Rick Warren's Blog, page 249

The Highest and Best Use of Your Money

“Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home."

Luke 16:9 (NLT)

The best use of your money is using it to get people into heaven.

Luke 16:9 is a verse that most people don’t understand. Jesus says, “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home” (NLT).

Jesus is saying that, just like the shrewd manager who made friends he could later count on, you need to use some of your money to make eternal friends that will welcome you into heaven.

He’s not saying you can buy your way into heaven—you can’t. Jesus has already paid the price on the cross. He’s not saying you can purchase your salvation—you can’t. Salvation is a free gift by grace.

Jesus is telling you to use your money to build friendships that are going to go on and on for eternity. When you use your money to help other people meet Jesus, you make friends for eternity and you gain rewards for eternity.

Imagine getting to heaven one day, and a hundred people are standing at the entrance, clapping and cheering and saying, “We’ve been waiting for you! We’re here because you spent money to tell us the Good News. We’re your friends for life—no, for eternity! If it weren’t for the way you used your money, we wouldn’t have heard how to get to heaven.”

Are you using any of your money to get people to heaven? Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?

When you buy a Bible and give it to someone who doesn’t have one, you’ve stored up treasure in heaven. When you support a program that shares the Good News around the world, you have stored up treasure in heaven. When you help build a church, you have stored up treasure in heaven. That is the highest and best use of your money.

You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead by investing your money to help other people meet Jesus.

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Talk It Over

What are some of the things you spend money on that do not have an eternal impact?
What people has God already placed in your life with whom you can share the Good News?
What are some ways you can use your money to invest in eternal friendships?

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¿Le Has Entregado a Jesús el Control de tu Carrera?

“Busquen el reino de Dios por encima de todo lo demás y lleven una vida justa, y él les dará todo lo que necesiten”. Mateo 6:33 (NTV)

Si quieres que tu vida de un giro de la nada a la sobreabundancia, entonces, dale a Jesús el control completo de tu vida, incluyendo tu carrera.

Lucas 5:3 dice, “Al subir a una de las barcas, Jesús le pidió a Simón, el dueño de la barca, que la empujara al agua. Luego se sentó en la barca y desde allí enseñaba a las multitudes” (NTV).

Los discípulos habían estado pescando toda la noche sin atrapar nada, entonces Jesús entró en su barca y les dijo que echaran las redes de nuevo. Cuando lo hicieron, atraparon tantos peces que las redes se estaban rompiendo. Era el mismo lago, la misma barca, las mismas redes, y los mismos pescadores, la única diferencia entre la nada y la plenitud era que Jesús estaba en la barca.

Este es el punto de partida: Tienes que tener a Jesús en tu barca.

¿Qué es la barca? Es la forma en la que te ganas la vida. El negocio de Pedro era su barca porque él era un pescador. La barca representa tu carrera, tu profesión, tu trabajo, representa de lo que dependes financieramente.

¿Qué significa tener a Jesús en tu barca?

Significa que dedicas tu carrera a Dios. No estamos hablando acerca de la salvación en este instante. Puedes tener a Jesús en tu vida, pero no le has dado el control de tu carrera. Confiaste en Él para tu salvación, vas a la iglesia los fines de semana y alabas a Dios, pero cuando vas a trabajar durante la semana, ¿está Jesús allí? ¿Confías en Él en tu trabajo? ¿O pones a Jesús en un armario?

Cuando Pedro le dio su trabajo a Jesús, él fue bendecido con resultados increíbles. Pero no olvides el orden. A veces pensamos: “Dios, haz que yo tenga éxito en mis negocios y luego te serviremos cuando tengamos éxito”. ¡Esto está equivocado! Es exactamente lo contrario. En primer lugar, Pedro le dio a Jesús el control de su trabajo y después Jesús bendijo el trabajo de Pedro con enorme éxito. Ese es el orden correcto.

La Biblia dice en Mateo 6:33, “Busquen el reino de Dios por encima de todo lo demás y lleven una vida justa, y él les dará todo lo que necesiten” (NTV).

Si quieres que Dios bendiga algo, ponlo a Él en primer lugar. Si quieres que Dios bendiga tu tiempo, dale la primera parte de cada día. Si quieres que Dios bendiga tu dinero, entrégale el primer 10 por ciento de tus ingresos, no importa lo pequeño que sea. Si quieres que Dios bendiga tu trabajo, entrégale el control, sin importar que tan exitoso seas.

Reflexiona sobre esto:

¿Cómo sería si le dieras el control de tu trabajo a Jesús?¿Cuáles son tus miedos o preocupaciones acerca de hacer a Dios el centro de tu carrera?¿Cuánto deseas que Dios bendiga tu carrera? ¿Qué piensas que Él quiere hacer primero?Síguenos en Instagram  & Facebook Si todavía no has confiado en Jesús y no te has comprometido a seguirlo, ¿por qué esperar más? Si estás listo para cruzar esa línea y tomar la decisión de creer en Jesucristo y seguirlo; Haz esta oración . .fb-background-color { background: #ffffff !important; } .fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { width: 100% !important; }

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God’s Purpose for Your Money

“The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts."

Proverbs 14:8 (TLB)

Money is a tool to be used for God’s purposes. You’re not to hoard it, stockpile it, or worship it. You’re to use it!

Money is also a temporary resource. But you can use temporary resources—what God has put in your hands—for permanent good.

In Luke 16, Jesus turned a dishonest but shrewd manager into a hero. The manager knew he was going to be fired, so he decided to make some friends by lowering the debts they owed to his master.

The man was dishonest, but Jesus said he did do three things right. Those three things reveal lessons that God wants you to learn and apply to your finances.

The manager looked ahead. Many people never look ahead when it comes to their finances. Because they’re not saving anything, they’re unwise.

Proverbs 14:8 says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (TLB).

The manager had a plan. How do you know if you have a financial plan? It’s real simple: Do you have a budget? A budget is simply planned spending. With a budget, you tell your money where you want it to go rather than wondering where it went. You’ve got to have a plan.

The Bible says in Proverbs 16:9, “We should make plans—counting on God to direct us” (TLB).

The manager acted quickly. Luke 16:4 says, “I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired” (NLT).

The manager didn’t procrastinate; he didn’t delay. He set his plan in motion. He didn’t say, “Someday I’m going to get my finances in order,” or “Someday I’m going to start saving for retirement.”

Jesus didn’t commend the manager’s dishonesty. He commended his attitude, which said, “I’m going to think ahead. I’m going to have a plan. And I’m going to invest in relationships that will benefit others and me in the future.”

That’s smart! Jesus wants you to do the same when it comes to your finances. Are you spending your treasure here on earth or looking ahead and storing up treasure in heaven?

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Talk It Over

In what areas would you like to start planning financially for the future? What do you want to accomplish in the future with your money?
How have you procrastinated when it comes to managing your finances and saving for the future? What can you do today to move forward in those areas?

Have you trusted God’s promise of salvation?

If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I receive you into my life as my Lord and Savior. Today, I’m turning every part of my life over to you. I want to follow you and do what you tell me to do.

“Jesus, I am grateful for your love and for your sacrifice that makes it possible for me to join you in heaven. I know I don’t deserve it. And I thank you that I don’t have to earn or work for my salvation, because I know that is impossible. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

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¿Ves a los Demás de la Manera que Jesús los Ve?

“Cuando Jesús salió de la barca, vio a la gran multitud y tuvo compasión de ellos porque eran como ovejas sin pastor”. Marcos 6:34a (NTV)

La mejor manera de saber si estás viendo la vida desde la perspectiva de Dios es ver la manera en que ves a las otras personas.

La prueba número 1 de madurez espiritual no es cuánto sabes de la Biblia o con cuánta frecuencia vas a la iglesia o si sirves, o diezmas u oras, sino tus relaciones y cómo ves a las otras personas. Porque la vida se trata del amor.

Así que permíteme hacerte algunas preguntas puntuales. ¿Cómo ve Dios a tu esposa? Valiosa. Aceptable. Amorosa. Merecedora de perdón. ¿Es esa la forma en que tú la ves? ¿Ves a tu esposa de la manera que Dios la ve?

¿Qué tal al desconocido en la tienda de alimentos? ¿La persona que se te atraviesa en el tráfico? ¿El mendigo en la calle? ¿Qué ves cuando miras a otra persona?  ¿Los ves como molestias? ¿Los ves como cargas?

¿Ves a las personas con las que trabajas como enemigos? ¿Los ves como competencia? ¿O las ves de la forma en que Dios los ve?

Todas las personas son importantes para Dios. No importa quienes son o lo que hayan hecho, ni siquiera lo que creen. Cristo murió por ellos. Jesús los ama. Dios tiene planes para sus vidas, y quiere que tengan una relación con Él.

La Biblia dice en Marcos 6:34, “Cuando Jesús salió de la barca, vio a la gran multitud y tuvo compasión de ellos porque eran como ovejas sin pastor” (NTV). Esa es la manera en que Dios ve a las personas.

Esa es la manera en que quiero que crezcas y aprendas a ver a las personas —que no tengas solo compasión por tu propia familia sino también por tus vecinos y por tu comunidad, por tu ciudad y por el mundo entero. Que tu visión espiritual sea más grande, más clara y fuerte en la medida en que aprendes a ver a las personas como las ve Jesús.

Reflexiona sobre esto:

¿Qué cambia en ti y en tu perspectiva cuando empiezas a ver a otras personas con los ojos de Dios?¿Qué te impide ver a las personas con los ojos de Dios? Pueden ser distracciones como el orgullo o la competencia. ¿Cómo puedes limitar esas distracciones?¿Cómo puedes mostrar compasión a otras personas hoy, particularmente en tu familia?Síguenos en Instagram  & Facebook Si todavía no has confiado en Jesús y no te has comprometido a seguirlo, ¿por qué esperar más? Si estás listo para cruzar esa línea y tomar la decisión de creer en Jesucristo y seguirlo; Haz esta oración . .fb-background-color { background: #ffffff !important; } .fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { width: 100% !important; }

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How God Uses Your Money to Test You

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

One way God tests you is with money. If he can trust you with material possessions, then he can trust you with true riches in heaven.

There are several things God tests through your money:

Money shows what you love most. If you really want to know what’s important to you, look at your calendar and your credit card statement. How you spend your time and money shows what you love most.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth . . . Store your treasures in heaven . . . Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (NLT). Put your money wherever you want your heart to be, and you will become interested in whatever you invest in. 

Money shows what you trust most. Do you trust in your money for security, or do you trust in God? Do you trust in your own happiness, or do you trust in God for your happiness? Do you trust in money to make you feel good about yourself, or do you trust in God to make you feel good about yourself? Money is the acid test of faith.

The Bible says in Proverbs 11:28, “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (NIV).

Money shows if God can trust you. Money doesn’t just show if you trust God; it also shows if God can trust you. Luke 16:10-12 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” (NLT).

How you handle money affects how much God blesses your life. Now that you understand the direct connection between money management and God’s blessing, ask God to help you get your finances in order so that he can trust you with true riches.

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Talk It Over

What would you say is the desire of your heart? Does the way you spend your money support your answer?
If you lost your job today, what would you do? In what ways do you trust—or not trust—God to provide for you?
How does the way you manage God’s resources reveal the depth of your trust in him?

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A Note From Pastor Rick

 

A Note From Pastor Rick

Dear Friend,

God’s vision for the church is that we love each other with the same love he has shown to us. But this kind of unity can only happen when we draw closer to God. The closer our relationship is with him, the closer our relationship will be with each other. That’s why we often need a fresh start to follow God’s vision.

In fact, our love for one another is our greatest witness to unbelievers. It can act like a thermostat and actually set the spiritual “temperature” of the culture as more and more people experience the hope of Jesus.

The Bible says, “Live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT).

This unity is part of God’s vision for how we reach the world for Jesus.

I am always so encouraged by your letters about how God is using Daily Hope to deepen your love for him and strengthen your love for others. Your testimonies point to how close we are to reaching every nation with the Good News.

So, please keep those letters coming! You can write to me at Rick@PastorRick.com. And thank you, as always, for your prayers and support for Daily Hope.

God bless you,
Pastor Rick

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You’re Helping Reach People on Every Continent!

You’re Helping Reach People on Every Continent!

By Rick Warren

I love hearing how God is using Daily Hope to impact families around the world! Maira reads the Daily Hope devotional in Spanish (Esperanza Diaria), and she shared with us about how God has worked in her church in Colombia during the pandemic:

“When the pandemic began, we did not know what God would do with the church that my husband and I minister. Still, God led us to encourage everyone that attends our house of prayer to make their homes a place where entire families could gather to do weekly devotionals. And then, God led us to your web page. Each home shares Pastor Rick’s devotionals; it’s a great blessing, and there are many testimonies of how God speaks and ministers to each family weekly. We have approximately 300 houses of prayer that meet weekly to share your inspirational devotionals.”

Friends, this is why Daily Hope exists—to reach people with the Good News of Jesus on every continent. And it’s partners like you who help make these kinds of stories possible, so thank you for your support.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Write to me at Rick@PastorRick.com.

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Let’s Finish the Task of Global Evangelism

Let’s Finish the Task of Global Evangelism

From the start, fulfilling the Great Commission has been Daily Hope’s primary focus. When you support Daily Hope, you are partnering with Pastor Rick to obey Christ’s command to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere” (Mark 16:15 TLB).

Because the work is too big for any one ministry, Pastor Rick has agreed to lead Finishing the Task (FTT), a collaborative effort among thousands of churches and ministries with the common vision of fulfilling the Great Commission by AD 2033, the 2000th anniversary of when Jesus uttered the command to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19 NIV).

Speaking before 120 key ministry leaders at the October FTT gathering, Pastor Rick said there needs to be an urgent, intentional, global collaboration within the body of Christ that is bathed in prayer and prioritizes Bible translation, evangelism, and church planting in order to reach every unreached people group.

These are the AD2033 3B goals: 

Bible: FTT estimates there are 3,732 languages without a Bible translation. Work is in progress for 1,863 of them, but there is no translation work yet for approximately 1,869 languages. The goal is to have the Bible translated into all languages by 2033.

Believers: Pastor Rick called for a focused strategy that uses technology and other innovations to share the Gospel with people across the globe in their own language. Multiple channels will increase the ability to reach people with different backgrounds, interests, and experiences.

Bodies of Christ: The goal is to have a church for every 1,000 people worldwide, setting a strong foundation for discipleship.

As you can imagine, this is a massive undertaking that will take the continued prayers and support of friends like you.

So thank you for the incredible role you play in reaching the world for Jesus so that together we can finish the task of global evangelism!

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God’s Got a Fresh Start for You

God’s Got a Fresh Start for You

By Rick Warren

Every fresh start begins with one realization: Only God can make them happen by the power of his Spirit at work in our lives.

If you’re hoping for a fresh start this year, here’s the good news: God specializes in fresh starts. In fact, God gave his people, the Israelites, many fresh starts in life. Hosea 14:5 says, “I will make a fresh start with Israel. He’ll burst into bloom like a crocus in the spring” (The Message).

After a cold and dark season, God promised his people they would blossom like spring flowers. And God can do the same for you!

So how do you need your life to change? In what part of your life do you feel powerless to change?

One way to take your first step toward a fresh start is to take a personal inventory by asking yourself these three questions: 

What are my assets? Look at your God-given SHAPE—your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. Then look at your physical, educational, financial, and spiritual assets as a child of God. Colossians 2:10 says, “You have everything when you have Christ” (TLB).

What have I learned? Think about everything you’ve learned about yourself, your family, your career, and your relationship with God. Write it all down, especially the painful lessons. Why? Because God never wastes a hurt. Galatians 3:4 says, “Did all your experience mean nothing at all? Surely it meant something!” (GNT).

Who could help me? One of the most common reasons people stay stuck in life and fail to reach their dreams is because they’re too proud to ask for advice. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed” (The Message).

So today I want to challenge you to take a personal inventory by asking yourself those three questions as you start this new year and consider how God can use what you already have for Kingdom purposes.

Then, draw near to the Lord and ask for his help to start fresh where you need to do so. And, if the fresh start you’re looking for is in your relationship with God, here’s an incredible promise for the year ahead: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NKJV).

Download How to Become an Agent of Unity Within the Church 

Unity is hard to come by these days, isn’t it? Just take a look at social media—even among Christians there’s discord, infighting, and outright anger at one another. 

But God wants us to work toward unity in the church, the body of Christ. So how do we do that? In this download, Pastor Rick shares four ways to promote unity in the midst of division. Download it here!

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Pensar a Corto Plazo Evita que Veas con Claridad

“Al oír esto, comenzaron a discutir entre sí, pues no habían traído nada de pan. Jesús supo lo que hablaban, así que les dijo: —¿Por qué discuten por no tener pan? ¿Todavía no saben ni entienden? ¿Tienen el corazón demasiado endurecido para comprenderlo?”. Marcos 8:16-17 (NTV)

Nos perdemos de lo que Dios está haciendo en nuestra vida, cuando nos mantenemos enfocados en el aquí y el ahora y no en lo que Dios quiere hacer en nuestra vida a largo plazo. Cuando pensamos en la comodidad en lugar del carácter, cuando pensamos en nuestra felicidad y no en nuestra santidad, cuando pensamos en disfrutar de la vida ahora en lugar de prepararnos para la eternidad, estamos atrapados en el pensamiento a corto plazo, y eso es lo que nos va a impedir ver la vida con claridad.

Esto es lo que sucedió con los discípulos. Jesús estaba tratando de darles una lección sobre el orgullo mediante el uso de la levadura como una metáfora. La Biblia dice en Marcos 8:16-17,“Al oír esto, comenzaron a discutir entre sí, pues no habían traído nada de pan. Jesús supo lo que hablaban, así que les dijo: —¿Por qué discuten por no tener pan? ¿Todavía no saben ni entienden? ¿Tienen el corazón demasiado endurecido para comprenderlo?” Marcos 8:16-17 (NTV).

Jesús estaba tratando de enseñar a los discípulos una lección sobre la vida, y ¡ellos pensaron que estaba hablando del almuerzo! Él estaba hablando de la necesidad de madurez, y ellos estaban hablando de su próxima comida. Ese es el pensamiento a corto plazo.

El pensamiento a corto plazo nos impide ver cómo Dios está trabajando en nuestra vida. Es una de las grandes debilidades de la cultura americana. Es difícil pensar a largo plazo, porque hoy todo en nuestra sociedad nos enseña a hacer lo contrario. Nos roban el futuro para disfrutar el hoy. Estamos creando años y años de deuda impagable para las generaciones futuras por hacer lo que queremos, ahora.

Cada vez que piensas a corto plazo, no puedes ver lo que Dios está haciendo en tu vida. No puedes ver Sus planes a largo plazo para tu carácter cuando estás pensando en tu propia comodidad. Pide a Dios que te dé una visión de la eternidad y de la esperanza que podemos tener cuando vemos su plan a largo plazo.

Reflexiona sobre esto:

¿Cuáles son las pequeñas maneras de mantener a largo plazo, la mentalidad eterna?¿Cómo sería el pensamiento a largo plazo dentro de tu familia? ¿Tu carrera? ¿Tu caminar espiritual?¿Dónde ves a Dios trabajando en tu vida?Síguenos en Instagram  & Facebook Si todavía no has confiado en Jesús y no te has comprometido a seguirlo, ¿por qué esperar más? Si estás listo para cruzar esa línea y tomar la decisión de creer en Jesucristo y seguirlo; Haz esta oración . .fb-background-color { background: #ffffff !important; } .fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { width: 100% !important; }

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