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Back to Testimonials A life-changing testimony There has been a spiritual shift in my finances since taking your class. I didn’t notice much of a difference initially, but a couple of months later I recognized that I was thinking differently about money. I have continued to track my expenses diligently and formulate a budget every 2 weeks. God is blessing, my paycheques have increased, and my cost of living has decreased. I also have a strong commitment to pay off my debt… slowly but surely, and strategically. So, thank you for the positive, life-changing impact you have made! I’m excited as I sense this is a “turnaround year” for me on many levels, but especially financially. I’m not “there” yet, but I am moving in the right direction! Judy Toronto, ON, Canada Previous Next

Back to Financial Deceptions If I Had More Money, I Would Be Happy By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Many people believe the deception that money will bring happiness. Although additional income can relieve some financial pressures (if the individual or couple manage their money well), money in and of itself does not bring happiness. Money will definitely not provide joy and peace, which only comes from God. Ecclesiastes 5:10 states, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” Over the years, I’ve seen many couples with significant amounts of wealth who have no peace and joy. I think of one couple who started with nothing and accumulated about $40 million worth of assets. However, their unhappiness was evident to anyone who knew them. They were always arguing with each other and with their kids and employees, and they appeared “stressed out” all the time. Certainly, there was no “peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Only God, through his Holy Spirit, can bring true peace and happiness. Jesus said: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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 14:26, 27, emphasis added). There are many people in North America who have significant amounts of wealth yet are frustrated, angry, weary, and unhappy. Frankly, some are even Christians who are not experiencing God’s joy and peace. Remember that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law (Galatians 5:22, 23, emphasis added). Jesus provides an invitation to everyone who is weary and burdened: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30, emphasis added). In summary, based upon God’s Word and 30 years’ experience of working with some very wealthy people, I’m convinced that the key to happiness is not more money but rather a close personal relationship with God. In the 15th chapter of John, Jesus called this “abiding,” which means to be connected to and in communication with God on an ongoing basis. For more information on “abiding in Christ,” I recommend the book titled Secrets of the Vine by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson (Multnomah Publishers, 2001). Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Co-Signing/Surety Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More

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

Back to Freedom from Financial Anxiety Are You Overwhelmed by Financial Problems? By: Tom Copland January 4, 2021 Do you feel burdened and worried about your finances? Do you feel overwhelmed by financial problems? Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt, 11: 28–30). Jesus gently encourages us to come to him humbly, first asking for his help and then “yoking” with him—that is, depending on God to carry the heavy part of the load. God has promised that he will sustain us, no matter how difficult the circumstances. "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isa. 46:3, 4) In order to relieve some of the financial pressures, as a practical matter, I recommend you consider some of the following suggestions: 1. Track your expenditures for two or three months to determine where your money is going. Most people don’t know where their money is being spent. 2. Develop a budget—my firm has developed an Excel-based budgeting system that is available at no charge. Call us if you would like a copy (905-477-1300). 3. In the process of developing and following a budget, ensure that you are spending less than you are making in order to provide a monthly surplus. 4. Use that surplus to pay down debt with the highest interest cost first, which is generally credit cards. 5. Next, pay down your other debts, and save some money for emergencies. (See Proverbs 21:20.) Be sure to spend quality time with God daily, asking him for specific direction about your finances. God has promised that if we ask him for wisdom, he will give it to us (James 1:5) and if we ask him for his specific direction, then he will provide direction to us (Prov. 3:5, 6). Previous Article Next Article More Topics Co-Signing/Surety Read More Investing Read More Priorities Read More

Back to Counsel & Wisdom From God By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 When dealing with an important financial decision, it is critical to obtain counsel from God. Why? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” (Job 12:13) Too often we believe that we have to figure things out on our own, but this is not God’s will. God wants us to seek his counsel on any important decision: “But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, ‘First seek the counsel of the LORD’” (1 Kings 22:5). Isaiah described God as “wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29). God’s wisdom will be invaluable in making any financial decision. “The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him.” (1 Kings 5:12) Similarly, today God will provide his wisdom if we ask in faith. James 1:5 states: “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.” If you want true financial wisdom, the starting point is to have the utmost respect for God—that is “the fear of God.” Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” If you do not have a personal relationship with God (“knowledge of the holy one”), you will never be able to access true financial wisdom. If you do have a personal relationship with God (Revelation 3:20), it is critical that you study God’s Word for his financial principles and spend quality time with God in prayer listening to his voice. God instructed Job, “Listen to me, be silent, and I will teach you wisdom” (Job 33:33). Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Many times God will speak to us by providing verses from his Word that clearly indicate his wisdom and his direction in a particular situation. For example, God’s admonition to plan ahead (Luke 14:28–30), the dangers of debt (Proverbs 22:7), and the importance of giving to God’s work (Proverbs 3:9, 10) can all provide specific direction in certain situations. However, sometimes there are no verses that specifically apply to your financial decision. Then the only option is to spend quality time with God in prayer, seeking God’s wisdom and direction. God has promised that he will direct us (Psalm 32:8) and provide his wisdom (James 1:5). A committed Christian who has a close personal relationship with God and who spends quality time with God on a regular basis can hear God’s gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12) and discern God’s will for his life. Whenever I am faced with any important decision, I spend quality time with the Lord, seeking God’s wisdom and direction. I use a spiritual journal to document my prayer requests and what I believe the Lord is saying to me. Specifically, I ask God to speak to my heart and mind and protect me from the enemy and my own selfish desires. I regularly review my journal, and if there is consistency in terms of what God has been saying to me, in faith I accept that as being God’s will for my life and act accordingly. When I have listened and implemented God’s wisdom and God’s specific direction in any financial decision, history has shown that it was the best decision. In summary, whenever you face an important financial decision, you need to “first seek the counsel of the Lord” through prayer and listen to God’s directive for you. God has promised that he will provide his wisdom and his direction to us when we sincerely seek to do his will. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Priorities Read More Stewardship Principle Read More Debt Principles Read More

Back to Testimonials God answers prayer with respect to a wayward daughter Background I was born into an atheist family tree, in Communist country where people believed Karl Marx’s theory "Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people”. The culture I grew up in was founded on atheistic philosophy with no room for belief in God, but each one has his or her own god. When-where - how I met Jesus In the late 30’s, I immigrated to Toronto with my family of three. My ex-husband left me and my 6-year-old daughter in a new country in a rental apartment, when I was laid-off from work, when my father was sick (that's another testimony, my father was healed and still alive today, please pray for his salvation), with no friends and family around. No one called to check in on us, but miraculously the Lord called and invited us to visit HIS family, His church through HIS children. It was then and there, I knew Jesus, my Lord and my little girl attended Sunday School for the first time, a school I never knew nor attended as a child. From then the mustard seed was planted in my daughter's heart. Looking back, I wish I would have been like Simon Peter and Andrew in Ma.4:19 “at once they left their nets and followed” without hesitation when the Lord said “Come, follow me”. It took me almost 3 years (The Lord is patient) to accept Jesus as my personal saviour and I was baptized on Easter Sunday 2003. That decision I have made is my turning point, where I was called to a new life, just like God’s call to Abraham to leave Ur and go to Canaan. God called me to leave my country, my kin, and my fathers’ house to go to the land he will show me (Gen. 12:1). I saw God’s salvation plan unfold concerning me (Who am I? 2 Samuel 7:18) that started from a geographical move to a spiritual move, from social and cultural influences of “my country, my people and self-righteousness father’s household, from and through all the brokenness of divorce, unemployment, loneliness, uncertainty, and from all kinds of fears to HIS kingdom, where I have a KING, Jesus who cares for me.” The Lord has plans for me which are stated in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” I could testify day and night of every act of mercy and grace the Lord God has shown to me, the life I have now in Christ is a living testimony and a living sacrifice I long to offer to my Savior. I no longer belong to my country where I was born, my sinful family tree and the people and culture which used to influence and shape me, instead, I bear HIS Name, Yahweh, Jesus, the Most High. My identity is not a divorced woman or a single mom (those are my temporary social status though), “You are Mine” says the Lord in Is.43:1, and God made me who I am to show the world who HE is. Our crisis, HIS opportunity Growing up, my parents and grandparents never overspent on anything and neither did I (but we are not holy and righteous). However, while I thought I was “pretty good in terms of everything” especially money management, my daughter’s credit card debts surfaced in 2013 after she was baptized and moved away from home to university. For the first time, she had a lot of money to manage, from student loans, ESF education saving fund, part time jobs to monetary gifts from relatives. Like Proverbs 21:20 described, she “spends whatever she gets” without giving any thought of saving, planning, and budgeting; the buy now pay later mentality and the minimum payment option became the norm to her - something I never taught her nor did myself, but the world. When I asked her what gifts she would like to have on her birthday or for Christmas, she expressed it would be appreciated if I could pay her credit card balance as her friends’ parents did to her friends. I paid her credit card balance a number of times and even suggested to cut-off her credit card, but she still continued to have unpaid balances and piled up interest here and there. The hardest part was watching my girl who grew up from Church (almost every Sunday), drifting away from the truth, being in debt, and experiencing depression and anxiety. They were like mountains over her (also over me), from a joyful girl she became very angry and hard to communicate with. I knew this was something beyond what I was able to handle and fight on my own (in fact we control nothing). I agree with Tom who said, “Sometimes, the root of financial problems goes beyond the financial sphere and into the spiritual” in Financial Management God's Way. Deliverance through repentance I don't remember how many times my face was covered in tears behind closed doors, inside my car, during Sunday services, and in the middle of the night. I went to the Lord in prayer as Daniel did in Daniel 9 “Lord, I confess I didn’t train her up in the way she should go, nor did I bring her up with the discipline and instruction that comes from YOU.” Rather than reading the Bible to and with her, I encouraged her to call the toll-free story lines, and I ordered senseless magazines and novels for her that had no divine spiritual wisdom. I sent her to all kinds of extracurricular activities such as art classes, karate, supplementary academic courses - all of which are not bad things, but without the realization that having a relationship with Jesus should have come first before anything else. Apart from taking her to church each Sunday, I rarely prayed for or with her throughout her life, only times when she was sick or struggling. I let television, and pop culture influence her instead of teaching her the ways of the Lord. I admitted to the Lord that I am the one described in Psalm of Asaph Ps.73:22 “senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You”. For the first time in my Christian life, over a decade after baptism, I committed myself to the Word. I was called to take my sandals off, did my spiritual inventory check, wrote down all the sins I have committed since I was little, prayed one by one with a trustworthy church sister, prayed the cleansing, deliverance and renewing prayers according to 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I was called “go and be reconciled” to my daughter, (Ma. 5: 23-24.) I asked my daughter to forgive me for all my parenting mistakes and all of the unkind things I have done and said, and for being insensitive or even heartless to the hurts I have caused to her emotionally and mentally. Transformed to a praying woman and mom and servant of God During those challenging years, I learned to praise the Lord for my daughter's life, not to accuse her as she is wonderfully and fearfully made with God's very image. I thank God for protecting her from the very beginning of her life from abortion (that's another testimony) as she is truly not my plan, but God’s. As it says in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you”. So I prayed, “Lord, may your powerful hand reach down from on high and take hold of your daughter, draw her out of deep waters and rescue her from her powerful enemy of credit card debt, depression and anxiety and those underneath the surface I am unable to know and see, those she doesn’t want to let me know, they are too strong for her”. The Lord responded to me with 2 Chronicles 20:15 “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” During those challenging years, I asked my pastors and trusted church members to pray for my daughter, I asked my mother (that's another testimony) and her church to pray for my daughter. I was also introduced to Stormie Omartian's “The Power of a Praying Parent” book, which starts with Lamentations 2:19 “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children”. So, I learned “Always Keep on Praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 TLB) and stayed in contact with the Most High in “all occasions, with all kinds of prayers, and all kinds of requests”. The Word of God was and is my weapon as it is written in Hebrews 4:12. My bedroom closet, my car, kitchen, bedroom, living room all became my “war rooms” and altars built to the Lord. The Truth sets us free On my daughter’s side, there were a lot of good changes that happened, which exceeded my expectations or what I could ever imagine. She started asking me and other church members to pray for her, started attending church, praying for herself, and reading the Bible. Long story short in the new year of 2019, she re-dedicated herself to the Lord, consciously prayed the sinner's prayer and made a conscious declaration to accept Jesus as her Lord and saviour again. She was re-baptized and shared her testimony before the presence of the Lord, her heavenly Father at Connect Church. Later on, when she graduated from University, God heard her prayer and granted her a very promising job as a new graduate. She was set free from the bondage of credit card debt, and she learned to plan and budget. She tithes faithfully, and amazingly, the depression and anxiety were cured with almost no medication. “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom. 8:31). She sponsored a 12-year-old boy in Africa with the income Father God gives her. In mid 2021, God also blessed her with a property of her own to manage. During the pandemic, God called her to partner with HIM in youth ministry at Connect Church. She studies the Word and shares the understanding that God revealed to her with me all the time. Our dining table has become our altar of thanksgiving, prayers have become our first choice, resort, and our lifeline to God. On my birthday this year, instead of going to a restaurant, my daughter took a day off, spent 7 hours preparing a party of 7 with a budget of $70 dollars, and the final cost was $67.03. Instead of buying a birthday card, she crafted a beautiful one, she wrote: “Mom, God knew you long before your birthday, He knew your life and He knew you would be called out of the land you knew into a far and foreign land. Who could have imagined that this is our life today? God has redeemed us and been faithful to us. He had not broken a single promise. I was reading 1 Samuel and Hannah's prayer spoke to me. In her sorrow she went to the temple and prayed for a child so intensely but so simple, and then she promised that her son would be dedicated back to God. When she followed through on her promise & dedicated Samuel, the Lord blessed her with 5 more children. I know you prayed without ceasing for me, a simple yet desperate prayer for God to move in my life, and HE has. Because God has been faithful to keep His promises, I will be faithful to serve. God knows the desires (needs) of our hearts, and He will bless His children because He loves us....” While I was reading the card, I saw Luke 15 replaying in slow motion. “when she (mother and daughter) was still a great way off, her FATHER saw her and had compassion, and ran and threw His arms around her neck, and kissed her”; I heard the FATHER say to his servants, “bring out the best robe and put it on her, and put a ring on her hand and sandals on her feet”; I heard David Leonard singing his song "I will wait" that says: “In the morning, I will rise up, shed the darkness, and bathe in Your light. And I recount all, every blessing. The words You've spoken, that bring me new life. I am reminded from where You have brought me. And where You have placed me for today. And I won't forget that Your hand will hold me. Your love sustains me through the wait. Oh the burdens that I've carried. They are heavy, oh too heavy to hold. There's a river, there's a sunrise, I will wait on You, Lord.” In that moment, I rose up and embraced my daughter and four hands held together I prayed “Father God, thank you for your generosity and loyalty chasing after us, thank you for making us be right with you and thank you for fighting for us in the heavenly Realms…Pray for us Lord as you have prayed for Peter, so our faith may not fail. We wait on YOU till the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we love YOU.” Ps. I am a born-again Christian and attended Financial Management God's Way for Singles hosted by TCM on Zoom during Aug- Nov 2021. S.L. New Tecumseth, ON, Canada Previous Next

Back to Testimonials I agree 100% with the principles and messages from Copland Ministries "I agree 100% with the principles and messages from Copland Ministries. Through the Financial Management process, you can fine tune your finances so that you are on the way to good financial health." T. S. Cebu, Philippines Previous Next

Back to Testimonials Financial Moment Listener I love listening to your radio show on Faith FM 99.9 London. Your heart for ministry and our Lord is most appreciated; a real person ministering to real people, with real solutions drawn from the word of God. Thanks for your ministry. It's always an encouragement. C.A. London, ON, Canada Previous Next

Back to Testimonials I've benefited greatly from your teaching I've benefited greatly from your teaching as it has helped me change my thought process on handling my finances, planning for the future, and estate planning. I record your messages on my PVR so I can watch them from time to time. So again thank you again. L.C. Montréal, QC, Canada Previous Next

Back to Testimonials My financial situation is a burden to me I am doing your 4 part financial online course. I am so blessed to be apart of this course. My financial situation is a burden to me and I am so encouraged by these sessions. I saw you on TV about a year ago and have blessed since. Praying the Lord will continue to bless you abundantly as you help us with our financial situation so that we can have peace and joy as Children of God. D.S. 18 Cloverlawn Street, Brampton Ontario, Canada Previous Next

Back to Freedom from Financial Anxiety Yes, There is Hope for your Financial Mess! By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 “By his very nature, God is the God of hope: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with joy by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13). Do you have God’s peace and joy in regard to your finances? If not, then you’re probably not in God’s will. Regardless of how difficult your financial problems are, God, with his “incomparably great power” (Eph. 1:19), is able to solve any financial mess. It is true that God may not relieve financial pressures quickly, but it is certainly within God’s power to sustain you and carry you through any stresses or anxieties resulting from financial difficulties. If you’re in financial difficulty, then I recommend the following: Pray—There’s no substitute for spending quality time with God. It is through his Holy Spirit and his Word that he will provide you with his direction for your life. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). Meditate on God’s Word—Sixteen of the 24 parables that Jesus gave us to deal with money and material things. God’s Word, the Bible, is filled with God’s wisdom on finances, which is frequently contrary to the world’s wisdom. For example, the emphasis in Scripture is toward minimal debt or no debt as opposed to the emphasis in the world, which is to buy now and pay later or use other people’s money. In our society, getting into debt is very easy, and as a result, many people have overcommitted themselves in their financial obligations. Develop a Plan, That is, a Budget—This will help you ensure that you are spending less than you are earning on a monthly basis. Use the surplus to pay down debt and save for future needs. Planning is biblical. For instance, in his example of building a tower, Jesus said, in substance, that if you don’t plan ahead, then you are foolish (Luke 14:28–30). Don’t Give up!—When someone is in financial difficulty, generally, it takes a few years to really get the financial house in order. However, significant changes can be made in just a few months. Even if finance is not your area of expertise, God has promised that he will provide what we need. Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9, NKJV). Previous Article Next Article More Topics Co-Signing/Surety Read More Investing Read More Priorities Read More

Back to Financial Deceptions Financial Freedom is Attained by Having Lots of Money By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Many people believe that financial freedom will be obtained only when they have lots of money and material things. This is a deception from the world. God warns us: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Over the past 30 years, I have seen many wealthy people who have no peace in the area of finances. They are not “financially free.” They are stressed out by money-related problems, such as, Where should I invest my money? or, What if I lose my money? Sometimes they are workaholics with an unquenchable desire to accumulate more and more. Worry and anxiety dominate their minds in regard to money-related issues. True financial freedom comes only from having God’s peace and joy in the area of finances. To obtain God’s peace and joy in respect of finances, I believe that the following steps would be appropriate: 1. Believe that it is God’s truth that will set you free from the deceptions of this world. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31, 32, emphasis added). 2. Recognize God’s truth that we are stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Our responsibility is to apply God’s financial principles and do God’s will. God’s promise is that if we put him first, he will meet our needs (Matthew 6:31–33). Once you have fulfilled your responsibility, you can “cast your cares on the Lord” (Psalm 55:22) and trust God to meet your needs. This should enable you to enjoy God’s peace. 3. With God’s help, learn to be content with God’s provision. The apostle Paul said, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11–13, emphasis added) 4. Acknowledge that the accumulation of money and material things are temporary and not of any eternal value. (See Matthew 6:19–21.) In short, from an eternal perspective, God’s truth is that a selfish desire to become wealthy has no value. 5. Experience the joy of giving. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Giving with a cheerful heart and out of your love for God enables you to be free from the love of money and to experience the joy of giving. In summary, one of the deceptions of this world is that financial freedom comes from having lots of money and material things. True financial freedom comes only from having God’s peace, joy, and contentment in the area of finances. Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Co-Signing/Surety Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More