Getting Help – Crown Financial Ministries New Zealand

How does God’s financial advice compare to the world’s?

Peter Crawford — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 03:16:56 +0000

Few people see the Bible as a financial guidebook but the Scripture is full of spiritual and practical advice. Here are the top three lessons where the Bible differs from all other financial advice.

So let me ask you, whom are you serving?

Are you serving your husband, your wife, your children, your boss, your family, your neighbour or others in your church? If so, don’t begrudge this as a burden. You are actually blessed. These are opportunities for you to grow and experience the joy and satisfaction of life. Jesus himself said that he did not come to be served but to serve. He fulfilled His purpose on earth in the same way. In fact, when asked who was the greatest among the disciples, Jesus made it clear that was the one who serves.

So today, thank God for all those you are called upon to serve. They are giving you the privilege of being filled to the full measure of Christ. Show appreciation for them. Thank God for them, and serve your heart out. In the end, you will experience true self-fulfilment and the rewards of a life well lived.

[info_list style=”circle with_bg” icon_bg_color=”#ededed” icon_color=”#ffffff” font_size_icon=”15″ eg_br_style=”dotted” eg_br_width=”1″ connector_color=”#bcbcbc”][info_list_item list_title=”Lesson One: Money is not your master” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^283|url^https://crown.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Crown-Icon.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^Crown-Icon|description^null”]

Cash is not king. Becoming a millionaire is not an appropriate life purpose. The Bible makes a clear distinction in Matthew 6:24:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (NLT)

Serving money means we allow it to control our decisions, our direction, even our life purpose. As Christians, we must not allow money to usurp God’s leading and control our daily decisions.[/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Lesson Two: We do not own anything” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^283|url^https://crown.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Crown-Icon.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^Crown-Icon|description^null”]

We are not owners of anything; we are temporary trustees of God’s property.

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world, and all its people belong to him.” (NLT) This changes our purpose from accumulators to managers![/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Lesson Three: The highest and best use of our money is to give” icon_type=”custom” icon_img=”id^283|url^https://crown.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Crown-Icon.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^Crown-Icon|description^null”]

God gives us two directives.

Take care of our families

Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church states “… after all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather parents provide for their children.” 2 Cor 12:14 (NLT)

Honour Him by giving.

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” Proverbs 3:9 (NLT)

These are not contradictory; rather, they are ways in which we reflect our obedience to God who charged us with caring for our family and others who are in need.[/info_list_item][/info_list]

These three principles: Lordship, Stewardship and Generosity should change our financial plans, our financial purposes and our financial goals.

Financially Helping Your Adult Children

Peter Crawford — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:40:40 +0000

It is never too late for parents to begin teaching their children about finances, particularly God’s principles of handling money.

If parents find that their grown children are having financial difficulties, this may be a good opportunity to help them get good counsel. Financially helping your adult children should be contingent on them establishing a workable budget and seeking advice on how implement it.

Parents usually have the greatest motives for helping their children, but financial help sometimes may encourage them to be dependent on the parents rather than on God. If God is trying to teach the children discipline and parents step in, the children may have to go through it all over again.

There is nothing wrong with helping adult children if they are truly in need. If their income is adequate and it is being mismanaged they need to learn how to manage their finances more wisely.

Parents can have a major impact on the fortunes of their children by assisting them with the purchase of a home. Often times the children can make payments a mortgage loan requires, but they have difficulty meeting the down payment and the many costs involved with house purchase.

A way for parents to help their children purchase a home is to give them money toward the deposit. Most banks demand that this help be in the form of a gift, not a loan. Helping your children pay their mortgage off more quickly may save them thousands of dollars and is a great investment opportunity if parents have surplus funds available. Interest rates are higher if the purchaser has less than a 20% deposit.

Parents will however need wisdom and discernment. There is nothing unscriptural about helping adult children purchase homes, but parents have to weigh the personalities, abilities, and attitudes of their children to ensure that they do not spoil the children. It is optimal for every family to have a debt-free home; so, helping adult children purchase a home can be a great blessing to them if it enables them to become debt free more quickly.

It is important to be sure that they are not trying to control their children’s lives. If the adult child is a married daughter, parents should be careful not to usurp her husband’s authority. If stepping in will cause the son-in-law to feel that he is an inadequate provider, then parents may need to back away.

They key to helping our children financially is finding ways of helping them to become financially free, since budget stress can be a major factor in marriage breakdown. While caution is required, financial help now may be much better than a larger inheritance later. Plenty to think and pray about.

There is nothing wrong with helping adult children if they are truly in need. If their income is adequate and it is being mismanaged they need to learn how to manage their finances more wisely.

11 Tips to Nail Your Next Job Interview

Peter Crawford — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 04:10:22 +0000

Looking for a new job?

Working as unto the Lord includes preparing well for an interview. Viewing work as an opportunity to glorify Him should motivate us to prepare well for an interview in the hopes of being remembered at hiring time.

While we can pray for help the Lord’s help with our job interview, our success at the interview also requires effort by us to be well prepared and to present well.

Consider these tips for making a great impression at your first interview.

Eye contact, a firm handshake, and good posture are essential.
Dress nicely, professionally and modestly. You should avoid distracting jewellery, hairdos, or strong perfume/cologne.
Be aware of your body language! Sit up straight, lean slightly forward and keep your shoulders and hands relaxed. Don't cross your arms or legs or slouch.
Use mild hand gestures when you speak and remember to slow down if you're nervous.
Come alert and prepared.
Arrive 10-15 min early with extra copies of your CV.
Research the organisation and sector it is in (and the interviewer if possible). This will help you demonstrate interest with informed answers and pertinent questions.
Before your interview, practice explaining what attracts you to the organisation, how the position fits your career desires, and how the work of organisation’s leaders inspires you. Where do you see yourself in 2-10 years? You should be able to articulate your strengths and weaknesses without hesitation. Remember to take notes.
Be humble and have a good attitude. Appearing arrogant or too eager says you may be hard to manage, so listen well and do not interrupt.
Show appreciation to the interviewer. If the job they're interviewing you for doesn't work out, he or she could still be the link to another organisation and you may cross paths in the future.
Write and send a thank-you note within 24 hours (use professional, simple format email).

More articles to inspire you:
Does God require fathers to be the breadwinner?
A biblical perspective of work
Should I start a business?
Should all of us be rich?

Getting Help – Crown Financial Ministries New Zealand

How does God’s financial advice compare to the world’s?

Few people see the Bible as a financial guidebook but the Scripture is full of spiritual and practical advice. Here are the top three lessons where the Bible differs from all other financial advice.

So let me ask you, whom are you serving?

Take care of our families

Honour Him by giving.

These three principles: Lordship, Stewardship and Generosity should change our financial plans, our financial purposes and our financial goals.

Filter

Financially Helping Your Adult Children

It is never too late for parents to begin teaching their children about finances, particularly God’s principles of handling money.

If parents find that their grown children are having financial difficulties, this may be a good opportunity to help them get good counsel. Financially helping your adult children should be contingent on them establishing a workable budget and seeking advice on how implement it.

There is nothing wrong with helping adult children if they are truly in need. If their income is adequate and it is being mismanaged they need to learn how to manage their finances more wisely.

Filter

11 Tips to Nail Your Next Job Interview

Looking for a new job?

Working as unto the Lord includes preparing well for an interview. Viewing work as an opportunity to glorify Him should motivate us to prepare well for an interview in the hopes of being remembered at hiring time.

While we can pray for help the Lord’s help with our job interview, our success at the interview also requires effort by us to be well prepared and to present well.

Consider these tips for making a great impression at your first interview.

Psalm 27:14:
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Filter

Getting Help – Crown Financial Ministries New Zealand

How does God’s financial advice compare to the world’s?

Few people see the Bible as a financial guidebook but the Scripture is full of spiritual and practical advice. Here are the top three lessons where the Bible differs from all other financial advice.

So let me ask you, whom are you serving?

Take care of our families

Honour Him by giving.

These three principles: Lordship, Stewardship and Generosity should change our financial plans, our financial purposes and our financial goals.

Filter

Financially Helping Your Adult Children

It is never too late for parents to begin teaching their children about finances, particularly God’s principles of handling money.

If parents find that their grown children are having financial difficulties, this may be a good opportunity to help them get good counsel. Financially helping your adult children should be contingent on them establishing a workable budget and seeking advice on how implement it.

There is nothing wrong with helping adult children if they are truly in need. If their income is adequate and it is being mismanaged they need to learn how to manage their finances more wisely.

Filter

11 Tips to Nail Your Next Job Interview

Looking for a new job?

Working as unto the Lord includes preparing well for an interview. Viewing work as an opportunity to glorify Him should motivate us to prepare well for an interview in the hopes of being remembered at hiring time.

While we can pray for help the Lord’s help with our job interview, our success at the interview also requires effort by us to be well prepared and to present well.

Consider these tips for making a great impression at your first interview.

Psalm 27:14: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Filter

Psalm 27:14:
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."