Religious Folklore Can Hurt
Debt Free Living God’s Way
What is religious folklore?
Religious folklore consists of the “sayings” that sound like they come right from God’s Word but actually come from man. They sound great, but when you try to live by them you get into trouble. Here are some of the most common examples of “financial” religious folklore.
1. “God helps those who help themselves.” Have you heard this one? Is this what God says? No! God says, “I delight in helping those who can never help themselves” Ecclesiastes 9:10).
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2. “Money is the root of all evil.” Is this what the Word says? No again. This has to be the most misquoted verse about money in the Bible; probably found in man’s book of “First Opinions.” Remember, Paul didn’t say money was the root of all evil, he said, the love of it was what caused all the problems. It’s not the money you have to worry about; it’s your attitude about money that gets you into trouble (see 1 Tim 6:10).
3. “Poverty is spiritual.” Is this what the Word says? No again. This has to be the most misquoted verse about money in the Bible; probably found in man’s book of “First Opinions.” Remember, Paul didn’t say money was the root of all evil, he said, the love of it was what caused all the problems. It’s not the money you have to worry about; it’s your attitude about money that gets you into trouble (see 1 Tim 6:10).
4. “Riches are the evidence of God’s blessing.” Riches are not the evidence of God’s blessing. They may be one evidence, but they are not the evidence. Here’s the fallacy of this example of religious folklore: If you try to apply this criteria to Jesus Christ, He simply does not measure up. Jesus was not “rich” in that he never accumulated material wealth. In fact, the scripture says other men and women helped supply His way. However, don’t ever think that money wasn’t important to Jesus. Think about it. Jesus and His disciples had to have money to buy the essentials of life and to give to the poor as they traveled around the countryside. Money was important enough that Jesus had a treasurer...remember Judas (Ecclesiastes 5:10)?
5. “Problems are the evidence of sin in your life” is another good example of religious folklore. Isn’t it sad that many Christians have the freedom to stand up in their churches and ask others to pray for physical healings but not for financial problems? Why is this? Because so often, financial problems are associated with sin. But James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Problems are not the evidence of sin in your life. They may be one evidence, but never the evidence. God will use problems, including financial problems, to help strengthen you to be a greater blessing to Him and others.
The power of problems.
If you really want your faith in God to grow, God must allow problems in your life. Problems that will help prove and test your faith. Do you notice that, for the most part, God chooses to work through ordinary people? What makes these ordinary folks biblical heroes was God’s work through them. Most of these men and women had three things in common:
1. They all recognized God’s voice.
2. They understood what He said.
3. And they knew what they were supposed to do after the conversation was over.
You can be the same way. If you are, you will recognize that God can work through your good times as well as you hard times.
How do you avoid religious folklore?
You just saw some examples of the religious folklore you, as a Christian, face today. There are more, many more. But the point is this: You need to become so familiar with God’s Word, that you can clearly see the difference between words that sound good and the Word that is good. You need to be so close to the Truth, that a lie is readily apparent. Only then can you move to replace the words and habits of the world with habits based and founded on the Word. Only then will you begin to discover “Debt Free Living God’s Way.”
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Bob Louder is the Founder and President of Christian Financial Ministries (www.good-steward.org). Bob is also the author of the new best selling book, “Debt Free Living God’s Way,” available only on the Internet (www.debtfreelivinggodsway.org). Since 1987 Bob has helped people in hundreds of churches all across the country and in the European military community learn, understand, apply and pass on “Debt Free Living God’s Way” principles and practical applications. He has represented some of the top Christian financial authors and ministries to include Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsey, Christian Financial Concepts, and Crown Ministries.
Copyright 2006 Christian Financial Ministries, Inc., All Rights Reserved. You may reprint this “Special Report” in whole or in part without permission from Christian Financial Ministries, Inc. Please credit material used to Christian Financial Ministries, Inc.
