5 Principles of Financial Wisdom:

1. God owns it all. Psalm 24:1
2. Set Long Term Goals. Proverbs 16:9
3. Spend less than you earn. Proverbs 13:11
4. Avoid the use of debt. Proverbs 22:7
5. Avoid a consumptive lifestyle. Ecclesiastes 5:10

I know I promised “Why does everyone come to your house for Thanksgiving?” Here you go…..Because you let them J Whoo Haa! It’s been a crazy month and I wanted to steer this month’s edition to the “talents,’ side of time, talent and treasure through the lens of what our culture DOES the opposite of the 10 Commandments via a cultural example of the Opposite Clause.  See Excel  Chart Below: Okay..the chart would not fit..so for my analytical brethren…sorry and email me at Teamgoodall@reagan.com for the actual spreadsheet:

10 Commandments:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me, Me, Me Culture and frankly we are not the big ME: GOD
2. You shall make no idols.
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me, Me, Me, Culture and this aint’ choir warm ups. Sorry American Idol L
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me, Me, Me culture and who on earth would you want to tick off God clause?
4. Keep the Sabbath Day holy.
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me,Me, Me, Culture and 24/7 365 days a week gotta make a buck: No rest for the wicked Clause is true here 🙂
5. Honor your father and mother.
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me,Me,Me, Culture and the Dr. Phil, Maury Povich, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry TV Culture: Yes I want to catch you outside and unspoil the child. Clause
6. You Shall not murder:
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me,Me,Me, Culture and the O.J. Clause…yes thankfully the Glove of Jesus always fits so we get acquitted Clause
7. You shall not commit adultery:
        a. Opposite Clause: The Me, Me, Me Culture Cosby, Weinstein, Wiener Clause ( I had to restrain mightily to keep this clause G rated for God Approves this motion picture)
8. You shall not steal:
       a. Opposite Clause: The Me,Me, Me, Culture and the Bernie Madoff Clause (never invest with a guy whose name is foreshadowing…just a tip) This is not the weekend we were looking for.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
        a. Opposite Clause: The Me, Me, Me Culture and the CONGRESS CLAUSE…okay that was just for me.
10. You shall not covet:
         a. Opposite Clause: The Me, Me, Me culture in general clause (no offence to any advertising or marketing people implied)..except Big Tobacco. Sorry My Southern Baptist brethren.

So how do we combat all this selfishness in our culture: Good News is the Good News has the answer and BE BOLD and know your light is shining when you combat the ME, ME, Me, culture.

Matthew 22:37-40  Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your health and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments.”