My wife and I got back to Korea at the end of June, and I was expecting to go right to work at the beginning of July.  The company did some terrible things, and their words and actions just didn't match up.  So that job fell through.  God has graciously given me an even better opportunity than originally planned, but I have had to wait for it.  I was chosen for the position a while back, but the classes don't begin until September first.  So for two months, my wife and I have been frugal, and yet have watched as our bank account has dwindled to nothing.  Here in the times of an empty budget, temporary unemployment (as I wait for my new job to start), and two mouths to feed, I have been pondering the effects and importance of finances.

I've heard many talks about finances from both Christian and other perspectives even though I had neither been particularly interested in the topic nor actively searched out discussions about it.  But as it remains, the differing views, opinions, debates and lectures are out there in abundance.  When you mention hard times in finances, there are few people who cannot sympathize.  If you ask about a financial problem, few are without their persuasive advice.  This truly is a topic common to all people.

What surprises me the most is this term "financial freedom" and its very popular definitions.  If you ask any person to define the words "financial freedom" you will get back mostly a sense that it is the amount of wealth necessary to provide comfort for one's self or family.  You might hear definitions that go beyond mere comfort and into excess where extra money can be spent on pleasures or charities or saved for important future needs or events.  These definitions, keep in mind, are not just from the side of worldly financial gurus.  They are, rather, shared by a majority of the masses despite religious, political, or other affiliation. 

When we venture one step further into the issue to discover how financial freedom is attained, here we meet the conflicts.  Some will say tight pockets and frugal spending lead to financial freedom; others might say kindness and generosity find it.  Many might think it comes through educated, aggressive business scheming; but some might say it comes by chance to those who see the opportunities clearly.  Again there might be the solution to be diligent and hardworking, but what about positive thinking and willing things into existence with the power of the mind?  These are just a very few of the many ideas that I have heard as pursuits of this "financial freedom".

But what if the problem lies in the definition rather than the pursuit?  What is "financial freedom"?  I would suggest that a more accurate term would be "freedom from finances" because true freedom can never be obtained in the realm of finances.  Let us take freedom from slavery as an example--can a slave find freedom by different forms of being a slave?  Assume one slave says I will be free by being a very diligent, hardworking, honest slave.  Another argues that he will do it through kindness and generosity.  While a third will be a slave with positive thinking.  Yet another says he will seize opportunities and maximize his comfort.  NO.  A man would be a fool to look at the happiest slave or the most diligent slave or the most honest slave or the most comfortable slave and say that the person is not a slave.  Freedom from slavery comes when the person is no longer in slavery.  With this applied to finances, financial freedom is not found in merely serving finances diligently and with a good heart or noble intentions.  Financial freedom is being apart from it.  There are many people in this world who have wealth in excess, yet are slaves to finances.  They may balance their checkbooks with smiles and whistles, but they still serve the beast.

It is funny that so many Christians do not take so seriously the commands of Christ when he said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth."  Many of us hear those words and agree in our minds, then go to our jobs so we can make car/house payments, put money in retirement funds, apply for credit and debit cards, and stash money away for children's' college funds.  None of these are evil in themselves, but if they are done in pursuit of this "financial freedom" they are no sign of being free.  Freedom is working because it is what God made you to do.  Think about why you go to your job.  Now read: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17, NIV).  See also Col. 3:23.  Was that your answer?  Why do we work?  "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you" (John 6:27, NIV). 

So, clearly if we are working, it is not to be with the goal of finances in mind.  God has given us a command from the very beginning to work: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" (Genesis 1:28, NIV)  In this command there is not a sense of man becoming wealthy, rather man caring for and enjoying the world that God has created.  Our call was to be happy with God and His blessings--not financial gain, comfort or excess.  In the Bible we see that wealth and work were never to go hand in hand, or wealth was never to be the direct product of our work.  Instead we see this "[the LORD] provides food for those who fear him" (Psalm 111:5, NIV).  So many times did King David and King Solomon claim that the righteous will be prosperous.  The righteous will be cared for.

Surely the book of proverbs is filled with wisdom on the relationship between work and wealth.  In fact we can see clearly, "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" (Proverbs 10:4, NIV).  Does that go in direct contrast with what I stated above?  Not really.  Solomon spoke the truth: laziness leads one way and diligence leads another.  This is true, but our trust is to be in God, not the work.  For example a farmer can go out and till good soil, plant seeds, water the seeds and care for them in every way, but it is God who makes them grow.  A farmer who does not plant seeds, however, will be poor.  Therefore my diligence brought the wealth the God created.  Jesus worked but not for money--He did the work of the Father.  When time came to pay taxes, he commanded Peter to go catch a fish then he would find money enough in the mouth of the fish.  If, however, Jesus had said, "Go catch a fish, take it to the market, sell it, and use the money to pay the taxes," then one could argue that Peter was the creator of the wealth.  Jesus' actions serve to teach Peter that the blessing in not in the work, but totally a gift of God.  Again, we work for the glory of God, and God provides what we need.  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33, NIV).

Now to those who might have no job I pose this question: are you not working because you don't have a job?    Just as wealth is not the product of human work, jobs are not the reason to work.  Clearly the command to work is there, but God has never said that we must be employed.  Work can be in writing or poetry, in service to the church or raising of children.  Work can be studying or speaking the Word of God.  There are so many forms of work and each man and woman has been specifically designed by God to be a part of a particular work regardless of employment.  There is a stern warning to us, however, if we do not work.  "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10, NIV). By refusing to work, we are refusing the call to be actively caring for the world God has made and entrusted to us.

In concluding, let us remember that financial freedom is not being comfortable in finances but removing finances from being the goal of our work.  Next, we work in everything to the glory of God.  Finally, we are not the producers of wealth and blessing, but the stewards of them.  We work, and God blesses--that is incredible financial freedom.

 
Our Flight and luggage...packing light on the way to US.

In the bus, then in the airport....wearing masks to stay healthy

"Thank you for the chilli dogs!....oh, and for family too~"

Gift time

Xanga uploader is messing up right now, so I'll add more later