Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word, it is different than what you would expect. Just the opposite. If you ever get on the internet, there are a lot of people – millionaires, sharing what made them millions. Some of them, maybe even most – genuinely want to help others achieve what they did, wealth (at least for now). Others do it, because more clicks mean more money. Of all the “become a millionaire” philosophies out there. There are common threads… “First, Invest in yourself, your own skills, knowledge and abilities – your best investment for the future, and your best hedge against economic uncertainty. Then invest in index funds (sure things), but your best investment – invest in what you know.” Dave Ramsey gave some widely respected advice to a fan who already had considerable money success. What is your knowledge percentage? 80% Real Estate, 20% stock market? Then your portfolio percentage should mirror that. Ramsey said really wealthy people invest in only a couple of things, things they know, and they do them a lot. Warren Buffet said the same thing. I listened to a quick clip of an interview of billionaires asked “Was it worth it?” Their responses were interesting, but quite frankly, saddening. I can honestly say, not one of them is who I would aspire to. God gave a warning in His Word. Those who love money, and pursue money fall into temptation and a snare. Even those who gained mega wealth themselves say – they know a lot of millionaires who are miserable. God gave a real secret. God owns it all, and gives it to whomever he chooses. And He said a shocking thing. To the wicked, He gives the task of storing up wealth, to give it to the one who pleases God. So how do you filter advice, and whose advice are you pursuing? Some of it has to be true, it results in money. There are some things you can clearly do that result in money, not poverty. Millionaires think a certain way, different than poor people do. But what does God have for you? God gave a warning, This is the fate of fools (who trust in themselves) and their followers who approve of their sayings. Their bodies will rot in the grave far from the fine houses they lived in. Not condemning a single one of them, I don’t know them, God knows their heart, He just warns us to be careful who we follow after. God doesn’t think like rich people or poor people. He thinks like God thinks. That’s why He told us – transform your mind, so you think like I think. It’s the mind of Christ. That’s why PiVAT and PRISM are so important. Get God’s plan for you today, and do it. Keep PRISM, His Word on your mind and tongue, learn to think like He thinks! God warned, Be careful what philosophy you pursue and adopt as your own. Be sure it’s God who is leading you. These philosophies are tricky. What is your motive, and what part of these philosophies, are simply a discovery of God’s truth, versus deception in disguise? And how do you discern? What will you make? Money, or Disciples? What kind of disciples will you make? Whose disciples? Is making money bad? Your motive and how you go about it is where the danger lies. If money is your measure of success, those who make disciples won’t measure up well in your eyes. Some will, but not all. Do you want to make money? Or make disciples? Can you do both? If you want both, it might be a good idea to seek God, to be sure that you’ve not convinced yourself you want both, but really want one - the money. Like the guy who said, I want to land this million dollar deal, because God will get 10% of it. That’s funny, God doesn’t need to give you a windfall, so you tithe. He owns the whole thing already, He can just keep it all. God said, you cannot love God, and money. God said to make disciples, not money, or money disciples. He said, Godliness with contentment is great gain, and He revealed another secret, God gives wealth and adds no trouble to it. This is where you need some friends who are God-obeyers in your circle of counsel. Praying that you will pursue God’s commands above all others, seek a multitude of Godly counsel, exhort one other daily, walking with someone in an obedience relationship, and be sure you guard your heart against all kinds of greed. It’s sneaky, or God wouldn’t have emphasized, all kinds… Don’t measure people by their money, don’t measure them at all… let God do that, pray for them. But measure yourself by your obedience. God has different things for different people. What does He have for you? If you walk with someone daily, learning to obey, your life won’t be the same, but your obedience will be. If you are seeking after God, His presence, and His Word, and if you obey what He tells you to do. You can rest in His confidence knowing He will lead you, and provide for you. Sometimes how He leads you will result in money generated, sometimes it won’t. No matter where He leads you, these are the people of whom you can make disciples, helping them know the God who loves them and has such good things planned for their life. Whatever He calls you to do, brings you in proximity with those who do similar things. Some people pursue all the wealth building advice they can get. The internet is full of it. What if you pursued the wisdom of God through His Word, with the same intensity that aspiring millionaires pursue the advice of those who made it? the wisdom of this world to attain wealth. God said seek first His Kingdom, and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have the millions they do. You’d have to do what they do, and believe like they do, plus luck, skill and timing – to get what they have, and they could lose it, in a moment. Disaster or calamity could sweep it all away. Is that what God wants you to pursue, and do and believe? These are things you need to ask God. God said in the house of the wise are stores of oil. How did they get it and keep it? God’s Word has instructions for it. He said my people are destroyed by lack of knowledge. (that’s not the absence of knowledge, that’s putting their faith in the wrong knowledge). Destroyed means coming to ruin, loss. Most people if they have money, end up losing it. Not because the didn’t know enough about what Warren Buffet says, they don’t know enough of what God says. Praying that you will pursue the knowledge of God, over the knowledge of men. Praying that you won’t compare wealth. You wouldn’t measure God’s plan for Mother Teresa, ministering to the destitute in Calcutta, by the value of her portfolio. Praying that you will seek the Kingdom of God first, that your desire would be - to be simply - an obeyer, like Jesus. That you would seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and be cautious in what knowledge you pursue. So God will lead you in making disciples, obeyers, not in making money. He may call you to things that make money, He may call you to things that make more or less money. But everything here, will be left here, Money stays, People go with you. Praying for wisdom, discernment, protection, that you would be on your guard against every form of greed. But that you would fully pursue the presence and Word of God, and whatever training He requires of you – to put you in whatever sphere of influence He has created you for, so you can make disciples there. His plans for you are good! And they will include preparation, and discernment and hard work. He reveals both, and gives grace for it. He loves you, He has plans for your good, and good plans for your future. Praying that His measure will be your measure. So you make what He wants you to make. Love you all, dad
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AuthorKelly Kamentz - Jesus follower, husband, father, and friend, helping others surrender time, thoughts, money, and testimony, to fulfill their purpose! Archives
November 2024
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