Dear Friend,
Many are discouraged by the national and global financial climate and wonder what God would want them to do.
The question “What would Jesus do?” has been stenciled and embroidered on everything from bracelets to bookmarks for some time now. It is still a good question to ask; but with the challenges of our over-leveraged financial market, I think we need to consider it with a twist. Let’s ask: “What would Jesus do—with money?” The “Sermon on the Mount” addresses money matters at its core and, like all of Jesus’ words, it can be applied throughout the ages.
In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus, our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), talked about charitable giving and emphasized that “your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” Apparently, God sees what we do with the money we manage, and doles out rewards when He deems it appropriate. Here’s the principle: God “sees in secret,” and He “rewards” those who are invested in His purposes.
When He was speaking about how to pray, our CEO noted that the “Father who sees in the secret place… will reward you.” Then He instructed His followers to ask God, “give us this day our daily bread”—Jesus’ expressed belief in God’s ability to provide. He called to mind the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of how God’s people can rest with the assurance that God will not abandon us. After all, God provided the Children of Israel with manna in the wilderness.
Our CEO exhorted His listeners to “lay up treasure” in a place where “neither moth nor rust destroys” (vv. 19-21), to be gracious and not stingy (vv. 22-23), and warned that no one can serve two masters (v. 24). In His exhortation to “not worry” but to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (v. 33), our CEO pointed out that God will help His followers pierce through the cloudy darkness.
Our CEO wants individuals to be charitable—He went on record noting that a gracious and loving Father casts His gaze and rewards upon those so inclined. And His illustrations that God provides for even the birds and lilies indicates that He wants us to trust God, more than the security that money can provide in an insecure world.
Never has there been such a crying need to make His Name, will, and ways known! And God’s Word is a trustworthy guidebook, whose faith-based principles we can spread to millions through our nationally-syndicated television program.
Our newest television production—Warrior King—presents Bible-based principles of leadership and management to a world where biblical vision is in high demand but short supply. For months now, you have heard me say that our new, made-for-TV series on King David will open up the Scriptures and press the need for “David-like leadership in these Goliath-like times.” Well it is en route as I write, and just in time!
For those who sent gifts to help us produce it, I say “thanks.” If you missed that stage, or if you feel led to give again, you can help us distribute it across our nation’s airwaves and overseas. Because it costs a lot more to air the programs than to produce them, I am looking for good people to help us get this biblical water to a thirsty viewership.
Frankly, I believe that these dark times could produce one of the Church’s finest hours. If we rise up like King David and King Jesus, we can shine a light in our darkened, sin-soaked, and discouraged world. Well-articulated Bible principles affect lives and facilitate good sense at street-level; witness the story of Benjamin Franklin.
Ben’s mother, Abiah Folger, was born into a Puritan family, one of the first that fled England when the monarch began persecuting Protestants. His father, Josiah Franklin, converted to Puritanism. The Puritans prized self-government, anti-authoritarianism, and a religious preference for preaching sermons over administering religious rites. These values seem to have taken root in the young Benjamin, who applied these principles in his own unique ways.
His street-smart Poor Richard’s Almanack commended a Puritan sense of prudence and thrift in the colonies. Coupled with his industrious and inquiring mind, his entrepreneurial spirit produced a variety of scientific inventions and social innovations. Ben was a leader, and the biblical virtues that undergirded him provided good breeding ground.
When the $500; $1,000; $5,000; $10,000; and $100,000 bills were retired on July 14, 1969, the $100 bill, featuring Benjamin Franklin, was retained as the highest denomination—one of only two that feature a non-president. I’m glad it stayed with us—I think we’d all do better if we thought and acted like Ben Franklin.
If you believe—as I do—that good Bible teaching stimulates good sense and good leaders with sense, please contribute to more Bible teaching by helping us share God’s Word.
Donations of any size are appreciated. I also covet your prayers—through them, we can make a difference in a world where a difference needs to be made. And it needs to be made now!
You can also contribute to Israel’s financial health in an easy and fun way by joining us on a spring tour to the Holy Land. We leave March 15. The Deluxe Tour (visiting Israel only) will return March 25. Those travelers continuing on the Grand Petra Tour will return on March 29.
Your messenger,
Jeffrey Seif
P.S. We plan to broadcast our new television series, Warrior King, in early 2009, making contributions a pressing need. Make a straight donation or donate in someone’s name for the holidays. Either way, you chalk up a tax deduction for 2008. Either way, God sees.
Jeff, never has there been such a need to make known God’s Name, will, and ways. God “rewards” those who invest in His purposes.
“Here’s my gift for November. May the Warrior King TV series carry Bible-based principles of leadership and management around the globe.”
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A special book containing the major prophecies of the Messiah, along with color photos and Holy Land maps from our television series of the same name. It is extremely important that we are able to prove the coming of Messiah from Old Testament Scripture, thus showing objective evidence that our Lord is indeed “The Prophesied Messiah.” One of our all-time most popular books.
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