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It’s a verse Dave Ramsey would love.

Dave, of course, is the well-known promoter of faith-based frugal living that resists debt and restricts splurging.

His books and videos have been read and seen by millions.

Some of you are better off now financially because you’ve applied the Bible-based principles he’s shared.

Here’s the verse from today’s One-Year Bible that speaks to godly thinking.

Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” Proverbs 24:27

The principle is quite simple, actually. Focus on developing your long-term income source — your career — before you focus on having a nicer place to live.

In a practical sense, this was essential in Bible days. It wouldn’t do any good to have a nice house while at the same time have nothing to eat while living in it.

It was much better to clear and plant and harvest in the fields while living in a tent or in a shack. Bodies don’t need “cushy” but they do NEED food.

As incomes grew in size and reliability, then the budget for housing could grow.

That’s why for generations, American adults would be content to have a small, starter home in a so-so neighborhood for the first few years of their marriages while their careers were established and incomes gradually began to grow.

It wasn’t uncommon for couples to have been married 10 years before buying a “nice” home.

This pattern has become rare as younger couples wanted the “nice” house right away, a house they really couldn’t afford because they had not become established a solid, reliably long-term income source.

Millions of foreclosure lawsuits testify to the truth of this observation.

There are a myriad of other applications to the verse above, but I want to wrap this Morning Devotion up by encouraging you to review your priority list in life.

Are there any “want to have” items that are listed ahead of “must have” items?

Ask God to show you and then ask God to strengthen you to make the changes that will put things in the proper priority.

Instead of spending $1,200 on a large-screen, LED TV, why not spend they money on a couple of career-development courses at the community college?

Instead of spending $1,032 on a week-long hunting trip with the guys, why not spend the money on taking your kids or grandkids on a series of day trips to national parks and museums?

You get the point.

Here’s an even more important application of the verse as it relates to ministry. Focus on impacting the community with the Gospel before any focus is made on having a cushy church building. I’ll just leave that one with you to soak.

We’ve all got priority adjustments to make so let’s all get at it.

As always, I love you
Martin

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