Saving and Banking Wisely in the Recession

Author: Ososami

Take an interest in the debt portfolio of your employer. Working in a heavily borrowed business is precarious…it is no use being a skilled mariner in a sinking ship with holes. Be an asset to your employer – do not borrow heavily against future compensation to finance a lifestyle.

Your savings represent your life and the years you have laboured. Save your money wisely. The strength of a Bank is not in its income statement. Instead, look more closely at the balance sheet and especially flows in assets and liabilities. Assets are what the Bank has and liabilities are what the Bank owes. Some assets look good on paper but can be worthless while liabilities tend to be very real and understated.

Banks crash from inability to redeem their legitimate liabilities due to weak and nonperforming assets or high non-productive assets (compared to capital) like bad loans and massive head office buildings which only boost ego. Look closer at the asset portfolio of the Bank. Understand the credit process, quality, professionalism and conservatism of the board. Where you have board members who are also heavily in debt either personally or through related companies (maybe not to the Bank) you can expect trouble sooner or later.

The safest institution to lend to is the government but the income generated is the least. The Bible does say we shall lend to nations ( and not fools). It follows that the safest (not the most profitable) Banks tend to have the least income to asset ratios and more conservative investments in Treasury Bills. In very simple language, safety means your money is available for you when you want it and not that the Bank has an impressive marble architectural masterpiece as a head office building or declares record high profits. You have savings you cannot afford to lose and you are not an equity investor…the considerations are very different.

Spurious lending is highly profitable on paper and the better the customer quality, the less interest the Bank is able to charge. Always ask to understand the ratio of nonperforming loans…move your money out of Banks with comparatively high nonperforming portfolios immediately.

Do not believe Bank advertising, like your shampoo advert it is absolutely meaningless to guide your investment or savings decisions. Chandeliers in offices and halls should only tell you your money may not be safe as capital meant for the rainy day has been spent on expensive real estate locations, rugs and decor. Also assess integrity and lifestyle of the executives of Banks you put your money in. A Bank executive given to extravagant luxury is probably spending your money – take your deposits out, and fast! Banking is not nuclear science – and does not always need a genius or a huge institution with thousands of branches or the very latest technology. In its purest form it is simple and thrives on integrity, accountability, shrewdness and thrift. The ancient Jews (typified by the Shakespearean character in merchant of Venice -Shylock) who laid some of the foundations for modern Banking were legendary for their simple and extremely shrewd lifestyle in spite of the billions they controlled.

The safest Bank to put your money is the Bank managed by simple quiet folk earning and contented living on average salaries and with high ethical standards and reputation and not a Bank giving out huge bonuses and spending on expensive sponsorships and marketing. You can expect that to justify and maintain these bonuses and image, even riskier investment schemes will soon be contrived with your hard-earned deposits.

In summary, God will be glorified in our approach to the issue of Debt. Do we align with the ways of the world and embrace borrowing or can we depend on God’s word. Use the Recession as an opportunity to review your financial habits and leave the ways that may not please the actual owner of the wealth of which we are only Stewards.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Saving and Banking Wisely in the Recession

On Assignment in Recession

by Olabode Ososami

We have divine assignments to please Him as we impact the world for Him: we were created to please God…never forget this…we have the power of the gospel of Christ…the seed of the kingdom in us…to extend that kingdom for God. How we do this is important…we are not competing with the world or trying to outdo the world. We do not impact the world primarily with arguments, philosophy,excellence and persuasion…though we abound in these. We do it with power…the power of God.

Luke 13 [20] And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? [21] It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Gen 18 [6] And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it , and make cakes upon the hearth.

Our lives should be loaves that God can enjoy…The ultimate praise of God is to please God and satisfy Him, causing Him to arise for us..Like leaven, we are hidden in our most powerful operations…a great army in powerful secret operations.

Our work is very powerful but is sometimes slow and appears invisible
The old leaven is mixed with the whole…and kneaded…the more kneading the better..till an excellent leavened dough emerges. We cannot fail to affect the whole.

A Star in Recession

by Olabode Ososami

Matth. 2:2h. 2:2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

WP-Bible plugin [2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

A star is a blazing mass of heat far above and a comfortable distance from any human effort that may want to touch it or bring it down. A star is not subject to human effort, support nor can it be reduced or increased. A star is not a product of any human development… it is a divine miracle. A star cannot be brought down by human effort. It is too far above.

Eph 2:[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph2:[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

We are made nigh to God by the blood of Christ. Because we are near to God we are far from many things. It is sin that distances us from God and makes us live below our potential.

We are made to shine and have no excuses to be mediocre even in recession. This means we excel in all that we do…and especially reveal Christ in the toughest and darkest night seasons.

So shine on….

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See “Wealth Out Of Ashes” for more insights into how to live through difficult times like recession.

Disaster signals in Recession

Author: Ososami

We often believe the signs of problems are when we receive that letter informing us of the loss of employment or when we faced with possible bankruptcy. These are not the signs to fear the most for there are other more important signals implying even greater future calamity in periods of recession.

There are mistakes we often make when things are challenging financially. Many of these mistakes appear to be open doors and opportunities but the Bible teaches that they are dangerous snares. This article will in summary deal with 7 of these mistakes which are often disguised in deceptive colors…watch carefully. Meditate on the scriptures quoted and be sure they do not apply to you.

Enjoying (instead of saying “No” to) shortcuts and instant handouts rather than learning and practising the disciplines of God over extended periods. Genesis 14[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. [22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, [23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich.
Concluding that the first door, though irresistibly attractive, is always God’s door – be it a new job or an opportunity or offer of a way out. It could be the devil’s door. Remember , the first offer of approval that Christ got was not from men or His disciples but the devil himself. Matthew 4[9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. [10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Consuming our tithes, gains and seed instead of giving and saving. Acts 5[9] Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. [10] Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
Indulging in hasty righteous actions e.g. assets disposals, and other works that God is not doing but driven by our fears or self-righteousness. What we must do is believe God and not be hurried. Wait on Him for instructions. He often shows up at the last minute with a different approach. Our sufferings may not be of God but our own self righteous reactions or carelessness. Isaiah 64[6].. and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
Unwillingness to start afresh in a completely new area requiring new learning and re-education. This could be out of laziness, fear or just not having the right encouragement and counsel available. Isaiah 43[19] Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?
Blindness to opportunities and building blocks that are very near and available for us to exploit in a manner no one has used before to produce innovative breakthrough ideas. Luke 5[4] Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. [5] And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. [6] And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
Partnering and alliances with wrong persons for evident advantage due to inability to trust God Jeremiah 17[5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man…especially when these alliances cause you to sacrifice integrity in subtle ways. The end never justifies the means. Jeremiah 48[10] Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully…