Tag Archives: Money

Joseph’s Dreams (Gen 40-41)

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Bible Summary:

Joseph is in the Egyptian prison for quite some time. The king’s wine steward and chief baker are sent to prison for offending the king. Joseph interprets their dreams and in three days they are released, the wine steward gains his position back, and the chief baker is executed, all as Joseph predicted.

Two years later the king of Egypt has two dreams but no one can interpret them. The wine steward mentions Joseph’s ability. Joseph interprets the king’s dreams to mean there will be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph tells the king to store a fifth of the country’s grain during the good years for food during the famine. The king appoints Joseph as governor over all of Egypt.

For seven years they store grain in all the cities of Egypt. Then, famine strikes all the countries around Egypt as Joseph predicted, but Egypt has plenty of food. People from all over the world come to buy food from Egypt.

My Thoughts:

Serve and Be Rewarded: Joseph continues to serve others for 13 years after his brothers sold him into slavery and is ultimately rewarded with his freedom and the governorship of Egypt.

Save for Lean Times: Given the current slump in the world economy, this advice may seem a little too late, but should be remembered when good times return. Saving 20% like Joseph did for Egypt may be too much of a burden, but you should work towards at least saving 10% of your income. Consider it tithing to yourself.

Jacob Bargains with Laban (Gen 30: 25-43)

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Bible Summary:

After the birth of Joseph, Jacob asks his uncle Laban to let him return home to Canaan with his wives, children and earnings.  Laban asks him to name his wages.  Jacob says he has made Laban’s flocks prosper and does not want wages.  Instead, he would like all the black lambs and spotted and speckled goats.  Laban agrees.

Laban tries to trick Jacob, removes the blemished animals, and has his sons take them three-days journey away.  Jacob uses stripped tree branches to entice the remaining unblemished animals to mate, which results in streaked, speckled and spotted offspring. Furthermore, Jacob entices healthy animals to breed but not the weak.  Soon, Jacob owns all the healthy flocks and Laban is left with weak animals.  Jacob becomes very wealthy with many flocks, slaves, camels, and donkeys.

My Thoughts:

Smarts beat Tricks: I think the morals of this story are to be smart about your actions in life and that playing tricks on people will come back to bite you some day.  Jacob is very knowledgeable about breeding, which allows him to get his agreed wage after Laban tries to trick him.  Of course, you might say Jacob just “out-tricked” him.

Assets over Income: The most important lesson from this story is that assets are more important than income.  Assets, like the livestock of old, will continue to produce value for you long after the income is spent.  All the rich people of the world understand this rule and guard it with their life.  Why do you think there is an income tax and not an asset tax?

A Wife for Isaac (Gen 24)

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Bible Summary:

Abraham wants to find a wife for his son Isaac from his own people back in northern Mesopotamia.  He sends a servant, but tells him under no circumstance is Isaac to go there since God promised them the land of Canaan.

The servant takes ten camels, stops at a well outside the city, and prays to God to let the woman that offers him and his camels water to become Isaac’s wife.  Rebecca, a beautiful virgin and second cousin to Isaac, fulfills the water offer.  The servant gives her gold jewelry.  She says they can stay at her father’s place and leaves to tell him.

Rebecca’s brother Laban returns to bring the servant to their home.  The servant tells Rebecca’s family about Abraham, how Sarah died, and that Isaac is to inherit great wealth. Rebecca’s father Bethuel and Laban say Rebecca can go since God decided the matter. The servant gives expensive gifts to Rebecca, Laban, and her mother.  Laban and their mother ask if Rebecca can stay home for 7-10 days before leaving, but the servant wants to leave immediately, so they ask Rebecca and she agrees to leave right away.

Rebecca’s family gives her a blessing, “May you, sister, become the mother of millions! May your descendents conquer the cities of their enemies.”

Upon the servant’s return to Canaan, Isaac meets them in a field.  Rebecca covers her face with a scarf.  The servant retells everything to Isaac.  Isaac takes Rebecca into his mother’s old tent and she becomes his wife.  Isaac loves Rebecca and is comforted for the loss of his mother.

My Thoughts:

The First Princess Fairy Tale: The king, Abraham, wants a nice princess for his son. Isaac.  The king searches for said princess in a land of his ancestors far, far, away. Rebecca does the right thing, serving others, to be worthy of being a true princess.  She and her family are glad to join such a rich family.  Her mother and brother want her to stay just a little longer, but alas she agrees to leave forthwith to be with her betrothed.  Isaac takes his princess to his mother’s old castle and makes her, Rebecca, his wife.  Isaac loves Rebecca.  The end.

Kind of sounds like Cinderella and many of the other princess stories, doesn’t it?  I think this one from about 4,000 years ago was likely first!

Foreshadowing: This is a great story.  I am sure the “conquer the cities of their enemies” is foretelling some future events.  The suspense is killing me.

Money: This story shows that the pursuit of money has been around for thousands of years.  Money can buy nice things, but not always happiness.  The real challenge of money is to know when you have enough.  Most people continue to strive for more and never stop to “smell the roses” until it is too late: a health problem surfaces, they become too old to enjoy it, or they lose the one they wanted to share it with.  Be sure to enjoy life and your family along the way.