THE most common concern of every people today is the pandemic crisis. Why do we need to experience financial crisis? It’s been a year since the pandemic changed your lifestyle. It limits your capability to go out and to go where you want to go. However, do you see the brighter side of this?
Do you remember the time you wished for a vacation break from work and to spend time with your family? Sometimes we need to be careful what we ask for.
The financial crisis has taught you how financially well you are for the unexpected events. It enlightened you about the importance of savings and having an emergency fund. It gives a lesson to you why you need insurances and health card because most concerns today are about health.
Remember my first article about understanding your personal finance. It is very important to build your foundation on a rock, not on sand. When you build your foundation on sand, whatever force of nature may come such as storm, rain and wind come it will fall down. Once you build your foundation on a rock, it will stand any storm, rain and wind that may come its way. Yet, do not worry as long as you live; it’s never too late to start. Remember, how you started your career was not easy: but it had a good start.
Most entrepreneurs say if there is a crisis, view it as an opportunity. Crisis tests your foundation if your foundation is strongly rooted enough. Crisis show us that everything here on earth is temporary.
There is no stable job, business and/or economy. We only have a stable God who never fails loving you even at your worst.
The character of Job in the Bible was righteous and godly, “blameless and upright,” a man who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:2). These first two verses show that Job was a humble man. He is a rare person whose heart is fixed on God and also has everything this life has to offer. Job was a very rich and great man by the world’s standards, yet the storms came in Job’s lives. All his children died, he became sick and even he lost his wealth.
The only thing he had was God. He remained humble and not complaining about his situation. Job mourns (“tore his robe and shaved his head”) and then worships (Job 1:20-21) uttering the words of this famous passage of Scripture: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Even his wife and friends goaded Job to “curse God.” But he remained faithful. Because of this, “the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”
Crisis results to suffering. Suffering is a way for God to display His Power and Glory. God was not Job’s enemy as he may have wondered. God had a purpose and a plan; Job simply didn’t know it yet.
Your character is being tested. Everything you have right now is not yours and He has power to take all those things. God wants you to see that everything here on earth is God’s ownership (Psalm 24:1). You are just His steward and you must know how to handle everything that He owns. Since God is the rightful owner of everything we have, this means the money we earn actually belongs to God.
Practically speaking, God calls us to manage the money we accumulate on his behalf and not to love money. This is the essence of biblical stewardship. Money is a tool God uses to help us live and love like Jesus.
Regardless of how much—or how little—money you have, God is at work in your life through your circumstances. He is leading you to deeply trust Him. When financial crisis strike, look at this as the opportunity for you to grow your skill and learn to how to positively.
Maybe you are in a crisis right now and though this is a challenging moment, just hold on to what you believe. Be wise enough in every decision you make. Consult experts if necessary. A financial crisis is just a season; a season that will pass away. Do not give up. Every challenge that you face, there is greater abundance that awaits.
Rodora Mendoza is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 89th RFP program this May 2021. To inquire, e-mail [email protected] or text at 0917-6248110.
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