Alternatives to the Fix
Because one of the things I do is to help individuals and couples with their finances, including budgeting, getting out of debt, and investing for retirement, I am often seeing things that need to be fixed. Their finances are broken. Rarely does someone come to me with all of their finances in order. Almost everyone seems to want to get rid of their debt and to save for the future, but they have done little or nothing to take care of either. Sadly, more spend time planning a vacation or a holiday gathering than they do thinking about their stewardship of the things God has placed in their hands.
I often direct those who are willing to listen to the book of Proverbs. It isn’t surprising to see that King Solomon, who was very wealthy, speaking about every aspect of life, including the use of financial resources. But we should remember one thing: when God asked Solomon what he wanted, he didn’t ask for power or a bigger castle. He asked for a discerning mind – for knowledge that is applied with wisdom.
1 Kings 3:5-14 (ESV) gives us the account of Solomon’s dream. We have the same opportunity. It is found in James 1:5. If we ask for wisdom, then we can start right the first time and don’t need to fix a mess later on.
“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
“It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.’” 1 Kings 3:5-14 (ESV)
Perhaps the biggest fix we need in our lives is to remember we are not the owners of anything we have. We are the ones who have been given some of God’s riches. We ought not take that lightly. Start by asking him for wisdom.
Five Minute Friday
This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up.
Know Your Flocks & Herds 
Wisdom in financial aspects were a part of my prayer today. I asked God to help “FIX” our church and my parents’ financial status. We tithe faithfully to our church and even upped our tithe due to the church having difficulty with income during COVID events. We’ve helped my parents organize their credit card payments, and now the dreaded taxes roll around again. I pray they have a good accountant this year! Finances are so tricky and quite personal. I appreciate your insight to ask God for wisdom. I’ll be asking for wisdom now for my parents and our church leaders. FMF #10, Jennifer
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May we always seek wisdom from God in anything we need to fix, finances included. May we be good and wise stewards of all He has given us.
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Love the Proverbs!
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Your post put me in mind of the Victorian poem ‘Invictus’; its theme is prideful, but within I think is contained a kind of silent appeal for guidance.
“I am the captain of my fate,
and master of my soul!”
Well, as a plan, that ain’t too great,
and does leave out the whole
God-thing ’bout obedience,
and bending of the knee;
‘Invictus’ is not nonsense,
but something of a plea
from a man whose ship is battered
and beset by storm seas,
and would not see it shattered
on rocks, or set to freeze
between an Arctic berg and floe;
he wants from God, I think, a tow.
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Yes, it’s so easy to forget we’re stewards and not just consumers.
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When I worked in real estate finance, I encountered many situations needing to be fixed. Sometimes these situations were legitimate one time ocurrences – an illness or divorce that wrecked finances momentarily. It felt good to know that my work would “fix” their problem. And other times, clients would come looking for a quick fix to their lifelong struggle with money – they were living outside their means, trying to find joy in material posessions, or just being wreckless in their decisions. Of course we would do what we could, but it was always bittersweet because I knew we hadn’t really fixed anything. Usually we’d see them again in a few years needing to be “fixed” again.
I pray in my “spiritual finances” that God helps me to have the kind of discerning mind your wrote about. May I avoid maing foolish decision because I know He can fix them, and instead, may I do my part to be a blessing to others.
Amie, FMF #25
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The fix is ‘wisdom’. Love it. One of my prayers and one that I have to be mindful of as well… Not more of this, but more knowledge, understanding and wisdom to take care of what He gives! Thanks!! FMF#40
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This is great. We need wisdom in all things, including financials. You’re right – we often spend a lot of time planning for the fun stuff that brings momentary joy. But that joy is always short lived.
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Amen Wayne.”Perhaps the biggest fix we need in our lives is to remember we are not the owners of anything we have. We are the ones who have been given some of God’s riches.” I love this, it is so true and something to reflect on. Blessings.
Visiting from FMF#12
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Love that last part on knowing who owns what we have. It makes it easier to give away when we realize we don’t own it.
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Not only is it easier to give it away, if done with a heart of compassion (and not for recognition) it is an eternal treasure laid up where moths, rust, thieves don’t have an impact or reach. Matthew 6:19-21
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“The fix is wisdom” and “If we ask for wisdom, then we can start right the first time and don’t need to fix a mess later on” – so true. Great reminder.
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