How to Have Your Debt Paid in Full

The current national debt of the Untied States is an amount so staggering, few can grasp it. It’s one of the big reasons why national help with health care is so hotly debated, and people worry so much about Social Security.

There is an even bigger debt, though, than the tens of thousands of dollars owed by each man, woman, and child in the United States. And, it, too, is a debt each person owes.

What is that debt? When we see someone do something wrong, we all like to think “They’ll get what’s coming to them.” That faith helps us overcome the incredible evil that is all around us. It is a debt that wrongdoers owe. In fact, people released from prison are sometimes said to have “paid their debt to society.”

The problem is, we all commit wrongs, called sins. We all have a debt – and the combined total of that debt is great far greater than the U.S. National Debt. Think about all the lies that have been told. With so many people in the world, there are far more lies per second than the amount the National Debt increases per second. That’s not even counting the number of times people steal, hurt others, act mean, and so on. This sin debt grows higher and higher every day.

We can pay off credit cards bit by bit. Sometimes, we can agree to pay a certain amount, and a case will be closed. But, in order to do this, you have to not charge any more, right? You can’t pay a minimum balance of $100 on a credit card and then spent $150 per month on that card. It wouldn’t make sense. The debt would never be paid. And, this doesn’t even take into account the interest on that debt. More must be going to pay the debt than the amount added to the debt, in order to spend it down.

In order to get out of debt, we have to work to manage things so we are spending less than we take in. that includes interest. And, we need to manage thigns so we aren’t racking up so much interest we can’t repay.

Think about that debt that we owe because of our human nature, then. Each of us owes a debt because of those things we say, think, or do that are wrong. They’re usually not like the “debt to society” that is paid for with prison. Most of them are things that need a simple apology, or something else. But, even that is not enough to pay off the debt of sin.

It’s important to apologize sincerely, of course. It helps a lot when we do. But, the problem is, by the time we apologize for a particular sin, things have been added to that sin, like interest. For instance, let’s say we have told a lie, and later apologize and change our heart attitude, so we don’t tell that same lie anymore. In the meantime, someone found out that we lied. An amount of trust will have vanished, that had been there before. It will take more effort to build that trust back up. That trust is like an interest payment for the debt that we took on when we sinned. In a way, then, that lie indirectly causes something to be stolen, as well. And, it isn’t even the only thing that can be lost. Someone may act on that lie, and wind up losing money, losing a relationship, or something else based on it, when that thing should never have been lost.

As much as we try, we can’t be perfect. Even if a person sins 3 times a day – and even if you believe you’re a “good person,” I’m sure you’ll accept that there are 3 times a day – that’s over 1,000 sins a year.

Think about it. We get cut off in traffic, and we curse the person even though they could have a sick relative they’re rushing to visit in the hospital. We say something to hurt or tear others down instead of building them up. We rush to selfishly do something instead of thinking of others first. We commit adultery in our heart through how we look at another. As we can see, then, the debt of sin is huge.

It’s one we can’t repay. We can’t even repay the sin debt on each individual sin. But, to make matters worse, we add to that debt every day. We add to it through mean-spirited things, gossip, selfish thinking, and many other things that not only hurt people, they hurt God. What an enormous debt we owe!

Our debt to society isn’t paid with prison, though. The wages of sin is death. It’s separation from God’s perfect love and goodness forever., in a horrible place filled with sin. God, in His justice, must keep sin from His perfect Heaven, because in His love, He provides a perfect place once this life is over. It’s a place filled with goodness, where there’s no pain, no suffering, and no tears.

But wait, you ask: If the wages of sin is death, if we have all this sin, how can we reach that place? How can that debt be paid?

Thankfully, the story doesn’t stop there. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It’s a free gift.

See, that debt was so huge, that no person could pay it. No person could pay it, because each person would have to pay his or her own sin debt. So, god came to this world, in form of a man. Jesus Christ was 100% man and 100% God while here on Earth. He paid all your sin debt when He died on the cross for you, and rose from the dead.

Think about it. It wouldn’t do to be 51% good and 49% bad, because that sin debt would still be there. Yes, we should try to be good. But, you can’t repay a debt just by promising to not go any further into debt. The debt will still be there. But, that’s what people do when they trust in being good. They try to ignore those little debts and just focus on not having any more debt. But, that debt still has to be paid. No amount of good work can cause that debt to be paid. Thankfully, the sin debt has been paid in full. Jesus Christ is God in flesh. He, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, all His disciples (though they were tortured and killed for it), Jesus’ miracles, and the Old Testament all testify that He is the sinless one, who became sin for us.

That’s how he took on our debt. He marked it “Paid in full” when He shed His perfect blood, as the sacrifice for our sin. All the lambs that were sacrificed from the very beginning were a sign of what Jesus Christ would do someday. He was the sinless Lamb of God. He laid down His life so we could be saved from our sin debt. And then, He rose from the dead the third day.

Archaeology confirms so much of the Bible. The testimony of people like John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” who have been radically changed, proves that it’s possible, and it happens. Most importantly, His Holy Spirit moves in peoples’ hearts to tell them how much God loves them.

See, God is just, but He is also a God of mercy and forgiveness. God wants to forgive your sin debt. He hung on that cross, suffering agony for hours as He endured the wrath of God the Father, as the sinless substitute for each of us. Then, as He died, He cried out, “tetelestai,” which means “It is finished!” The entire debt had been paid!And, he rose again the third day; He had defeated death, so all who believe can rise with Him.

That repayment must be accepted, though. If you knew it was free, you wouldn’t refuse a person’s offer to pay off all your credit cards and other debts, right? And yet, until that person paid them off, you would still have debt, because you wouldn’t have accepted it.

In the same way, Jesus paid all your sin debt for you. And, He just needs you to accept that He did, and receive it by simple faith. God is love. He wants to pay your sin debt. You just need to:

Accept you’re a sinner, that your sin debt keeps you from His perfect Heaven, that no amount of good work can get you there;

Believe that He is God in flesh, that He died on the cross and rose from the dead for you, personally, to take all your sin debt away;

Choose to turn away from your sins, and trust Him to save you from your sin and forgive you, and to come live in you through His Holy Spirit.

That’s all it takes. It’s a free gift. I know it can be hard for some, but that’s okay; He understands. He knows You, and loves You. He’ll help you have faith if you just trust Him to; before trusting Him to forgive your sin debt, just call in your heart, “ Lord, I’m not sure if you’re out there, but I’m giving this a try, and I trust that if You are real, You will hear and answer.”

Of course, once we receive Him as our Savior, and He comes to live in us, we still sin. We have a human nature that causes us to sin. But, we have Jesus Christ living in us so we can turn to Him and get help, so we don’t sin. And, whatever happens, He will forgive and cleanse us, if we just confess our sin to Him.

The Holy Spirit living is us is His guarantee that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will keep working in us to get us to be good. He might have to work pretty hard to get some peoples’ attention if they wander far away in sin. But, He will always lovingly guide us back, and watch over us, and help us. Because, God is love. And, He loves you. He wants you to be totally free from the burden of sin.

Baseball great Yogi Berra’s “déjà vu all over again” quote will likely appear often, as Brett Favre threw another interception at the end of a conference championship game, just like in January of 2008. Will he retire, or not? And, if he retires, will he stay retired? Between him and Conan O’Brien, who list the battle with Jay Leno over the 11:30 time slot, future employment will be in celebrity news for weeks or even months.

Interesting that, in each case, they likely want to do something. It’s doubtful O’Brien will give up comedy, though he could with his severance package. As for Favre, pro athletes are so used to competition and cheering, it would be hard to imagine him spending his whole life golfing and fishing, even if we think we would with his millions.

The reason it’s hard to imagine is, we are born with a desire to do something. Even the first man, Adam, didn’t just sit around doing nothing. His job was to till the garden in Eden, to dress it and keep it nice. This was a much easier job before the Fall, of course.

When Adam and Even sinned, things changed. To use our present examples, a Brett Favre can’t play quarterback without 300-pound guys clobbering him. The old adage is that football is not just a contact sport, it’s a collision sport. Because sin came into the world, these collisions cause Favre to get banged up, and to age to the point where someday, he’ll realize his body can’t take it. Similarly, Conan O’Brien is in a job where jokes fall flat sometimes. Sometimes, communication fails, and there can easily be someone better who can take that job.

These are the “thorns and thistles” of their jobs, the problems of working that have existed since sin entered the world. Tilling the garden would have been easy for Adam. But, because sin was brought into the world, with his job came problems. And, the ground would produce thorns and thistles. (Genesis 3:18)

Every difficulty we encounter, no matter what our work, can be traced back to these thorns and thistles. Every task that seems fruitless, every attempt to get something done that fails, comes because of this. Favre’s interceptions, his many bruises and aches, come because this world is not the perfect place it was created to be. Conan’s struggles with his employer, as well as times when any comedian is “just dying out there,” are the consequences of sin having been brought into the world back at the dawn of time.

Of course, work has success, too. God promises that success will come in that verse, when He tells Adam he shall eat the herb of the field. What he is saying, though, is that that herb is going to be hard to come by, much harder than if sin were not present. And, in the same way, Favre and O’Brien have each tasted great success in their jobs. Favre is a surefire Hall of Famer who increased his prestige with an incredible season. Conan O’Brien is seen by many as a great comedian, even with his problems.

Some jobs bring more difficulties than others, of course. In some, it’s the location – a house in a poor market might not sell for months, even with the best seller. Ratings are dependent on the competition and “lead in” viewers. A quarterback can struggle mightily with no supporting cast. At times, it’s the nature of the job. Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers, saw an incredible playoff game go to waste because of defensive struggles. And, the best doctor can’t save every patient. Even in a field where that doctor would rarely ever see something bad, there will always be that one case that turns out to be an untreatable cancer. Thorns and thistles come up in every field.

And yet, when all is said and done, that agent can find someone to buy, if the price is low enough. The surgeon in the busiest emergency room, with the worst accidents, will be able to save some. A truly great quarterback can still get noticed by the Hall of Fame eventually, and a great comedian can get laughs from someone. The herb of the field will come. It will just be with a lot of effort, a lot of toil, and a lot of sweat.

That toil and sweat of the brow comes at us just as it came at Adam, and just as it comes for Favre and O’Brien – whatever they choose to do. However, the next verse, Genesis 3:19, points to what Favre and O’Brien must both consider. Eternal rewards are the only ones that will last, and they must start to earn these, instead of only Earthly ones. To get those, we must receive Christ’s forgiveness.

Consider Adam’s situation. He learns that he will have to work much harder to get any yield from the land. He will do this in sorrow his whole life, realizing what once was. Yes, he would be able to get the herb of the field eventually. But, even when he did, it would seem so fruitless at times. The toil and sweat of his brow would make labor so tiring. And, after all that labor, what would he get? A physical body that would grow old, decay, and die. Just as Brett Favre and Conan O’Brien – and all of us – have.

God knew this. He didn’t want any of us to be surprised. The fact that Adam would have to toil and sweat was an implied part of that warning back in Gen. 2:17 that he would surely die. This phrase, literally translated, says, “dying, you will die.” In other words, the process of death would begin right away, and would continue until, at long last, Adam returned to dust. Gen. 3:19, then, is telling Adam just how that would happen. Just as we will turn to dust someday and so will celebrities like Favre and O’Brien.

Of course, some work is more joyful than others. When Paul Harvey, the great radio commentator, passed away, there was a clip of him stating something to the effect that he’d never “worked” a day in his life. It was always so much fun. Just as Favre, when he looks at it, keeps coming back to the thrill of the game. (And, thus, keeps coming out of retirement.) And, just as O’Brien keeps looking at the thrill of doing stand-up comedy. Sure, it takes a lot of toil and sweat, as it did for Mr. Harvey. But, if you ask them, they’d probably echo his sentiments.

This is an element of God’s grace. It shows that God, in His perfect love, has created each of us with interests that, if we hone them, will grow into lifelong work that we’ll love. We’ll love it because God has matched us to that work. Paul Harvey still worked, of course. But, he had found that one specific thing which he could do that brought him pleasure. Just as Favre and O’Brien no doubt have.

This is not a sign of salvation per se; plenty of saved people toil in unhappy situations, and plenty of unsaved love their jobs. What it means is that God loves us, and it’s one of the ways He shows that love to us. There is always that reminder – through how we age – that our bodies are but dust. However, he provides us with grace, so we can have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

However, Adam was still mortal, as we all are. He would return to the ground. Even if someone is the greatest ever at what they do, all the things they do in this life build treasures on earth. Ones that moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves can break forth and steal. (Matt. 6:19) That frail, physical body simply returns to the dust.

Yet, Adam could receive God’s forgiveness for his sin – that means forgiveness for falling short of God’s perfect glory. And, so can anyone. We must each accept that we’re sinners, in need of a Savior. Simply receive, by simple faith, God’s forgiveness, through what Jesus Christ, God in flesh, did on the cross. He was sinless, yet He became sin for us. He was the substitute, he took the punishment for our sins, when He died on the cross, and then he rose from the dead, just as we who receive Him will be raised someday. To as many as received Him, gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 1:12) This means trusting Him by simple faith to forgive us for our sins.

Once a person trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are assured of a home in God’s perfect Heaven, where there is no pain, no suffering, no heartache. One can only get to heaven by receiving that forgiveness, because when we do, God makes us a new creature on the inside; He comes to live in us and guide us to becoming more like Him.

When a person has received Christ as their Savior, they can earn rewards in Heaven, by serving the Lord. A person can serve the Lord in a secular job, of course – you don’t have to be a missionary to serve Him. But, to build treasure in Heaven, a Christian must live with an eye toward doing things that glorify and honor Him and draw others to Him.

It is vital that we lay up treasures in Heaven, where they can’t decay, grow old, or be stolen. (Matt. 6:20) This applies just as much to us as it did to Adam. We, too, have physical bodies that will return to the ground. However, we also have that promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He longs for us to turn to Him. He longs for us to be born again, through what He did for us on the cross, dying and rising from the dead. And, then, He longs for us to build those treasures in heaven, so we don’t have to be empty-handed when we approach the throne of God. We can have crowns to lay at His feet. We can have wonderful, eternal blessings that go beyond this world, into eternal rewards.

These rewards are what Favre and O’Brien should seek. Favre can’t play quarterback as long as O’Brien can do comedy. Both must realize that – while God has been gracious in giving each something that fills them with joy, no matter what they do, if they seek only Earthly gain, it will all be wasted. They can’t last forever. But, if they receive Christ, they can live forever, and they can serve the Lord in whatever He provides for them, that will glorify and honor Him.

Have you noticed how much we hear about our hearts these days?  We’re frequently reminded we should reduce the stress in our lives, eat properly, exercise regularly and have yearly check ups.  Doctors believe if we do these things we will keep healthy.

Of course, if problems arise, we can choose to ignore their advice and risk the consequences, or we can make whatever changes are necessary for a healthy heart. It is really up to us to decide.

Our “spiritual hearts”—our relationship with God, need to be taken care of as well.  Some people have very healthy spiritual hearts, but for others, there is bad news.  Their “spiritual EKG” shows severe sin problems in desperate need of forgiveness.  There are only two options available to them:  They can ignore their condition, in which case they will “die in their sin,” or they can take the healing advice of “God, the Great Physician,” and get well.  It seems like an easy decision to make, but it’s amazing how many people make the wrong one.

The Physician has a “file” about all people with unhealthy hearts.  It is entitled, The Book of Romans. It’s a book in the Bible.  Contained within its pages is complete information about the patient, along with a diagnosis and recommended treatment.  It’s a very important file.  This is some of the information contained within it:

The Physician’s Diagnosis:

There is a condition known as sin.  It is defined as not measuring up to God’s standard of perfection in our thoughts, words, or deeds.  Sin entered the world because of one person’s behavior (Rom.5:12 NIV).  That was Adam.  Since then, all people have sinned (Rom.3:23 NIV).  Sin separates each person from a relationship with God, results in physical and spiritual death, and condemns each one to a place of eternal torment called Hell (Rom.6:23 NIV).  This is a world-wide epidemic, and is the most serious and deadly problem known to humankind today.

Treatment and Cure:

The treatment and cure for this problem is available from only one source—Jesus Christ, the Great Physician.  Although Jesus never sinned, He showed His great love for us by taking the punishment for our sins—a cruel and painful death.  It is the punishment we deserve (Rom.5:8, 17-18 NIV).  After three days, God raised Jesus from the dead. Verbally confessing Jesus is Lord, and believing in ones heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is the treatment for a sinful heart condition (Rom.10:9-10 NIV). Anyone who asks for the treatment will receive it (Rom.10:13 NIV). Then, no longer sick in your sins, you will be able to give yourself “whole heartedly” to God (Rom.6:16-18 NIV).  Nothing will ever be able to separate you from God’s love for you (Rom. 8:35-39 NIV).  This is truly good news!

With this treatment the patient will soon realize his heart has been cured.  By daily “feeding” on God’s Word, the Bible, and “exercising” one’s prayer life, a good check up with the Physician is guaranteed.  This treatment will also result in a less stressful life because cares can be given to God, and it will cause one’s heart to beat in time with His.

A bright future is promised the patient who makes these changes.  When that person dies, a home in Heaven, with God forever, is guaranteed (Rom.3:23 NIV).  After Jesus arose from the dead, He went to heaven to prepare that home.  In fact He’s working on it right now.

Imagine being able to live with the Physician forever in a place prepared especially for you.  With Him, there will be no more tears, no more aches and pains, no more sin-sick hearts.

The Physician has never had a malpractice suit filed against Him, nor even a complaint from any of His patients.  He has a great bedside manor, and even makes house calls. With His “health plan,” there’s no waiting to see the Physician, no paper work to fill out, and no co-payments.  Best of all, anyone can afford it—because it’s free for the asking.

Miley Cyrus has been a superstar, and a great influence on perhaps millions of girls through her hit show, “Hannah Montana.” It was recently announced that her show will end production, allowing her to go on to other things.

So, what should she do, and what will she do? That is the question a lot of girls – and their parents – will ask themselves. Perhaps Ms. Cyrus, too, is asking herself this. It’s my prayer

First, while the performer is not the character, that line is blended to a certain extent even in normal situations. Even an actor who is very well known for two roles – Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor and Ben Matlock, for instance – finds most fans associating him with one or the other most of the time.

That line is blurred to a much greater extent with Miley Cyrus, because Hannah Montana was produced to be very similar to her career. Not only that, but viewers’ ages means they will connect Miley to Hannah a lot more.

So, what should Miley Cyrus do? What will she do? Let’s look at a few things with regard to entertainment in today’s culture. Because, she has a choice to make, and should consider that she may be here for such a time as this.

What time is it? It is a time when many connect adult entertainment with vulgarity. There is little good, wholesome entertainment.

Viewers of TV and film, and readers of books, are drawn by conflict, of course. That’s not always a bad thing. The four main types – Man versus man, man versus nature, man versus himself, and man versus God – can be done in a very wholesome way. Consider the story of the Prodigal Son, for instance. The “man versus man” part is found in the actions and words of several people. “Man versus nature” is when the Prodigal struggles trying to live and eat with the pigs. (One could also include the struggle with sin nature.) “Man versus himself” is his inner struggle and decision to finally return to his father. His open rebellion, of course, is just like us, with our sin nature, rebelling against God.

I’ve never seen Hannah Montana, but I would guess that, unlike most entertainment, it is probably much closer to the model shown in Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This is a good list to consider when focusing on anything, of course.

So, the general answer is that Miley Cyrus should focus on things in the above verse. There are certainly plenty of good parts in movies, TV series, and what have you that focus on these things. Obviously, not all characters in every story will have excellent morals. However, the key is that entertainment should focus on the fact there is an absolute right and wrong that has existed since the foundation of the world. (Whatever things are true.) There doesn’t have to be a big moral lesson hanging over every episode or every movie. Some things are just fun, or silly, or meant to project simple things. But, ideas such as people being more important than things, compassion and kindness being important, and so on should be apparent.

Take love, for instance. This is something that will likely be a big part of some of Miley Cyrus’ roles.

True love is unconditional. It is very deep. People who are truly in love give of themselves for the one they love. They accept that it means sacrifice. They give the other person input in decisions. Obviously, in parent-child situations, the relationship is different. But, the parent still considers the child’s best interests with things, not the parents’. In the same way, those who love each other are always thinking of the one they love. True love is forever. True love is God’s love.

The world’s system, however, is different. The world’s system is full of vulgar things, and the lusts of the flesh. The world’s system says to love selfishly, so that you are only trying to please your flesh. The world’s system is all about getting whatever you can take, and not caring about the other person. The world’s system is about tearing others down, not building others up like God’s system. The world’s system says love is fleeting, that it can’t last forever. But, true love is forever.

There are many things one can do, many parts one can play, while keeping true to this ideal. Story arcs can find people growing from a physical, selfish love into a wonderful, dynamic love where the couple cares for each other and always puts the other first. Individual stories can show a young couple that feels true love, but one or both are tempted to be selfish. In the end, they accept that they were wrong and recommit to each other and to that ideal of unconditional love. Those in a relationship where they are selfish toward each other can find justice prevailing, as they lose because of their selfishness. (Whatsoever things are just.) Or, the couple that feels true love can just be in a situation that doesn’t threaten that love, but instead finds them together as they experience some life event. They could be mourning a loss, celebrating something, or just something silly like getting lost on a trip. I could name quite a few other plots, where this couple is either a major or minor part of them.

Love is only one example of the things Miley Cyrus will face in her future roles. She will face many choices. She should make the decision now to commit to Philippians 4:8 as a means of testing what should be done. This means no vulgarity, true love, building others up, and many other good thigns that she can be part of in her future rules.

So, what will Miley do? A good way to judge any life choice is the “Four C’s”: 1. Consider the choice; 2. Compare it to God’s Word; 3. Commit to following Godly principles; 4. Count on God’s protection and provision.

Whether she follows this pattern is up to her. She has professed Christ as her Savior. What having Christ as Savior means is, you accept that you’re a sinner,a nd fall short of God’s perfect glory. You can’t save yourself and thus can’t get to that perfect heaven, where there is no suffering, no sorrow, no pain, because of that sin. But, Jesus Christ, God in flesh, took the punishment for your sins, just as He did for all of us, when He died on the cross, the just for the unjust. Then, He rose bodily from the dead. The only way to heaven is to receive what Christ did on the cross as having taken all the punishment for your sins.

From what I’ve heard, her testimony seems genuine. But, like everyone, she will face temptation. She will face temptation to follow the world’s system in the roles that she chooses. She will face temptation to choose lots of money over roles that may pay less, but which will keep her reputation intact.

Because she is human, therefore, her fans should focus on the One who was perfect, Jesus Christ. He was the sinless substitute for our sins. His perfect life is one we should all pattern ourselves after.

However, we should also pray for Miley Cyrus. Prayer does work wonders. The temptations she faces will be huge, and she will need the Holy Spirit inside her to guide her toward things that fit that Philippians 4:8 profile. She will need prayer to have her eyes constantly opened to the fact that she can play adult roles while still holding fast to the absolute right and wrong which she professes. She can be a great adult performer with no swearing, violence, really sensual scenes, etc.. She can have great success this way.

She will be sorely tempted, because the devil would like nothing more than to steal her reputation and tarnish her image. That could lead a lot of fans to follow after things of the ungodly world’s system, instead of after things of God.

However, hopefully, Miley Cyrus will continue to be a great example of Jesus Christ for others. As Paul Harvey used to say, “If that’s not the way to bet, that’s the way to pray.” Pray that she be encouraged to follow the Lord with everything, and not be tempted by what the world says “adult” means when it comes to entertainment. Who knows – maybe she’ll even find this blog somehow, and be encouraged. If God wills it, he can do it.

However, while Miley Cyrus is very popular, the one to truly pattern yourself after is Jesus Christ. He can help us through anything. There is no temptation which He can’t overcome, if you have his Holy Spirit in you, and He will provide a way out each time, so we don’t have to fall for sin.

This, as above, is something everyone can count on who receives Jesus and lets Him make them new creatures on the inside. And yet, when we mess up, thankfully he is just and faithful to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How to succeed in tough economic times – the right kind of treasure

Are we in a recession? A depression? Have you or someone you know faced hard times? You can still succeed, no matter what the economy does.

Let’s look at your worldview.  How do you see the world? I’m not talking about being a Pollyanna, ignoring every possible problem. But, I am talking about figuring out what things are important.

See, we live in a society where there is so much advertising, we tend to look at it and say, “Oh, if I have this latest gadget I’ll feel better.” Or, we think that, “I need a bigger home, bigger car, bigger everything.”  In other words, our worldview is partly shaped by that desire for the newest and best of everything.

But, who told you that newest was best?  Who told you that biggest was best?  Chances are, it was probably a combination of advertising and your friends, many of whom have a lot of that stuff. Or, had it, till the recession, depression, or whatever this is.

The way to succeed in these times is to change worldviews.

It’s really a sweet decision.  All those advertisers have been telling you that you have to have the latest gadget, and that only the newest things are the best, and so on.  You can tell them to forget about their things, which don’t last, which can be broken, lost, or stolen,and which grow old.  And, you can gain rewards that will never grow old, never wear out, never get stolen, and never lose value.

I’m not talking about gold, silver, or anything else here on earth, either.  I’m talking about building Heavenly rewards.  Because, only there can we really have satisfaction.

How do we get these rewards that are free from crashes, free from aging and inflation?  You might have even heard Matthew 6:20, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” But, you wonder how to do that.  Here are several basic principles, to help you build those treasures.

1. Have a home up in Heaven.

Think about it.  If you wanted to invest in the stock market, what would you do?  Pick out the right stocks?  Plan your investment strategy?  No, of course not.  You’d open an account.

In the same way, you need to open an account in heaven.  To do that, you need to receive His forgiveness for our sins.

Think of Heaven as a delicious human food, and sins as dog food.  Most people would never eat dog food if they had a choice, especially if it was between that and a delicious meal of whatever your favorite food is.  You’ve got that food all ready to be served, but there’s a problem.  Someone threw dog food into it.  You couldn’t touch that yucky stuff, right?  You’d throw it out in a hurry.

In the same way, anything we bring to the table in Heaven needs to be cleansed.  We need our lives cleansed from sin.  The only way to do that is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.  You need to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:30) It was “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)  So, you can’t do anything to get those sins cleansed yourself. You need to let Jesus do it for you.  And, you can’t add anything to it, because Jesus Christ saved you by dying on the cross, and rising from the dead, before you ever knew Him.  He had you on His mind when He went to the cross.

So, you need to receive what He did, by simple faith, as taking the whole punishment for your sins.  He shed His blood once, for all; the just for the unjust.  That’s how you have your sins cleansed. Once you’ve received Him as your Savior, you can start earning those rewards in heaven.  Because, you have an account up there.

And, that account can never be taken away.  You are sealed unto the day of redemption, with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:30, 1:14).  That seal can’t be broken.  Nothing can separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)

2. Put Jesus Christ first in your life, and serve Him.

Remember that dog food example, where we compared sin to it?  Your account is secure in Heaven.  That means you can build treasures there, like a chef makes a great meal.  However, sometimes, the “great meal” you build in Heaven have a little “dog food” in it yet.  Obviously, it’s no good then.  How does this happen? It happens when we don’t build in the right way; when we put something else ahead of Jesus.

The things we build here on earth won’t matter in Heaven.  There’s a famous joke that a very rich man, who had trusted Christ as his Savior, asked to bring something with him when he got to heaven.  He was told he could bring one bag, and so when he died, he had that bag stuffed, ready to take it with him.  When he got to the Pearly Gates, St. Peter checked the records, and said, “Okay, I see you were allowed to bring one bag, but I have to check inside.” He opened it, and said, in a shocked voice, “Of all the things you could bring, why would you bring pavement?!” the rich man had brought gold, but gold is useless as pavement up there; it’s what they pave the streets with in heaven!

First Corinthians 3:11-15 tells us the things we do will be tested, to see if they were really for Jesus, or for ourselves.  If you want to gain rewards that will last forever, your goal in life must be to be Christlike, and to glorify God in all you do.  That doesn’t mean that you totally ignore wealth.  If God has gifted you with the ability to make money as a good, honest businessman, you should.  But, what it means is that you use whatever wealth, talent, or time you have to help others, instead of always trying to please yourself.  And, that in helping others, your eye should not be on making yourself look good by doing so.  It should be on showing the love of Christ in helping others.

The beautiful thing is, these are treasures we can earn at any time.  Some people do better with little than they would with a lot.  You are where you are in life, because God has placed you there, or God has allowed you to be there through your choices, so that you can show Godly love, goodness, and so on to others.

These are things we can do no matter what the economy does.  The poorest person on earth could have untold riches in Heaven; but, so could a very rich person. The key is simple. Build your treasures in Heaven. This requires you to put them on the foundation of Jesus Christ, first of all, and to seek, in your heart, to glorify Him by showing others Who He is. Because, we are not here to save the world, though we should try to make the world better where we can.  We are here to save sinners from a lost and dying world.  This world of things will one day vanish. But, the rewards we build in Heaven will last forever.

We explore how a personal budget plan makes setting financial goals obtainable.  First, write down a paragraph or list of where you would like to see yourself five, ten, fifteen, or even twenty years from now.   Make this list financial, spiritual, career wise, etc.  Pour your heart out and write your true desires and passions.

Next, clearly see where are you are right now; time for some honest introspection.  Do your finances support your goals?  Look at what your earnings are in comparison to your spending.  Similar to starting a business, you need to consider all of the variables.

These variables include things such as what you spend the most money on, what expenses you can easily cut back, and what expenses are unavoidable.  Take a look at your checkbook.  There you will be able to see what you have spent your money on over the last several months.  Go back as far as a year if you can.  Some of the things you are writing checks for might surprise you.  How many of them were actual necessities, and how many could you have easily done without?  Without realizing it, you have now begun making a budget.

A key to success is in the Proverbs 21:5 admonition that, The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Next, think over your cash expenditures.  We usually spend a lot of cash on the “little” things.  Write down the items you can clearly recall spending cash on recently.  Are these repetitive items?  Do you purchase them every day?  Every week?  Add them together over the course of a month.  How much of this money could you save, or use to pay down credit card debt, or apply against the principal of your mortgage?  Can you now start to see your personal budget plan coming together?

Saving money alone does not equal happiness.  How does a life free of worry about paying bills and making ends meet sound?  Peace of mind is priceless.  What about being able to be financially free to go where God has given you passion for?  If you are encumbered by debt, you will not be free to serve at full capacity.

Your personal budget plan will help you to spend less than you earn, creating positive cash flow for you to save and to apply to meeting financial obligations such as paying off a car or house faster than you thought possible.

The best part is that it will not take long.  As soon as you begin the initial phase of your personal budget plan, you will be spending less, saving more, and setting financial goals almost immediately.  The achievement process takes time, but you will experience it step by step.  You will have a clear idea as to how you are getting ahead, even before you fully reach your goals.

Get started creating a personal budget now as you are setting financial goals that will lead surely to advantage.

What do you think?  Leave me a reply.

Proverbs 4:5-9 ……. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.”

Proverbs 8:10-11, 17, 23-35 ……. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:23-35 …….  I (Wisdom) was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I (Wisdom) was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above  and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his (God’s) side.  I (Wisdom) was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. “Now then, my sons, listen to me;  blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 9:10 ……. “The fear of the LORD (reverence for God) is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

James 1:5 ……. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 ……. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew 7:7-8 ……. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ……. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 145:17-19 ……. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  (you respond to Him according to the revealed truth in the Bible)  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (from the penalty of sin – eternal separation from God — Hell)

John 5:24 ……. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him (God) who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 ……. (Paul writes) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Romans 10:8-10 ……. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”  that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved

1 John 4:14-16 ……. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 ……. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead (God) will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.  AMEN!!!

For more “Wisdom” go to nuggetsofwisdom.us