Taking Dominion, One Day At A Time
December 23, 2006
Another Excuse for Mediocrity

Posted in Wealth Building

My husband and I take God's commands very seriously. We often discuss the state of the Church and how the theology of various camps have plunged the Church into a state of total impotence. We lament how the Church has ignored or completely discarded so many of God's commands. The sorry condition of the Church is a direct result of its failure to obey God's every command.

Last night I was surfing Master Books and came across the newest release from Ken & Steve Ham. It's called "Genesis of a Legacy." As I read the description, my heart sunk.  It reads, "People often mistakenly get caught up in the idea of leaving a financial inheritance for their children, instead of the true responsibility of raising children to love God first and foremost-- the only legacy of value."

Here we have another Christian who has rewritten Scripture, completely writing off one of God's commands. Here a very influential author gives Christians another excuse for mediocrity.

The Bible is clear about the inheritance. Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous."

The Bible says that a "good man" builds so much wealth that he leaves an inheritance not only to his own children, but to his grandchildren. But Mr. Ham says that this financial inheritance is of no value.

It's not that we don't think we should leave a spiritual inheritance. Of course we do. My husband and I consider the task of raising and discipling our children to be the most important, challenging and gratifying of all our responsibilities.

R.L. Dabney said it beautifully, "The education of children for God is the most important business done on earth. It is the one business for which the earth exists. To it all politics, all war, all literature, all money-making, ought to be subordinated; and every parent especially ought to feel every hour of the day, that, next to making his own calling and election sure, this is the end for which he is kept alive by God – this is his task on earth."

We take this responsibiltiy very seriously, but we believe we are called to leave our children with both a spiritual and a financial inheritance. That's what the Bible says. It's a lot of work, but it's fun, challenging and rewarding and most of all it's what God requires.

No more excuses. The church needs to take every jot and tittle seriously. That's the only way it will ever regain it's potency.


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Comments

January 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous


It's only takes one good look at the New Testament to see that chasing after wealth is not the theme of the Church. I would think a better approach to your Proverbs reference is to realize that God wants us to be good stewards of what He gives us, not being self-indulgent and keeping in mind we have future generations to be accountable to. I'm afraid your post rings more of "the love of money" than the love of man.


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January 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous


I am a SAHM and my husband is a very well educated man who works hard to provide for our family now and in the future. We are diligent savers, saving over half of our income every month. We do this to provide for our son in the future; however, our son will never know of this savings until he proves himself through hardwork. Due to our conscious decision to lead a life of simplicity and service to others, our son will never know how well-off we are. I have seen many "trust fund babies" squander too much talent, money, and time because they were aware of the inheritance their godly, well-intentioned parents had in reserves and/or because they saw the plush lifestyle led by their parents made possible only through hardwork, but hardwork the children themselves never saw.

I see nothing wrong in working for wealth if it is to provide for your family and others in need. It is the shameless chasing of wealth in which we lose sight of our Christian duty to others that is deplorable.


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January 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous


I think it's wonderful that you are frugal and thinking of your son...but there are many of us that the Lord has given large families to who could not even begin to live off 1/2 of our income. We are savers as well, but again, I think it is more important to focus on what you are doing with your money, not what your savings account total is. Money is just a tool to get through life and serve God. My husband works very hard, harder than most I am sure, but it is God who decides the amount of money each family will have. That's why you can never outgive God...if you live in His will, He decides whether you have lots of money or little. But I just think efforts to try and gain wealth, for whatever reason it is disguised as, is vanity.


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