Jan. 22, 2010 – Sirach 29

Economic advise from the Bible.  And great advice too.  Many would have benefitted a reading of this during much of the last decade when everyone was spending money they didn’t have and building up all this dept we are trying to deal with now.  Live within your means.  It is better to live in a small home that is yours than to live in a big one that belongs to another. 

I am still not the best with money.  Michelle does a great job with our budget and keeps me in line.  I think are still both a little leery about giving money away or being too generous with it.  It is not about spending it now, but more about needing it for what if.  We still give our portion to the church and different fundraisers throughout the year, but whole idea of giving large chucks away and trusting that you will be provided for isn’t quite there yet.  It may have even gotten a little worse since Michelle is not working and we are down to one check.  But we did give to a candidate in the race for the first time.  It is a challenge to all of us that have what we need to help those that have not. 

Reading this and hearing about health care and the government trying to do everything they want to do makes me think about the welfare system.  This passage doesn’t say it is bad to borrow from a neighbor, it just says to do so cautiously because you do not want to make their life worse.  The way we have taught people to rely on government instead of trying to pull themselves up has caused a serious burden on the country.  The entire country should study this chapter on Biblical Financial Responsibility.  We should all be more responsible with the things we have been given and not take them for granted.