Blessings Greater Than Riches

JON had a very successful career as a consultant in the United States.  Even as a young man, he traveled the world and made a lot of money.He and his wife had a beautiful home and a comfortable lifestyle. In the eyes of many, they were blessed.

Consider another case. out of over 5,000 applicants, Kostas was one of only 80 selected to become an apprentice with a prominent European bank. Within just a few years, he was repeatedly promoted, eventually being made the head of a major department at another bank. By the time he left his job to start his own company, he was making more money in one year than most people make in a lifetime. He felt blessed.

Yet, bot these men are convinced that there are blessings greater than material riches.  For instance, today Jon volunteers as a Bible teacher helping others to get closer to God.  "I have personally seen and experienced that material wealth does not lead to  happiness," says Jon.  "The struggle to get it and keep it allows time for little else. On the other hand, living by Bible principles opens up so many blessings, such as a much happier marriage, peace of mind, and a good conscience."

Kostas similarly observes:  "God does not want us to live a life of opulence. I strongly feel that whatever he gives us that is beyond our daily needs puts us under obligation to use it according to his will." Recently, Kostas and his family started to learn another language in  order to teach more people Bible principles.  He says,  "We have learned that giving makes us happier than does receiving." -Acts 20:35.

Indeed, Jon and Kostas have both learned that spiritual blessings are much more valuable  than material riches.  Daniel Gilbert, a professor at Harvard, notes that mental-health experts "have spent decades studying the relation between wealth and happiness, and they have generally concluded that wealth increases human happiness when it lifts people out of abject poverty and into the middle class."  But then he adds, "It does little to increase happiness thereafter."

Next time: Blessings Greater Than Riches/A Lesson Often Painfully Learned

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Manage Your Money Wisely

Budget.  This is the only practical way to monitor, control, or reduce your spending. A good budget can give you a sens of where your money goes, and it can help you to reach your financial goals. Know what your income is, and spend less than you earn. Learn the difference between needs and wants.  Along these lines, Jesus wisely urged his listeners to "calculate the expense" before undertaking any project.  (Luke 14:28)  The Bible advises us to avoid unnecessary debt. -Proverbs 2:7. 

Plan.  Carefully consider your future needs. For instance, if you plan to purchase a house or an apartment, obtaining a mortgage at a reasonable rate may be a good decision.  Similarly, a family man  may feel the need to purchase life, health, disability, or other forms of insurance to protect his loved ones.  Considering your needs for the future may also involve planning for retirement.  Proverbs 21:5 reminds us that "the plans of the diligent one surely make for advantage."

Learn.  Invest in yourself by acquiring skills and taking care of your physical and emotional health. These are investments that will pay you back.  Make learning a lifelong habit.  The Bible puts a high value on "practical wisdom and thinking ability," and it urges us to keep on developing them. -Proverbs 3:21, 22; Ecclesiastes 10:10. 

Balance.  Keep money in its place. Survey after survey shows that those who care more about people than they do about money  are happier. Some  allow greed to throw  them off balance. How so? After adequately satisfying their basic needs, the embark on the pursuit of riches. Yet, beyond food, clothing, and shelter, how much does a person really need?  No wonder the Bible writer quoted at the beginning of this article also wrote:  "Having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things."  (1 Timothy 6:8) Cultivating contentment prevents us from developing the love of money and all the problems that come along with it.

The love of money is indeed the root of many evil things. Money will become your master if you let it. When managed properly, however, money can provide you with the freedom to pursue the more important things in life, such as a close bond with family, friends, and God. Still, in this world it seem impossible to be totally free of money worries. Will money always be such a source of anxiety? What hope is there for an end to poverty?  The concluding articles in this series  will answer those questions.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO MANAGE MONEY

With so many adults in financial trouble today, experts are urging parents to teach their children about money-and to start early. Ask most children where money comes from, and they might say  "Daddy' or "the bank."  If you can teach your children the value of money-how to separate needs from wants, how to save, and how to invest-you may help them avoid the heartache of crushing debt and economic slavery. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Be a good example. Your children will gradually imitate what you do more than what you say. 

2. Set spending limits. Discuss how much you and they can spend. Learn to say no, and mean it.

3. Allow them to manage money.  If they receive an allowance or earn money from a job, give them some guidelines. Then allow them to make some decisions.

4. Teach them to share.  Encourage your children to share what they have with others as well as regularly to set something aside to honor God.  

Next time:  Blessings Greater Than Riches

From the jw.org publications

Manage Your Money Wisely

THE adage "Money is the root of all evil" has often been ascribed to the Bible. What the Bible really says is: "The love of money is the root of all evil." ( 1 Timothy 6:10, King James Version) Some people have indeed developed a fondness for money and have devoted themselves to the accumulation of riches. Some have become slaves of money and have reaped tragic consequences. When managed properly, however,  money can be a useful tool. The Bible acknowledges that "money solves a lot of problems." -Ecclesiastes 10:19, Holy Bible  - Easy-to-Read-Version.

Although the Bible does not claim to be a financial handbook, it does contain practical advice that can help you manage your money wisely.  The following five steps  are commonly recommended by financial advisers, and they are consistent with principles recorded in the Bible long ago.

Save.  The Bible record shows that the ancient Israelites were taught the value of saving. They were told to set aside a tithe (or 10 percent) each year to be used exclusively for attending the national festivals.  (Deuteronomy 14:22-27) The apostle Paul likewise encouraged early Christians to set aside savings each week so that they could later contribute something to help their needy fellow believers.  (1 Corinthian 16:1, 2)  Most financial planners encourage saving. Make saving a priority. As soon as you get paid, deposit the amount you wish to save in a bank or other location for safekeeping.  That will help you to fight any temptation to spend those funds. 

Next time: Manage Your Money Wisely

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Is Money Your Master or Your Servant?

The Other Side of the Coin

On the other hand, in good times and bad times, many people-both rich and poor-are relatively free of anxieties about money and material possessions. Why the difference? 

 In a report entitled The Meaning of  Money, the researchers observed that some people are "highly motivated by money and controlled by money. This may lead to stress and neuroticism."  In contrast, they added:  "Those who budget their money carefully tend to have internal locus of control and positive feelings toward themselves.  They are the  masters of money and not slaves of money . . . We assert that those who budget their money carefully may also have lower stress, and, thereby, lower strain."

What is your attitude toward money?  How does the volatile nature of the world's economy affect you?  Is money your master or your servant? Perhaps you do not experience the symptoms of the so-called money sickness syndrome. Still, whether wealthy or poor, we are all vulnerable to the ill effects of money worries.  Consider how adjustments in the way you handle your finances may bring you more peace of mind and a happier life.

Money may be your master if . . .   

* You avoid discussing finances because of the anxiety if causes

* Money is often the subject of family squabbles 

* You spend compulsively

* You worry constantly about bills

* You are not sure how much you earn

* You are not sure how much you spend

* You are not sure how much you owe

* Your bills are often bigger than what you expect

* You often pay your bills late

* You are able to make only  the minimum  payment on credit card bills

* You  pay your bills with money earmarked for other things

* You take on extra work just to pay bills

* You have taken  out new loans to pay off the old ones 

* You use savings to pay routine bills

* You find it nearly impossible to get to the end of the month without running out of money

* You feel pressure to accumulate large sums of money

* You suffer physically and/or psychological symptoms resulting from money-related stress


Next time: Manage Your Money Wisely

From the jw.org publications 

Continue with Is Money Your Master or Your Servant?

Money woes are also common in times of abundance.   During recent years of financial prosperity, many people have been plagued by money worries.   For instance, The Witness,  South African newspaper, reported that "a creeping social disease of over-consumption, commercialism and rampant materialism" was spreading in Africa.  The newspaper listed some of the symptoms of this "disease," including "stress, debt, waste, overwork, feelings of deprivation, envy and depression." Money was blamed for the ongoing deterioration of the quality of human life in Africa. 

Prior to the recent financial crunch, India underwent a period of outstanding economic growth.  India Today International reported that 2007 was a year when the country "fast forwarded to a new level of conspicuous consumption."  Yet, at the time, officials there were afraid that India's prosperity would result in increased unrest an even violence.

During that same period too, a new generation of young adults in the United States were displaying a propensity for splurging on luxury items.  However, their spending power was not bringing them happiness.  Researchers stated that affluence was one of the principal cause of alcoholism, depression, and suicide there.   One study revealed  that despite the abundance and wealth,  "fewer than one in three Americans" claimed to be "very happy.

Next time:Is Money Your Master or Your Servant?/  The Other Side of  The Coin

From the jw.org publications

Is Money Your Master or Your Servant?

DO YOU suffer from money sickness syndrome?  Reportedly, this condition afflicts a large percentage of the world's population. What is it? 

Dr. Roger Henderson, a mental-health researcher in the United Kingdom, recently coined the term "money sickness syndrome' to designate the physical and psychological symptoms experienced by people who are stressed with money worries.  The symptoms include shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, skin rashes, lack of appetite, unjustified anger, nervousness, and negative thinking.  "Money worries are a significant cause of stress," reports Henderson.

It should come  as no surprise that during recent months more and more  people have fallen victim to the ill effects of money-related anxieties.  The current financial crisis in many lands have resulted in the loss of jobs, homes, and personal savings on a global scale. Large financial institutions  have collapsed, and even the wealthiest nations have adopted emergency measures to prevent total financial ruin.   In the developing world, the rising cost of food and other basic commodities has also caused much anxiety..

Next time: Is Money Your Master or Your Servant?

From the jw.org publications

HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE

Conclusion of How to Control Spending

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Rethink your view of possessions.  Happiness does not depend o having the latest things.  After all, Jesus said:  "Even when a person has an abundance, his life does not result from the things he possesses."  (Luke 12:15)  Often, your spending habits indicate whether you believe those words. -Bible principle: 1 Timothy6:8.

Make adjustments.  "Things like cable TV and going out to eat may sound affordable at first, but they can hurt financially in the long run," says Aaron, who has been  married  for two years.  "We had to learn to say no to some things in order to live within our means."

Key Scriptures

* "Become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another." -Ephesians 4:32.

* "Who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense?" -Luke 14:28. 

* "Having  food and clothing, we will be content." - 1 Timothy 6:8.

Micah and Megan

"Even if one person in a marriage handles the finances and pays the bills, both should be fully informed about their financial status. Communication goes a long way in preventing problems.

David and Nataleine

"Plan ahead.  Don't assume that all the money you have in the bank is available to spend.  If you don't keep money in reserve, you'll never be prepared for emergencies such as car repairs."

Next time:Is Money Your Master or Your Servant? 

From the jw.org publications 

HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE

How to Control Spending

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Resolve to cooperate.  Instead of blaming each other, work as a team to bring spending under control. Decide at the outset that you will not allow this issue to drive a wedge between you.- Bible principle:  Ephesians 4:32.

Set up a budget.  Write down all of your expenses, no matter how small, for a month. That will help you to figure out where your  money is going and to identify any unnecessary expenditures.  "You have to stop the bleeding," says Jim, quoted earlier.  "That's a saying in  medicine and business."

Make a list of all your necessary expenses, including food, clothing, rent or mortgage, car payments, and the like. Put a 'price tag' next to each category, projecting how much it will cost you within a given time, perhaps a month. -Bible principle: Luke 14:28.

Allocate funds each month for separate expenses (food, rent, fuel, and so forth). Some do this by putting cash in envelopes, one for each expense category. If an  envelope becomes depleted, they will either stop spending in that category or transfer the money from another envelope. 

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE--Continue with How to Control Spending-WHAT YOU CAN DO

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HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE

How To Control Spending

THE CHALLENGE

A look at your bank statements and bills reveals that your money is slipping away like sands that slips through your fingers. You have been married for only a short time, and your spending is out of control. Is your spouse to blame?  Not so fast! Think as a team, and consider some factors that may caused both of you to get into this predicament.

WHY IT HAPPENS

Adjustment.  If you were living at home before you got married, you may be new to the world of paying bills and sharing expenses. It could also be that you and your spouse have different approaches to money. For example, one might be more inclined to spend while the other is more inclined to save. It takes time for a couple to adjust  and develop an agreed-upon method of handling money.

Procrastination.  Jim, now   successful businessman, admits that when he was a newlywed, his poor organizational skills  cost him dearly.  "Because I delayed paying bills, " He says, "my wife and I ended up spending thousands of dollars in late fees.  We ran out of money!" 

The "invisible money" trap. It is easy to overspend when you cannot see the money leaving your wallet or your purse.  That may be the case if you handle most of your transactions by credit or debit card, Internet purchasing, and electronic banking.  The lure of easy credit can also make it easy for newlyweds to overspend.

Whatever the cause, money issues can tear at the seams of your marriage.  "Most couples report money as a top problem, no matter how much they have," says the book Fighting For Your Marriage.  "Money is a ripe area for conflict.

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE-How to Control Spending

From the jw.org publications 

Timothy Wanted to Help People

Timothy was a young man who was happy to help people. He traveled to many places to help others. Because of this, he had a very exciting life. Would you like to hear about it?

Timothy grew up in a city called Lystra. When he was little, his grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice began teaching him about Jehovah.  As Timothy grew up, he wanted to help others learn about Jehovah.

When Timothy was still a young man, Paul  asked him to travel with him to preach in other places. Timothy said: 'Yes!' He was ready to go and help others.

Timothy traveled with Paul to a city in Macedonia called Thessalonica. To get there, they had to walk a long way and then take a boat. When they finally arrived, they helped many people to learn about Jehovah. But some people were angry and tried to hurt them. So Paul and Timothy had to leave and preach in other places.

Some months later, Paul asked Timothy to go back to Thessalonica and see how the brothers were doing. It took  a lot of courage to go back to that dangerous city!  But Timothy went because he was worried about the brothers there.  He came back to Paul with good news. The brothers in Thessalonica were doing very well!

Timothy worked with Paul for many years. Paul once wrote that Timothy was he best person he could send to help the congregations. Timothy loved Jehovah and loved People.

Do you love people and want to help them learn about Jehovah?  If you do, you can have a very happy and exciting life, just as Timothy did!  Read: 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15; Acts 16:1-5; 17:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:2-7; Philippians 2:19-22. 

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY/MARRIAGE -THE CHALLENGE

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