoyable. Yet, for most of us, they are short-lived. And even in our darkest times, we have much more than people in other countries. Try to focus on what you can afford rather than on what you do not have now.

If you are facing a financial struggle right now, please pray, ask God for help, and let others know of your need. If God is blesses you financially in this season, ask Him how you can bless others. Take a few minutes this week to reflect on what you have learned during past times of struggle. Thank God for His care for you, and consider how you can be His hands extended to others in need

Is College a Good Investment for Your Child?

Many high school students automatically plan to attend college without genuinely considering their alternatives. The U. S. Census Bureau reports that while 59% of all Americans start college, 24% drop out without having earned a degree or a certification. Parents must convey the whole picture about the time and money required to earn a degree or a certificate in a specialized program. If God has called your child into a profession requiring college, they need to pursue the education with the knowledge of the steps it will require. Your job as a parent is to show them all the options. An opening question should be, Is college a good investment for you?

Father and daughter considering career options

Cost of Continuing Your Education

If they decide to pursue education beyond high school, you should help them count the costs and determine which path is best. Take some time to sit down with your son or daughter and add up college costs. Here are a few talking points:

  • Tuition, books, and registration fees
  • Room and board, if you live on campus
  • Fees to participate in sports, fraternities or sororities, clubs, and activities
  • Travel to and from school, if you do not live on campus
  • Foregone income from delaying full-time work while completing your education

Minimizing the Costs of Education

There are ways to make college or a certification program more affordable. Some of these are:

  • Attending a college close to home and commuting rather than living on campus
  • Attending a local community college to get your Associate’s Degree before transferring to a four-year college
  • Earning college credits while in high school through AP classes and dual-enrollment programs
  • Knowing what your goals are in attending college. Many people waste time and money by taking classes without real purpose, or they switch colleges and lose some of their credits.
  • Taking classes online from home
  • Working part-time or full-time while taking classes
  • Earning a vocational certificate rather than a two-year or four-year degree

As you pray with your child about their career path, you should consider vocational alternatives to careers that require college degrees. Many professional service provider careers are in high demand and pay well. There will always be a need for plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and welders. These careers require training beyond high school, but they can learn on the job through apprenticeship programs. This is also true for heavy machine operators and some IT professions. Your son or daughter may be able to earn a cosmetology license or skilled labor certificate while in high school if the school offers those programs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 169 occupations require a bachelor’s degree, and another 100 require a Master’s or higher degree. On the other hand, there are about 100 occupations that require an associate’s degree or vocational certification and about 425 that do not need any formal education beyond a high school diploma  https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/article/education-level-and-openings.htm

As you consider together whether college is in their future, they should only go if it makes wise financial sense and if it aligns with God’s plans for their life. Suppose God has called your child to be a physician, a teacher/professor, an attorney, a minister, or many other careers. In that case, he or she must spend many years gaining the necessary education. However, if God has called him or her to be a businessperson, an inventor, a writer, a hairstylist, a plumber, an electrician, or one of many other careers, they may need only to obtain vocational training or on the job training.

If you sit with your child and connect with their visions and goals, they are more likely to make an educated decision about their future. Often, kids get to college and flounder because they don’t know what major to declare. Advisors can persuade them to take all their electives and then decide. However, a community college is a smart alternative if that is the case. Students can complete their electives much cheaper and then move to a state college to declare a major. 

The Bible tells us that God has a beautiful plan for each person’s life. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” God prepared your child to do the work He designed them to complete. He has empowered your child with the skills and desire to do that work. Allow Him to show you and your child His plans and then help your child prepare to fulfill those plans by obtaining the training or education needed to achieve those plans.

Why More Money Is Not the Solution to Your Anxieties

Are you struggling with financial stress, low self-esteem, depression, or marital discord? People often believe the solution to their stress and unhappiness is more money. Do you often think, “If I only had more money, I would be happier?” Perhaps you imagine winning the lottery and believe all your burdens and financial problems would melt away. Would all your troubles disappear and your attitude permanently change? 

Are extremely wealthy people happier? The rich and famous may have more earthly treasures, but this does not lead them to greater happiness or satisfaction. Many studies have shown that extreme wealth is a hindrance to happiness. American author, Graeme Wood, wrote an article in The Atlantic entitled “Secret Fears of the Super-Rich.” The piece included a behind-the-scenes look at a project that asked wealthy individuals, those with a net worth above $25 million, to write freely about their deepest concerns. The stunning revelation to most readers was that the participants faced many anxieties, including isolation, worries about work and their families, and insecurities about their wealth. Graeme Wood concluded, “The respondents turned out to be a generally despondent lot, whose money had contributed to deep anxieties involving love, work, and family). (The Atlantic, April 2011 issue). Since the release of the landmark project on wealth and happiness, more recent studies have verified these conclusions.

Let us not overlook the idea that some may be in a desperate position and struggle daily to provide the basic necessities of life for themselves. They will likely have some anxieties that money or access to the essentials could resolve. Otherwise, money is not your answer to your worries. 

Life is full of many challenges, and Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have trouble.” John 16:33. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the solution to reducing and managing your anxieties. However, the Bible does not suggest that all your troubles disappear once you have a relationship with Jesus. The scriptures offer a solution to managing our anxiety and lifting the burden of worry. 

Abie Kulynych, a pastor and author, believes one way we can reduce our anxieties is by actively remembering God’s provisions in the past. In his devotional “Thou Art with Me, Volume 2,” he discussed how the nation of Israel became anxious about their needs being met, despite God supplying them with manna daily.  “For Israel, there came a point where gathering manna was simply what they did rather than what God had done for them. They were so accustomed to the miracle that they forgot it was miraculous. What if the key to quieting the voice of anxiety is constantly reminding ourselves of God’s goodness? What if Israel, every morning, when they walked out into the open places to gather their manna, had stopped and said, “Look what God has done for us today?” What if we did more than count our blessings? What if we recounted them? I’m not talking about telling our story to someone else, but telling it to ourselves, regularly, daily, constantly. I think that if we told our testimony to ourselves more often, we’d have more opportunities to share it with others.” (Page 317, Commentary on Psalm 149)

God blesses each of us daily. If we reflect on God’s blessings and His past provisions, we will be more likely to trust Him to meet our future needs. God wants us to trust Him. He does not want us to be anxious but to come to Him with our needs.  

God instructed the Israelites to record their blessings and to remind their children of God’s faithfulness in the past. We need to incorporate that command in our lives and with our children. 

Here are a few suggestions to start recording God’s faithfulness in your life: 

  1. Create a blessings journal.
  2. Read your journal regularly to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.
  3. Share stories of God’s provisions with your children to increase their faith and trust in God to meet their needs.
  4. Place notes around the house to remind you to take all your needs to God in prayer. He wants you to ask for His help and is delighted to answer your prayers and meet your needs.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have not yet experienced the peace of God. I urge you to accept Jesus’s free gift of salvation and experience the true peace that can only come by knowing that your sins are forgiven, and you will spend eternity in Heaven. Guidance on how to take this life-changing step is in the link “Basics of Salvation.”

My Bible study, Honoring God with Your Money, is a great resource to help you understand how to manage your money better and achieve your financial goals. It is available on Amazon. If you would like to receive my quarterly newsletter with tips on managing your money, please complete this short form: Honoring God with Your Money (list-manage.com)

Remembering God’s Past Faithfulness

Recently I read a commentary on Psalm 103. The article reminded me of one of my anniversary trips and the magnitude of God’s provision for the cost of the vacation. The commentator focused on Psalm 103: 1 – 2, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”  The author, Abie Kulynych, wrote that to “forget not” is to keep something front and foremost in your mind and hearts. He writes, “What would your thanksgiving sound like if you started at the beginning and worked your way back to today?”

Man standing on mountain looking at a mountain range

As I read those words, I reflected on the time when my husband and I could pay for our 17-day anniversary trip to Alaska even though he had been unemployed for over two years. I felt the Holy Spirit encourage me to share the details of God’s generosity with our grown children. While they knew of our extended trip to Alaska and that their father had been unemployed, I wanted them to ponder how astounding it was that God provided for us to take the anniversary trip. As I began to share, I also included other instances of God’s financial blessings which occurred before they were born or when they were too small to remember.

Three lengthy psalms follow Psalm 103; they deal with the need to recall God’s faithfulness and the problems that occur when we fail to remember. In Psalm 104, he first recounts how God met all our needs by creating the world in an orderly fashion. In Psalm 105, David provides a long list of how God led and blessed Israel. In Psalm 106, he looks at Israel’s failure to remember God’s blessings and provision for them. The Israelites became dissatisfied and, at some points, even desired to return to their life of slavery in Egypt because they did not follow God’s command to remember and memorialize the miracles He performed for them. 

God dwelt with Israel, yet they took their attention off Him and put it on their problems. God abides with us, yet we are just as prone to focus on our lack and our issues rather than on the abundance God provides for us. It is essential for us to “forget not all his benefits.” Start at the beginning and ask God to bring to mind all the ways He has provided for you and your family. I intend to create a written record for my children and grandchildren. Here are a few entries to get me started:

  • When I was applying to graduate schools, the school of my choice accepted me but did not offer me any financial assistance. One of my undergrad professors called the school and convinced them that I was deserving of a scholarship. Not only did I receive an excellent scholarship, but the school also waived my out-of-state tuition for my entire graduate school program.
  • No apartments were available when we applied to live in married student housing. God made one available just two months into our first semester. The rent was half of our previous rent, and utilities were included.
  • When we purchased our first home, the interest on a fixed-rate mortgage was 13%. We asked God for wisdom, leading us to accept a variable-rate mortgage at 8%. The following year, interest rates fell dramatically, and our mortgage payments dropped by $200 a month. We lived in the house for ten years, and our mortgage payments never reached their original level. We saved many thousands of dollars by not getting a fixed-rate mortgage.

God has likely moved in your life in similar ways. You can ask Him to help you bring these incidents to mind and record them. When needs arise, read your list and meditate on God’s faithfulness. This practice places your heart in a position to ask God to meet your current needs. It will also create a spirit of thankfulness in your heart.

My new novel, Letters to Mother from College, recounts God’s faithfulness in bringing my parents together and helping my mother to learn to follow God’s plan for her life. If you have never considered that God loves you and created you for a purpose, you may not have experienced the joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior and having your sins forgiven. Please click on Basics of Salvation in the tool bar above to learn how you can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

Honoring Someone You Lost

Years ago, my husband and I owned a pizza restaurant.  Over time, many of our regular customers turned into friends.  One couple had suffered the loss of their son in an automobile accident.  At the time of his accident, he was a high senior planning to attend college.  His parents wanted to honor him and keep his memory alive, so they created a scholarship fund named after their son.  Each year, a local student would be awarded the scholarship to cover one year’s tuition at the college their son wanted to attend.

Flowers and the words Honoring Someone You Lost and Ideas to Avoid

The first year it was easy for them to raise money to fund the scholarship.  As the years passed, the challenge grew to fully fund the endeavor.  When we first met them, their son had been dead for several years.  His high school friends had graduated from college and moved on with their lives.  Fewer people were donating to his fund, so the parents held several events each year to raise the  scholarship money. The ongoing efforts to raise the funds consumed more and more of their time and prevented the parents from moving forward with their lives.  What began as a beautiful gesture to honor their son and bless a student in his name, ended up being a weighted burden to fund raise to meet the obligation.

In my job as a business consultant, I occasionally meet with a client who wants to establish a foundation to provide a scholarship in honor of a deceased loved one.  I educate my client on the process of establishing a foundation while stressing the difficulty of sustaining a scholarship over many years.  If an individual is independently wealthy, a trust can be set up and the interest used to fund the scholarship.  Otherwise, it is an endless process of holding fund raising events and soliciting donations.  In these instances, I think back to the family who frequented our pizza restaurant.

Over 50 years ago, my seven-year-old brother passed away due to a congenital heart condition.  While my parents were heartbroken over the loss of their first-born son, they were also thankful to God for sending John into our family.  John’s life and death drew many of our family members into deeper relationships with God. My parents wanted to honor John’s memory in a way that would glorify God. So, we sold vegetables that we grew and donated the money to build seven churches in Africa and India.   The money we raised paid for the building materials, and the members of the churches provided the labor.  I will never know the impact of those churches made in the lives of others until I am in Heaven; however, I am quite confident that the church members were blessed and that these churches  helped to spread the gospel and point people to Jesus.

I believe my parents’ example offers structure for others who strive to remember their loved ones.  The following suggestions will help you step through the process of finding a way to honor someone you have lost.

  1. Set a fixed goal, rather than a scholarship that will go on into perpetuity.  This allows you to have a natural end to your efforts.  Our family built one church for each year of my brother’s life.
  2. Be prepared to work hard.  Raising money is hard work, no matter how you raise it. In our case, we grew vegetables and we went door-to-door selling them over two summers.  Even if you write letters or hold a GoFund me campaign, you will have to put forth quite a bit of effort to accomplish your goal.
  3. Raise money by offering a product or service people actually want.  The number of people who cared about your loved one, like you did, is not often large enough to annually sustain a revolving fund. Those who did may donate cash, but you will likely have to hold fundraising events and/or sell products to reach your goal.
  4. Select a memorial that will be long lasting and in line with your loved one’s passions.  I know another set of parents who honored their son’s memory by donating a scoreboard for his high school baseball field. Their son was on the baseball team, a scoreboard was within their means without having to raise funds, and his name will be read by all who attend the games for as long as the scoreboard lasts.

It is correct and proper to mourn the loss of your loved one, and it may be right to do something tangible to honor their memory. The first thing you should do is pray.  Ask God how He would have you honor your loved one.  Then follow these steps to honor them in a way that does not become a burden to you emotionally or financially.

Biblical Guidelines for Helping Others

In Matthew 25, Jesus spoke to His followers about how important it is to show compassion and help those in need. He specified that we should help those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, imprisoned, in need of clothing, and foreigners. Jesus spoke of rewards for those who showed compassion by providing food, water, clothes, care, shelter, and companionship. However, nowhere did Jesus say we should simply hand out money to the poor and needy.

5 young people helping others by providing food, clothes, medicine, and love

There are many people today who are advocating giving monetary payments to people who are low-income earners, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Just this week, some politicians in Oregon proposed a $1,000 per month to such individuals. While it is hoped that this money will be used for food and shelter, there are no restrictions on how it can be spent. While this plan is well-intentioned, it is riddled with flaws, because it does not follow Biblical guidelines for helping those in need.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Bible encourages generosity toward those who are genuinely in need. At the same time, it discourages helping those who are able to work and provide for themselves but choose to be idle.

First and foremost, we are instructed to help members of our families who are in need, particularly the widows. We can read in 1 Timothy 5:3-4, “Give proper recognition to those widows who are in need. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents, for this is good and acceptable before God.” If the widow has no family and if she is older and unable to provide for herself, then the church is instructed to step in.

But, what does the Bible say about helping other people?

  1. We should meet their immediate needs with food, water, clothing, shelter, and companionship, as Jesus instructed. 1 John 3:17 warns us against seeing a brother in need and not helping meet that need. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
  2. We are commanded to provide opportunities for the poor and foreigners to work and provide for themselves and their family members. In Leviticus 19:9-10, the Lord commands the Israelites, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.” Notice, however, that the poor and needy were not given handouts. They were given access to the fields and vineyards, where food was available. But they had to do the harvesting themselves. They were able to eat because they did the work.
  3. In the book of Ruth, we see this principle in action. Ruth, a young widow provides for her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi, by going out to the fields and gleaning wheat. When Boaz, the field owner and a near relative of Naomi, saw her working, he told his men to leave more wheat for her to glean. He did not give her money or even provisions, but he made it easier for Ruth to provide for herself and Naomi. He also provided her with sustenance while she was in the fields working.
  4. In the fourth chapter of 2 Kings, we read a story about a poor widow whose two sons were going to be sold to pay her debts. God provided assistance through Elisha. Elisha did not pay the woman’s debts; instead, he instructed her to collect jars from her neighbors. Then he instructed her to pour the small amount of oil she had into the jars. The oil filled every jar. The woman could sell the oil to pay her debts and redeem her sons. God provided a miracle in that the oil did not run out until she had enough to sell. However, she had to make the effort to collect jars, pour the oil, and sell the oil.
  5. We are instructed to not help those who are lazy and refuse to work. In fact, God promises that such people will be poor. “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” Proverbs 28:19

God blessed Ruth and Boaz for their obedience, Ruth for working, and Boaz for leaving gleanings for the poor. They married and raised a family. Among their descendants were King David and Jesus Christ, our Savior. God also blessed the widow who obeyed and followed with the work Elisha told her to do.

Providing the poor and needy with opportunities to work and be productive is God’s plan for taking care of them. Those who cannot work do need to be cared for, but most people are able to do some type of work. Work produces self-esteem and confidence, as well as independence and financial freedom.

Perhaps those legislators in Oregon should take a second look at their plan. How can they assist homeless people in getting job skills that will allow them to escape perpetual poverty and homeless? Giving them unrestricted money will help some for the moment, but it is not a lasting solution.

When you are given the opportunity to help someone in need, pray and seek God’s solution. God will always make a way.

If you grapple with how to help others and whether to give to charitable causes, my blogs on generosity can provide you with godly guidance.

To learn more about how to honor God with your money and build treasure in Heaven, please click the Finances categories tab to find many blogs on money management, budgeting, and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great tool for financial money management.

Why You Should Record God’s Faithfulness in 2023

The Lord instructed Israel to create records and memorials to commemorate His blessings and to remind future generations of God’s faithfulness. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’” (Exodus 17:14) God was telling Moses to share with the next generation how He had saved Israel and to record it in a book for future generations.

In Joshua 4, the Israelites crossed over the Jordan Sea into the Promised Land. The Lord had Joshua command one man from each tribe to take a stone from the River bed. They constructed a memorial from the stones. The memorial was to remind future generations of God’s faithfulness. “That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-7)

This is a good idea for us today.  I encourage you to take note of when God blesses you and to record those blessings in a journal. Your blessings journal will serve as encouragement when you face challenging times.

Photo by Kristin Ball, Giraffe Tower Photography

My grandmother recorded blessings daily on sheets of paper. She usually just wrote just one sentence or a few words. We found many sheets of recorded blessings after she passed away. She clearly set aside time each day to reflect on how the Lord had blessed her that day. Some blessings were financial, but many more blessings of encouragement. She often recorded that a friend had dropped by for a visit or someone had offered to take her to the store (she did not drive) or to church. This exercise instilled in her a spirit of grateful and a recognition that God is working in our lives daily. These notes encourage me many years later.

I encourage you to develop a habit of pausing at the end of each day to reflect on how God has watched over you and blessed in that day. Writing down a blessing or two is a great way to end the day. Your record of blessings will one day serve as a reminder to your children and grandchildren to depend on the Lord and to fully trust him.

Perhaps you don’t have a personal relationship with God and have never considered that He loves you and that He blesses you daily. He does, and you can experience the joy of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior and having your sins forgiven simply by admitting that you are a sinner and accepting Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as punishment for your sins. Please click on Basics of Salvation in the tool bar above to learn how you can invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

Reflecting on My One Word

The My One Word campaign encourages people to choose a word that reflects what God has shown them He wants them to focus on in the coming year.  It is time to prayerfully consider your word for 2023.  My One Word for 2022 was Praise.  I have focused on praising God for who He is, what He is doing and has done, and the promise of what He will do.

Praise is the theme of many psalms. So, I spent much time in the book of Psalms. A friend gave me a copy of the two-volume work Thou Art with Me by Abie Kulynych. It is a reflection on God’s heart and nature as revealed by the the psalms. These daily devotions helped me to meditate on the depth of God’s love for us. I highly recommend these volumes. https://smile.amazon.com/Thou-Art-Me-Revealed-through/dp/1735592609/ref=sr_1_1?crid=N7122RM4VYYU&keywords=thou+art+with+me+abie+kulynych&qid=1672503951&sprefix=thou+art+with+me%2C%2Caps%2C1132&sr=8-1

cover of book, Thou Art with Me, by Abie Kulynych.

For 2023, my One Word is Reflect.  Reflect can mean to give back or show an image of; as a Christian, I want my words and deeds to reflect Christ.  Reflect can also mean to ponder or meditate, as in meditating on God’s Word.  The verse I have chosen for the year that embodies these combined ideas is Psalm 77:12. “I will also meditate on all Your work and talk of Your deeds.”

I encourage each of you to select a word that God has put on your heart to be your focus for 2023,. Great resources to help you find your word and grow through your word are available from My One Word (myoneword.org)

Logo for My One Word campaing. Tag line, Change Your Life with Just One Word.

Prayerfully consider the word God is putting on your heart and then please share your word and why you chose it.

What is your One Word for 2023?