Biblical Prosperity Workshop. A Christian's Guide to Biblical Economics

Warning From James to the Rich

2012-01-25T14:24:00.007-05:00

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

-- James 5:1-6 ESV

This is a grave warning to those who have violated Yeshua's warning to store up your treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy. James is specifically warning people who hoard their wealth instead of giving it freely. The work of the church is limited by greed -- ultimately it is the fatherless and the widow that suffer most from this greed.

19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustt destroy and where thieves break in and steal,20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-- Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

can't do much about the national economy

2010-02-23T13:46:00.001-05:00

"There's not a lot we can do about the national economy but there is a lot you can do about your personal economy." ~ Zig Ziglar

Is God calling you to do something big, and audacious, and maybe even way beyond your ability? If He is calling you to start a business, go on mission, help your neighbor clean his gutter, whatever it is, do it! Whatever you do, don't deny God's calling in your life because of fear. Fear didn't come from God. "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." 2 Timothy 1:7

Commit, and He will act.

A God-sized Hole

2010-02-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

A great pastor, Dr. Dave Foster, in Nashville, Tennessee, taught me about a God-sized hole in every person's heart that must be filled. As I mature in Christ, that analogy rings more true. That God-sized hole explains every sort of awful behavior in which man can engage. There is a void, a massive bottomless pit in every heart that can only be filled with the love of Christ.

C.S. Lewis was thinking along the same lines when he said, "I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy." C.S. is referring to the very same "joy" that Paul refers to in his letter to the Galatians 5:22, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith..."

If you have never known the joy that can only come from knowing the love of your heavenly father, don't let the sun go down again without experiencing it. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that those who believe in Him, will not perish, but will have everlasting life." John 3:16. If you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, pray, right now, that you accept his precious offer as a sacrifice on the cross, that paid your way into heaven.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time today, welcome to the family! Find a Bible-believing church right away, and let them feed and nurture your new faith in Christ, that you might finally experience a God-sized joy!

Right, Wrong, or Crazy?

2010-02-13T13:15:00.000-05:00

We have to decide for ourselves if Jesus was right, wrong, or crazy. Was he telling the truth, or was he lying, or was he out of his mind?

Consider just a few outrageous claims Jesus made, and decide for yourself:

"I am the resurrection and the life. the one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die -- ever." John 11:26

"I am the way the truth and life, no one comes to the Father, except through Me." John 14:6

"Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

"Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God." John 3:18

The question is especially difficult when you consider the consequences. If Jesus was telling the truth, then His way is the only way.

Jesus is the Messiah, the one and only son of the one true and living God, Yahweh. Jesus was free of sin, yet offered Himself as a sacrifice to pay for your sins and mine. The decision to accept His offer is yours alone.

You Can't Do It Alone

2010-02-12T10:25:00.001-05:00

Moses was overwhelmed with judging the heavy case load that came before him. Jethro, his father in law, gave Moses some great advice, "What you are doing is not good. You'll wear out both yourself and the people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone." Exodus 18:18

Kindness to the Poor is a Loan to the Lord

2009-08-06T09:30:00.001-04:00

The economy of God is so far above our flawed understanding of economy, that's it's nearly impossible for us to grasp.

Consider the Proverb, "Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender." -- Proverbs 19:17 HCSB

Seriously!? Really!? No worldly math scholar could ever agree, that to give to a poor person, will net "a reward to the lender," from somewhere else.

His ways are higher than our ways. How else can we understand? When we do the math, it will never work.

You and I will be rewarded someday for the kindness we show to the poor today. God is scheduling a Divine appointment for you and I today. It will happen. You and I will be faced with an opportunity to act on this inspired proverb. We just don't know the timing or the amounts. There won't be a bolt of lightning, and there might be no witnesses, and we might overlook it, but the appointment will happen.

Boaz Didn't Have A Boss

2009-06-25T21:30:00.001-04:00

Check out the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. It's very short, an easy read, and a fantastic love story. So when Naomi and Ruth made their way back to Bethlehem with nothing, and were dependent upon the kindness of strangers, how did Boaz help them? Did he hand them the classifieds? Did he tell them to get a better education and start over? No way! Boaz was the boss, he provided. He was able to provide food and income to Ruth and Naomi in his own fields. Are you positioning yourself to help today's Ruth and Naomi, or are you just doing your job? Are you sewing your own fields or someone else's? As Christians, we owe it to the church to sew our own fields, to provide more.

Quick test... Are you able to stand up in your workplace and shout, "Jesus is Lord!" Well? Can you? Will you be fired? Will you get written up? Do you fear for your next promotion? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you've made yourself a slave to the world. Get out from under that yoke, and sew your own field. Be your own boss. Whatever it is, whatever your skill, just do it! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -- Phil. 4:13

Profanity indicates a weak argument or a weak person. Probably both.

2009-06-18T17:30:00.001-04:00

But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. Timothy 2:16
Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? James 3:11

Profanity indicates a weak argument or a weak person. Probably both.

Why haggle? Solomon Didn't

2009-06-17T09:59:00.001-04:00

“Therefore, command that cedars from Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants’ wages according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” 1 Kings 5:6 (HCSB)

When was the last time you hired someone by saying, "You're the best that's ever been, and I'll pay you whatever you ask." That's the example King Solomon sets for us. Not only does he compliment King Hiram, but Solomon provides more food than Hiram required as payment, and does so "year after year." 1Kings 5:11.

It could be said, "Well, King Solomon was the wealthiest king that has ever existed, of course he didn't sweat the price." But King Solomon's wealth was as much a result of his generosity, as it was his wisdom.

Give more, don't squabble, and trust God's provision.

God Feeds the Birds

2009-06-16T09:30:00.001-04:00

"God Feeds even the birds everyday. But He doesn't shove the worms down their throats."
-- Ed Orberson

A Slacker's Way

2009-06-12T12:30:00.001-04:00

A slacker's way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway. -- Proverbs 15:18-19

Help as many as you can

2009-06-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

"Help as many people as you can, as much as you can, for as long as you can."

-- John Wesley

Be Strong!

2009-06-03T08:51:00.000-04:00

"Be Strong!" 2 Samuel 10:12

Joab is leading Israel's army, and suddenly finds himself surrounded by two armies, and it looks hopeless. Joab takes some elite men from each unit, and creates a force to lead, and lets his brother command the rest of the army. They put their backs to each other and prepare to fight. "If the Arameans are too strong for me," Joab said, "then you will be my help. however, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I'll come to help you. Be strong!" 2 Samuel 10:11-12a

As each brother advances, their enemies scatter and flee.

When it all seems lost, and there doesn't seem much reason for hope, ask that God's will be done, be strong, and fight! You might be shocked how abundantly He will provide in your darkest hour.

Biblical Prosperity Workshop

Eat At My Table

2009-06-02T08:06:00.000-04:00

Then the king summoned Saul's attendant Ziba and said to him, "I have given to your master's grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. You, your sons, and your servants are to bring in the crops so your master's grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, is always to eat at my table." 2 Samuel 9:8-10

Mephibosheth was the crippled son of Jonathan, King David's closest friend who had died in battle. Mephibosheth was at the mercy of the kindness of others to survive. King David ordered all of King Saul's land be given to Mephibosheth. He assigned servants to tend to Mephibosheth's new fields on his behalf, and allowed Mephibosheth to eat at the king's table from now on, as if he were one of King David's sons.

Imagine the quantity of land that King Saul must have owned. It was all given to Mephibosheth. David could have portioned it off, but he gave it all. That gift was more than sufficient to provide for Mephibosheth handsomely for rest of his days. But King David wanted to give him more, and allowed him to eat at his own table, effectively adopting Mephibosheth as his son.

King David demonstrated Christ-like generosity and love toward the least among us. For whom might we provide today. Has the Lord shown you the least among us, that you might also show Christ-like generosity and love? We are not to wait until we enjoy the wealth of a king to give. Just as David sought opportunities to give, we must also. Tell someone today, "Eat at my table."

Jesus loves you, and I do too!
Logan Weiler III
www.WhatShakin.com
Biblical Prosperity Workshop

Hurry is the Devil

2009-06-01T07:43:00.000-04:00

"We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day." John 9:4

No one knows the day or hour, or even the work to be done or the person to be helped. All we know is, God has scheduled meetings for us, and we must stop to honor those meetings, because this day will end. In the case of John 9:4, Jesus is stopping to heal a blind man.

One of your divine appointments today might be something as simple as a kind gesture to someone you pass in the hallway. Or it might mean stopping to help change a stranger's tire. Your appointment might be sharing the Gospel with someone who approaches you with a significant concern in their life. Only God knows the timing, it is our job to do the work as it comes.

My friend Paul Orberson often says, "Hurry isn't just of the Devil -- Hurry is the Devil." Are you in a hurry? Are you not able to stop and do the Lord's work, to keep His important appointments? For whom are you hurrying? For your boss? Are you working for God or Satan?

Whatever is causing hurry, must be removed from our lives. Even if that means changing careers, we must remove Satan's influence on the important work that God has arranged for us to accomplish. This day will end.

Jesus loves you, and I do too,
Logan Weiler III
Biblical Prosperity Workshop

Get Motivated!

2009-05-30T09:16:00.000-04:00

A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones. Proverbs 14:30 (HCSB)

What motivates you to get out of bed, to go the extra mile, to do what others won't? If you are motivated by the desire to have what your neighbor has, you're in good company, it is our fallen nature. Unfortunately, God's will for our lives is to be motivated by a much higher calling, to please Him.

To be inspired to have what your neighbor has, stinks -- "rottenness to the bones." Have you been around someone who is consumed with having more, with acquiring great wealth, with having the latest of everything and with being number one. It is an offensive trait. It truly is repulsive to most people. Many will flock to that personality because they also are so afflicted with greed. But Christians are called to have a tranquil heart.

Let's let our motivation be to please God, and to provide for His kingdom more abundantly. The church, the bride of Christ, is counting on us to be motivated to provide more for our families, so we can provide more for His. Have a tranquil heart, know it's God's will for your life, and get motivated to win for Him!

Biblical Prosperity Workshop

What are you doing right now?

2009-05-28T08:16:00.000-04:00

There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

Never before in history, has there been more potential for "endless talk." Click around your TV dial to be bombarded with endless talk, 24/7. Teens tap tens of thousands of text messages from cell phones around the clock. Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc., dominate the web and clamor for the answer to the burning question "what are you doing right now?"

Do an experiment today. See how long you can go without taking part in "endless talk." Chatter is a threat to our prosperity. For the sake of the church, we must recognize endless talk and avoid it.

Biblical Prosperity Workshop

Greed Kills

2009-05-27T08:48:00.000-04:00

1 Samuel 25

By anyone's estimate, Nabal had abundant provisions, yet refused to feed David's soldiers in exchange for the protection they provided him. This infuriated David, and he marched to kill Nabal. Abigail, Nabal's wife, set out with a peace offering of food and provisions to apologize to David for her husband's greed and stupidity. Successful in stalling David's vengeance on Nabal, Abigail returned home to find Nabal feasting and drunk. Nabal's feast and drunkenness are further evidence of his abundant wealth and selfishness. Abigail, as wise as her husband was stupid, chose not to break the news about David to Nabal while he was so drunk.

When morning came, and Abigail told Nabal that David wanted to kill him, Nabal had a seizure, was paralyzed, and died.

Nabal didn't break any laws or contracts, he simply refused to provide what everyone saw was his obligation to provide. His stupidity and love of money blinded him from seeing what everyone else could see so clearly, that feeding David's men was the right thing to do. Whether it was by the Lord's hand, or by David's, Nabal was to die for his greed.

Unfortunately, it is our fallen nature to be greedy and self-serving like Nabal. Let's take stock of our provisions, and to whom we might owe money, time, or provisions. Greed will blind us. Ask God to remove sin's blinders.

Biblical Prosperity Workshop

Be Boaz

2009-05-26T07:54:00.000-04:00

When Ruth and Naomi lost everything, and returned to Bethlehem with nothing, God brought them to the fields of Boaz during harvest, "a prominent man of noble character," see Ruth 2:1.

Boaz provided for them grain from his fields, safety while in those fields, and redeemed their inheritance for them. This was only possible because Boaz had acquired his fields and run his business honorably in Bethlehem for years prior to Ruth and Naomi's arrival. Because of his position and reputation, he was not only able to provide financially, but was able to gather the city elders to redeem Naomi's inheritance.

Someone you've never met is counting on you.

Be Boaz.