Today is Monday, and on Mondays, I receive newsletters from Bro. Bo Sanchez, newsletters that never disappoint – whether they be about spirituality or the journey to financial freedom. This particular Monday, his newsletter was entitled “Yes, God Will Give You Earthly Rewards!” Yes, with an exclamation point!
Now, this may have been something I would readily have frowned at when I was younger. Those days, as far as I was concerned, those who embraced poverty were blessed. Poverty, in this context, means the lack of material things, so much so that if push comes to shove, one had to resort to begging to satisfy his needs.
I was clearly naïve and inexperienced then.
Image courtesy of Worakit Sirijinda / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
On the flipside, you can be rich but still poor in spirit. Meaning, you may have everything material imaginable but are not attached to them. Instead, you regard them as instruments to uplift the lives of those who are in greater need of them.
Money = materialism?
Money doesn’t always equate to materialism. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again now, money is neither good nor bad. Money is nothing more than a tool, much like a hammer. A hammer can be used to either build or kill. Money becomes good or bad depending on the motives of the person who possesses it.
Are you planting?
Going back to Bro. Bro’s article, a lot of people envy the rich. Well, maybe not the rich themselves, but what the rich people have. They envy the big houses, the cars, the freedom to fly to exotic destinations at the drop of a coin, even the influence that comes with being rich. But what these people fail to realize is that there’s work to be done to become rich, especially if you weren’t born rich.
This line from the article, in my opinion, says it all: If you lack earthly rewards, perhaps you’re not planting.
Job = prosperity?
Having a job doesn’t necessarily equate to a healthy financial life. And what may be more shocking is this: Having a HIGH-PAYING job doesn’t necessarily equal prosperity. Having a job sure helps a lot, but the ability to properly manage your cash flow, the ability to delay gratification, to stay away from bad debt, to know the difference between assets and liabilities makes a truckload of difference.
Are you planting?
December, for most employed Filipinos, is bonus month. And as per a comment made by an FB friend, one telltale sign that some female employees have already received their 13th month pay is their newly salon-treated mane of hair. Sure, there is no harm in that. It’s even healthy to go to a salon for some pampering every now and then, but the question is, are you also investing in your future?
You may read Bro. Bo Sanchez’s full article here.
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Hey Maricel, I really liked the part when you discussed do and don’t of a planting, and especially the part about Money = materialism. Really helped me improve my prosperity! You think you could make a post aboutcash flow? I would have loved that!
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Thanks for dropping by my blog, Rosalia. I’m glad you liked the post. Sure, I’ll try to come up with a post about cash flow in the future. Stay tuned! 😉
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my plants are currently dying, literally and financially. I need some miracle grow magic for my life and career. you can were i can get some?
Fifi Leigh, I think it all starts in the mind. I’m going to suggest reading books about personal finance. They’ll help a lot – especially in managing your finances, no matter how small you think they are currently. 😉
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Hi Cel,
I just finished reading too Bo’s newsletter today..
I like your reflections about Job=Prosperity.. I believe this is one of the many reasons why we wish to work abroad. I confess, I had the same frame of mind 10 years ago but after learning my painful lessons from a financial mishap, I realized that I should be a good steward of my financial blessings.
Cheers
Frugal, thanks for the comment. I had the same mindset before, too. I thought that in order to prosper, one has to have a high-paying job. And then it dawned on me, no matter how much you earn but if you don’t save and spend more than you really can afford, at the end of the day, your bottom line still is zero, or worse, negative.
That’s right. Everything starts with how we manage our finances. And then, I think, everything flows from there.
Best of luck in your journey to financial independence! 😉
Maricel recently posted…How to Spend Less on Gifts This Holiday Season
there is nothing wrong in gaining some earthly material things as long as the person have worked for it and sharing the blessings he receives .
lovemindanao recently posted…Boys’ Night Out in Yambo Lake: Hang Over Philippine Version
Definitely nothing wrong with it, Love Mindanao. And I believe, too, that the more a person shares, the more blessed he becomes. Well, at least, that’s what the experts all say. 😉
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I’m poor yet I’ve never envied the rich… for example, I know people that has lots of money but they have no one to share it with because none of them can have children… what’s the use of having so much material things when you have no one to share it with… yes, they can adopt but it’s not the same as having your own flesh and blood…
I totally agree, Romelo. Happiness can never be bought by material things. Thanks for dropping by today. 😉
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That’s true, we really need to plan and invest for the future and also find ways to cut the costs to maximize earnings.
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And might I also add, Franc, that investing in the future starts now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
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If you lack earthly rewards, perhaps you are not planting – i absolutely agree! it may be hard to believe but everything in this world cannot be achieved easily. It requires hard work and the right wisdom. It is not wrong to desire things but what’s wrong is that you do not do anything to make it happen.
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Thanks, Clare, for coming by and sharing your insight. You are so correct. Knowing something needs to be done and you’ve got the tools to get the job done but opting not to do anything about it is perhaps one of the greatest mistakes a man can do. 😉
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I like how Bo continue to inspire a lot of people. It’s really fulfilling to see the fruits of your endeavors in life.
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Bro. Bo really is a very inspiring person. I’ve been a follower of his since I was in high school. Thanks, Escape, for the visit.
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my friend follows bro. bo sanchez too and I hear a lot of his stories from him. sometimes we even go together to the feast in PICC…. I just love how he explains things practically… madaling idigest…
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I have yet to make it to a Feast gathering, but yes, one of my friends goes to PICC for get-togethers, too. Bro. Bo has that gift. He writes and speaks to express, not to impress. 🙂
Maricel recently posted…Where Will You Be on December 21, 2012?
Having a HIGH-PAYING job doesn’t necessarily equal prosperity. Having a job sure helps a lot, but the ability to properly manage your cash flow, the ability to delay gratification, to stay away from bad debt, to know the difference between assets and liabilities makes a truckload of difference. – I so agree! Just don’t understand why I seem to be such a slow learner in this area of my life! wahhhh hehe
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Hey, Gemma, thanks for the comment. Oh, you will learn this stuff … in time. 😀
Maricel recently posted…Where Will You Be on December 21, 2012?
Good thought …
Literally…I grew up in the city but, summer time … I spent my days in the province with my grannies, uncles and aunts … rice farm and trekking on the hills to pick up some fruits and harvest some produce were always an exciting activities for me. I long for that moment …
Anyway, planting the seeds of kindness to our immediate neighbors and family should be present this Christmas (most especially). I hope others would share their blessings to the less fortunate. After doing all that, humility should be embraced as well. Merry Christmas Maricel
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Planting, really, can be fun. And planting the seeds of kindness, like you rightly said, is something we should all take time to do. Thanks for pointing that out. Planting or investing for the future is one other “planting” that we should never take for granted as well.
Merry Christmas to you, too, Amy!
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