The third key that opens the door to the Lord’s prosperity is SAVING or CONSERVING resources. The first is Work Hard. The second is Invest.
Saving or conserving resources is taught in the Bible. When Jesus Christ fed the 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with two fish and five loaves, it was indeed miraculous.
“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus ordered. So all of them – the men alone numbered five thousand – sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate until they were full. ‘Now gather the leftovers,’ Jesus told his disciples, so that nothing is wasted.’ There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!” John 6:10-13
I. SAVING IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP.
We don’t own anything. Everything that we have in this world is entrusted to our care. We are only managers, not owners.
II. SAVING IS PREPARING FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.
The Lord teaches us through an illustration from creation. In Proverbs 6:6-8, it says, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”
III. SAVING IS DELAYING GRATIFICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTING.
IV. SAVING IS SETTING ASIDE A PART OF YOUR INCOME.
When the money comes, set aside a portion of it. Don’t spend it all. A certain portion of our income or allowance has to be set aside, no matter how small, or how big. In the Parable of the Talent we learned that, if the Lord finds us faithful with little things, then the Lord will give us big things. But if we are not faithful with little things how will He entrust us with bigger things?
Pero hindi dahil gusto niyong mag-ipon e palibre naman kayo ng palibre sa iba. Gusto niyong makapag-ipon pero hindi niyo naman pinaiipon yong iba. Mag-ipon tayo pero huwag naman yong sobrang kuripot na halos hindi ka na kakain. Kapag ganun, yang ipon mo kulang pa pambayad sa hospital. Let us always be balance!
V. SAVING IS NEEDED BECAUSE RESOURCES CAN BE EASILY CONSUMED.
Many Filipinos go abroad with the pretext ‘para makapag-save for the future.’ Years later, wala pa ring savings. Why? King Solomon has the answer in Ecclesiastes 5:11, “The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it.”
Isn’t that true? King Solomon hit the nail on the head. Habang dumadami ang kabuhayan, dumadami ang kumakain. Dumadami ang gumagastos. Noong wala ka pang pera, wala pang lumalapit o dumadalaw sayo. Noong nag-abroad na si tatay o si kuya o si ate, aba, dumating na ang mga tiyo, ang mga tiya, ang mga relathieves na sangkatutak. The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. And they help spend your money willingly and joyfully, to their hearts’ content.
Hindi komo lumaki and inyong income ay lalakihan n’yo rin ang gastos. Kapag sinabayan ninyo ng gastos ang income, goodbye savings. Hindi komo may pera e lagi na lang naka-gown. At may mga taong sobrang hilig sa mga alahas, na tuwing nagkakapera e alahas ang inuuna. Nagkakaroon tuloy ng spinal disorder sa bigat ng mga kuwintas. Hindi kailangang komo lumalaki ang income, nag-iisip kang lakihan ang gastos. Learn to save and invest.
We have to set limit to our expenses before the money comes. Kasi kapag nandiyan na ang pera, nakakalito. Gusto mo ng bilhin lahat. Kaya pag naggo-grocery kayo, dapat meron kayong listahan. Or else lalagpas kayo sa inyong budget. Kailangan may plano.
VI. SAVING RESOURCES SPREADS OUT THE PROVISIONS.
The small provision that we have can be stretched if we know how to save. Pero kung ang concept natin e ‘tiis pa sa wala, tiis pa sa meron’, ang mangyayari, ‘ubos-ubos biyaya.’ Bukas wala na naman. Tutunganga na lang. Pero kung marunong tayong mag-save, tumatagal ang provision.
VII. SAVING GIVES US SECURITY.
When you approach people because of a pressing need, it is not possible to deal with them from a position of strength. The truth is you are forced to deal with them from a position of weakness. Nakakita na ba kayo ng mangungutang na sumisigaw? Wala. Puro yan nagmamakaawa na parang mga maamong tupa.
In Proverbs 31:25, referring to the wise woman, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days ahead.” Can you laugh at the days ahead?
Mahirap magkaroon ng dignity yung nangungutang. Mahirap magkaroon ng dignity yung bitbit mo mga appliances mo para ibenta o isangla. Pag wala kasi tayong pera, ang hirap magkaroon ng dignity.
Mahalaga na ang mga anak ng Diyos who are supposed to be clothed with power and dignity, ay marunong sa kabuhayan, marunong mag-invest, at marunong mag-save. When we have savings and investments, we can laugh at the days ahead. Field trip dumating ka na handing-handa ako sayo. Midterm exam am ready to pay. Final exams? Ha! Ha! Ha! Been waiting for you for a long time. Napakasarap ng feeling na hindi tayo masyado nag-aalala.
Remember, our resources are limited. They have to be saved. Even our time here on earth is limited. The time you wasted yesterday is forever gone. Make use of your time wisely.
The Lord provides through investments and through saving. But resources are limited so they have to be saved. They have to be allocated and apportioned correctly. Let us ask ourselves: What are our wasteful ways? How do you waste food or water? How do you waste supplies – including school supplies? How do you waste money? Do you buy things you don’t need? How do you waste time? Time is gold, time is money, time is wealth.
Remember what the Lord said, “Let nothing be wasted.” Those who are faithful with little things will receive great things.
No comments:
Post a Comment