Proclamation: First National Thanksgiving Day 1863

The Bible and Money: 10 Tips from Scripture

 (The following article comes from beliefnet.com http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/2008/09/The-Bible-and-Money-10-Tips-from-Scripture.aspx )

Finance guides come and go, but as Christians throughout the centuries have known, the Bible is a finance guide for all time.  From stories about rich men and paupers to proverbs with sharp insights, God's word is filled with good advice on money.  The Bible cannot tell you how to diversify your portfolio, but it can tell you how to be the kind of person who saves enough money, spends wisely, plans ahead, gives generously, and learns to enjoy money.

Tip #1: Remember that God creates wealth

"Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth." (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Tip #2: Feeling rich? Give thanks to God

"This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."  (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

Tip #3: Save for the kids' inheritance

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." (Proverbs 13:22)

Tip #4: Get out of debt in order to be free

"The poor are always ruled over by the rich, so don't borrow and put yourself under their power" (Proverbs 22:7)

Tip #5: Guard against greed

"Then [Jesus] said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'" (Luke 12:15)

Tip #6: Remember that money isn't evil, but loving it is

"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some people by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs".  (I Timothy 6:10)

Tip #7: Give back to God

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." (Proverbs 3:9)

Tip #8: Know that everything belongs to God

"And remember, the land is Mine, so you may not sell it permanently. You are merely My tenants and sharecroppers!" (Leviticus 25:23)

Tip #9: Put God before money

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

Tip #10: Count the cost of your spending

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?" (Luke 14:28)