"You will always give effortlessly to that which is your salvation, to those things that give your life meaning. If Jesus is the one who saved you, your money flows easily into His work, His people, His causes. If, however, your real religion is your appearance, or your social status, or personal comfort, or pleasure, your money flows most easily into those items and symbols.

— "Giving Power", by Tim Keller, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Dave Bootsma

Suze Orman was only 13 years old when fire consumed her family's business. She watched her father escape the perils of the flames only to dash back into the chicken restaurant to recover something of great value to him.

He tried to pry it open, but couldn't. Finally he grabbed it with both arms, ripped it off the counter and carried the scorching hot cash register outside. As soon as he cleared the building and was safely outside, he threw the medal box to the ground, and when he did, the skin from his arms and chest came with it.

"That was when I learned," Orman recalls, "that money is obviously more important than life itself."

Luke 12:20 NIV "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

For more information on Orman's book, The 9 steps to Financial Freedom: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609801864/fm082-20

Whenever we think about our financial woes, we often think the solution is more money. And in all fairness, sometimes our financial problems are because we aren’t making enough money, but sometimes, they are because we aren’t managing what we make. Take Suzanne Mullins for example. In 1993, she won 4.2 million dollars in the Virginia Lottery. Eleven years later, she is deep in debt to a Florida Company that lent her money using the winnings as collateral. A circuit court ruled that Mullins owes $154,147.

Though Mullins could not be reached for comment, her lawyer said Mullins blamed the debt on extensive medical bills of an uninsured son-in-law who needed $1 million dollars for medical bills before he died four year ago. The lawyer, Michael Hart said, "It's been a hard road. It's not been jet plane trips to the Bahamas."

In 1998, Mullins took out a loan with a Florida company that serves lottery winners who need their money faster than the annual payments can arrive. The Florida Company lent money, expecting payments from the yearly lottery checks through 2006. When the lottery rules changed allowing winners to collect their money in a lump sum, Mullins decided to cash in the remaining amount and did not make payments on the loan after February 2001.

A spokesman for the Florida lending company said his understanding was that Mullins had no assets to repay the remaining money. Tom Nasta of Personal Financial Planning in Roanoke said it's not unusual for people to go broke after wining the lottery. He says one client of his who won $1 millon dollars only had a mobile home to show for it seven years later.

—Associated Press, Woman Who Won Millions is Broke, May 3. 2004, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Eccles. 5:10 (NIV) “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”

The introduction of the euro, the first common coinage in Europe since the Roman Empire, is causing a stir in some churches in Europe. The concerns do not deal with prophecy as much as they do church finances.

In France, church officials have started a campaign to remind parishioners to give. They suspect donation will decrease following the introduction of the euro. Many French Catholics donate a 10-franc coin to the church coffers each week. Officials are concerned that many will drop in a similarly sized euro instead. The euro is worth about a third less, meaning those who want to maintain the same level of giving need to drop in two or three coins instead of one.

In Ireland, officials say they are bracing for a slump of about 20 percent. Again, the problem stems from simple math. The euro is worth about 20 percent less than the common one-punt coin generally donated by Irish believers.

One church leader from a working class neighborhood in Paris is not concerned. He feels there are more important things to talk about in church. "People aren't stupid," he says, "Money is part of their life. They know exactly what to do with their money."

Matthew 6:33 NIV "But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

—www.upi.com, December 30, 2001. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Woody Allen says, "Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons."

—Happiness: Lessons from a New Science by Richard Layard, p. 29. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Matthew 22:19-22 (KJV) "Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. [20] And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? [21] They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. [22] When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."

A customer walked up to Jean Weaver's teller window and asked for some U.S. Savings bonds. "Which denomination?" Weaver asked.

All that we own—our houses our cars and even our savings bonds belong to God and can be used in His service.

1 Peter 4:10 (NASB) "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

A Wisconsin fraternity member has been arrested for using a unique method of supplementing his income, handing out fake parking tickets.Authorities say 23-year—old Anthony Gallagher allegedly earned several hundred dollars by putting phony parking tickets on cars and having the duped owners send him the payment.

Investigators uncovered the scam in March 2003 when a victim tried to mail in a payment for ticket, but had it returned as undeliverable.Authorities say the trail lead to Gallagher when they noticed the ticket was an exact copy of a parking ticket Gallagher had received in February 2003.The citation number on the phony tickets was the same number as Gallagher's ticket.

Gallagher admitted that he had placed several of the phony tickets on vehicles parked near his fraternity.Authorities claim the young man set up a post office box and asked recipients to mail $40 tickets.He then placed the money, which amounted to several hundred dollars in his personal bank account.

—Associated Press, Student Collects Fake Parking Fines, September 15, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

1 Tim. 6:10 (NASB)"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang."

When Randy Pratt discovered that someone deposited $177,000 in his bank account last summer, he figured the money must be gift from God. Instead of alerting the bank, Pratt and his wife withdrew the money, quit their jobs and moved to Florida. Over the next several months, Pratt and his wife gave away thousands of dollars, including a gift of $25,000 to a homeless shelter.

It turns out the deposit was a bank error. Pratt’s deposit was supposed to have been $1,770. When authorities caught up with the couple, they charged them with felony theft and conspiracy. Authorities are still holding Pratt on $100,000 bail. They released his wife on an unsecured bond. She told a court that she and her husband are now estranged.

Man Figured Bank Error ‘Was Gift From God.’;

http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/Man-Figured-Bank-Error-Was-Gift-From-God/B2WSqyPxmUW2vVB_p9dRbQ.cspx; January 23, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wlson and Jim Sandell

Money isn’t always the answer. Sometimes it is the problem.

Ecclesiastes 7:12 (CEV) Wisdom will protect you just like money; knowledge with good sense will lead you to life.

We have heard stories for years about businessmen in 1929 jumping from skyscrapers on news of the stock market crash. Today’s executives cannot jump out of windows onto Wall Street. The windows do not open. On Jan. 5, 2009, however, Adolf Merckle, a German billionaire, threw himself in front of a train, driven to suicide by the global financial crisis. Several other business leaders have taken their own life in the wake of the economic downturn.

Our wealth may not rise to billions; nevertheless we need put our hope and trust in God, not riches.

--Time Magazine, January 19, 2009, p. 14. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

1 Timothy 6:17 (MSG) “Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage— “

In their new book, Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth, Ed Diener and his son, Robert Biswas-Diener, claim that happiness comes apart from money or material goods. Ed is psychology professor at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and Robert is a psychologist and lecturer at Portland State University.

Their research has shown that “though money helps people lead more comfortable lives, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to the moments in life that bring happiness—which tend to come from social interactions and activities, not from accumulating material goods.”

“When you look at the entire world, money does matter,” Diener says “But it almost doesn’t matter at all for enjoying life.”

USA Today, August 6, 2009 p. 1D

Illustration by James L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Luke 12:15 (NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

In a recent survey, ING Direct learned that many parents are uncomfortable talking to their children about money. In fact, 39% of parents are more prepared to talk about alcohol and drugs with their children than about money and finance. 29% would rather talk about dating and sex.

Perhaps most surprising is that 95% believe financial education should be taught in school.

If parents want a Christian worldview for their children where money is concerned, they need to be sure they teach it to them at home. Christian finance should be part of the “all things” we teach young believers.

--USA Today August 21, 2009; p. 3B Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Matthew 28:20 (NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

The financial crisis in the United States has deeply impacted the thinking of many adults between the ages of 44 and 75. A life insurance company recently conducted a survey and found that the fear of dying is no longer the primary fear among those adults. Instead, their main concern is running out of money. The poll, reported by AARP, is based on the responses of over 3200 people nationwide, and found 61 per cent of respondents said running out of money was their biggest fear. The remaining 39 percent of those surveyed said they were more afraid of dying than a lack of money.

The findings represent a shift in general thinking patterns among that age group. Concerns over the failing social security system, and loss of savings has brought those issues to the forefront. At one time, people preparing for retirement found a lot of comfort in their religious beliefs and family relationships. As more and more people concentrated on building large retirement funds, they placed put their future in the hands of corporations and banking institutions. When those organizations experienced difficulties, individual’s net worth dropped, and they were forced to cut back and reconsider plans. The poll may signal a return to more traditional approaches that value family, friendship, and community over money.
,
--http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/07/compared-to-money-shortage-fear-of-death-no-biggie/; July 7, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

A shareholder of the website, Bible.com sued the company’s board saying the ministers who run the corporation are failing to profit from the potential of the namesake Internet property. James Solakian acquired part of the company’s equity as a settlement of a business debt. He says one potential purchaser estimated bible.com could be worth more than dictionary.com which recently sold for more that $100 million. His suit has created a struggle for control of the company which has put the future of the site in limbo.

The domain name was originally registered by an Arizona pastor in 1996. He refused to sell the site saying he felt he was entrusted to run the site for a sacred purpose. The website currently displays a mix of ads, a verse of the day, and several links to Biblical answers for various concerns. Court records show the original company had promised to make the site “very, very profitable,” and that the company would be run in accordance with Christian business principles. Solakian’s suit claims the board has breached their duty by refusing to sell the site or run the company in a profitable manner.

--Bible.com investor sues company for lack of profit, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69K42D20101021; October 21, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (CEV) ’People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them. (10) The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much that they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.”

In Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, Richard Swenson writes: “Simplicity does not reject money and ownership-it merely subjugates it.”

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

New information from a Gallup survey conducted in 114 countries agrees. When asked how important religion is in their daily lives, 84 percent of adults worldwide say it is important. The richer a country is, the less important religion is. The one exception to that finding is the United States where 65% of American adults say that religion is important. In France it is 30%, England is 27%, and Japan 24%.

--World September 25, 2010, p. 14 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Matthew 19:24 (ESV) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

An Ohio woman who recently celebrated her 100th birthday could set a new standard for customer loyalty because she is still using the bank account she opened the year before World War I began. June Gregg told a friend that her account is the same one her father opened for her in January 1913.

Gregg was only a year and a half old when her father opened the account for her with an initial deposit of $6.11. Gregg’s father was a farmer who grew corn, wheat, and hay was a customer at the bank and wanted to teach his daughter thrift. Gregg still has the blue passbook documenting the original deposit. The account has helped Gregg live comfortably since she retired in 1976. Gregg said “I get along because I don’t have many wants.” She said the lessons her father taught have paid off, adding, “That’s what he always taught us: to stay out of debt and save our money and not buy anything until we had the money to pay for it.”

--Ohio woman, 100, has bank account dating to 1913, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110603/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_determined_depositor; June 3, 2011 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Hebrews 13:5 (CEV) Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.

“In a study by economists Sara Solnick and David Hemenway, people were asked whether they’d prefer to earn $50,000 in a situation where others were earning $25,000, or earn $100,000 when others earned $200,000.” That seems like a no brainer. In one scenario, the person is earning twice as much as in the other scenario. However, over half the respondents chose the smaller amount if they would be making twice as much as everyone around them.

--USA Today, February 21, 2012, p. 11A Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 14:30 (HCSB) A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

As countries in Europe continue to see economically difficult times, many people are taking their money out of banks in order to protect their savings. Authorities say the citizens of these countries are concerned that their savings will disappear if their country should stop using the common currency in Europe. The only problem is as money is taken out of circulation, the country’s financial concerns get more complicated.

Most of the money is being hoarded at home or placed in banks in countries with more stable economies. Figures indicate some of the money has been withdrawn and spent to meet urgent needs of families who have lost their source of income. Statistics also show the money is being moved to more stable countries where it is placed in banks, or invested in property or bonds that are backed by the Euro. Authorities say some of the money is being kept in homes, and new gangs are learning how to specialize in breaking into private homes and stealing the hidden cash and valuables. Theodore Krintas, managing director at Attica Wealth Management said, “What he average Greek has in mind is to secure the Euros they currently hold. That has been going on for a long time, and will continue as long as the uncertainty increases.”

--Greeks, Spanish Pull Billions Out of Banks in Self Protection,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/17/greece-spain-money_n_1603669.html , June 16,
2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Proverbs 11:28 CEV “Trust in your wealth, and you will be a failure, but God's people will prosper like healthy plants.”

The New York Times gives three tips for spouses to follow when dealing with family finances. First, you should schedule regular meetings. Set aside a time where you can talk freely about money. Second, be sure to talk about the big things, including plans for housing, vacations, savings, retirement, and children’s education. Third, set individual spending thresholds, the amount each spouse can spend without consulting the other.

These are good ideas to get couples talking about their finances and avoiding one of the biggest threats to marriage. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

“Tip of the week. . . How to talk with a spouse about money.” The Week June 1, 2012

Proverbs 27:23 (HCSB) Know well the condition of your flock, and pay attention to your herds,

In the late 1990s a teenage boy and his girlfriends enjoyed a fancy Valentine’s Day dinner at an Albuquerque, New Mexico area restaurant. When the bills arrived, the young man realized he was $40 short of being able to pay for dinner. Rather than run, the young man spoke to the owner of the restaurant, Claus Hjortkjaer. He took $40 from his pocket and gave it to the teenager who paid his check, and left. Hjortkjaer never saw him again until recently. Though the restaurant had closed and then relocated, the same man, now in his 30s came into the establishment and asked to speak to the owner. He explained who he was and gave him a $100 bill. He left without giving a name. Reflecting on the experience Hjortkjaer said, “Sometimes it pays off to be a nice guy. It made me feel good. I went and bought myself a bouquet of flowers” He added that the man is always welcome back in his establishment.
—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Man returns to restaurant—over a decade later—to pay off old debt, by Mike Krumboltz, http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/man-returns-restaurant-pay-off-old-debt-195138682.html, Accessed May 16, 2013.

Romans 13:8 (ESV) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

An international study purports that the price of being famous can be higher than most people expect. The researchers analyzed 1,000 New York Times obituaries from 2009 to 2011, and found that film, music, stage performers, and sports stars tend to die at younger ages. The average lifespan of people who live in the spotlight is 77.2 years, while the lifespan of other occupations ranges from 78.5 years up to 83 years. Researchers said they believe the shorter lifespan is a result of those people taking more risks in life to reach goals or because they are successful. Celebrity publicist, Max Clifford commented on the results saying his experience is that many celebrities and stars put extra pressure on themselves because they are worried about those who could replace them. Clifford said, People assume that fame and success is all about riches and happiness, but as someone who has worked with famous people for 45 years, I know that is not the case.” He added, “The success becomes like a drug to them that they have to have and they are always worried about losing it so they push and work harder and harder. You have to be competitive in these fields otherwise it will not work.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Price of fame: performers and sports stars die younger, by Belinda Goldsmith, http://news.yahoo.com/price-fame-performers-sports-stars-die-younger-231839465--spt.html, Accessed April 17, 2013.

Psalm 52:7 (ESV) “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”

NPR.org reports that nearly 44 percent of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover basic expenses for more than three months in the event of a financial emergency like losing a job or unexpected medical care. They further report that almost a third has no savings accounts at all. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The proverbs compare the lifestyles of the ant and the grasshopper. If we don’t prepare for the future, we cannot expect God to entrust us with the things of eternity.

Luke 16:11 (ESV) If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Materialism is not a uniquely western trait. Even behind the Bamboo Curtain in North Korea it is a problem. People are anxious to buy a refrigerator as soon as they are financially able. That in itself may not be notable, but reliable power is so rare in North Korea the appliance becomes little more than a status symbol. Many families turn the unit into bookshelves. At least they are useful for something.

If we searched our own homes how many equally useless items would we be guilty of purchasing. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB) For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

A mother of four won the lottery. After purchasing a mansion, two yachts, designer clothes, extravagant vacations, and new cars, she has returned to work. When asked why, the woman replied, “I wanted to do something more meaningful with my life.” —Jim L. Wilson and Brian Vogelesang

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV) (10) He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

According to the WSJ.com only 68% of Americans spend less money than they earn, and almost a third having no saving. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Ephesians 4:28 (ESV) (28) Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Making a small change to the standard fonts used in documents produced by the federal and state governments could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Those are the conclusions reached by a resourceful 14 year old student who noticed that he was getting a lot more printed handouts in school than before. Suvir Mirchandani wondered if printing all of the handouts was wasting money because printer ink can cost as much as $75 an ounce. Using a computer program to calculate how much ink was used by four fonts, Mirchandani discovered that the Garamond font was least expensive, even when compared to the commonly used Times New Roman. Mirchandani estimated that his school district could save $21,000 a year, and when applied to the federal government printing office, he found the savings would be nearly $370 million. When contacted by CNN, Gary Somerset, the media manager at the Government Printing Office, would not say whether the government might switch fonts, but he called the teenager’s work, “remarkable.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

14-Year-Old Proves U.S. Can Save $370 Million by Changing Fonts, http://mashable.com/2014/03/28/save-money-change-fonts/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link; Accessed March 29, 2014.

Proverbs 27:23-24 (HCSB) Know well the condition of your flock, and pay attention to your herds, (24) for wealth is not forever; not even a crown lasts for all time.

A study conducted by Kansas University’s gerontology center found that after age 50, people become less likely to sell or donate things they no longer need. The researchers found that among people over 70 years of age, about 30 percent said they had done nothing over the past year to give away belongings. 80 percent of the same group said they had sold nothing in the previous twelve month period. The surprising twist the researchers discovered was that though few people tried to give things away or sell them, more than half the respondents in all age categories over 50 said they have too many things. The researchers say part of the issues may be related to an increased physical or emotional difficulty connected with going rid of unneeded items. Reflecting on the study Mary Kay Buysse, executive director of the national Association of Senior Move Managers, an organization which helps older people move said, “Sometimes when an adult child steps in to help mom or dad, they bring emotional baggage. A lot of people are afraid they will lose the memory if they lose the item.” Buysse added, “As a culture, we need to look at whether we need all of our stuff. Not everything has to go, but not everything should stay.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Older adults may struggle with excess possessions, By Allison Bond, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/06/us-adults-possessions-idUSBREA2520F20140306, Accessed March 6, 2014.

Luke 12:15 (HCSB) He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”

Nomophobia is the fear of losing cell phone contact. The results of a new study might indicate that nomophobia is an epidemic in America these days. The research commissioned by Bank of America found that nearly half of Americans surveyed are willing to admit that they could not go a day without their smartphone. The number of people who said their phone was “very important” was even bigger. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents choose that answer, which was about the same number of people who said their car and deodorant were very important too. 88 percent of adults aged 18 to 24 said they thought their mobile phones were more important to them than the Internet, deodorant, and even their toothbrush. Dr. Andrew L. Russell, the director of the program in Science and Technology Studies at Stevens Institute of technology said, “It’s a little depressing that these numbers are so high, but the way we live now, it doesn’t surprise me.” -Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Plugged In: Half of Americans Can't Go a Day Without Phone, Study Says, By Rebecca Ungarino,http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/mobile/plugged-half-americans-cant-go-day-without-phone-study-says-n142831, Accessed June 29, 2014.

Matthew 6:32 (HCSB) For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

A Michigan woman who intended to pay off an overdue $20 balance on her department store credit card now says she intends to sue the company instead. Lisa Ratliff said she was planning to pay the bill, but when she started getting multiple reminder calls every day, she got so annoyed that she decided to go to court instead. She claims the store violated a 1991 law that set limits on the times collections agents can call and makes it illegal to call a cell phone with an auto-dialing device or prerecorded voice with the recipient’s consent. Ratliff says she was being harassed over the small amount and she received as many as 22 calls in one week, some as early as 6 AM and others after midnight. Legal analysts say Ratliff may have a case and even though she currently owes over $100 dollars due to late fees and interest, she may be due as much as $1,500 per call that violated the law.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Woman suing Kohl’s because they won’t stop calling about the $20 she owes them, By Will Lerner,http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/woman-suing-kohl-s-because-they-won-t-stop-calling-about-the--20-she-owes-them-190239601.html, Accessed June 18, 2014.

Nahum 1:7 (HCSB) The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him.

When you are going through airline security to board a flight they make you empty your pockets. Travelers drop their change into the bin along with their other possessions to be x-rayed. In their haste to make it to the gate many of them don’t bother to pick the loose change up again. Last year travelers neglected to retrieve $674,841.06 in small change.

If we would be more careful about where our small change went, our dollars would go a lot farther too. Every little bit of money saved adds up over time. It isn’t too early to begin to save. -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 21:20 (HCSB) Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a foolish man consumes them.

In a recent survey, Wells Fargo has discovered the biggest regrets of wealthy investors. The survey questioned 1,983 respondents with $250,000 or more in investable assets. The top regret these investors have is simply wishing they had done a better job of investing. The second two regrets are interesting though.

The number two regret is wishing they had saved more and spent less. Number three is that they failed to stop and smell the roses along the way.

Those last two regrets are easy for every person to end up with, regardless of how much money they make. A wise man saves rather than spends the proverb tells us. The Bible is clear that there are far greater goals in life than amassing riches. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Proverbs 21:20 (NASB) “There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.”

“The average American with credit card debt owes more than $15,000.” Our massive debts have spawned a whole community of experts explaining how to manage or get rid of the debt.

“The strategy begins with cutting up those cards that have the debt.” Then have a strategy to begin paying them off, one by one. Experts call it the snowball strategy: paying off smaller debts first, to motivate you to dig out of credit card debt faster. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Proverbs 22:7 (HCSB) The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.

Money

Police in Austria say they found more than $108,000 worth of Euros floating in the Danube River, but they still have no idea where the money came from. A young boy saw the money floating by and jumped into the river to get it. A bystander thought he was trying to kill himself, so he called police. Since police arrived just as the boy was fishing the money out, the bigger question is how would it belong too? In Austria, anyone who finds cash can claim 5 to 10 percent of the sum, and has the right to receive all of it, if the rightful owner cannot be located within a year. The boy said he planned to take it to the police, but there is a question of whether the boy found the money, or if the police did.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

http://news.yahoo.com/austrian-police-baffled-tens-thousands-euros-scattered-danube-001804977.html, accessed December 8, 2015.

1 Timothy 6:10 (HCSB)“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”

Money

Kynan Eng is president of a computer company that uses computers and brain research to help people live better lives. Eng wanted to use his expertise to respond to online questions about the intersection of neuroscience and human-computer interaction. When we went to Quora, he found himself distracted by other types of questions. He used his computer knowledge to answer a question about how much money had been spent rescuing Matt Damon’s characters in the movies he had starred in. He said the answer came out to just over $900 billion dollars. Then, Eng tackled the question of how much it would cost to buy one of each item advertised on Amazon.com. He estimated there were 479 million items on the main website at an average cost of $26.86 each. Therefore, he believes it would cost $12.86 billion dollars to buy one of each item on Amazon. Eng said he enjoys answering these unique questions and has come up with a name for his new hobby. Eng said, “I call it ‘amateur fictional economics.’”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

You'd pay $12.8 billion to buy one of everything on Amazon, By Elizabeth Weise, http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/02/24/amazon-one-of-everything-kynan-eng-switzerland-quora/80638686, Accessed February 24, 2016.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (HCSB) The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.

Money

In “Serving the Right Master,” C. Les Wesley writes, “In that moment, it was clear I had the two things of real value with me: my wife and my unborn daughter. Hurricane Katrina would not destroy anything that could not later be rebuilt. Oh, I would miss our possessions and the pictures that would be destroyed, but in that moment, I knew that I could not keep those things and save my family.

. . .Hurricane Katrina forced the closure of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for nearly a year after it flooded the entire campus. In a speech given on the Seminary’s grand re-opening, President Chuck Kelly said, “The Katrina class has learned a lesson on grit and grace.” “Grit” because we all learned that in order to survive extreme hardships we had to make some tough decisions about what things were most valuable. True riches are not money and fine things, but in those people whom we love, and in Jesus, whom we serve. We must loosen our grip on earthly treasures. “Grace” because we now understand that God is the fountain through whom all blessings flow. We must tighten our grip on Him by faith and hold on tight.”

Matthew 6:19 (HCSB) “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”

WEALTH

Apple announced that they recovered more than 40 million dollars from their trash. The company recovered more 2,200 pounds of gold from recycled iPhones, iPads, and Macs. With gold valued at over $1,200 an ounce, the company gained over $40 million dollars from the recycling venture. Manufacturers use gold in consumer electronics because it does not corrode easily and is a good conductor. Apple said they recycled 90 million pounds of electronic waste in 2015. In addition to gold, the company collected 23 million pounds of steel, 13 million pounds of plastic, 12 million pounds of glass, 4.5 million pounds of aluminum, 3 million pounds of copper, and over 6,000 pounds of silver.—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell.

Proverbs 3:9 (HCSB)“Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest;”

money

A survey by LifeWay Resources questioned Christians from Alabama to Wyoming and found that most believe that it is sinful to lend money to someone who can’t afford to pay it back. Most of those who responded also said they want the government to protect consumers from loans with excessive interest, yet 1 in 6 Christians say they have taken out a high-interest loan. The survey also found that few of these believers know how these loans work or that the Bible has guidance about fair lending. Few even see a connection between their faith and fair lending practices. Scott McConnell, vice president of LifeWay Research said that most Christians found high interest loans morally questionable. He added, “Ask people if charging high interest is wrong, and they’ll say yes. They forget the Bible calls it ‘usury’ and condemns the practice.”–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

http://lifewayresearch.com/2016/04/13/survey-christians-say-predatory-loans-are-sinful, Accessed April 13, 2016. Survey: Christians say predatory loans are sinful; By Bob Smietana.

Proverbs 28:8 (HCSB)“Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest collects it for one who is kind to the poor.”

The city of Santa Teresa, New Mexico has pumped millions of dollars into the state’s economy. The border-crossing, port-of-entry has streets lined with warehouses filled with goods of every kind. The city remains unincorporated, and though there are plenty of buildings, the city lacks shops, cafes, gas stations, and most of all, people. The nonprofit group that operates Santa Teresa is now working on transforming the city from a place where people work into one where they might find a home. Officials are planning a plaza on a nearby hill that would be surrounded by housing and businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and attractions. The company said they are still in the planning stages, but it is time to move forward. Christopher Lyons, who owns the industrial area said, “We’d like to become a destination and place for people to come and relax. There is so much potential here.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

http://www.klove.com/news/2016/05/25/planners-seek-to-transform-border-town-into-destination.aspx, Accessed May 25, 2016.

James 4:13–15 (HCSB)“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ ¹⁴ You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Money

U.K. firm Intelligent Environments has a product to help over spenders manage their money better. They link an electronic bracelet with the customers’ bank account and send a gentle buzz warning when the account balance gets close to a preset limit and delivers an electric shock if it dips below.

There are less shocking alternatives. Research shows that people spend 30% less when they have a cash-based, rather than a credit card based approach to spending. Constance Brinkley-Badgett, of Credit.com says, “If the plastic’s not in your pocket, maybe you’ll lose interest before you get around to making a deferred purchase.”

Proverbs 22:26–27 (HCSB) “Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans. ²⁷ If you have no money to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.”

Hundreds of searchers converged on the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico for the annual “Fennboree.” The gathering is treasure seekers is inspired by author Forrest Fenn, who wrote that he had hidden a chest containing nearly $2 million in coins. In the memoir, Fenn said he had hidden the money in the mountains around Santa Fe and left clues for those who hoped to find it. A Colorado man disappeared in the area in January 2016 after telling his family that he planned to look for Fenn’s treasure. The terrain where the wealth is hidden is very dangerous, and organizers of “Fennboree” say they plan to honor the missing man with a moment of silence.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Treasure Hunters Set Course For Santa Fe, http://www.klove.com/news/2016/05/30/treasure-hunters-set-course-for-santa-fe.aspx, Accessed May 30, 2016.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (HCSB) “The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.”

WEALTH

A banking corporation conducted an unusual contest to inspire people to save money. The Ally Bank placed one hundred “lucky pennies” on the streets of ten U.S. cities. The pennies are similar to ordinary pennies, but are custom copper-colored discs bearing the bank’s lowercase ‘a’ logo and a redemption code. Anyone who finds the special pennies will receive a $1,000 prize. To help participants the bank is putting out hints through Twitter. They say the special penny-like tokens were placed in public places to avoid disruption to businesses. Chief Marketing Officer Andrea Riley said, “We hope that people will have fun searching for Ally Lucky Pennies in their cities and that the campaign will inspire people to look at money in a different way.”–By Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Proverbs 13:11 (HCSB)“Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it.”

WEALTH

German police say a landlady’s concerns about a chemical odor from a tenant’s apartment led them to a man who was trying unsuccessfully to get gold from old cellphone and computer circuit boards. The woman called police because she had not seen the tenant for some time and was concerned that something might have happened to him. Based on the chemical odors, police thought the man be operating an illegal drug lab. When the chemicals they found did not fit the pattern of lab, authorities tracked the man down. He told them that he had been using the chemicals to get the gold out of the circuit board. He had taken a trip to visit some friends and asked their advice about getting the gold. He told police that his friends had advised him to give up because the chemicals were too dangerous.—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Proverbs 23:4–5 (HCSB) “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. ⁵ As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.”

The asking price of a New York City condo includes enough extras to allow the buyer to upgrade to a lavish lifestyle. The 15,000-square-foot duplex has an asking price of $85 million dollars, which is more than double the record for housing for the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in Manhattan. The price includes two Rolls Royce Phantoms and a Lamborghini roadster, a 75-foot yacht with five years of free docking, a year’s worth of weekly meals at a high dollar restaurant, courtside tickets to Brooklyn Nets basketball games, a year’ service from a live-in butler and private chef, and a summer stay at a mansion in the Hamptons. If that isn’t enough, the owner is throwing in two seats on a Virgin Galactic flight to space. Daniel Neiditch, who owns the penthouse and the firm handling the listing, said, “Someone not from New York can [move here and] have a New Yorker’s lifestyle and point of view. In a way, I’m offering my lifestyle. I’m offering a way for a foreigner to jump right in.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Sanitation workers in the Philippines found dozen of wallets blocking the flow of water through a drain. They contained credit cards and IDs, but not one of them contained any money. Video taken at the scene shows the workers removing the wallets and laying out the items inside including credit cards and ID papers. Police officer Mario David said he suspected the items were stolen and had been dumped there. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

In October 2018, an 84-year-old woman in Arizona returned from vacation only to receive a demand from Daniel Miller and an accomplice for $67,000. The duo claimed they had replaced her septic tank while she was away. Unfortunately the woman decided to pay the men in installments, first giving them $12,500 and then later $17,500 before realizing it was a scam. —Jim L. Wilson and Alex Morrison

1Timothy 6:9–10 (CSB)“But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Jack Whitaker was always kind to people and lived a normal life as a contractor in West Virginia. He was focused on the needs of others, including his wife Jewell and his granddaughter Brandi. Everyone thought that Jack and Jewell had the perfect marriage. Jack loved his wife dearly and she him. Each day was another opportunity to show each other how much they cared. Jack’s granddaughter Brandi had been the joy of his life. Jewell recounts that because of her daughter’s health Brandi spent many long periods of time in their house. Jack was the perfect Paw Paw as Brandi like to call him. He spent time with her watching movies, playing games, taking walks. They were inseparable. On August 23, 2002 all of that began to change.

By the second anniversary of his 314 million dollar lottery win, Jack was divorced and Brandi his granddaughter had died of a drug overdose. His life had fallen apart because he had put money in front of all the things that mattered to him. —Jim L. Wilson and Ken Dillender

“He won Powerball’s $314 million jackpot. It ruined his life.” The Washington Post, by April Witt https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/10/24/jack-whittaker-powerball-lottery-winners-life-was-ruined-after-m-jackpot/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.850e0db77579

James 1:14 (CSB)“But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.”

Transportation Safety Authority officials said the amount of money left behind by travelers as they hurry through screening checkpoints continues to add up. In 2018, the dimes, quarters, nickels and pennies totaled almost one million dollars. The unclaimed money is currently deposited into a special fund to benefit the agency’s work, because in 2005 Congress passed a law requiring unclaimed money be directed toward airport security costs. In their official report, the TSA said, “TSA always seeks to make sure that all traveler property, including loose change, funds it way back to the proper owner. However, when loose change does not, it will be directed to critical aviation security programs.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Hebrews 13:5 (CSB) Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.

A man who accidentally threw a shoebox containing $23,000 into a recycling bin was relieved to get his money back. The man did not realize his mistake until the recycling bin had already been emptied into truck headed for the processing facility. He contacted the facility’s manager who advised workers to watch for it, even though by that time, most of the material from the truck had already been sorted. One of the workers happened to spot the box on a sorting line and recovered all but $300 of the money. Authorities said they were amazed how most of the money stayed in the box during the 200-mile trip to the facility. –Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Ben Shapiro is fond of saying: “Facts don’t care about your feelings.” There is a similar axiom, that says, “Cash doesn’t care about your deservingness.” Don’t worry about money, because money isn’t worried about you. Jesus spoke of the fickleness of lady Lucre this way: “moth and rust destroy. . . thieves break in and steal.”

We know that the love of money is the root of all evil, yet we spend a lot of time worrying about it, or more specifically, the lack of it. But money is not the all in all, it is fickle. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

A Hong Kong business man set a record when he sold a downtown parking space for $969,000. The man owned four parking spaces in front of a 79-story office building known as The Center. He sold all of them for sums in the high six figures, but the last spot brought the highest price of $969,000. The buyer’s identity is unknown, but it was a person who has office space in the building, which only has a total of 40 parking places available. The previous record price for a parking space was $760,000 for a space in from of a luxury apartment building in Kowloon, which is across the bay from Hong Kong. The recent sale represents more than three times the median price of a home in Hong Kong. This may be the most expensive parking spot in the world. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

The owners of a new restaurant in England dug up a receipt from a business that occupied their building more than 100 years ago. Ben and Lucy Cuthbert, owners of market Square restaurant said the receipt from the department store Lewis, Hyland, and Linom was in the floorboards they removed during the renovations. The Cuthberts discovered that the store was founded in 1834 and changed names several times before it was bought out in the 1970s. The receipt was dated January 31, 1914 and was a credit note made out to a builder named Mr. Jenner. The Cuthberts think Mr. Jenner might have been a contractor who did business with the store because there is company with a similar name still in town. The Cuthberts plan to display the receipt inside their restaurant as a celebration of the history of their building. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

A real estate website is seeking a job applicant to fly to Dubai and spend a week in a luxury apartment. The site announced that it is offering one person the opportunity to travel to Dubai for a week of sunshine, luxury, and testing a high-end apartment. The applicant would also be a finalist for a permanent position as a property broker for other properties in the country. The company said they will accept applications on their website and asked interested people to follow their social media account. The site suggested as a bonus, interested parties could post a favorite vacation picture and tag them in it.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Bruce McConville, a 55 year-old Canadian businessman, from Ottawa, Canada, used a very creative excuse to avoid paying his wife spousal and child support, as part of their divorce settlement—he burnt it! He told a judge in the Ottawa Supreme Court that he withdrew 1 Million Canadian Dollars ($750,000), in 25 separate withdrawals, and burned the cash in two separate bonfires—$743,000 on Sept. 23, 2019 and $296,000 on Dec. 15, 2019, the Ottawa Citizen reported. However, “McConville, who ran for mayor of Ottawa in 2018, claimed to have receipts to prove he withdrew the money,” but “said he did not record the bonfires, and no one witnessed him set the cash ablaze.”

The presiding Judge, Superior Court Justice Kevin Philipps, told him he didn’t believe him or trust him, and that what he had done was morally reprehensible. McConville was sentenced to 30 days in Jail, for violating Court Orders, and required to pay $2,000 a day to his ex-wife until he discloses his finances fully to the Court.

Yes the love of money truly is the root of all evil, and the more we try to protect it from legitimate demands against it, especially in God’s economy, the more it will cost us in the end.—Jim L. Wilson and Derick Wilson

But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

WalletHub conducted a survey to see how Americans are coping with the Social Distancing mandates imposed on them by the government. They discovered that “36 million Americans use online shopping as their number one way to cope with social distancing.”

My only question is what will their strategy be to overcome the stress of their credit card bills? —Jim L. Wilson

A small California town is offering visitors a $100 voucher if they will come and stay for at least two nights. The program known as “Visit Santa Maria Valley program” offers visitors $100 dollars which can be used at establishments offering food and drink in the area. Director of the local visitor’s bureau said the town is a safe location because it is less crowded, and they can easily enforce social distancing. She said businesses in the area have set up many health and safety protocols to allow travelers to experience the charm of the area. Harrison added that the Santa Maria Valley has beautiful beaches, and many attractions for “budget-conscious travelers during a time of economic rebound.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell