THE PARABLE OF LUKE 12, ABOUT THE FOOLISH RICH MAN

By Chuck Bentley, CP Guest Contributor Friday, January 19, 2024

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Create a way of thinking about money that is timeless.

I'm trying to change the way I think about money in a biblical way. Can you give me some basic advice I need to follow?

Get Out of the Global Money Mindset

I, who have moved away from the worldly money mindset,

Luke 12's parable of the rich fool makes me think. He earned a lot of money, but he decided to build a bigger barn so he could live a decent life—eating, drinking, and having fun—until he retired. There was nothing wrong with saving, wealth, or planning; however, Jesus reminded him that his life was temporary and that being "rich for God" was more important than planning a short personal life.

Refresh your mind.

"Do not become conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable, and perfect," says the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2. When God's word changes your mind, you will learn to think biblically about money. After the subject of love, the Bible—the second—has more than a thousand references to money. The Bible shows that renewing our minds about the truth is the key to change. You need to be involved in the process to do this. If you want God to open your heart and mind to gain knowledge and principles for controlling money in his own way, you must ask him.

I advise you to find a strategy for reading the Bible and decide to continue it. Don't forget to listen if you are an auditory learner. One of the best options for your time investment is this.

YouVersion.com provides data on how reading Scripture can change a person's life.

Those who read the Bible four or more times each week fall into the following categories:

The odds of viewing pornography were 59% lower, gambling 74% lower, memorizing Scripture 407% lower, sharing their beliefs with others 228% lower, discipling others 231% lower, and battling loneliness 30% lower.

Gathering the right motivation

Our attitudes and motivations play a significant role in determining our relationship with money. Having the right attitude and motivation goes beyond learning to live on a budget and tithing. To have the right perspective, you must be fully committed to God; listen to the counsel of others, including your spouse; be fair and honest with others; be humble and grateful; and forgive those who have debts to you. Our finances reflect our moral values. How we treat our money will show our true priorities and beliefs.

God gives us financial rules because he knows what is best for us. It is not money or possessions that are the problem; it is the signs of the real problem. As it is a tool that Satan uses to control and manipulate us, God always warns us to guard our hearts from things like greed, avarice, egoism, and arrogance, among others. Therefore, it is important for us to understand God's message about money.

A brief list of God's ways of managing money

First of all, take the knowledge that God has everything. It goes against what the world teaches, and it changes the way we see the world. It should influence our daily financial decisions.

Second, record all expenses. It shows where money goes and encourages people to work, give, save, spend wisely, and invest.

Define your goals. A budget is a very useful tool for achieving realistic goals, both short-term and long-term. Check it often and revise it if necessary. Take the upper part of it, not the one that remains. Determine what lifestyle changes you should make to achieve your goals.

Understand the dangers of debt. You can avoid debt by building good habits through the exercise of self-control and discipline. To improve your financial position and pay off your bad debts, reduce good debts such as mortgages.

Put your treasure in heaven, not on earth, and prioritize giving.

Learn from your mistakes and work to solve financial problems.

To start thinking in a way that contradicts the real world is not an easy task. Every moment, we are filled with aimless thoughts. However, God will appreciate your motivation and your pure desire to learn. Psalm 347:4-6 says:

Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you what your heart desires. Give your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will present your justice as light and your justice as day.

Crown.org, our library of financial tools and resources, as well as other ministry instructions on finance, are accessible. Over twenty-four years ago, I experienced a transformation from a temporal perspective to an eternal perspective in my own life. I only regret that I did not make changes in my life earlier.

Do you want to get more tools and advice on how to get richer in 2024? Do you want to get ministry updates from all over the world? By using the form on the homepage of Crown.org, you can sign up to receive Crown newsletter emails.

Chuck Bentley is the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, a global Christian organization that Larry Burkett founded. He is the author of his latest book, Economic Evidence for God?, and you can follow Crown on Facebook. He also carries the daily radio show My Money Life, which is broadcast on more than 1,000 Christian radio stations in the US.

News Sources : https://www.christianpost.com/voices/ask-chuck-develop-an-eternal-mindset-about-money.html