“A man’s heart reflects the man.” Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

What does the bible mean when it refers to your heart? Pastor Rick Warren defines it thusly, “the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams and affections that you have.

Your physical heart is unique.

Did you realize that your physical heartbeat is unique to you? Amazingly, it is true. Just as we have unique fingerprints, eye prints and voice prints, our hearts beat in patterns different than anyone alive or anyone who has ever lived. In fact Apple has filed for a patent to use “Seamlessly Embedded Heart Rate Monitor” as a security measure for future versions of their iPhone to lock out users who don’t have a recognized heartbeat. Your heart is literally different than anyone else’s.

Your biblical heart is also unique.

In the same way, your biblical heart is unique to you and you alone. Why? Because God made you that way. Think about it. Certain activities and challenges raise your heart rate because you intuitively get excited about them. Other interests are simply not as interesting to you.

Heart = Passion

Years ago, my wife used to think that if she was to truly follow God with all of her heart, she would be required to do something that she hated. Her worst fear was that God would require her to go to Africa, so she was reluctant to totally trust him with her life. However, once she realized that the thing she was most passionate about (being a homemaker) was from God, she was very excited about following him.

Your passions are God given.

If you are like me, some experiences energize you and some drain you. I love the writing aspect of blogging. My creativity is stirred and I often feel like I have been emotionally elevated to a higher plateau. When I realize that this passion comes from God, I feel like I am fulfilling a purpose for living.

Tips for discovering your heart.

• Realize that God has uniquely gifted you. You are here on planet Earth for a reason. God does not want that reason to be a secret. Discover your heart and you will be on the path of discovering your purpose.

• Ask yourself what it is you do that makes the world seem “right”. That right feeling could be God’s way of helping you know your heart.

• Ask yourself what you loved to do as a child. Did you have intense interests that no one else in your family had? Where do you think those interests came from? They were surely from God, and, if you never truly pursued them, they are probably still lying dormant waiting to be activated.

• Spend time getting to know God better. Janice was afraid of learning her heart until she realized that God is on her side; he wants her to do what she loves to do because he put that desire in her heart.

• Desire God’s plans to work out in your life. His word tells us that we should “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4

Finding your heart is a win-win situation. You will benefit by doing what you love to do and God will benefit because you are doing what he created you to do.

Sounds like a great plan to me.

Do you know your own heart?  How do you know?  If not, what do you need to do to discover your own heart?
photo credit: Juliana Coutinho

Four Financial Experts from the Bible are:

• Joseph – found in Genesis 37:1 to Genesis 50:26

• Mordecai – the book of Esther

• Daniel – the book of Daniel

• Nehemiah – the book of Nehemiah

These men, through their knowledge of finances and their devotion to serving God, not only secured the lives of their countrymen, but actually changed the course of history. “What,” you may ask, “made these particular men so powerfully influential?” Good question.

These men had 8 things in common:

1. They were men of prayer and fasting. All spent time in solitude and prayer seeking the wisdom and direction from the Lord. It was a personal relationship in which they often stood with God alone.
2. They suffered extreme circumstance and hardship before and after being elevated to positions of power. Joseph and Daniel were thrown into prison; Daniel was thrown to the lions; Mordecai, along with his countrymen, was threatened with death; Nehemiah’s enemies were a constant threat.
3. They were in the right place at the right time. Mordecai heard the death threat against the king, Joseph was in Egypt before the famine, and Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer.
4. God gave them insight and knowledge regarding the current economic situations. Joseph and Daniel both were able to interpret dreams. Joseph implemented the grain storage practices that later saved the people from famine. All managed vast amounts of the kings lands and holdings reporting only to the king.
5. They respected the king’s authority even though the king was not a believer. Each of them showed utmost respect and was trusted as the king’s confidant. They were able to remain Godly even in an ungodly nation.
6. Men sought their lives because of envy or because they hated their convictions. Joseph was cast into a pit and accused of adultery; Daniel’s enemies, because of his devotion to God, devised a clever plan to have him killed, and Nehemiah’s work was temporarily stopped due to lies.
7. They accomplished great things while in their positions. Joseph’s plan enabled Egypt to become the richest nation in the world during a seven year famine. The king of Babylon acknowledged the Lord as Creator of the universe, under Nehemiah’s direction the city of Jerusalem was rebuilt.
8. They gave glory to God and God received the praise. Because they each realized that their wisdom was a gift from God, their influence caused the nations to know and acknowledge the one true God.

How about us?

There is much more that could be said about each of them and the lessons we can learn from their lives about enduring faith, the power of prayer, forgiveness, and service. Our challenge is to model their exemplary behavior in all of our own business endeavors and life situations. Who knows? Maybe someone reading right now could become advisor to the leader of his nation.

That someone could be you.

Today’s guest post is written by Carol Schultz-Weil, the author of “In The Trenches – Financial Survival During Times of Hardship“.  Carol also authors the blog In The Trenches.   She also thrives on following and discussing the political developments and reading detective novels.  You can also find her on Facebook.

Our normal anxieties in dealing with insurance companies are based on the concern that we won’t be sufficiently compensated.

However, not everyone fits this mold.  This post is based on an email from one of my clients (I will call her Carol) who, because she had been injured in an auto accident, is in the process of hiring an attorney to represent her in dealing with the insurance company. Although she was hospitalized, missed work and could have ongoing medical issues, Carol is struggling with the morality of “going after” the insurance company. Because of the trauma of the accident, she doesn’t clearly remember it, which creates some guilt issues. Carol is also concerned about the possible “greed” mentality many lawyers seem to have.

Here is a clip of her email:

“You helped with this when we talked, but I think I’m blanking on it and churning. Will you give me perspective on the accident claim again according to biblical teaching? I’m still struggling with what God really wants of us in this financial circumstance.”

This is my reply to Carol:

I wish I had great biblical passages to share with you about insurance. The best I can come up with is Exodus 21: 12-36, a section of the bible which tells us that those who are harmed should be compensated. The gist of this passage is just that: God expects people to be compensated for harm done to them. This is why you have insurance and why the other person in the accident has insurance. If the other person was harmed, I am sure you would be glad that you had insurance so she could be compensated. Just because the shoe is on the other foot (being you are the one harmed) does not make it any less right that you should be compensated. You are concerned about how this will affect the other person. This is something you have no control over, but she SHOULD be glad that her insurance is going to take good care of you. If she isn’t, that is her problem, not yours.

The issue of how much the claim should be…again, ask yourself, “What if the other person had to go through what I have been through?” Wouldn’t you want her to receive payment for her medical care AND for lost income AND for possible future medical care? Of course you would. It is only right. I agree with your attorney. This is not about greed. It is about an injured person being compensated for the harm done.

Another thought is this: we are commanded in Romans 13:1 to be subject to the governing authorities. I am not sure about Missouri, but I know Illinois requires auto insurance (liability as a minimum). In keeping with the laws of the land and Romans 13:1, you have auto insurance. The very legal system that requires you to have insurance will also have a judge who makes a determination as to the award of the case. As long as you aren’t doing anything un-Godly to tweak the system (which you aren’t), then I would say that God is using that judge to make a proper and fair determination. In reality, the attorneys for the insurance companies might settle out of court, but the point is that God requires insurance, so trust Him to see to the details.

One more thought. You have debt and you have been harmed financially by this accident, meaning you have not been able to work as much physically or emotionally. This is not your fault and you should not feel guilty about what you can’t control. But if you were to somehow sabotage this settlement, you might be turning away money that could go toward those you owe. I know this is a stretch, but allowing the process to play itself out could help some creditors get the money owed to them. I can’t see that is a bad thing. Without the accident, you might have been able to gain enough traction to start making some major payments through your income stream. But the accident DID occur, so you don’t really know what might have happened in your career if it hadn’t. All of this is part of compensating a harmed party (back to Exodus 21).

In the end, I think you should trust the process, trust your attorney (or find one you can trust) and trust God. That is the best way I know to put it in God’s hands. When you do so, you can feel good about the outcome whether it goes very well or very poorly.

I hope this helps.

Joe

Carol’s response:

“I won’t be able to tell you how much it means to have your counsel and how thankful I am….I’m breathing easier today because you took the time to think on this for me. I’m so thankful”

Readers: have you ever struggled with guilt or the feeling of greed when negotiating an insurance settlement? How did you handle it? What would you add or change in my response to Carol?

photo credit: Chasqui

“Why would I need your help?” he barks indignantly. “For your information, I am a very wealthy, prosperous man. I have no needs!” He gets back up and lurches off, bouncing into a light post on his way.

You have just encountered a member of the Laodicean church: a wealthy man who didn’t realize that he was a beggar.

Allow me to explain:

The city of Laodicea was a center of wealth. Known for its black wool and carpets, it also had a medical school famous for its eye salve. The historian Tacitus notes that the city was so affluent that they refused government aid from Rome after the earthquake of A. D. 60. Can you imagine ANY U. S. city refusing FEMA aid after a natural disaster?

They were industrious and innovative, creating a stone aqueduct system to bring water from the hot springs of Hierapolis some six miles away. By the time this water reached Laodicea, however, it was tepid and distasteful.

Yes, they were wealthy, affluent people, surely the envy of all who visited their city. But was Jesus impressed? Not a bit. He called them “pitiful, blind beggars, threadbare and homeless” Rev. 3:17. And he follows up with this command, “Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.” Rev 3:18.

What are the lessons for us?

1. You can have lots of stuff and be very poor.

If you base your life on the size of your portfolio, you are still very poor. Why? Because life is more than your net worth. Jesus said to buy gold which has been through a refiner’s fire; gold that has all of the impurities burned out of it. Real wealth for us means having the impurities burnt out of our lives. Faith in Jesus Christ may throw us directly into the fire (1 Peter 1:7) or it could mean simply allowing God to refine us bit by bit. Either way, He will make sure that we are refined.

2. Independence can stifle dependence.

Independence is normally a good thing, but not when it creates a prideful attitude that says, “I don’t need anyone’s help. I can do it all by myself.” Reality is that we all need each other and we all need God. The Laodiceans had a prideful independence. They didn’t need Rome’s help after an earthquake and they didn’t need help from God. Do you see the irony here? They prided themselves in their wealth, but they were poor spiritually. They prided themselves on the fine clothing they sold, but they were half naked spiritually. They prided themselves on their famous eye salve, but they were spiritually blind. Their prideful independence prevented humility and dependence on God. It can do the same to us.

3.  Their wealth was not evil.

Nowhere in this passage is the slightest indication that the wealth was evil. Having the wealth is not the problem, but allowing the wealth to become predominant is. God wants his children to have the riches of this world, not so we can be caught up in our stuff or become prideful, but so we can help those who are less fortunate.

4.  There is always hope.

In spite of their misplaced priorities, their prideful independence and their spiritual blindness, Jesus never gave up on them. He makes these same people this promise,  (Rev 3:20)  “If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.”

If you ever think that God has abandoned you, look again. He hasn’t moved. You have.

One more thought

The site of this wealthy metropolis now lies in ruins. Yes, there are remnants of a great theater and part of the aqueduct still exists, but time and nature has reduced the greatness of the city to rubble. These ruins are an object lesson for us…whatever we gain in this world will not last. Only treasures in heaven will. Aren’t those the types of treasures you would like to have?

photo credit: Yoni Lerner

Have you ever had a dream die?

How did you feel? Like life isn’t fair? Like giving up? Like dying? Congratulations! You are in good company. Even the Apostle Paul went through such an ordeal. After suffering extreme hardship, he thought it “was all over”.
Yes – the great apostle Paul who proclaimed “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Php 4:13) experienced times of doubt and confusion.

Paul sees the purpose

But Paul continues, “As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally – not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!”

Beyond grieving

I do not write this to minimize the grief you experience when a dream dies. You should indeed grieve. You have lost something very dear to you. However, when the grieving lessens, remember that God is still in control and he still has plans for you. Why do you suppose Paul points out that God raises the dead? Could it be that He can likewise raise a dead dream into a new one?.

Beginnings require endings

A new beginning cannot occur until an ending takes place. Old wineskins cannot handle new wine and old dreams must be put to rest before new ones can form. Why? Because hanging onto the old hinders the new by confusing, diluting and distorting it. We need that death before a new life can begin. Yes, losing the old is painful…very painful. But God in his graciousness sometimes forces the issue so he can move us ahead to his new and better plan for us.

God had new beginnings for Paul, but He wanted to make sure the old dreams died first so Paul could turn totally to him. He likewise has new dreams for you.

Your new beginning is on its way.

photo credit: blumenbiene

How about you?  What dreams have been crushed in your life?   Has God given you new dreams yet?

Janice and I have a framed envelope hanging in our house. This envelope is unassuming; it has no return address, no first name, a misspelled last name, and 88 cents postage due. Yet it is a vivid reminder of God’s answers to prayer.

The Missing Billfold

On a September Saturday in 2000, while yard saling with our daughter Jaime, Janice laid her billfold down for but a moment. When she reached to pick it up, it was gone. She searched the table, looked under the table and scanned the table once more, but no billfold. Grabbing Jaime’s arm, she pleaded, “Have you seen my billfold?” Jaime shook her head and Janice felt a knot deep in her stomach as she realized that someone had stolen her billfold. It contained not only her driver’s license but $500 of cashier’s checks.

Prayer

When Janice arrived home, she was in tears. As I held her, she whispered, “I am going to report this to the Sheriff’s Department, but first we must pray.” Together we prayed a simple request that we could get that billfold back. Then, before heading toward the sheriff’s office, Janice called her mother in Mt Vernon and her friend Jean Alice to ask for more prayer.

Then she was gone and I was alone and I must confess that I was in no mood to pray. “What good will it do?” I asked myself. “We will never see that billfold again.” Yet I was struck with the notion that I should pray that the thief would feel so guilty that she would return it. I later learned that Doris (Janice’s mom) and Jean Alice had also prayed that exact same prayer.

Living Faith

The next day, Doris called, “Have you got that billfold back yet?”

“Well, no,” I replied, “but I didn’t really expect anything to show up this soon.”

“Joe! We have been praying and believing that Janice is going to get that billfold back and you ought to be believing it too!”

Feeling properly chastised, I murmured, “You’re right, Doris. Thanks for reminding me.”

Still, I didn’t really believe that we would see that billfold again. But, borrowing some of my Mother-in-law’s faith, I left the possibility open in my mind.

Answered Prayer

By the time the mail arrived on Monday, Janice and I were both thinking something special might happen. The doorbell rang and the mailman held the envelope, requesting the 88 cents due. Janice paid him and glided through the house waving her treasure. With trembling hands, she opened the envelope and there it was, complete with driver’s license and cashier’s checks! No notes. No explanation. Just the billfold.

After shouting, dancing and crying, we called our partners in prayer to report our good fortune.

God’s Goodness

And, seemingly, that is the end of the story. Yet as I marveled at Doris’ faith and God’s goodness, a thought hit me: of course God was able to return what we lost. To do so is the very essence of his being. Adam “lost” mankind’s right standing with God and God got it back. Each of us was lost and God sought us and found us. Jesus proclaimed his mission as, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

How about You?

So God, I believe, is asking each of us this question, “What have you lost?” It could be a dream that you have given us on. Perhaps an estranged child. Maybe a talent that you failed to utilize or a joy that has faded with time.  It could be a tanked investment or a job that you were counting on.  Whatever it is, don’t give up! Our God wants to find these things and give them back to you. Give him a chance, for it is what he does best.

Our framed envelope is a constant reminder.

What have you lost?  Do you feel like giving up?  What gives you hope?

Some examples:

• Mat 10:38-39 “Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me doesn’t deserve to be my disciple. The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.”

• Mat 16:24  “Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how.”

• Mat 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”

• Luk 14:28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”

• Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”

• Php 1:29 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

You get the idea. But what does all of this suffering have to do with our finances? Follow along with me here. I believe that personal finance is more about fiber then formula. Crunching the numbers is an exercise in futility unless one has the fortitude to follow through. “Taking up one’s cross” or “losing one’s life” or “embracing suffering” are qualities of radical people: those of intense focus and willingness to sacrifice for a cause. The one who meets Christ’s criteria as a follower is one who also has the backbone to manage his money well.

He will think before buying.

Jesus insisted on potential followers to think about their decisions before acting. This person is not going to impulse on a bass boat or leather sofa. He will think it through.

He will count the cost.

Jesus commanded his followers to count the cost. One who is a cost counter is not going to purchase anything that does not fit within his budget and his lifestyle. That new car or European vacation will not be an issue for someone who knows how to count costs.

“Disciple” means discipline.

One who chooses to be a disciple of Christ has committed himself to live a disciplined life: a life of order, not chaos. A disciplined person will create a budget and live by it. He will balance his checkbook and will not make unplanned expenditures.

He will sacrifice for the short term to win for the long term.

While Jesus demanded total sacrifice, he also pointed out the reward: the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are persecuted for doing what God approves. (Mat 5:10)

Those who live by this rule are those who will give up eating out for the short term in order to get out of debt. They will get rid of the $25,000 car that is sucking their budget dry. They will temporarily take on a second job, knowing that the extra effort today will pay dividends tomorrow. In short, those who give all for Christ will likewise be willing to sacrifice their life styles in order to win with their finances for the long term.

Concluding thoughts

I realize that my premise (following Jesus = good money management) is an ideological one. In real life, Christians seem to have as many financial difficulties as those who do not follow Christ. But do these problems disprove my hypothesis? I think not…the failure with finances, I believe, is rooted in failure to follow Jesus in the manner he demands.

I know in my own life, when my finances go adrift, my spiritual life is likewise becoming unanchored. When I put Jesus in his proper place, my finances will start to fall into place.

photo credit: kelsey_lovefusionphoto

How about you? Do you agree that following Christ helps your financial life go better? Why or why not?

Free Money Finance’s recent post, The Seven Pillars of Financial Success:  Pillar 1: Spend Less Than You Earn emphasizes the absolute priority we must give to this principle in order to prosper financially. Based on Proverbs 21:20, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has”, FMF says,

“Without this one, simple step, you’re dead in the water financially — you’re going nowhere. With it, you have extra amounts left over that you can save and invest — and thus grow your net worth. This is why spending less than you earn is the one, main key to financial success (and thus my best piece of financial advice).”

Who can argue with this simple logic? It is common sense, it is biblically based and it is the best piece of financial advice that a very successful financial blogger offers. Done deal. Right? I thought so until this comment to the FMF post made me wonder:

“I’ve found out that the most important pillar is actually “Be able to make a Living Wage”. You have to make a living wage before you can “spend less than you earn”, unless you don’t mind sleeping in a cave (which yes, some people do).

If you don’t have any earning power, it’s IMPOSSIBLE to spend less than you earn, because no matter what you do or how many jobs you try to take on or get, they pay so poorly that you don’t earn enough to pay the most basic of life’s necessities (Shelter, Food, Electricity). That’s my problem (which I’m working on fixing).”

So now we have a dissenting and logical opinion: “One must make a living wage before it is possible to spend less than you earn.”

Are we splitting hairs here? Is the “earn/spend less” debate akin to the “chicken/egg” argument? I don’t think so. In fact, I believe this discussion is a critical one for the following reasons:

We are not talking about zero income.

Obviously living on less than you earn is impossible if you have no income. However, the proverb, the post and the commenter all assume that there is SOME income. The comment states that this income must be a “living wage” before one can practice the principle, but neither the post or the proverb make this assertion. “Wisdom”, according to the Proverb, is setting aside some food and oil regardless of the income level.

“IMPOSSIBLE”, though difficult, can be possible.

According to the comment, even if you take on several poor paying jobs, it is IMPOSSIBLE (his caps) to spend less than you earn. I disagree. I am not unsympathetic to those who struggle with low paying jobs, but I dismiss the argument that they can’t meet basic needs. I know a forty year old single woman in our community who works for minimum wages, has no debt and $10,000 (all saved from her job) in the bank. She rents a modest apartment and does not own a car (she rides a bicycle) and refuses to borrow money.

While I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty for living in America, we can keep incomes in perspective by realizing that the minimum wage earner in America is ahead of 87.8% of the world’s population. My source? Global Rich List. My point? Think twice before declaring your situation is impossible.

A “living wage” is not definable

What is a “living wage”? Seemingly, it is sufficient wages to be able to pay life’s necessities. However, the definition of “life’s necessities” is so ambiguous that anyone can make it mean what they want it to mean. $15,000 annually might be living wage for one person while $100,000 a year might not be enough for another person.

The “I will do it later” mentality

There is a danger in deciding that one must earn a certain income level before beginning to apply Proverbs 21:20. Why? Because the “I will do it later” mindset is a form of rationalization which will affect not only this decision, but all financial decisions. One can always find an excuse to delay paying off debt or saving for an emergency fund or planning for retirement. “Tomorrow” can be a death knell in the world of personal finance.

Conclusion

I agree with FMF that learning to live on less than you earn is a foundational financial and biblical principle. I realize that this can be very difficult when the income level is low, but I also believe that there is no magic income level when the principle should kick in. When people set their minds to live on less than they earn, and when they make themselves do it even when income levels are low, they are developing a mindset that will serve them well for life.

Readers: are you able to live on less than you earn?  How difficult is it?  Did you have to achieve  a certain income level before you could live on less than you earned?  Are you still looking forward to being able to do so?

photo credit: alancleaver_2000

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth”. 1 Jn 3:17-18

These verses tell us that if God’s love abides in us, we will put it into action. When we see a brother in need, we will not close our hearts against him but demonstrate our love by our deeds. We will “walk the walk”, not simply “talk the talk”.

But this challenge begs balance.

Does God expect us to literally help every needy person we encounter? This would seem to contradict his commands of good stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30). But neither does He want us to be so overwhelmed with the challenge that we help no one. Trying to help everyone leads to guilt and frustration; helping no one leads to selfishness and a calloused heart.

A helpful guideline for keeping this balance is what I call the “burden/load” principle.

Understand the difference between a “burden” and a “load”.

Paul tells the Galatians to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. (Gal. 6:2) Three verses later he says “For each will have to bear his own load.” (Gal. 6:5)

Is he speaking riddles here? Which is it? Do we step in and help or do we let the person do it himself? The key is understanding the words “burden” and “load”. The burden is comparable to a boulder – something that is impossible for the person to carry on his own. In this text, it is used to describe someone who is overwhelmed with sin, but it could also be used to describe a financial, emotional or physical struggle as well.

The “load” in verse five is like a small backpack; something that can be easily carried.

The lesson in these two verses is that we should not do for a person what he can do for himself; it is a healthy thing to “bear his own load”. However, when someone is so weighted down that they simply can’t handle the burden, we who are able should step up and help.

Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend, in their “Boundaries” book series, stress that when we haven’t established healthy relational boundaries, we often act as a result of guilt, obligation or manipulation…not love. Clearly understanding this burden/load dynamic will allow us to say “no” gracefully while choosing to say “yes” when the need is indeed a burden. The difference is huge, for we are able to love only when we are free to choose to do so.

Think of this principle in Jesus’ life: he chose to raise Lazarus from the dead (burden), but he commanded others to roll the stone away and unbind his strips (loads). He fed the 5000 (burden) but had his disciples distribute the food and pick up the abundance (loads). Jesus did not do everything for everyone; he did and does do what we can’t do.

The problem with principles.

The burden/load principle is a great one, but, like many principles, it will miss the mark if applied legalistically. Paul said, “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Co 13:3.  Giving is a quality of someone who loves, but never a substitute for love.

The following tips will help us apply the burden/load principle in love:

Deciding not to help is not license for becoming judgmental.

Have you ever become judgmental of a person who doesn’t carry the load she is capable of carrying? Don’t. While we probably shouldn’t enable that person by doing for her what she can do for herself, we nevertheless need to be a friend and have an open heart toward her. One can’t do this and also be judgmental.

We shouldn’t try to carry every burden.

I may not be qualified, for example, to counsel a man who is abusing his wife. But, assuming that he wants help, I can put him in contact with a pastor or counselor who can. At any rate, I should not close my heart toward him.

We are called first and foremost to love. Our opening verses (1 Jn 3:17-18) are written to remind us that love isn’t love unless action takes place. By establishing guidelines, we free ourselves up to take those actions because we choose to.  This is love.

One more thought: when you are burdened by the needs you see around you, God will step in and help you carry that burden.  No burden is too great for Him.

Readers:  When you  feel overwhelmed with the needs all around you, how do you choose whom to help?

photo credit: malias

photo credit: Danielle Scott

“For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  I Th 5:2-3

This passage begs this question, “If we know that certain events are going to happen, why do we fail to take preventive actions?”   This isn’t just about end times theology; it is about putting off what we know we need to do.  We know we are going to die, but 55% of American adults don’t have a will.   Money magazine says that 78% of us will have a major emergency within any given 10 year period, yet many never create an emergency fund.  How many of you (especially age 50 and above) get annual physical exams?   You understand that your body WILL break down if you don’t care for it…don’t you?

What exactly is procrastination?

A dictionary definition is “To postpone or delay needlessly.”  Our bible passage tells us that people lull themselves into inactivity by saying, “There is peace and security.”   The issue, as I see it, isn’t simply not taking immediate action – it is putting it off and putting it off more and continuing to put it off until it becomes so fuzzy on our radars that it is eventually forgotten.  Wojo at Fiscal Fizzle, in his post 5 Financial Items We Tend to Procrastinate, named budgeting, income planning,  home inventory, insurance and investment management as five such items.  Have you ever put any of these off till you simply forgot about them?   Uhhh…me too.

Why do people procrastinate?

It is not simply laziness; the experts tell us there are certain types of people who procrastinate and there are certain reasons why people procrastinate.  Read on to see if they are talking about you.  They were definitely talking about me.

Types of procrastinators

From Procrastination: 10 Things to Know, (an article in Psychology Today),  Dr Ferrari, associate professor of psychology at De Paul University in Chicago identifies three basic types of procrastinators:

1. Thrill seekers.

These are arousal types who wait for the last minute in order to get the euphoric rush.

2. Avoiders

This group is characterized by fear: fear of failure or even fear of success.  They are very concerned about what others think of them, and would prefer that others believe they lack effort than ability.

3. Decisional Procrastinators

As the name describes, these people cannot make decisions.  In their minds, not making a decision absolves them from responsibility for the outcome of events.

According to Dr. Ferrari, procrastinators tell lies to themselves, such as, “I’ll feel more like doing this tomorrow” or “I work best under pressure”  or “time pressure makes me more creative”.  Reality is that they don’t get the urge to do it tomorrow nor do they work best or become more creative under pressure.

Reasons for procrastination

Greg Ford, founder of Stop Procrastination, sites three main reasons why people procrastinate:

1. Perfectionism

When people have unrealistically high standards and expectations, coupled with lack of confidence in their ability to complete a project, they find excuses (such as “I need to study this more” or “I need to acquire more information”) that will prevent them from attempting the project.

2. Anger

Feelings of anger and resentment toward a superior or authority figure can translate into unwillingness to do what has been assigned.  This would also include anger at having a task that one is unwilling or uninterested in thrust upon him…especially if he has previously expressed these views and been ignored.

3. Negative Thinking

When people harbor thoughts that they are not good enough, or that they always fail or that they are just stupid and incapable, they have a very difficult time attempting a project.   Important projects, for those with negative thinking, are the most difficult to undertake because they feel too inadequate to be handling something of this magnitude.

Summary

Procrastination is to postpone or delay needlessly.   Experts agree that it is more than simply laziness.  Certain personality types tend to procrastinate for certain reasons.  If we are going to start dealing with important issues in our lives, we need to better understand why we procrastinate.   I learned that I sometimes fail to start certain projects because I don’t have the confidence that I can do it adequately.  However, I have also learned by experience that once I plow in,  my feeling of inadequacy is usually replaced by ingenuity.

One issue all of us need to address is the one alluded to at the beginning of this post: dealing with your eternal destiny.  I hope that you won’t be like the people who lie to themselves, saying “peace and security” when destruction could come any moment.  This is one issue NOT to procrastinate about.

How about you?

Do you procrastinate?  About what?  Does this post help you better understand why?  In what ways?