A Christian can never serve God and money. They must learn to serve God with money. Brian Kluth

 Walking in God’s Favor: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth and be in health. III John 1:2

Rabbi Daniel Lapin www.rabbidaniellappin.com  says helping your mind to know and believe that what you do professionally is good, noble, and worthwhile in itself helps to fuel your energies and propel your efforts.

In his book titled The Reallionaire , Farrah Gray www.farrahgray.com  a young African-American man who went from public assistance to become a millionaire  by the age of 14,  says a reallionaire (a word he created) is someone who has discovered that there is more to money than having money.

We believe and agree with Rabbi Daniel Lapin and Farah Gray that wealth starts on the inside with  a certain way of thinking. It begins with the belief system that governs how we relate to money.  The stewardship of wealth is not just about being rich in your pocket-book, but realizing you have to be rich inside too. We believe there are certain ways of thinking that can help you increase your financial health.

The first way of thinking is to stop trying to act rich. ” Live Within Your Means.” Living to impress others will only cost you. In the long run trying to keep up with the Jones will keep you in financial pain and bring you down. Some people who appear to be living prosperous lives, in many instances are in debt up to their eyes balls and have mortgaged their future.

The second way of thinking is to start living on a budget. Spend your money on paper and on purpose before the month begins. Give your money a mission. If you dream of becoming wealthy, create a financial plan to get there.  Write it down and look at it often. Remember a dream without a plan is just a hallucination.

The third and final way of thinking that can help you increase your financial health is to start counting your blessings. You are wonderfully made in God’s  image. If you have life and health, you are blessed. If you have a family and friends, you are blessed. If you have a personal intimate relationship with Christ, you truly are blessed. Learn to be thankful for what you have right now.

How we plan for our future, take advantage of opportunities and how we spend our money all begin inside with our thinking. What do you want to become? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to obtain?  Remember, our thoughts direct our actions or inaction. You have the ability to become a better steward of your wealth.

Prayer of Blessing: Father God thank you  for the opportunities you have provided us.

Michael Vance is a senior account executive  with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is  a gifted educator and  a Master Guide in the Pathfinders  Club, a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people.  The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog weekly from their financial workbook ” The Stewardship of Wealth“.