It couldn’t have come at a better time. I was feeling stuck – wanted to move on, yet it was a risky proposition – especially for a low-risk taker and a conservative-minded financial coach. Should I take a risk? Throw all good sense to the wind and do what I wanted? I was living in my unknown world – not paying attention to my ‘flocks’. And from where I stood, not knowing let me believe I could and should do anything I wanted to be ‘unstuck’.

Then I read this verse, and was gently reminded, that I need to take care of the things he had already entrusted to me, which in turn take care of me and us.

 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.

After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears, and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats milk for yourself, your family and your servant girls.

Proverbs 27:23-27

There is so much to these verses – sound information for any home, family, business. These common-sense principles require responsibility, yet also security.

1. Know the state of your flocks. Do you know the state of your flocks – the things God has put you in charge of? Your money, your possessions, your home, your car? Know their ‘condition’. God never wanted us to take anything for granted, yet be diligent in paying attention.
2. Put your heart into caring for your herds. God expects and desires for us to take care of the things he gives. From the beginning of creation, God emphasizes that we are the stewards of the earth, the animals, the plants. Take good care of all you have been given. Care for it. Treat your possessions as the great gift that they are – a gift from the hand of God to you.
3. Riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. Don’t put your confidence and security in the things provided, but in the provider. Money and possessions do not last forever. God’s love, lived through you, does.
4. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears, mountain grasses are gathered. We are expected to work. Gather what has been provided. Plant, water, and harvest. God provides the growth, yet we need to take the opportunity to gather and harvest. Harvest does something for our soul. It encourages, satisfies, gives joy. Do the work; your work will provide.
5. Your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats milk for yourself, your family and your servant girls. Just like Jesus told us in Matthew 7, he provides all we need – clothing, food, shelter. For our family and beyond and not only for our immediate needs, but future needs as well.

God is gracious and gives us great gifts. Let’s take care of them as he takes care of us. And not only does he provide good gifts, he is merciful and reminds us of how we need to be good stewards of those gifts.

I needed the reminder – do you? A reminder of what I already possessed, not what I wanted to possess.  To take care of what I had instead of  lusting after the future.

If you are in need of encouragement or someone to help you create a plan for your financial future, give me a call – I’ll show you how to take care of God’s blessings.

For the love of your family,