Category: #wisdom

Remembering His Words

Remembering His Words

I always remember the words I have often heard my grandfather, Arch Woodworth, quote as he would testify in church: “Be not weary in well-doing for in due season you will reap if you faint not.”

I didn’t have to look up this Bible verse because I heard them multiple times, more than I can count. He probably was not even aware that I was listening, but his words quoting the Apostle Paul of course, have stuck with me. I often quote them myself because they still encourage to me today!

I remember them only because I heard him quoted it at the end of pretty much any testimony he shared. It makes me wonder how my grandchildren will quote me. What am I passing on to my children and grandchildren?

The best example of a father has to be our Heavenly Father. He made sure that His Son knew He was “well pleased” with Him. The timing of this message is important. It was sent at the baptism of Jesus before He had even performed any miracles or accomplished anything of eternal significance. The Father was simply saying, I’m proud that you are my child and you are on this earth.

I wrote about this on Father’s Day in 2020 and have made an effort to reach out to my kids every Father’s Day to send them a message from their Dad.

If you are a father, reach out to your children and let them know that you are “well pleased” with your child(ren), not because of what they may have accomplished, but because hearing that from you will mean more than you may ever realize.

Happy Father’s Day!

Who to Trust in These Times

Who to Trust in These Times

It seems that everyone is talking about President Trump these days. Some are fearing what seems to be inevitable now – a recession, while others see Trump’s aggression on Canada as a threat to its sovereignty as a nation. Politicians are searching for ways to negotiate or strike back against the imposed tariffs. There are more questions than answers, right now. One thing is certain, things have become extremely uncertain.

As Christians, we often quote this very familiar verse about trust from Proverbs that says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” At times of uncertainty like our world is facing right now, the tendency is to lean more on ourselves and try to understand, which is not real trust. My experience tells me it is much easier to say “I trust the Lord,” but much more difficult to really live a life trusting Him. The tendency is to lean and begin to trust what we understand.

“Trust Me”

Canada is in the middle of a leadership transition and therefore, not in a strong bargaining position. In the coming days, each of these leaders will try and position themselves as the best person and the best party to stand for the interests of Canada. In essence, they are saying, “Trust me.”

It’s difficult to understand what the end game might be for President Donald Trump in regards to Canada. It is also a challenge to determine who can be trusted most to lead Canada through these challenging times. Maybe our focus is completely wrong. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to trust God!

The fact is this: when we do not understand, we can so easily spiral into anxious thoughts about our future – job insecurity, higher cost of living, etc. When we focus on our understanding or lack of understanding, the result is the same which is the opposite of rest.

Trust Yourself

Compare Proverbs 3:5 to a much less familiar verse in Proverbs that uses a similar word for “understanding:”


Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

do not trust your own cleverness (emphasis mine).

Proverbs 23:4 NIV

The pursuit of wealth is so easily connected with an individual’s own cleverness. The NASB says we should not exhaust ourselves to gain wealth; in fact we should “Cease from the consideration (or understanding) of it.” What exactly are we to cease from? Surely the instruction is not to stop considering how we ought to earn income, after all, we are also instructed to provide for our family (1 Tim 5:8).

It’s pretty clear: Proverbs instructs us to seek wisdom and understanding (Prov. 4:1-9). Consider King Solomon who had the unique opportunity to ask God for anything (1 Kings 3:5) … his request was to have an understanding mind. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure” (1 Kings 4:29). God not only gave Solomon wisdom, but also added an extra bonus by giving him what he did not ask for: “both riches and honour” (1 Kings 3:13). So he was granted wisdom and wealth, but the choice before him is the choice we all must make: where to lean.

Consider the Source

Clearly, Scripture is teaching us that the source of wisdom and understanding matters. When we look at Solomons’s life and leadership we can see how he drifted from the source of wisdom.

It’s far too easy to think we are the source of any wealth we have accumulated and lean on our own cleverness for more wealth. Where we lean affects our heart, often without us even realizing it. Maybe that’s why the Israelites were reminded to remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth (Deut 8:18).

In the same way, political leaders around the world can naturally lean on their own understanding or cleverness to resolve issues that affect millions of citizens. Take a look at these verses as it relates to the King of Tyre:

Your wisdom has certainly made you rich, because you have storehouses filled with gold and silver. You’re a clever businessman and are extremely wealthy, but your wealth has led to arrogance! Ezekiel 28:4-5 CEV (Emphasis mine)

When one possesses wealth and wisdom and sees themselves as the source of what they have, it can lead to arrogance and pride.

When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies to the heavens. Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies; for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 23:5-6 AMP, 7 ESV

Why would someone who is trying to impress you by offering a meal be “inwardly calculating” the cost of that meal? Maybe it is because when someone sees themselves as the source of this wealth, it is natural to think about how much this generosity costs.

Trust the Lord

When you recognize that any wealth you have is from another source other than yourself, you begin to understand that you are a steward, therefore you are not the true source. Then, where you lean shifts to the true source of the wealth (Deut 8:18). At this point, our own ability to gain wealth shifts to a source that is much great than ourselves.

This is a significant heart shift – this shift means that what we “treasure” also shifts (see Matt. 6:21) because our heart now has a different focus – one where giving is a greater priority, greater than the cost of generosity or how this amount will be replaced. The heart of the steward has trust in a higher source than their own “cleverness” to generate wealth. The steward has clarity about money that was previously missing: wealth is now seen as a tool rather than just a resource to be stored.

The End Game is trust!

Setting Financial Priorities

When you receive your income on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis, it is important to set priorities around the use of these funds. In my study of biblical financial principles I have discovered there are only five things that you can do with money. These are listed here based on rhyme rather than priority:

  1. Live (lifestyle varies depending on personal decisions around spending)
  2. Give (determine to live a generous life)
  3. Owe – repay what we have borrowed which is really an extension of our lifestyle
  4. Owe – taxes (for most, this is an automatic deduction from pay)
  5. Grow – saving for a future goal (education, major purchase, retirement, etc.)

As a simple budget practice, it is helpful to calculate the percentage amount that goes to each of these five areas; however, the big question becomes, “In what order should funds be allocated?” What is the foundation for setting these priorities?

For the Christian, the Bible is to be our guide in life and there are 2350 verses referencing money and possessions. Thankfully, many have researched these truths and can help us determine what our financial priorities ought to be.

In his book, Financial Discipleship for Families, author Brian Holtz shares five priorities based on biblical wisdom.

Priority 1 – Giving Generously: Righteousness is associated with generosity in Psm. 37:21 which states, “The wicked borrows but does not repay, but the righteous is generous and gives!” Jesus emphasizes in His Sermon on the Mount to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33 ESV). Do we seek His kingdom first in our financial decisions? Or are we more focused on adding the the things?

Priority 2 – Providing for Family Needs: The Apostle Paul instructs readers in 1 Tim. 5:8 to “provide for their own family and especially for a member of their household …” (CEB). This directive to care for our loved ones tends to come naturally, and for many it is the top priority.

Priority 3 – Meeting Financial Obligations: Again, the Apostle Paul in Romans 13:7-8 gives the instruction: “pay your taxes and government fees and … owe nothing to anyone – except for your obligation to love one another” (NLT). Holtz says, “After giving and providing for the basic needs of our family, we need to prioritize the various financial obligations we have made.” Paying taxes with gratitude for the income earned can be challenging at tax time and paying off debt can feel burdensome, but is an obligation.

Priority 4 – Saving for the Future: Proverbs 21:20 gives clear guidance to save for future needs which maybe unseen or unknown in the present. It reads, “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.”

Priority 5 – Enjoying God’s Abundant Blessings: When Paul mentored Timothy, he told him to “Instruct the rich… not to be conceited or fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” Clearly, it is God who gives us these things with purpose – enjoyment being one, but this is not necessarily the top priority. He continues the instruction reiterating priority 1, which is to use what we have been given “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1 Tim. 6:17-18 NASB).

Our natural tendency is to order our financial priorities like this:

  • Priority 2 – Providing for Family Needs
  • Priority 5 – Enjoying God’s Abundant Blessings
  • Priority 3 – Meeting Financial Obligations
  • Priority 4 – Saving for the Future
  • Priority 1 – Giving Generously

The Kingdom Advisors theme for February focuses on priority 1 and the giving process. Chris Gabriel says, “Giving is a superhighway to the soul. Christian advisors can be agents of redemption in the area of generosity and giving.” As agents of redemption, we are called disciple and help others shape their financial priorities based on biblical financial wisdom.

Questions to consider:

  • Have you ever calculated what percentage of your income goes to each of the five uses of money?
  • Are the financial priorities for Christians any different than non-Christians?
  • How would you personally rank these five priorities?
  • Which of these priorities presents the greatest challenge for you?
  • Do you need to make adjustments to your financial priorities?

Conformed or Transformed?

As we start another year, the Apostle Paul offers very clear instruction:

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2 HCSB

Written so long ago – how do we apply this in our day? No doubt it is much easier to conform to this age because it takes more of an effort to be transformed. It takes intentionality to be transformed because what comes naturally is being conformed to what is around us (this age or the world around us).

The renewal of the mind is the key, meaning we must intentionally have things enter our mind to bring transformation. This begs the question: what is entering our minds? What we read, listen to, watch or in essence, what we consume on a regular basis shapes our thinking.

A deeper question then becomes: What is the source of the things we consume (what we read, hear and watch)? Clearly what Paul is saying here is that the source of what we consume is more important than we might realize because it determines if we are conforming to this age or being transformed! Transformation happens only when the mind is renewed by a source other than “this age.”

Butterflies undergo a complete metamorphosis. Each stage looks completely different and serves a different purpose in the life of the insect.
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/educators/resource/butterfly-life-cycle

It is vital for every Christian to “be transformed” because it is only then we become capable of discerning “what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” in every aspect of our lives.

Let’s practically apply this in our finances: If you receive an increase in your annual pay for the next year, what will you do with that increase?

The most natural response is to increase your lifestyle, since you can now afford it a little better. You can also choose to pay down debt, or save this amount for a short or long term goal. Another option would be to give some or all of this pay increase to a charity of choice. I’ve listed these in this order based on two things: the first being my experience with clients as a financial advisor, but secondly on “this age” which typically shapes our financial decision making. You will likely agree that it is “this age” that influences the choices we make.

Let me echo the instruction of Paul here: “Do not be conformed to this age” or as it relates to our finances, do not increase your standard of living, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” meaning our thinking is changed, even reversed, so we choose to increase our standard of giving.

God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

Randy Alcorn

The Impact of Your Lifestyle

The Impact of Your Lifestyle

There are so many places that our money can be directed so it is important to set our priorities. One priority already set for the majority is tax, since the income tax act requires that taxes are deducted at source before we receive our pay. The more one makes, the more gets deducted.

One of the more challenging areas is our lifestyle because we always seem to want a larger lifestyle. We like to have a newer car, the latest cell phone, another toy and the list goes on. For this reason, limiting our lifestyle spending is never easy.

It has been said that lifestyle spending accounts for 40-70% of where our money goes. Please note that lifestyle spending is different than “living expenses” because lifestyle is about what we want, not just what we need to live.

Have you ever calculated how much of your monthly expenditures is directed toward lifestyle and these other areas? There is a simple tool in the form of a pie chart that I have used to determine the percentage of money that goes to each piece of the pie.

Taken from the Kingdom Advisors Educational Program

Your tax return can provide some of this data: start with your gross income, then subtract the tax you pay, then take off the amount you save (if it’s in your RRSP, you can find this on your tax return) and subtract your charitable giving (also on your tax return if given to a registered charity). Finally, subtract what you pay annually in debt (which typically is an extension of your lifestyle). What remains is your lifestyle. (Income – tax – debt – saving – giving = lifestyle).

In the Kingdom Advisors Study Group this month, Founding Director, Ron Blue shares the story of a couple who desired to give more than 10%. Might that be a goal for you?

This couple was spending 52% on lifestyle and 15% was going to pay on the debt. The reason for the debt was paying off things like an RV, motorcycles, boats – the toys or the extras. The toys are great to have but maybe not used as much as when first purchased.

This couple made the decision to sell the toys (for what they were worth – less than the purchase price) and eliminate the debt. They allocated this 15% to their giving, so they now gave 25%! This in turn reduced their taxes by 10% – that’s a definite win! This 10% allowed them to boost their savings and even add to their lifestyle boosting it to 59%.

Just think about that result for a minute: paying 10% less in tax, saving 3% more, giving 15% more and spending 7% more on lifestyle; who can argue with that? Most importantly, this couple was more content than they were previously. It came by eliminating the debt.

As a couple, we have calculated this in the past few years and have found it extremely useful, because like this couple, we were not 100% content and wanted to make some adjustments in our pie chart. In particular: decrease (or eliminate) debt, give more and pay less in tax.

How about you? If you would like to calculate your own, you can download the tool here: https://ronblueinstitute.com/tools/#budgeting_tools

Revisit your own pie and priorities on an annual basis. Maybe some adjustment might be exactly what you need!

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday

Following the US Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday comes “Black Friday” where consumers shop for great deals which is a great lead-up to the frantic shopping Christmas season. I’m sure you have received and have maybe even taken advantage of some of these deals.

The shopping frenzy typically goes through the weekend and even extends into “Cyber Monday” – more deals.

In response to all this spending comes “Giving Tuesday” which highlights the importance of not just spending our resources on ourselves or the people we love, but also on giving to those we may or may not even know.

We have to set our priorities because all of these uses for our money are calling to us everyday! Honestly, I wish “Giving Tuesday” was a week earlier, before the big sales weekend.

The sequence of these days speaks to what is priority for most. There are typically only five places that money is directed:

  1. Lifestyle – typically the top priority / when we get a raise or bonus we tend to increase our standard of living.
  2. Owe – when we are not able to pay immediately for large purchases (house or vehicle), we often borrow for it, so in essence, debt is an extension of our lifestyle.
  3. Owe – let’s not forget what else we owe – tax. Amounts for tax are deducted from our pay so the taxman makes tax our top priority since this deduction happens as we receive our pay.
  4. Grow – “Pay yourself first” is a tag line used by many financial advisors to motivate you to save for your financial future.
  5. Give – sadly, giving is often the lowest on the priority list.

Maybe it’s time we adjust our financial priorities: instead of focusing on our lifestyle first and giving out of what’s left, maybe we should adjust our priorities:

  1. Give – Let this become our top priority / When we get a raise or bonus let’s increase our standard of giving (instead of our standard of living).
  2. Owe – The bank and CRA sets this as a high priority for us anyway.
  3. Grow – The wise save for the future while the fool spends whatever is received.
  4. Live – Our lifestyle can be based on what remains which will mean some adjusting.
Rev. Billy Graham

When we set the right priorities, our spending habits and our attitude toward money will change. Billy Graham believed that our thinking toward money has a profound impact on the areas of our life.

I didn’t realize Billy Graham shared so much wisdom about how to use money:

“God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”

We would do well to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 ESV).

During this weekend, remember your priorities! Will you give on Tuesday based on what’s left after Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Or is Giving Tuesday more of a priority?

Is There Wisdom in Losing Wealth?

Is There Wisdom in Losing Wealth?

I read the story of the prodigal son this week. Considering the context of this chapter in Luke’s gospel, the focus is on the things that are lost: the sheep, the coin and the son. The other consideration around loss that is seldom spoken about is the loss of wealth.

What a challenging decision it must have been for the father when the son asks for his inheritance. I expect the father may have known or would have at least suspected how the son was likely to handle the amount he agreed to transfer to his account. Parents usually have some idea about the path a child may choose to walk, especially when they ask for money. Did he know that the son was, in many respects, already lost since he was discontent and felt receiving these funds would answer this discontentment? I have never considered before that maybe the father knew that the only way for his son to truly “be found” and “come to his senses” was to give him his inheritance.

At the time of writing this blog, the verse of the day in the Bible app is this:

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 

1 John 2:15
https://www.bible.com/verse-of-the-day/1JN.2.15-16/6032?version=116

I have never connected these verses with the prodigal son before, but there is an alignment. There is a competition in each of us for our hearts. What the prodigal saw in front of him was pleasure and possessions; without realizing it he being pulled from the love of the father. Jesus revealed the greatest competitor for our hearts.

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.

Jesus – Matthew 6:24 ESV: English Standard Version 2016

In some sense, maybe the father was actually choosing to invest in his son’s future by giving the inheritance. The story reveals that the wealth given to the son would be completely consumed, so in that sense the return on investment (ROI) was not that great. However, the son hits rock bottom and decides to return to the father. It seems the father was willing to take a loss on the financial side in order for his son to come back to who and where he was supposed to be. The money was lost but the son was found and the rejoicing begins. The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son were recovered, but likely the lost wealth was not found. It seems the father was ok to sacrifice the wealth to save the son.

Ron Blue shared a story about parents completing their will and interestingly, their son had a lifestyle they did not approve of. They were thinking because of this they might “cut him out of their will.” Ron asked an important question: “What is the likelihood of your son returning to the Lord if he receives nothing when you pass on?” They had to admit that the chances were nil. Then Ron asked, “Well then, what’s the likelihood of your son returning to the Lord if he IS included in your will?” The fact is, his heart would be more open to the Lord if he was included in their will. I believe that is the heart expressed by the father of the prodigal.

It seems clear to me that one of the overlooked messages that can be taken from prodigal son is this: It’s more important to pass on wisdom to your children than it is to pass on wealth. We need to practice the wisdom principle.

“If you pass wisdom to your children, you probably can pass wealth to them. If they have enough wisdom, then they may not need your wealth.”

Ron Blue, Splitting Heirs, page 70

When discussing the transfer of wealth to children, Ron recommends asking yourself three questions:

  • What’s the worst thing that can happen if I transfer wealth to ___________?
  • How serious is it?
  • How likely is it to occur?

Preparing the next steward to receive any wealth we transfer is a significant part of a parents responsibility.

Is it possible that the prodigal gained enough wisdom to be a better steward in the future? Are you intentionally passing on wisdom to your children? Sometimes more is “caught” than “taught” and our children pick up our wisdom unintentionally.

Becoming a Shrewd Manager!

Becoming a Shrewd Manager!

Jesus often spoke in parables and fulfilled the prophecy that he would speak things that were hidden (Matt. 13:34, 35). The parable of “The Unjust Steward” or “The Shrewd Manager” in Luke 16:1-13 is possibly one of the most difficult of Jesus’ teachings to understand. Interestingly, it precedes a very familiar and often-quoted verse (13) which says, “You cannot serve two masters…You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” This shrewd manager, despite his unrighteousness, was “praised” by his master which is the shocking part of this parable . There is a powerful truth about eternal perspective revealed in this parable.

The facts are important and need to be clearly understood: 

1. The main character has the job of stewarding the assets of "a certain rich man."
2. There is going to be an audit of the books because of the steward’s poor management.
3. The steward’s days in his role are numbered because of the "squandering of his (the owner’s)possessions."
4. The steward uses the relationships that he has developed to re-negotiate the debt that is owed his master.
5. Despite being “unrighteous” or “unjust” he is praised for his “shrewdness” in his handling of the circumstance.

What principles can we apply to our own management of money and possessions? Here are some of my conclusions:

1. The main thing that we need to understand about this life is that ultimately our role is to be a steward over what is put into our hands.

We are each given talents “depending on each one’s ability” (Matt. 25:15b). My goal is to invest my gifts with the time I have to bring glory to God. We have also been given resources (or treasure) to manage. The Lord also gives us relationships which is often an overlooked element of our stewardship responsibilities. The requirement of a steward is to be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:2).

Understanding that whatever we have in this life belongs to another is a very deep concept. We work and earn money so it is easy to assume it belongs to us. The Israelites had the same thoughts but in Deut. 8:18 it is made clear that it is God who gives us “the power to gain wealth.” This parable teaches that we are called to be faithful in what belongs to someone else (Luke 16:12). Considering what we have been called to manage, it’s definitely a high calling.

2. At some point, the books will be audited.

As followers of Christ, our lives will be examined or judged by God with the goal of providing a reward. Paul describes how our works will be revealed or become obvious; “the fire will test the quality of each one’s work” (1 Cor. 3:13b). What we do with the resources we have been given may have no eternal consequence (they are burnt up or consumed) or they remain after being tested.

Some of the final recorded words of Jesus are these: “I am coming soon and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work” (Rev. 22:12). This is likened to a settling of accounts (Matt. 25:19) and the goal is to hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:21).

3. We must understand that we have a limited time to accomplish the goal.

This adds a significant level of urgency to the management of the resources we have been entrusted with. To realize that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” is a very sobering thought. Are we completing that work or are we squandering the opportunities that present themselves during our days? There is a reason for the instruction: “Teach us to number our days” (Psalms 90:12).

For this manager, the loss of his job made him think more deeply about his options. He knew he had a limited time to act, so he called the clients for a final meeting. This is certainly one of the reasons he is considered to be shrewd.

Shrewd” is not necessarily negative – to call a businessman shrewd is generally a compliment, meaning “taking advantage of hidden opportunities”.

Until he was faced with this personal crisis, this opportunity was hidden to him and not a consideration. In a similar fashion, we do not have unlimited time and we all could use more wisdom that comes by numbering our days. Maybe the difficult things we face (like job loss) in life, have the purpose of growing wisdom within us.

4. We need to understand that the relationships that we have with others are truly a gift from God.

“When you are with people, they are his people, relationships he’s given you, people whom you can serve with eternal values at heart.”

Ken Boa, Rewriting Your Broken Story, p. 15

This may require us to intentionally focus on those relationships strategically in order to accomplish all that God intends for us to produce from that relationship. Consider that God actually has a plan for each of those relationships and he positions us at the right time in that person’s life.

What happens next is most interesting: he calls “his master’s debtors and reduces their debt, thereby engendering their friendship.”

Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions & Eternity, p. 142

From the point of view of the debtors, the steward will have used his last moments in office (though they will only learn later that these are his last moments in office) to show generosity to them on a grand scale. The ancient world ran on the basis of a reciprocity ethic: good turns given and returned. The steward’s move gave him a claim upon his master’s debtors that was much more secure than any contract. Public honor required that they make some appropriate return to their benefactor. The steward had secured his future!

John Nolland, Luke 9:21–18:34, vol. 35B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1993), 796–803.
5. The results that will bring praise from the master is when the impact reaches beyond this temporal life and extends into the eternal.

What the steward is praised for is not his unrighteousness but his “shrewdness” or “prudence.” This is the key that unlocks the parable. He is indeed a “son of this world,” but he is more prudent in planning for the only future he is concerned about than the typical religious person is in planning for his eternal future with God.

James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Luke, ed. D. A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentar

The “worldly wealth” can be used strategically to invest in relationships with people. Only then can it be transformed into “true riches” (v. 11). The parable ends in verse 8 when the steward accomplishes his goal. What follows is the instruction to use “worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.” Why was this steward “more shrewd than the children of light?” It might be because he acted according to his worldview (securing his future).

The natural inclination is to view all of the resources as our own (just as the children of this age do). This parable demonstrates the importance of managing prudently the relationships and resources on behalf of the owner or master (the task of the children of light). Instead of squandering the “worldly wealth” we ought to seek out hidden opportunities, likely relationships we already have. We are to become “faithful in the use of that which is another’s …” (v. 12).

The unrighteousness manager’s actions were consistent with his worldview more than the actions of most followers of Jesus are consistent with their worldview. The instruction of Jesus is: “store up treasures for yourselves in heaven.”

We can accomplish this by our “shrewd” use of “worldly wealth.” To be shrewd means to find hidden opportunities to live according to our worldview, as citizens of heaven. This means we make investments that are long term … really long-term, as in eternal!

How shrewd are we in handling the resources that are placed in our hands? Are we looking for hidden opportunities to use “worldly wealth” to establish “true riches?” (cf. v. 11) Are we living as citizens of heaven, while we are citizens of this earth?

Can You Be Thankful for Tough Times?

Can You Be Thankful for Tough Times?

A common question during Thanksgiving is, “What are you thankful for today?” I would have to say I am thankful for the people who have come into my life, even for a brief time, to say something significant to me. It is so good to be able to revisit those monumental moments. I am, of course, grateful for the family and friends who have walked with me through many difficult, life-building experiences. In fact, I have come to realize that I am even thankful for those who have been a source of pain in my life and may have helped create some of those difficult experiences. All of them have shaped me into the person that I am today.

I remember one challenging season during my Bible College years (1982-1986) when I was desperate, ready to quit and do something else, rather than do what my heart truly desired. Thankfully, a pastor prayed with me and said I would be a “David and a Gideon.” It’s quite interesting that both of these men felt pretty insignificant (both were considered the least in their families). In May 2019, I was fortunate enough to meet that pastor again and thanked him for his words to me so many years earlier; those significant words that continued to resonate with me through some of the toughest times in my life.

As a young pastor just starting out in my career, I felt rejected by the denomination that I grew up in and where I had trained to be a minister. I was filled with questions and no answers, disappointed because life was not supposed to be this way. That’s when the Lord provided an opportunity for me to enter the financial services industry (1991). I felt this was just a temporary move until the Lord would open another door of ministry for me; after all, God had called me to “preach the word.” I am thankful for the tough times and for those who have rejected me, because without them, I would have never made the decisions I did.

I’m grateful for my wife who documented our journey together these past 34 years (on Oct. 25th this year). She wrote these words that another pastor shared on Sept. 20, 1992, “An open door is coming for Lorne, but he’s not yet ready for it. There will be some frustrating and trying times but we are to look at it as preparation time. We are to cleave to one another and look back at this night.”

Nine years later, I heard these words (Nov. 25, 2001): “Lorne will travel Canada and his ministry will be endorsed so strongly that people won’t be able to question it.” I’m grateful for closed doors because only God knows when and which doors should open. Trusting that God will do this is most difficult in your dark times.

One of my darkest periods was in 2008 after I had run in the Federal Election (and lost), plus the stock market had crashed. I was striving to open doors and get away from this pressure but despite my knocking, the only door that opened meant continuing in the financial services industry. I recall speaking with a counsellor during this period and she said, “You are suffering from rejection.”

I concealed my pain as much as possible but I was hurting in a way I felt no one else could comprehend. I’m grateful that Cathy was so understanding and allowed me to process, yet, pray me through this period. It was during this time that I began studying the topic of biblical financial stewardship in a book by Randy Alcorn, called “Money, Possessions and Eternity.” I am so thankful for men like Randy, Larry Burkett and Ron Blue whose writings have helped transformed my life and have given me much more of an eternal perspective in so many areas.

I’m so thankful that God’s ways are higher than my ways. What I thought was a temporary career in financial planning has turned out to be the work He had prepared in advance for me to do (see Eph. 2:10). I am grateful for the years I spent creating strong relationships with amazing clients who shared things with me that they would never share with a pastor. I was able to guide them financially and personally. Those years actually prepared me to become the National Director of Kingdom Advisors, a ministry to financial professionals to whom I can easily relate because of my own experience in the industry. It’s ironic that when I was asked to consider this role in 2013, my immediate response (without even thinking) was, “I feel like David out in the field shepherding the sheep (my clients), while so many others are more qualified.” It wasn’t until further reflection that I realized those words that the pastor shared with me in college were very true 35 years later.

The fact is when things don’t go according to our plans, we need to be thankful and willing to trust that things are going according to His plan for us. God can use any circumstance or people! It can appear to be anything but good at the time. Even if meant for evil, God works for our good and conforms us to His image (See Genesis 50:20). Are you facing tough circumstances and/or difficult people? Be assured that behind the scenes, God is using these situations and people to help transform you.

Wisdom for Financial Advisors

Wisdom for Financial Advisors

Financial advisors have a special call and what the Apostle Paul shared with Timothy in 1 Tim 6:17-19 is totally relevant for advisors in our current times as they instruct the rich: Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others, (NLT) storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life. (CSB)

The rich are not told to take a vow of poverty. They are told to take a vow of generosity.

Randy Alcorn, Money Possessions & Eternity, p. 291

The ultimate achievement of a financial planner is not just putting together a financial plan, but helping clients take hold of what is truly life.

Every advisor and every client has a plan or purpose in life that needs to be discovered. Often this is hidden and can be difficult to discover. This verse is majorly important: A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out (Prov. 20:5 NASB). The financial advisor must be “an advisor of understanding” who will have deeper conversations that probe beyond “the numbers” such as rates of returns, etc.

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:36 ESV – Remember the purpose of all we do is to bring God glory. It is something we all fall short of (Rom. 3:23) personally and professionally but our goal is to hear: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matt. 25:23 ESV)

As I consider one advisor leaving the financial services industry (semi-retiring or retiring) and passing his/her business along to a younger advisor, I cannot help but think of Elijah and Elisha. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” (2 Kings 2:9 ESV) If there is a secret to a successful transition, it is to have the younger advisor receive “the spirit” of the senior advisor because that is truly what has created this business in the first place.

Often, money is viewed as something we can trust, particularly the more money, the easier it is to have confidence in wealth. The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety (Prov. 18:11 NLT).

Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ (Col. 3:23,24 CSB). This verse is challenging because Certified Financial Planners understand based on their Code of Ethics and particularly Principle # 1: Duty of Loyalty to the Client. “The duty to act in the client’s interest by placing the client’s interests first.” If we truly see our work as being done for the Lord, this is a higher standard and one that ensures we will have placed the client’s interest ahead of our own and all other interests.

Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Ps. 90:17 ESV) This prayer asks the Lord to make our efforts on earth permanent, meaning the advice we provide will have an eternal impact.

May this be the prayer of every Christian financial advisor.