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God admonishes us to obtain counsel. Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (NASB), and Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Back to Counsel & Wisdom From Godly Financial Advisers By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 God admonishes us to obtain counsel. Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel” (NASB), and Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.” Unfortunately, sometimes Christians refuse to seek counsel because of pride. Proverbs 13:10 states, “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 11:2 states, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Nevertheless, God indicates that your probability of success is greater with many advisers. Proverbs 24:6 states, “For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.” God recommends that we obtain biblical counsel from godly financial advisers. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment. (1 Corinthians 2:14, 15) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. (Psalm 1:1) I have met some non-Christian financial advisers who do give good practical advice. However, if you want advice from a biblical perspective, which I believe is God’s will for every Christian, then you can get godly advice only from a godly financial adviser. For example, a nonbeliever is simply not going to understand the desire in the believer’s heart for giving a significant portion of one’s income to God’s work. The believer has an eternal perspective, wanting to build up “treasures in heaven” rather than “treasures on earth.” (Matthew 6:19–21) In addition, a godly adviser would counsel you to use minimal debt (Proverbs 22:7), while many worldly advisers would encourage the use of a lot of debt, based on the belief that “smart people use other people’s money” or “buy now and pay later.” Therefore, before making any major financial decision, I recommend that you seek the advice of two or three godly financial advisers. In my view, an appropriate definition for such a person would be as follows: a spiritually mature Christian who understands and applies God’s financial principles (Psalm 111:10), has a close personal relationship with God (John 15), has the necessary practical financial knowledge (Proverbs 24:3, 4), and habitually puts the interests of clients first (Philippians 2:3, 4). I believe that one of your financial counsellors should be your spouse (Genesis 2:24), even if she or he has limited financial knowledge. God, through his Holy Spirit, can give his peace or lack of peace to an objective spouse who is not emotionally excited about or biased against a particular financial decision. After obtaining the counsel outlined above, it is your responsibility, to pray and ask God to give you his wisdom (James 1:5) in weighing the advice you have received. Proverbs 14:15 states, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” In summary, before making any major financial decision, seek counsel from two or three godly financial advisers and from your spouse. Proceed only after you and your spouse have spent considerable time in prayer, and God has given you his peace and his wisdom. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Priorities Read More Stewardship Principle Read More Debt Principles Read More

One key to obtaining God’s peace in respect of finances is to understand and fulfill your responsibilities as a steward. Stewardship requires that we acknowledge that God owns everything and that we act accordingly. Back to Freedom from Financial Anxiety Our Responsibilities and God's Promises By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 One key to obtaining God’s peace in respect of finances is to understand and fulfill your responsibilities as a steward. Stewardship requires that we acknowledge that God owns everything and that we act accordingly. That is, we need to learn and implement God’s principles in managing the money that God has entrusted to us in accordance with his will and not our own will. (Please see my financial moment titled “Biblical Stewardship Is Temporary Management” for more information on stewardship.) Fulfilling stewardship responsibilities requires the following: 1. On a regular basis, spend quality time in prayer with God, asking God for his wisdom with respect to the money that he has entrusted to you. God has promised, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). 2. Study and meditate on God’s Word with regard to finances regularly. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Josh. 1:8). With more than 2,000 references to money, the Bible offers plenty of wisdom from God on finances. 3. Demonstrate your faith in God by trusting God to provide for your needs and direct you according to his will. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3: 5, 6) On the other hand, God’s responsibilities and promises include the following: 1. God has promised that he will meet our needs if we put him first: So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6: 31–33) Please note that God has promised to meet our needs, not necessarily our wants and desires. 2. God has promised to direct us—including our financial decisions—according to his will: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Ps. 32:8) In summary, as a steward, it is important to focus on God, his Word, and his will. If you fulfill your responsibilities, then, regardless of your financial circumstances, you can know for certain that God will fulfill his promises and you will have God’s peace in regard to your finances. Jesus said, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Previous Article Next Article More Topics Co-Signing/Surety Read More Investing Read More Priorities Read More

Your ministry is a blessing to me & my family. I am very appreciative of your 'all wise' emails. DM, Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada. Back to Testimonials Your ministry is a blessing to me Your ministry is a blessing to me & my family. I am very appreciative of your 'all wise' emails. DM Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada. Previous Next

I have been ‘debt-free’ for a few years. The joy of being debt-free is tremendous. The funds I saved enabled me to go for a few mission trips and to support other missions. I still receive your financial moments which are very helpful…and still tracking my budget using your template. I am also able to go to school for my. God always met my needs, I never have to worry about my school fees…it always showed up when I need to pay a course. Thank you for your teaching and I will continue to pray for your/God’s financial ministries. Back to Testimonials The joy of being debt-free is tremendous I have been ‘debt-free’ for a few years. The joy of being debt-free is tremendous. The funds I saved enabled me to go for a few mission trips and to support other missions. I still receive your financial moments which are very helpful…and still tracking my budget using your template. I am also able to go to school for my. God always met my needs, I never have to worry about my school fees…it always showed up when I need to pay a course. Thank you for your teaching and I will continue to pray for your/God’s financial ministries. Anonymous Previous Next

I sincerely thank you (Copland Financial Ministries) for hosting these wonderful sessions on Financial Management God's Way. It really pushed me to pay off my mortgage sooner than later, and I'm forever grateful! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me after our session. I value your insights, along with the tips you gave me. Back to Testimonials It pushed me to pay off my mortgage I sincerely thank you (Copland Financial Ministries) for hosting these wonderful sessions on Financial Management God's Way. It really pushed me to pay off my mortgage sooner than later, and I'm forever grateful! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me after our session. I value your insights, along with the tips you gave me. Praise the Lord for His generous provisions, who enabled me to pay off that mortgage! I'm so glad I'm mortgage-free. What a relief it is! I went to church to thank the Lord for getting me out of mortgage debt. To Him, I give all the glory for what He made happen for me. With your godly counsel, I plan to stay free of debt and hope to build wealth so I can do some philanthropic work. Thank you for agreeing and believing it with me. S.P. Toronto, ON, Canada Previous Next

In Matthew 25:14–30, Jesus Christ gives us the Parable of the Talents. In this parable, the master represents God, and the servants represent you and me—that is, the people. The master entrusted different amounts of material wealth to three servants. Back to Stewardship Principle God Requires Faithful Stewards By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 In Matthew 25:14–30, Jesus Christ gives us the Parable of the Talents. In this parable, the master represents God, and the servants represent you and me—that is, the people. The master entrusted different amounts of material wealth to three servants. To one servant, he entrusted five talents of money, to another, two talents, and to another, one talent. This is consistent with real life. Nowhere in scripture does God promise to provide everyone with the same amount of material wealth. When the master returned, he found that the servants with five and two talents had each doubled their money. The servant with one talent had buried his, making no effort to invest his master’s money. It’s interesting to note that the praise God gave the servant who had five talents and earned five more was identical to the praise that he gave to the servant who had two talents and earned two more. That praise was, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25: 21, 23). As for the servant who was entrusted with one talent, he was lazy, wicked, and unfaithful to God. In short, he was not a good biblical steward. What was God’s decision with regard to the unfaithful servant who was entrusted with one talent? Matthew 25:28 and 29 states, “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (emphasis added). It’s important to understand what this verse means. The words “for everyone who has will be given more” mean that everyone who has been a biblical and faithful steward, God will entrust with more. On the other hand, those have been unfaithful in their stewardship to God will lose even what they have been entrusted with. The servants who were entrusted with five talents and two talents demonstrated faithfulness to God, and thus God entrusted them with more. However, the third servant was not faithful, and therefore even that one talent was taken away from him. I believe that the kind of stewardship that God is looking for could be summarized as follows: Biblical stewardship occurs when a Christian (1) acknowledges in mind and heart that God owns everything (2) acts accordingly—that is, learns and implements God’s principles in managing the money and material things that God has entrusted to him or her (3) utilizes these resources in accordance with God’s will, not one’s own will Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Debt Principles Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

All of us are responsible to God, regardless of the amount of material wealth that he has entrusted to us. 1 Corinthians 4:2 states, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”. Romans 14:12 states, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Back to Stewardship Principle God Requires Faithfulness By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 All of us are responsible to God, regardless of the amount of material wealth that he has entrusted to us. 1 Corinthians 4:2 states, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”. Romans 14:12 states, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” God gives different amounts of money and material wealth to different people. However, individual accountability does not change. Luke 12:48 states, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked”. In short, those who have been entrusted with larger amounts have the greater responsibility than those who have been entrusted with smaller amounts. As a side point, I would like to point out that this does not mean that a Christian who has limited financial resources has necessarily been an unfaithful or unbiblical steward. In the 21st chapter of Luke, we are told of the widow who gave a few copper coins, which, in terms of monetary value, was insignificant. However, Jesus said that she gave more than all the rest, because they gave out of their great abundance, whereas she gave all that she had to live on. The widow, with her limited amount of material wealth, demonstrated biblical stewardship, while others with significant wealth did not. In addition, we can think of certain great men of God whom God decided in his sovereignty not to entrust with large amounts of material wealth. One example is the Apostle Paul. Notwithstanding his limited financial resources. Paul was still a tremendously committed Christian and an excellent steward of what God did entrust him with. In short, it’s really God’s sovereign decision as to how much he is going to entrust to each individual. Low income does not imply unfaithful stewardship. In summary, regardless of the amount of money that you have, God requires faithful stewardship of the resources that he has entrusted to you. Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Debt Principles Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

Today almost anything can be purchased with little or no down payment—automobiles, furniture, boats, snowmobiles, etc. Advertisements enticing you with “no payments and no interest” for one to two years are very common. Back to Financial Deceptions It Makes Sense to Buy Now and Pay Later By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Today almost anything can be purchased with little or no down payment—automobiles, furniture, boats, snowmobiles, etc. Advertisements enticing you with “no payments and no interest” for one to two years are very common. Obtaining credit today is very easy, and it is not uncommon for banks to encourage people to take out a line of credit against the increased value of their homes. “Easy credit” creates a big temptation to “buy now and pay later.” As a result, many people buy things on credit that they cannot afford and frequently do not really need. God’s directive is for us to wait for his provision and his timing. Psalm 37:7 states, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (NASB, emphasis added). Lamentations 3:24 states, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him” Over the past 27 years, I have seen many situations in which Christians have prayed and asked God to meet a particular need. For example, several years ago a Christian couple with a very modest income needed a new vehicle. They prayed and asked God to meet this need, and they waited for God’s provision. Within a few months, someone in their church gave them a used van that was in excellent shape. Clearly, God did provide in a manner that was glorifying to him! Praise God! If you have a need, and if you pray to wait upon the Lord, God can provide in many ways—such as an unexpected income, a better deal, or perhaps another alternative. Unfortunately, today many Christians do not pray and wait for God’s provision. In a sense, they don’t even give God a chance to provide for their needs. Because it is so easy to “buy now and pay later,” they just buy what they want without consulting God and without waiting for God’s provision. In Matthew 6:31–33, God promised that he will meet our needs: “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Please note that God has promised to meet our needs but not necessarily our wants and desires. God has also instructed us to be content with what he has provided: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews13:5) In summary, God has promised that he will meet our needs and that it is his desire for us to wait for his provision and his timing. This is very different from the mindset of “buy now and pay later.” Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Co-Signing/Surety Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More

It is a common saying that you can determine an individual’s true priorities by reviewing how she or he spends time and money. Although people may say that their relationships with God and their families are of greatest importance to them, sometimes their Day-Timer or checkbook indicates otherwise. Back to Priorities A Spiritual Barometer By: Tom Copland June 13, 2020 It is a common saying that you can determine an individual’s true priorities by reviewing how she or he spends time and money. Although people may say that their relationships with God and their families are of greatest importance to them, sometimes their Day-Timer or checkbook indicates otherwise. I believe that how an individual handles money is an external visible indicator of an internal spiritual condition. As a practical matter, I believe that answering the following questions can help you determine where you are at spiritually in regard to your finances. 1. Do you give “the first fruits” to God’s work, or does God get the leftovers? Proverbs 3:9, 10 states, “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” The guideline in scripture is to give at least 10 percent of your income to God’s work. 2. Do you borrow money without consulting God? God warns that those who borrow money may become a servant to the lender: “The borrower is a servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). 3. Do you feel envious or jealous of what other people have materially? Exodus 20:17 warns against this. 4. When you have a material need or want, do you pray and wait patiently for God to provide in a manner that is glorifying to Him? Psalm 37:7 states, “ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” 5. Have you developed and implemented a budget? A budget is simply a tool used for financial planning. In his illustration of building a tower (Luke 14:28–30), Jesus makes it clear that if we don’t plan ahead, we are foolish. 6. Are you content with God’s provision, or do you constantly want more? “But godliness with contentment is great gain... But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6, 8) 7. Do you spend quality time with God in prayer and reading God’s Word before you make any major financial decision? God has promised that he will direct us: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8). May I encourage you to spend some quality time in prayer with God right now and ask him to reveal any areas of your life that God would like you to change in regard to your finances. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Investing Counsel & Wisdom Stewardship Principle Read More Read More Read More

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Thank you for your plentiful Bible-based financial information that you so freely make available and for your assistance to your brothers and sisters in Christ. May He richly bless you and your loved ones. Back to Testimonials Plentiful Bible-based financial information Thank you for your plentiful Bible-based financial information that you so freely make available and for your assistance to your brothers and sisters in Christ. May He richly bless you and your loved ones. A.H. Toronto, ON Previous Next

Many people believe it is good financial thinking to use borrowed money to make a lot of money. In other words, “smart people use other people’s money,” not their own. This is a lie from the world and Satan. The only way that is true is if you can predict the future—that is, know with certainty the direction of markets and the economy. Back to Financial Deceptions Smart People Use Other People's Money By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Many people believe it is good financial thinking to use borrowed money to make a lot of money. In other words, “smart people use other people’s money,” not their own. This is a lie from the world and Satan. The only way that is true is if you can predict the future—that is, know with certainty the direction of markets and the economy. The biblical truth is that only God knows the future. Humans can make our best guess about the future, but frequently we are wrong. The past 100 years have shown that no human being can consistently predict the direction of the markets. For example, from 1993 to 2000 the value of most stocks in Canada and the United States increased significantly. With false confidence, many people “used other people’s money”—that is, borrowed capital—with the objective of increasing their returns. From 2000 to 2002, on average, the shares on Toronto and New York exchanges decreased about 50 percent in value. People who used debt lost a lot of money. Some lost not only their original capital but ended up in a deficit as their stocks’ value dropped below the amount they had borrowed. The same principle applies to real estate. During the middle and late 1980s, the value of real estate increased significantly in the Toronto area. Many people believed it would never go down. However, between 1990 and 1995, the values dropped drastically. Some commercial real estate decreased by 75 percent in value, and residential by 50 percent. People with a lot of debt were hurt badly, and in some cases lost their home or investment property. Over the years, I’ve seen many business people try to use significant debt to their advantage. Although there may have been periods when they benefited as the company expanded faster than it otherwise would have, in due course, every business encounters difficult times, and generally, it is companies with a lot of debt that suffer the most, and some are forced into bankruptcy. The Biblical truth is that we do not know what will happen tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1 states, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” In other words, there are no “sure deals.” The same principle applies in business. God warns us, Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13–15) In summary, we do not know what will happen tomorrow—only God knows the future. Therefore, we should utilize minimal debt—or ideally carry no debt—in regard to investments and business expansion. Overall, the instruction in God’s Word is toward minimal debt, not maximum debt. (Please see my Financial Moments on borrowing for further details.) Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Co-Signing/Surety Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More