Many eggs in one basket

Last year taught us many valuable and harsh lessons. One of them could have been not to put our hope in only one thing, because that could be snatched from us at any time. The old saying goes something like this: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." This usually applies to financial decisions, but it can apply to a lot of other things too.

Coming back to the wisdom of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, we note a similar sentiment from him. 

"Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.
2 But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead." - Ecclesiastes 11:1

For me, these words of wisdom speak about a few key things:

1. We need to work hard and in time we will hopefully be rewarded.

2. Dividing your "investments" in a few options is very wise

3. Risks and uncertainty lie in the future

4. Security for the future relies of wise decisions in the present and the trust in God's provision for the present.

May God bless you with the wisdom of Solomon as you begin this new year.

Challenges lies ahead, but God is with us.

“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” - Zig Ziglar

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What do have to show for it?

My two older boys are doing a Market at their school this week and of course that means that mom and dad need to hand out cash to all 3 of them. Josh loves going to all the stalls and spending his (our) money. At the end of the day it is all in aid of fun for the kiddies, and a learning experience for the older boys, who actually run their own businesses.

When I went to fetch Josh from school I asked him, what he had to show for his pocket money. He honestly had no clue what I was saying? I had to explain myself again and then he pulled out a container with bright blue goo - "this is what I bought dad!" Needless to say, I put on a brave smile and said, "That's cool boy!"

I suppose that I need to be reminded that when I give my kids a gift, I can't always dictate how they spend it. Sure, I need to offer them counsel and make practical suggestions, but one day, when they are adults, they will need to make their own choices. Of course there are times when we can spend money on things that can't be 'seen', but there are also opportunities to spend wisely and then to have something to "show for our money!" 

1 Corinthians 7:30 - "...happiness or sadness or wealth should not keep anyone from doing God’s work."

"It's good to have money and the things money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy." - George Horace Lorimer

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who owns who?

Do you "possess" it or does it possess you?
By the way, I am talking about money...do you have money or does money have a handle on you?

We are in the middle of sharing a teaching on money and boy is it challenging. The thing about money is that we can use it to bless so many people, but it also has such a tendency to consume us and pull us away from God.

In the church, we often fall into the trap of 'guilting' people to part with money, but the Bible has so much more to say about our finances than this. Jesus knew that his disciples (and us) would find themselves living in a world of differing values and that many people would be tempted to believe that "it's money that makes the world go round!"

Money has a 'dark' side, as well as a 'light' side - it can consume us or we can use it to provide for our families and to bless many other people. We just need to understand Jesus' correct teaching on money!

• “We need instruction on how to possess money without being possessed by money!” – Richard Foster

 Jesus said it like this:



"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21

May we foster a spirit of thankfulness for what we have and then also choose to bless others.

Living in Grace
D3LM3