By closing the distance between you and God.
King David was not perfect; he was human. He had faults and even flaws in his character, and made some serious mistakes, but he was a solid believer in God and God used him to write the Psalms and to be the king of God's people and successfully defend them from their enemies, and govern their nation. He raised a son who became probably the greatest king in human history, King Solomon. In spite of David's human failures, his faith and love for God are clearly seen in this verse.
King David was not perfect; he was human. He had faults and even flaws in his character, and made some serious mistakes, but he was a solid believer in God and God used him to write the Psalms and to be the king of God's people and successfully defend them from their enemies, and govern their nation. He raised a son who became probably the greatest king in human history, King Solomon. In spite of David's human failures, his faith and love for God are clearly seen in this verse.
"It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works." Psm.73:28.
King David did not always do good because he wasn't always walking close to God, but he always knew what was "good" for him. His spirit strove to be in God's will but his flesh drew him away. Nobody abides in a close relationship with God all the time. That includes ministers and those in full-time ministries. Staying near to God is your responsibility not God's. All "good" things require two actions, our "good" generous giving God gives, on condition the needy receiver believes and accepts. David said, "It is good for me to draw near to God". God was already available, willing, and offering His blessings to David, and didn't have to do anything else but offer the good. The rest was up to David. He was already a believer and did not need more salvation, but he did need the "good" that God gives to our lives .... peace, rest, purpose, effectiveness in witnessing to others, and "all of God's good works". David had a responsibility, a part to do if he expected God to do His part in blessing David with the "good" He wants us to have. So exactly what did David have to do to be closer to God? He needed not wait for God to drag him back into divine fellowship. That will not happen. And God will not force his presence upon us.
Pastor James, Jesus' half brother, tells us how to be closer to God. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8. Getting our spiritual lives in order is a matter of confession, repentance, re-commitment and then walking nigh unto God. That is our responsibility, not God's. He has already done all He needs to do. Our walk with God is up to us. "You" is the understood subject of the sentence, "Draw nigh to God".... "You" must take action to draw nigh to God.
That is not only the remedy for getting our spiritual lives in order but is also the remedy for setting our house in order and getting our finances in order. A spiritually sick home, divorce, disfunction, and financial irresponsibility are not physical, or anger or money problems but spiritual problems. The key to receiving is giving, but giving must not be done to receive but for spiritual, obedience and love reasons, and does not work well if the heart is not first right... near to God.
Another part you have in getting a full measure of God's good blessings, effective witness, and getting correct attitude about money, is to study His word of truth and all other kinds of truth, for all truth is God's truth, so education in all kinds of trugh is good.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim.2:15.
First, study God's holy scriptures thoroughly so you will have a strong foundation of understanding God's word and all other truth, including all areas of common sense. One of those should be your personal finances since your money represents your life, your talents and your time. You give your time, knowledge, talents and energy to someone for money. The money you earn, for what you give, is a measure of your very life and should be handled with the same care you give to maintain your health and property. Your earned income represents your life; learn to invest it with knowledge and caution ... wisely.
Here is an important, foundational lesson on Inflation and deflation, things over which you have no control but which you can prepare for and learn the truth about.
In economics, deflation is a decrease in the general price level of goods and services. Deflation occurs when the inflation rate falls below 0%. Inflation reduces the value of currency over time, but deflation increases it. Deflation allows more goods and services to be bought than before with the same amount of currency. Since government spending is no longer held in check by a gold standard, inflation rises when the government prints or digitizes more money. This reduces the buying power of all of that nation's and its
people's money.
The word "money" is found 125 times in the bible, referring to coins of gold or silver, not paper currency.
Father Abraham used money to buy a family burying place ...
"I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there." Gen.23:13.
Where did Abraham get money and why did he have it if its bad?
Jacob's (Israel's) sons bought grain in Egypt, from their brother, Joseph, to prevent starvation of their families, the first Israelites. "Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way ...." Gen.42:25.
Where did these children of Israel get money; why did they save it; and why did Joseph give it back to them? What good use is it if it is bad?
Moses, in the law of God, commanded God's people on Justice in things of monetary value. "Sell the live ox, and divide the money of it...." Ex.21:35. Why divide it? What good was it?
In the two chapters, 21 & 23, following the Ten Commandments, in Ex.20, Moses gave instructions on the use of money numerous times. It was an important consideration of God for the "good" of His people. The opposite of waste is wisdom, in savings and frugality.
Even Jesus taught on the use of money eight times in Matthew, as tax money, miracle money from a fish's mouth, investment money, and the misuse of money. So money in and of itself is like a tool. A tool is useful, even needful, and often irreplaceable. A person can build great things and do great things with tools ... as with money. God's word teaches the value of tithing, giving and sacrifice of money. Without it we would have no church buildings or missionaries, or Bibles, or full-time Christian workers. So money is not bad. Silver and gold are not bad. Payment for labor or helpful things is not bad. Scripture does not say "money is the root of all evil". It says, "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil." Use it, don't love it. The Apostle Paul, having walked among the rich and powerful, had seen much of the lust for money and its misuse, warned young Timothy to be content with what God provides and not fall into the trap of lust for riches and materialism. "Having food and raiment let us be therefore content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Tim.8-10.
I know people who think having more gold than a wedding ring is a sign of immoral character but having equal value in a TV or car or fishing boat, or in the bank or in salary, is OK. Its kind of like, if your bible cover isn't black, you have a spiritual problem. I'm not covetous of money, and I'm not sure where the hex on gold and silver got on the Christian list of evils, but I do know that governments and the Federal Reserve have, for many years glorified paper currency and undermined the possession of gold and silver bullion. The seed of it, at least in part, was sown on Jekyll Island in 1910, with the founding of the Federal Reserve System. The buying value of the dollar has diminished over 90% since that date.
Here is a video to help adjust the skewed mind-set of the desirability of fiat, paper currency or digital "ones and zeros" over gold and silver ... in your hand. But still, do not covet it ... Use it for good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyV0OfU3-FU
people's money.
The word "money" is found 125 times in the bible, referring to coins of gold or silver, not paper currency.
Father Abraham used money to buy a family burying place ...
"I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there." Gen.23:13.
Where did Abraham get money and why did he have it if its bad?
Jacob's (Israel's) sons bought grain in Egypt, from their brother, Joseph, to prevent starvation of their families, the first Israelites. "Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way ...." Gen.42:25.
Where did these children of Israel get money; why did they save it; and why did Joseph give it back to them? What good use is it if it is bad?
Moses, in the law of God, commanded God's people on Justice in things of monetary value. "Sell the live ox, and divide the money of it...." Ex.21:35. Why divide it? What good was it?
In the two chapters, 21 & 23, following the Ten Commandments, in Ex.20, Moses gave instructions on the use of money numerous times. It was an important consideration of God for the "good" of His people. The opposite of waste is wisdom, in savings and frugality.
Even Jesus taught on the use of money eight times in Matthew, as tax money, miracle money from a fish's mouth, investment money, and the misuse of money. So money in and of itself is like a tool. A tool is useful, even needful, and often irreplaceable. A person can build great things and do great things with tools ... as with money. God's word teaches the value of tithing, giving and sacrifice of money. Without it we would have no church buildings or missionaries, or Bibles, or full-time Christian workers. So money is not bad. Silver and gold are not bad. Payment for labor or helpful things is not bad. Scripture does not say "money is the root of all evil". It says, "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil." Use it, don't love it. The Apostle Paul, having walked among the rich and powerful, had seen much of the lust for money and its misuse, warned young Timothy to be content with what God provides and not fall into the trap of lust for riches and materialism. "Having food and raiment let us be therefore content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Tim.8-10.
I know people who think having more gold than a wedding ring is a sign of immoral character but having equal value in a TV or car or fishing boat, or in the bank or in salary, is OK. Its kind of like, if your bible cover isn't black, you have a spiritual problem. I'm not covetous of money, and I'm not sure where the hex on gold and silver got on the Christian list of evils, but I do know that governments and the Federal Reserve have, for many years glorified paper currency and undermined the possession of gold and silver bullion. The seed of it, at least in part, was sown on Jekyll Island in 1910, with the founding of the Federal Reserve System. The buying value of the dollar has diminished over 90% since that date.
Here is a video to help adjust the skewed mind-set of the desirability of fiat, paper currency or digital "ones and zeros" over gold and silver ... in your hand. But still, do not covet it ... Use it for good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyV0OfU3-FU
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