Day 3 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | Joy and Responsibility with your "Three T's"

Wednesday, September 01, 2010 Bryan Hudson 12 Comments






IMPORTANT NOTE FROM BRYAN HUDSON: I became aware that the questions went missing from this post during the day. This occurred because of an editing mistake on my part.  There was also an issue with comments being disabled. Hopefully, these issues are corrected. If not, let me know ASAP.

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SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 3:13, (NLT) Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. 14 For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. 15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 She offers you long life in her right hand,  and riches and honor in her left. 17 She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

INSIGHT: 
One problem in today's society, and even among believers, is that too many people separate finance from wisdom. Having money without wisdom is like driving a car blindfolded—something is going to be damaged and someone is going to be severely injured.

I like to think of wisdom as knowing the correct destination and the best means to get there. Understanding is knowing the meaning or purpose of a thing.

The text states, "Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding." There is joy in knowing what to do with your core possessions of Time, Treasure, and Talent (the three "T's). For a lack of wisdom and understanding, time, treasure and talent are squandered or abused.

The text does not encourage the reader to reject resources in favor of wisdom, but to allow wisdom to govern one's resources. The best outcome of "prosperity God's way" is joy and satisfaction along with increase.

When we walk in God's wisdom and understanding, we put first things first. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." Jesus becomes wisdom for those who operate within God's plan. Part of that plan is responsibility and generosity with our possessions.

Proverbs 3:9, Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine

PRAYER:
"Lord, I accept the joy and responsibility of gaining wisdom. Help me honor You by yielding my time, treasure and talents to You. I thank You for wisdom and understanding in giving and serving. I receive the blessings you offer me. In Jesus's Name,  Amen!"


ACTIVATION:
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You may use your name or remain anonymous.)
  1. What is your understanding of Wisdom and Understanding?
  2. Share one example of resources without wisdom.
  3. Describe what Proverbs 3:9 means to you, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce" 
  4. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
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COMMENT SECTION:
Click on "Comments" to read others and add yours afterwards.

12 comments :

  1. 1.) "Wisdom" is the mental awareness of something that must be acted upon and "understanding" is the best way to go about doing what must be done.

    2.) Some one may invest a large sum of money. But, if they do not research the performance of that investment and take into consideration their rate of return, possible loss...etc. They may haphazardly make a poor investment and ultimately squander all they had in the beginning. Wisdom tells you to "look before you leap". Understanding comes form all that "looking".

    3.) "Honor the Lord with your wealth and the first fruits from all your crops" Prov. 3:9 NCV

    I believe this scripture is referring to tithings and giving. God's plan for us to live in abundance was never for us to just "have it all" and that's it. His people we're meant to have more than enough so we could freely bless others with our best. When more of God's people do this, we will truly be showing the mind of Christ and being examples of Christ's love to the world. When we are fulfilling God's will and his ultimate plan for our lives we bring honor and glory to him.

    4.) I will focus in on the areas in my life that are flourishing via God's grace and blessing to find ways to bless others from that blessing. God's people are called to be blessed and to be a blessing! I am going to focus in on the latter.

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  2. 1)Wisdom is knowing the desired outcome while understanding is knowing the particular processes necessary for achievement.

    2)An example of resources without wisdom is the have a crop capable of yeilding good harvest but the crop is never attended to, so it doesn't produce to it's potential.

    3)Proverbs 3:9 says to me that honoring God is the most important thing we must do. We honor him by worshiping him with every part of us (mind, soul and body) while yielding to him the best of our time. talents and finances.

    4)I will reflect on the areas in my life that are out of balance and ask for wisdom in dealing with
    them.

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  3. This is a test post from Bryan Hudson

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  4. 1. Wisdom guides one into choosing the proper how, when, where, and why prior to embarking upon any situation.
    Understanding is how one perceives a matter.
    2. A foolish practice that is common today is “making it rain.” The person will have a stack of cash and, in a show of how loaded he is, will throw it up in the air at parties or strip clubs. It is obvious that someone who participates in this practice does not know what the best use for there money is, or when, where, and why to use it.
    3. In addition to giving our tithes and offering, we also honor the Lord by blessing others as He has blessed us, as well as giving Him the best of what we have. For example, we should give him our best effort, versus going about His business when we are half sleepy, or not mentally alert for one reason or another.

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  5. Wisdom is making good sound decisions based on truth. Understanding comes through seeking and searching out a matter.To get wisdom understanding has to come first. Understanding be-gets wisdom.

    You have everything you need but you do not know what to do with it, so you loose it. Example: a person who wins the lottery, but does not know how to handle finances, so everything is lost.

    Always give God the best of what ever you have and what ever you do.

    Get understanding in order to make wise decisions.

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  6. 1.My understanding of "wisdom and understanding".
    Wisdom is knowing when a tree needs to be pruned or trimmed.
    Understanding is knowing the difference.
    2.One example of having resources without wisdom is:
    Having enough money to buy groceries, but going to the store when you have not eaten all day, and have no list. You will tend to spend more on what your hunger dictates than what you really need.
    3.Honoring God with your wealth and the best part of everything you produce does not just mean giving tithes and offering.I believe it also means thanking him for what you have and acknowledge that it is all from him.You can give him the best part of you, your time, talent and whatever that produces.
    4.The best action I can take is:
    a)Give him my strength, the best part of me
    early in the morning,while I'm fresh instead
    trying to read or pray when I'm tired.
    b) Make what I do for God a priority, giving
    him my best work first, then make time for
    my interests.
    -Davis

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  7. 1. My understanding of Wisdom and Understanding: Wisdom is the right use of knowledge in making decisions and taking actions based on the insight given into a matter. Understanding is to become aware of, or to know the meaning, nature, or character of things.
    2. One example of resources without wisdom is to be blessed with a job, career, or other means over a period of years without following written plans or goals for the wise use of the salary/wages/income received in giving, saving, and spending.
    3. Proverbs 3:9 means to me that I am to honor the Lord by giving to His church and for the sake of His kingdom, the first and best part of my time, treasure, and talent, as a priority.
    4. The actions I will take today is to spend more time with the Lord in His word and in prayer, and I will focus on finishing tasks related to the resources for which I have the responsibility to manage.

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  8. 1. What is your understanding of Wisdom and Understanding?
    My understanding of wisdom and understanding, wisdom is knowing what to do. Understanding is knowing when to do it.

    2. Share one example of resources without wisdom.
    One example may be that when making a purchase instead of buying the quality item you buy the cheaper item and end up having to spend additional money on repairs. The old saying is true you get what you pay for.

    3. Describe what Proverbs 3:9 means to you, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce"
    That means that when funds come in to my hands I should give first and not give God leftovers. I think it also applies to my time.

    4. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    I will be conscience of how I spend my time and resources.

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  9. 1. Wisdom is developed by exercising a combination of abilities, experiences and character traits. Wisdom begins with understanding and knowledge of facts, truths, concepts and principles. Wisdom includes all of the above plus lessons from experiences, values, and resolutions (being able to resolve matters). I firmly believe wisdom is bestowed upon those who seek understanding and knowledge from God and his messages to us which are found in the Word of God.
    Understanding is the mental ability to comprehend information that is taught, read, heard or seen. Understanding can be linked to using our natural senses to gather information.

    2. I have seen people interviewed on television who were lottery winners. They were interviewed years after they received large sums of money. A majority of the people I saw were no better off after winning the lottery. Most could not account for how the money was spent and had little to show for their fortune. They did not seem very happy. In conclusion, the largest lottery purse could never purchase wisdom.

    3. Everything I have belongs to God. Without his strength, wisdom, power, gifts, talents, fruit of the Spirit, and the list goes on, I could not survive the day to day challenges of this life. Therefore, when I honor the Lord with wealth and the best of all I have, it reflects the reverence, honor, praise, thanksgiving and love that is in my heart for all that He is to me and all that He freely has given me.

    4. Honor God with reverence, glory and praise. Daily ask and receive wisdom for simple and complex situations as they arise in my life. Know that God is for me and His plans for my life are for good!

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  10. What is your understanding of Wisdom and Understanding?
    Wisdom allows you to learn from others and then partake in benefits of what they share with you without experiencing the trials that they may have faced. Understanding involves following through on the benefits wisdom teaches you.

    Share one example of resources without wisdom.
    A very good example is wasting opportunities that are provided to you by not partaking in them or by discounting them. A prime example is what you do with educational opportunities that are presented to you and you refuse to use them because a higher priority is television, socializing, or squandering precious time doing insignificant things that you can't even remember the next day.


    Describe what Proverbs 3:9 means to you, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce"
    I am so thankful to God for every opportunity he provides. He allows me to earn money or receive blessing, talents and skills. I not only owe part of it back to him, it is a privilege to be able to share with the church and others in the world. The best part is the part that I give willingly and freely based on understanding and not coercion.

    What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    I will meditate on what I have written and try to make wiser decisions that always put God at the cener of what I do.

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  11. 1.I see understanding as gaining information - knowing "when, why, how, or what the purpose of something is or how it operates. Wisdom takes that understanding and does meaningful things with it according to Gods standards.
    2. An example of resources without wisdom would be to win the lottery, quit your job, take a cruise around the world paying the expenses of several friends along for the ride. A year or so later ack to square one-with a bunch of stuff and no money to care for the things acquired. No wisdom in this case: didn't save or invest, spending wildly with no means of continuous income.
    3. "Honor the Lord with my wealth and the 1st of all that I produce" means giving honor to God in every area wealth covers (health, finance,time)
    4. Action taken - to check myself regularly to see if I am unsing wisdom in all that I achieve.

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  12. What is your understanding of Wisdom and Understanding?
    Wisdom is knowing how to use the knowledge that you have come to understand. Understanding is a crystalized image of information that means something to you or helps you move to another level because you can demonstrate that you have grasped the meaning of lessons prior to you next move, whether it is upward or lateral.

    Share one example of resources without wisdom.
    A hypothetical example would be someone who wins a million dollar lottery and it is all gone within 5 years.

    Describe what Proverbs 3:9 means to you, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce"
    God gives us the power to get wealth. Since Genesis, h has always required an offering from men as a form of worship. He asked for a portion to be given back to him to sustain worship and those who lead it. It's all about being willing to give back to God a portion of what he has given to us - and doing it with joy - in a way that honors God for who he is as we remember all of his benefits.

    What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
    I will reflect on it. I will also continue to go back and reflect on what I have written previously and try to get caught up on other lessons I have read but not posted up through Day 13. I commit to invest and give back the time for focusing on Prosperity God's Way!

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