.png)
Money is not the root of all evil and is actually the key to becoming a good Christian.
Jesus sought out and forgave the sinners but despised the hypocrites.
It is our responsibility as Christians to financially provide for our children and our grandchildren.
What can be worse than a non-believer?
Hypocrisy seemed to get under Jesus' skin more than sin. He went around preaching to those who were consumed by sin, and offered salvation.
He even gave his life, according to Paul, for the atonement for our sins.
The few times that we see Jesus actually get upset is when he is dealing with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
Jesus says in Matthew 23:13-15:
13"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation 15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Jesus wasn't playing. I've never seen so many exclamation points in a row.
But it was this outburst that made me think about my own salvation and my position in the sight of God.
How do we avoid being a son of hell?
How do we become good people in the eyes of God?
And how financially planning for your future aligns with the Word of God.
What is a good Christian?
If it was one thing Jesus preached, it was equality.
He didn't want you to call any one on Earth 'father', he didn't want you calling anyone 'teacher', and he didn't want you calling him 'good'. We are all equal and brothers under the sight of God.
These attributes are reserved for God. For he is the master of the day of judgment.
We have no right to tell someone if they are good or not. We don't make those judgments. Because God knows their hearts.
The Pharisees "looked" good, but they were evil to their core.
So what does God say about being a good person?
He says in Proverbs 13:22 -
22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children.
So one attribute of a good man is one that is able to support himself, his children, and his grandchildren.
But to support our family, we need money. And I thought money was the root of all evil.
Money Is The Root of All Evil
"Money is the root of all evil" has to be one of the most misquoted scriptures in the Bible when it comes to money. Not only is this short phrase abridged. It neglects the accountability God has placed on the Christian.
Here is the full scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10
10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. Not money itself.
And the problem only occurs when you covet money, only THEN have you turned your back on the faith.
Why?
It says in Exodus 20:17-
17"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."
And when would you need money?
To trade for something that is owned by someone other than yourself (your neighbor).
So this coveting of money, goes against biblical principles.
And in the breaking of this commandment, the believer has turned from the faith and caused himself pain and suffering.
Now how do we reconcile this in our hearts?
On one hand, God is telling us to use money to support our family, and on the other hand, he is telling us not to desire money.
Wouldn't a desire to support our family, come with a desire to acquire wealth?
Giving Is At The Heart of A Good Christian
In the book of Acts, we are told that Jesus said, "It is better to give than receive". Meaning the upper hand is more blessed than the lower hand.
The upper hand being the person who gives.
The lower hand being the person who receives.
It is the ultimate goal of a believer to position themselves in life, so they remain the upper hand, and become a good steward of God's wealth.
In Proverbs 11:24 it speaks on the power of giving and God's promise to bless the charitable.
11There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
For those that give not under compulsion, they will be given and trusted with more. But he who is stingy, and doesn't even give the fair portion, their destination is poverty.
And this poverty doesn't have to be monetary.
There are many men who are wealthy according to their bank accounts, but bankrupt when it comes to their spiritual life.
They are broken emotionally.
They are lonely.
And they have little to no family.
A Christian Hypocrite Is The Lowest In The Kingdom of God
Your salvation depends on how well you take care of God's children, including yourself. And if you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail.
If you call yourself a Christian and you don't take care of your family, you are a hypocrite and despised by God.
He clearly states in 1 Timothy5:8-
8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those in his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (non-believer).
Here God is giving you the blueprint.
All of the rules and laws you follow are meaningless if you continue to deny the faith.
God is telling you that taking care of your family and those close to you, is the duty of a devout Christian.
And to claim that you are Christian and at the same time turning your back on those in need, is hypocrisy.
Christian Upper Hand Financial Planning
To avoid denying your faith, you have to set your intentions on God. Ask yourself, why am I working so hard to gain wealth?
Who am I doing it for?
How much do I really need?
As a believer, you have to set goals for your wealth or risk the love of money overtaking your heart.
When you have a Christian Financial Plan, you know where you end, and your charitable giving begins.
This is how you become good in the eyes of God.
When you act according to his Word and not your own desires.
Understand that money is a tool you can use to execute God's plan.
Upper Hand Financial Planning is for Christians who want to remain servants and give to the next generation.
They want to follow the biblical principle of providing for their children and grandchildren.
They don't want to covet money.
Their goal is to be a good steward of God's wealth.
What Is A Christian Steward?
Proverbs provides insightful words for the Christian who doesn't know what to do.
It says in Proverbs 15:22--
22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.
You must seek counsel.
That is at the root of an Upper Hand Christian Financial Plan.
You may have a retirement account, but if you had to explain it to your children and how it worked, could you?
You know you have a retirement account at an old job, but do you know how to get it and who to reach out to?
If you don't have the answer to these questions, then your children will have little to know chance of figuring it out.
As Christians, it is your job to seek out counsel for things you don't know.
An Upper Hand Christian Financial plan is for Christian investors who don’t know anything about finances. They need someone to help them understand what they have, and if they die, how can they pass it on to their kids?
The Upper Hand Financial Plan is designed so every known dollar is accounted for and has a steward to receive it, during life, or after death.
Don't be a hypocrite. Because to be a hypocrite is to worse than a non-believer according to the word of God.
Take control of your finances before they take control over you.
Click below to schedule a consultation with A.B. Ridgeway
Meet A.B. Ridgeway:
A.B. Ridgeway, MBA, CPWA®️ (info@abrwealthmanagement.com) is the owner and Christian Financial Advisor with A.B. Ridgeway Wealth Management. With a decade in the finance industry, his goal is to give believers clarity around the most confusing topic in the Bible, money, and tithing. A.B. Ridgeway helps tithing Christians become cheerful givers but unlocking their money-making potential, so they can prosper and be the great stewards of the wealth God has entrusted them with.
*Disclaimer: This communication is not intended as an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any financial instrument or investment advisory services. Any information provided has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of any description of securities, markets or developments mentioned. This is strictly for information purposes. We recommend you speak with a professional financial advisor.
Join our Newsletter and receive our free 19-page e-book "4 Financial Principles Every Christian Should Know"
As Christians, we were taught to be good stewards over our tithing and giving to the less fortunate. But when it came to our personal finances and investing we were left clueless on what the Bible says. What does the Bible say about managing debt, leaving a legacy, investing, and planning for your retirement? Mr. Christian Finance answers these and many other questions because we want to teach you how to become rich and righteous!
Commentaires