Be the First!

Don’t ever let anyone tell you can’t do it. If you are above ground and functional, you can to something to make your life better. You can become a blessing to those around you. A dream starts with intention. A dream begins to find its roots with your first step. Your dream grows as you continue in the path. Then one day it will bear fruit that no one, not even you could have ever even dreamed possible.

You can build that emergency fund. It can start in a cigar box or an empty mayonnaise jar. Just put money somewhere and leave it there, even if it is a small sum. You can pay off your debts. It may take some time but persistent effort will reap significant rewards. You can buy the home of your dreams. Start saving for that down payment as soon as you clear out the miscellaneous debts that trouble your life. You can retire with dignity. It may take a decade or longer after the children leave home, but you can do it.

You can learn to give, to be a blessing to others. It begins in a heart that looks for small opportunities to make the world a better place. Be a polite driver. Be a good employee. If it is in your power, don’t miss the opportunity to help someone in need. You can even learn to give money. It starts out with your left hand prying money out of your clinched right fist. That is OK as long as it lands in the plate. As you practice, you will learn that giving is natural like breathing. As you exhale carbon dioxide plants are blessed. As you inhale the Oxygen they produced you are blessed. You will learn that money given without expectations has a way of returning in unexpected ways. Finally you will learn to give as a king or a queen. When Solomon and the queen of Sheba met, they gave one another great gifts, gifts suitable for kings.

“Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. Also, the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought great quantities of almug wood and precious stones from Ophir. And the king made steps of the almug wood for the house of the LORD and for the king's house, also harps and stringed instruments for singers. There never again came such almug wood, nor has the like been seen to this day. Now King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired, whatever she asked, besides what Solomon had given her according to the royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.”

Kings and queens can give like that because they know that taxes will continuously provide for their needs.

Believe it or not, God can provide for your needs.

The things those politicians, the media, and your friends tell you aren’t the limits of truth. You can get ahead. You can get out of debt. You can find a better job. You can graduate with a university degree. Be the first in your family or your circle of friends to break what seems like an inescapable curse.

Show others the way. There is nothing in this blog or any number of reputable personal finance books and courses that is rocket science. If you know grade school math and own a cheap calculator you have all you need to start. The library and the Internet are filled with free resources. Make today the first day of the rest of your life.