By Felix A. Montelara
Author & Host of The Potential Millionaire
Luke 7:36-50 / New International Version (NIV)
In the last episode of Potential Millionaire, I talked to you about changing your paradigm which means changing the way you see the world. A paradigm is world view, and sometimes we need to modify what we see in life, so that we can change our bad behaviors into good ones. There is a saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks- but I think you can, if you are willing to see the world in a different way. Change is difficult, especially when a person has developed a behavior that has become habitual. Can people change? Yes, but it can be a difficult process, and it means constantly working to behave differently. A paradigm shift may be as drastic as radically altering how we live and act, such as cutting up credit cards so you can’t spend money you don’t have-or it can be as minor as seeing things differently. For example, do you need to view money as your servant, instead of being a slave to the almighty dollar? Either way, a paradigm shift goes right along with New Year’s Resolutions- for how can your resolution to do things differently ever succeed, unless you are willing to change how you see the world, unless you are willing to prioritize differently, and unless you are willing to change what is important to you?
There are many interesting passages in the Bible about paradigm shifts, or in other words, about people making drastic changes to their lives. After all, many Bible stories are about sinners who find redemption, and resolve to continue their lives in a new direction. In addition, there are many Bible stories about debt- because Jesus often compared debt, or owing a person money, to sin, which is making a bad choice when you know it is wrong. In Luke 7:36-50, we are told the story of when Jesus has his feet washed by a sinful woman.
We are likewise given opportunities to change the way we see the world, but it is up to us implement these changes, to stay the course, to commit to the changes. We all make mistakes, but these mistakes can be forgiven. But like the woman in the Bible, we must return love to God when we are given forgiveness- we must act on our opportunities and show that we have changed.
In this New Year, do you need to forgive yourself for some past money mistakes? Do you need to see things differently? Do you need to take advantage of opportunities and prove that you have seen the errors of your ways? It is possible for everyone to learn about money, to make it work for them, to become wealthy, to become debt free. In order to do these things, we need to change how we view money, spending, and debt. We need to seize the opportunities that God puts before us- if you are learning how to manage your money and live debt free- will repay God with love and be dedicated enough to do it?
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- 24/7 ‘Luke’ Challenge-Day 7 (cacfamilyyouth.wordpress.com)
- Luke 7. The Woman Forgiven. (zachhanje.wordpress.com)
- The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees (asicansee.wordpress.com)
- What’s a pharisee? (theholyschmitz.wordpress.com)
- John’s gospel blog 43: Stone (antandbev1.wordpress.com)
- Forgiveness – John 8:1-11 (thiscatholicgeneration.wordpress.com)
- Confessing Jesus is more than saying His Name… (spiritualsandwich.com)