Inspirational - Article

Jesus as a Financial Planner

Christmas is a world-wide celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is not just recognition of his birth, but also of his life. No one can deny his impact on the world.

Surprisingly, he was not out to win friends. Rather, much of what he said disturbed people … both then and now. What he said to the religious leaders led to his death. What he said to the wealthy, caused many to re-evaluate their priorities.

Regardless of whether you believe he was the Son of God, you may find his views on finances challenging. Here is a sampling of what Jesus said about money, possessions and success.

Know what’s most important. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Don’t worry. Be faithful! “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will ear … Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:25-27)

Know the purpose of wealth. “…The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

The person with the most toys DOESN’T win! “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions … What good will it be … if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Luke 12:15, Matthew 16:26)

Don’t fake generosity. “…When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do … to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4)

Know why we are here. “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13)

If you like Christmas presents … Try this! “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? Of you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

Though he had a respect for wealth (“In my Father’s house are many mansions…,” he said), Jesus saw earthly wealth as something very temporary. The financial advice he gave often related to future wealth … “treasures in heaven.”

To those who were caught-up in the accumulation of wealth, Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.

The baby in the manger rocked the world. He came not to make friends, but to save friends.

As we celebrate his birth this season, let’s also celebrate his life. Have a merry Christmas.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

A Warsaw, Indiana resident, Brad Skiles is a registered representative with G.R. Phelps & Co., Inc, 140 Garden Street, Hartford CN, 06154.