Have you ever struggled with how to navigate through conflict when your personal interests are at stake? The Apostle Paul, said that joy is discovered at the intersection of serving Christ’s interests, our unselfish interests, and the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-4). Let’s look at what it means to serve our unselfish interests. Paul taught: […]
Joy in Serving Our Unselfish Interests (Philippians 2:3-4)
Joy in Serving Christ’s Interests (Philipians 2:1-2)
Would you rather serve or be served? Serving is the sweet spot of joy. The apostle Paul said that this joy is discovered at the intersection of serving Christ’s interests, our unselfish interests, and the interests of others. Arthur Ash, the great tennis player who gave his live to serving both on and off the […]
Chains of Suffering: Link Our Perspective with Christ (Philippians 1:18b-26)
What do you see when you look at the chains that are holding you back from joy? Usually, we focus on our personal discomfort that often stems from advancing our own agendas. Paul offered something different. He taught that we could experience joy amidst suffering by first linking our passion with Christ (Philippians 1:12-18a). This […]
Chains of Suffering: Link Our Passion with Christ (Philippians 1:12-18a)
What chains are holding you back from joy? Typically, the answer to this question is one that deals with our personal discomfort rather than Paul’s chains referenced in Philippians. Paul was imprisoned for advancing the kingdom of Christ. Our chains are often a result of advancing our own kingdoms. Paul’s paradigm shift links our circumstances […]
Joy in Suffering: Joy Prays for Ministry (Philippians 1:9-11)
Are you allowing God to use your suffering to minister to others? Recognizing that despair, anxiety, and sorrow comprised the natural response to suffering, Paul taught that it was possible to experience joy, to take pleasure in Christ, even when we struggle. First, Paul demonstrated that joy begins with humility (Philippians 1:1-2). Second, Paul communicated […]
Joy in Suffering: Joy Grows in Ministry (Philippians 1:3-8)
Are you suffering in a particular area of your life and attempting to go through it alone? Paul wrote about how to experience joy amidst suffering. His teachings hold true for us today, revealing, first, that joy begins with humility (Philippians 1:1-2). Second, Paul tells us that joy grows in community. “I thank my God […]
Joy in Suffering: Joy Begins with Humility (Philippians 1:1-2)
Paul wrote his letter to the church that he helped found in Philippi with the theme of joy amidst suffering. That’s right; it is possible to experience joy even when we suffer. The opposite of joy is despair (anxiety or sorrow), our typical response to suffering. Identify the area in your life where you are […]
God is our Protector, Worry Not
Do you worry about money? When resources go down, we act wisely and generously when we authentically say, “God is our Protector.” Solomon wrote: “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). In other words, God is our Protector. In order to […]
God is our Purpose, Worship Not
Do you idolize wealth? In order to demonstrate God as our Purpose when our resources increase beyond our commitments, we must be careful to worship not our wealth, rooting out any hint of greed. Greed is worshipping our possessions. Paul called it idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Solomon confirmed that wisdom is more valuable than any temporary […]
God is our Purpose, Walk Worthily (Continued)
Do you have an intended purpose for your savings account? God has a purpose for our resources before we get them. When our resources build up, it is important that we seek God to discover His purpose. In order to be wise and generous, we must walk worthily of the resources that God has purposefully […]
God is our Purpose, Walk Worthily
Does your walk match your talk? Solomon advocated that we demonstrate God is our Purpose when our resources go up. The author of Proverbs clarified the purposes of God: “The LORD works out everything for his own ends — even the wicked for a day of disaster” (Proverbs 16:4). God has a purpose for our […]
God is our Passion, Withhold Not (Proverbs 3:27)
Are you withholding payment from someone you owe? When we are wise and generous in heart, we do not delay payment from a vendor when it is due in order to withhold not. Solomon admonished, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act” (Proverbs 3:27). The […]
God is our Passion, Waste Not (Proverbs 27:23-24)
Do you spend more than you earn? Too often, this is the case with many of us. When we are wise and generous in heart, we wisely spend less money than we net in order to waste not. This occurs when we closely monitor the relationships responsible for our income as well as our expenses. […]
God is our Passion, Ward-Off Debt (Proverbs 22:26-27)
Do your liabilities outweigh your assets? When we are wise and generous in heart, we ward-off debt. Borrowing is not prohibited in Scriptures. We are merely reminded that we will have to repay the debt. However, surety – borrowing more than our means to repay – is to be avoided as if it were the […]
God is our Passion, Waive in Three Directions (Give to our Children)
Have you given any thought to preparing a will? Most of us don’t think much about this necessary task, assuming that it can be done later when we are old. Now, here’s a deeper question, and the answer might sting a bit. How often do you intentionally invest wisdom into your children? When asked what […]
God is our Passion, Waive in Three Directions (Give to the Poor)
What percentage of your time, talent, or treasure do you give to those in need? Solomon communicated that whether or not we give to the poor depends on our passion for God: “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31). He went […]
God is our Passion, Waive in Three Directions (Give to God)
When we live and give with a wise and generous heart, we send money out in a fashion that says to the world, “God is our Passion.” Solomon said, “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for: through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil” (Proverbs 16:6). Love, faithfulness, and the fear of […]
God is our Provider, Weigh Relationships > Remuneration (Proverbs 11:24-26)
When you earn money, do your actions demonstrate that you most value people or profit? In the third characteristic of a wise and generous heart, Solomon noted that we should weigh relationships greater than remuneration in order for resources to come in as God intended. Solomon witnessed how generosity multiplied wealth, yet greed perpetuated scarcity. […]
God is our Provider, Work (Proverbs 10:4-5)
Does work energize or drain you? In order to honor God as our Provider, we must worship Him the most where others expect it the least — in our work. The Hebrew word, abad, is actually translated, “work” or “worship” (Numbers 4:39). God designed work to be worship, as if we were laboring for Him […]
God is our Provider (Proverbs 16:3)
Something inside each one of us wants to earn all our resources up front, taking them in all at once, rather than over the long haul. That’s the way many of us would design it, if we were the sole provider. An examination of Proverbs offers wisdom for the vertical and horizontal lines of the […]