Comments on: Is God bad at Math? http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/ Christian Personal Finance - Financial help blog, debt help and other financial resources Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: robert http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-23881 robert Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:15:50 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-23881 Alright, we possess things but we don't own them. Servants in God's Kingdom do not own the Boss's properties. Stewards possess the things that are entrusted to him, but whenever the Boss decides to give it away to others in need and use us, his stewards, to bless others then that's the time to part with it. Anything short of that is hoarding of God's resources which is a direct insult and disrespect to the Boss. Trouble is we sometimes look at things and behave and pretend like we really own them, when in fact God is The Owner, The Giver, The Restorer, The Provider, The Controller and The Source of all things. This reminds me of that young little boy who gave up his lunch of fish and bread when his Master asked for any volunteer, and see thousands were blessed that day, with so much leftovers. I am always amazed at how God multiplies His resources in so many ways, compounding interests & dividends is just one of them. Limiting our option to just this one disqualifies us to enjoy the many other equally amazing ways! God is the greatest Math genius (an understatement of who He is). Alright, we possess things but we don’t own them. Servants in God’s Kingdom do not own the Boss’s properties. Stewards possess the things that are entrusted to him, but whenever the Boss decides to give it away to others in need and use us, his stewards, to bless others then that’s the time to part with it. Anything short of that is hoarding of God’s resources which is a direct insult and disrespect to the Boss. Trouble is we sometimes look at things and behave and pretend like we really own them, when in fact God is The Owner, The Giver, The Restorer, The Provider, The Controller and The Source of all things. This reminds me of that young little boy who gave up his lunch of fish and bread when his Master asked for any volunteer, and see thousands were blessed that day, with so much leftovers. I am always amazed at how God multiplies His resources in so many ways, compounding interests & dividends is just one of them. Limiting our option to just this one disqualifies us to enjoy the many other equally amazing ways! God is the greatest Math genius (an understatement of who He is).

]]> By: Connie Walsh http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-8633 Connie Walsh Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:33:47 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-8633 The thing that makes sense to me (don't have any scripture to support this) is that you give the money away immediately (Maybe only to another account that you do not touch or to a trust or something). That way the money is given as firstfruits and then ya grow it like the talents and give back to the master a bigger fruit (oh I am so mixing parables) God isn't bad at math, I think we limit Him when we put rules on things that maybe He didn't intend. Of course with my piddly amount even growing at 12% a year it's still piddly, so if I give it, it can go to immediate need so those with a heftier amount can give it in a big chunk that can cause a annuity or something. The thing that makes sense to me (don’t have any scripture to support this) is that you give the money away immediately (Maybe only to another account that you do not touch or to a trust or something). That way the money is given as firstfruits and then ya grow it like the talents and give back to the master a bigger fruit (oh I am so mixing parables)

God isn’t bad at math, I think we limit Him when we put rules on things that maybe He didn’t intend. Of course with my piddly amount even growing at 12% a year it’s still piddly, so if I give it, it can go to immediate need so those with a heftier amount can give it in a big chunk that can cause a annuity or something.

]]> By: tracy http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-6825 tracy Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:52:43 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-6825 I think that both maybe done. Im not good with math, but if God has a specific purpose for the money you have, then you will know where it should go. I think it depends on the situation, and God's leading. He may have an important reason why it should be given now rather than later....it's all in God's timing!! I think that both maybe done. Im not good with math, but if God has a specific purpose for the money you have, then you will know where it should go. I think it depends on the situation, and God’s leading. He may have an important reason why it should be given now rather than later….it’s all in God’s timing!!

]]> By: Joey Sparks http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-308 Joey Sparks Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:27:53 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-308 God can do more with $25,000 now than man can do with $250,000 later. God can do more with $25,000 now than man can do with $250,000 later.

]]> By: Bob http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Bob Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:15:44 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-294 @Plonkee and everyone else Good point about how different lives will affect other lives, etc, etc... I think this is how God sees it. Like Ted mentioned it is foolish to compare the power of compound interest to God's thoughts and methods - His thoughts are so much higher than ours and I have faith that He knows what He is doing when He tells us to do it now rather than later... @Plonkee and everyone else
Good point about how different lives will affect other lives, etc, etc… I think this is how God sees it. Like Ted mentioned it is foolish to compare the power of compound interest to God’s thoughts and methods – His thoughts are so much higher than ours and I have faith that He knows what He is doing when He tells us to do it now rather than later…

]]> By: ted http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-292 ted Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:31:58 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-292 You've simply tried to compare the "miracle" of compounding and the stock market ("mans money system"), with the Word of the Living God. That is shallow and will only go so far... depending on your mind set, you'll be easily polarized one direction or the other. Consider Abraham's obedience and what God said about it in Gen 18:19 and Gen 22:12. "For I know Him", "for now I know"... Does God "know" (or you for that matter), what you will do with your income? Can God count on you obeying his word and giving a tithe of _all_ of it? Does God know that you desire to bless the poor? Does God know that you will respond to a need when presented with it? You want to be blessed? Position yourself. Make the choices, take the stand, and get ready. Become a person that people (and God) can count on to do certain things, every time, all the time. And then see what happens. Abraham was wildly blessed. He gave away all sorts of things (tithe to Melchizedek, spoils from war, better land to Lot to avoid strife, etc). Read Gen 18:19 again... "For I know him that he will ...., that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." That New Testament's about you. Are you known? May God bring those things he's promised to believers on you? Obedience in the area of money and finances is one of the smallest and simplest areas to obey. You’ve simply tried to compare the “miracle” of compounding and the stock market (“mans money system”), with the Word of the Living God. That is shallow and will only go so far… depending on your mind set, you’ll be easily polarized one direction or the other.

Consider Abraham’s obedience and what God said about it in Gen 18:19 and Gen 22:12. “For I know Him”, “for now I know”…

Does God “know” (or you for that matter), what you will do with your income? Can God count on you obeying his word and giving a tithe of _all_ of it? Does God know that you desire to bless the poor? Does God know that you will respond to a need when presented with it?

You want to be blessed? Position yourself. Make the choices, take the stand, and get ready. Become a person that people (and God) can count on to do certain things, every time, all the time.

And then see what happens. Abraham was wildly blessed. He gave away all sorts of things (tithe to Melchizedek, spoils from war, better land to Lot to avoid strife, etc). Read Gen 18:19 again… “For I know him that he will …., that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

That New Testament’s about you. Are you known? May God bring those things he’s promised to believers on you? Obedience in the area of money and finances is one of the smallest and simplest areas to obey.

]]> By: Randy Peterman http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Randy Peterman Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:20:41 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-291 Acts 2:45 and Romans 12:13 teach several things in their simple admonition to 'give to those in need.' The simple concept of giving to those in need in the church has several aspects that you should consider: 1) You need to know people to find out where their needs are 2) They need to know you well enough to reveal their needs More importantly than this Philippians 4:19 indicates several aspects of giving that blow your giving mathematical equation out of the water ;) First you need to consider that God provides the need, He provides the fulfillment of the need and that He also provides the agent to deliver the fulfillment. Sometimes the one who has the fulfillment is the deliverer of the fulfillment as well. In all of these aspects He is glorified because He is the provider. His ownership of all wealth on the earth means that while you could be part of the fulfillment later (plus some), doesn't mean that He isn't going to use someone else whom He has provided for then. Acts 2:45 and Romans 12:13 teach several things in their simple admonition to ‘give to those in need.’ The simple concept of giving to those in need in the church has several aspects that you should consider:
1) You need to know people to find out where their needs are
2) They need to know you well enough to reveal their needs

More importantly than this Philippians 4:19 indicates several aspects of giving that blow your giving mathematical equation out of the water ;) First you need to consider that God provides the need, He provides the fulfillment of the need and that He also provides the agent to deliver the fulfillment. Sometimes the one who has the fulfillment is the deliverer of the fulfillment as well. In all of these aspects He is glorified because He is the provider.

His ownership of all wealth on the earth means that while you could be part of the fulfillment later (plus some), doesn’t mean that He isn’t going to use someone else whom He has provided for then.

]]> By: crossn81 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-290 crossn81 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:46:55 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-290 I think plonkee is right on target. We have no idea how God might multiply the gift in the life of someone else. What if Franklin had built the libraries during his lifetime and because of them in 30 years someone else was a multi-millionaire who had the ability to give more than what Franklin's trusts could give? On the converse, if I know that my church (or some organization) is thinking about a capital campaign or something in the future, I could invest the money short-term to maximize the gains and the amount I could donate. I think plonkee is right on target. We have no idea how God might multiply the gift in the life of someone else. What if Franklin had built the libraries during his lifetime and because of them in 30 years someone else was a multi-millionaire who had the ability to give more than what Franklin’s trusts could give?

On the converse, if I know that my church (or some organization) is thinking about a capital campaign or something in the future, I could invest the money short-term to maximize the gains and the amount I could donate.

]]> By: Lynnae @ Being Frugal http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Lynnae @ Being Frugal Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:20:19 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-289 I think giving now is important. Giving often puts us in a mindset of being generous and appreciative, rather than selfish and bitter about what we don't have. I also think that my brain is far too small to understand exactly how God works. It's like the whole tithing thing. My brain says we can't afford to tithe, yet when we do, somehow we always have the money for what we need. I don't understand God's math, but I trust Him enough just to go with it and let Him worry about the details. :) I think giving now is important. Giving often puts us in a mindset of being generous and appreciative, rather than selfish and bitter about what we don’t have.

I also think that my brain is far too small to understand exactly how God works. It’s like the whole tithing thing. My brain says we can’t afford to tithe, yet when we do, somehow we always have the money for what we need. I don’t understand God’s math, but I trust Him enough just to go with it and let Him worry about the details. :)

]]> By: Karl http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Karl Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:45:32 +0000 http://christianpf.com/is-god-bad-at-math/#comment-287 Re: the quote from Proverbs -- it says, " to whom it is due." Money freely given to charity is not a financial or spiritual liability one must pay off, but a gift. If God wants a cheerful giver, then you should be free (with good counsel and according to conscience) to give anytime and in any amount you want. Second, God wants us to tithe, give, etc so we can become Givers, as He is. Thus, the injunction to give now rather than to wait; we tend to wait out of selish desire and not out of the altruism that says, "But I'll give more later" -- most of us know we're deceiving ourselves if we take that approach. Re: the quote from Proverbs — it says, ” to whom it is due.” Money freely given to charity is not a financial or spiritual liability one must pay off, but a gift. If God wants a cheerful giver, then you should be free (with good counsel and according to conscience) to give anytime and in any amount you want.

Second, God wants us to tithe, give, etc so we can become Givers, as He is. Thus, the injunction to give now rather than to wait; we tend to wait out of selish desire and not out of the altruism that says, “But I’ll give more later” — most of us know we’re deceiving ourselves if we take that approach.

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