Being sacrificial and skillful like Jesus, our career, money, health and time management can be optimized with godly efficiency, bringing us into the circle of victory for this life... and the life to come! Life Skills book cover art by Joe Chiappetta is also available to collect as an NFT on AtomicHub.

LIFE SKILLS Book

Level-Up with Biblical Principles for Life to the Full

© Joe Chiappetta, 8/19/2022, Riverside, California. Updated 10/8/2024

This Life Skills book is used as part of the Life Skills Workshop that my wife, Denise, and I teach through the church. Written with a deep desire to help people have life to the full, this book should be considered a work-in-progress, since we should always be growing, always learning, always adapting.

The same is true for Life Skills; we're talking about techniques that must be applied and built upon for the duration of all the rest of our days. No one ever fully arrives, but with continual development and integration of life skills, we can all finish strong. During in-person classes, these practical Biblical lessons have helped us, along with hundreds of people, to put God at the complete center of our lives, surrounded by good and loving management of our health, time, money and career.

Life Wheels is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta

As a fast and faithful vehicle to get you victoriously through the rough terrains of this earth, the way is much smoother in the sporty velocity of Life Wheels. This artwork is more than just artwork of a muscle car. It also represents a life skills teaching diagram. Just as a car cannot move forward for long without one of its wheels, the same goes for life. Learning to be as responsible as we can with our health, money, time and career is best accomplished when we wisely and consistently wrap all these elements around our relationship with God. This Life Wheels rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta is also available to collect as an NFT on AtomicHub.

RELATIONSHIP-WITH-GOD SKILLS

Prayer

I (along with my wife) currently teach a class called "Life Skills" on an ongoing basis. That irony rarely escapes me. I say that because in exactly every one of the categories focused on in Life Skills, I have failed miserably and repeatedly long before having any degree of success.

Health tips from the guy formerly addicted to sugar and couldn't walk or sit for painful periods of life? Financial advice from a man who thought budget was just a rental car company? Career planning from a former starving artist? Time management tips from a daydreamer who only liked calendars for their pretty pictures? Spiritual guidance from an angry clown who used to badmouth the church and scoff at the Bible?

Guilty as charged on all the above counts. So how did I get to a place where I could actually turn the corner on every one of these areas in my life? For me, it did not come quickly, and not without decades repeatedly enrolled in the School of Hard Knocks. In each of these areas (health, time management, money, and career), often after hitting rock-bottom, I was compelled to finally look upwards in my heart... to God in prayer.

Gratefully he answered by sending me many very prayerful people who already had godly life skills and were willing to teach these skills to me. Therefore in answering the question of how I went from a busted life unskilled to a booming life growing with skills, I have to crouch and kneel back to where I now believe most battles worth fighting for begin: in the humility of prayer.

Praying Face Down is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta

This hands-up, face-down praying position was drawn as one continuous contour line drawing. That brown single line signifies how we can become one with Jesus through a lifestyle of prayer, which unlocks additional life skills. Praying Face Down is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available as an NFT on AtomicHub.

At this point, I do realize that some of you who are spiritual might be wanting to skip ahead and get to something perhaps new that you don't know. Yet please remember the words of Jesus' disciples in Luke 11:1. "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Given that these were Israelites already very familiar with prayer, we must appreciate how Jesus' disciples were willing to re-learn the basics once they saw how effective Jesus' prayer life was. So when it comes to leveling up in life skills, the same is true. In many cases, we need to re-learn the basics--including the basics of prayer as they relate to health, time, career, and money management.

Matthew 5:3
[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
Why does Jesus say this is a desirable life skill?
Who does God bless?
The spiritual beggars.
What are you begging God for in your prayer times?
What are you begging for spiritual help about from other faithful and responsible people? Have you taken their advice?
Spiritual beggars consistently see their desperate need for God in all areas of their life.
Praying is a life skill that unlocks new life skills.
Beg God for good health and a career, as well as wisdom in how to manage your time and money.

Proverbs 10:24
[24] What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Who does God fulfill the desires of?
Are your life skills behaviors (health, time management, money management, employment pursuits) more righteous or wicked?
Is there something you are dreading? If your behavior is wicked, what you dread will come true!
Beg God for his righteousness (and do what he says the righteous must do) to have your desires met.

Ephesians 3:14-19
[14] For this reason I kneel before the Father, [15] from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. [16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Why does Paul pray on his knees?
Begging position.
Position of humility.
Physically expressing humility with your outer being so that God "may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being."
God's plan is to strengthen his people with "power." It is this power, rooted in deep love, that will propel us to succeed with our health, career, money, and time.
When Christ is dwelling "in your hearts through faith," can you approach all areas of life skills with greater confidence?
Verse 18, 19. What does being “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” mean?
Needs to be power in what you do. To be effective, beg for it.

Practicals

Pray on your knees daily for your (a) relationship with God, (b) time management, (c) career, (d) health, and (e) money management.
Don't have breakfast before completing time in prayer and reading the Bible. Together, those actions can be known as a "quiet time."
For those who have difficulty having daily morning quiet times, put your quiet time in your calendar every day and get in the habit of checking your calendar every morning.
For those unemployed or underemployed, humbly ask employers in-person or at least by phone, to hire you.

Pleasing

Ecclesiastes 2:26
[26] To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Similar to prayer, the skill of pleasing God is an essential life skill that unlocks additional life skills.
Life Skills are gifts from God.
Notice the flow of wealth: where does the money flow to?
From the one who does not please God to the one who does.
Working while in sin is like working with a hole in your bank account.
If you want to increase your knowledge, start pleasing God with your life.

Ephesians 5:8-11
[8] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) [10] and find out what pleases the Lord. [11] Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Whose job is it to "find out what pleases the Lord" (verse 10)?
At work or school, don't you find out what makes those in charge happy?
Get your health in the light: your finances, your time, your career.

Practicals

Since overeating is the sin of debauchery, and since sin does not please God, eat smaller portions at meals.
Work 1 day at your job (or school) as if God was your direct supervisor whom you were determined to please. Afterwards track how different your performance was.
Study what pleases God and start doing those things as appropriate in health, schedule, career, and finances.

Faith and Deeds

Growing in categories of (a) Good Health, (b) Time Management, (c) Money Management, and your (d) Career will take faith and deeds. For Christians, life skills is the discipline of layering these categories together with Biblical concepts and relationship with God to create a leveled-up state of effectiveness.

Take the category of "career," for example. I can recall a former job I had where I performed terribly while also making poor health choices. Not surprisingly, at the time I had no belief (faith) that the job mattered. Plus I had no faith that I could become a healthier person. This led to me wasting a lot of time feeling sorry for myself as well as wasting money on temporary comforts and aimless distractions. Of course my performance was lacking, ruling out any leverage to ask for a raise.

Notice from my own historical example, that without appropriate faith and deeds, every one of the four categories of life skills were neglected and mismanaged: career, health, time, and money. Perhaps such periods should be called "life unskills." For me, it produced a dark period in my existence that I would never want to relive. Gratefully, God provides actionable solutions to escape such dead-end periods. It all comes down to appropriate faith... and deeds.

James 2:14-26
[14] What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? [15] Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

[18] But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

[20] You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? [21] Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God's friend. [24] You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

[25] In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

What you do (your deeds) and how effective you do at it, is a large part of what makes up your life skills.
The terms "deeds," "do," "does," "did," and "action(s)" are mentioned 13 times here.
How important is appropriate action (verse 17, 22)?
What is it that completes our faith (verse 22)?
Appropriate actions (what we do at the right times) are life skills. So life skills "complete" our faith.
Every one of the four life skills categories takes faith and action to use well in a godly manner (health, time, money, and career). For example, when I believe God wants me to be a better employee, I still need to take consistent action to strive for excellence on the job.
How many times is death associated with faith but no deeds (verse 17, 26)?
Notice the simple yet deadly subtraction formula: Faith - Deeds = Dead Faith.
It takes deliberate effort to match your deeds with your faith. It is a skill of life.
Faith + Deeds = True Life.
What do Abraham and Rahab both have in common? They both leveled-up by faith + deeds.
Faith + Deeds = Life Leveled-Up
Since "faith without deeds is useless" (verse 20), and “useless” carries 0 utility, we can make this formula: Faith - Deeds = 0.
What's the utility of your faith? Start counting your relevant deeds.
Will you surge or slump in faith + action?
How much will you fight for your faith plus your level of diligence toward the actions needed?
That's faith and deeds working in harmony. These 2 characteristics must work together, or they both become ineffective.
Life skills is about having the wholeness (integrity) of being reverently centered in our relationship with God while wisely managing our health, time, money, career, and any other area in a way that pleases God.
Life skills leads to friendship with God (verse 23).
Time to level up with faith and deeds!
To level up in life's skills, show your faith (verse 18) by what you practically do.
What will you show of your faith by what you do?
Would your boss (or teacher) commend you for your deeds?
Would a nutritionist commend you for the deeds of your diet?
Would a physical trainer commend you for the deeds of your workout?
Would God commend you for how you are using the limited time he gave you on this earth?

Practicals

In the area of health, or time management, or career, or finances, write down 1 pressing thing you know (and believe) you need to take action on.
Get your faith to the point that you completely believe your actions will be blessed by God.
Schedule that action right now, and/or get it done right now.
For example, let's say you know you need to see a doctor about an increasingly uncomfortable health issue. Call the doctor's office right now to schedule the appointment.
This week, do the deed of talking to someone successful in the career you want to be in. Ask them for tips in breaking into that career path. How do you contact such a person? (a) Make a cold call (or in-person company visit) asking for a 3-minute informational interview. (b) Go to a networking event or tradeshow in that industry. (c) Ask your friends if they know anyone in your industry of interest.

Outward Focused

Consider King Solomon's prayer as a brand new king. God had just told Solomon to "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" (1 Kings 3:5).

1 Kings 3:7-14
[7] “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. [8] Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. [9] So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

[10] The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. [11] So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, [12] I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. [13] Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both riches and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. [14] And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

Why was God pleased with Solomon's prayer?
It was not selfish, but a kingdom-focused prayer.
If you are currently still selfish, get outward focused. Can you organize a budget building party where people come to your place and everyone works on updating their budget?
The king asked for a changed heart. When we fall short in critical life areas, that's what we need to ask for too.
Distinguish between right and wrong.
Right or wrong to keep wasting money, time?
Right or wrong to be constantly interrupted? Then why do you allow all these apps and notifications on your phone?
Right or wrong to keep eating junk?
Right or wrong to give God our first fruits?
Distinguish between what is a life skill and a life stupidity.
Example: Still having no budget, once someone has been taught that budgeting is godly, would be very unwise.
Applies to non-kings because we all govern our lives.
Verse 14: Life wrapped around obeying the Bible.
Discuss the 4 Cs of management (from Peter Drucker): Competency, Character, Care, Community. Then answer which ones do you (or will you) bring to your employer?

Practicals

Discuss how each of the following areas of your life can be more kingdom-focused: health, time, career, and money.
Ask an outward-focused and generous person how they went from being selfish to being more giving.
Pick 1 day per month to have a group workout time with others who need help with exercise.
Start teaching life skills to those who need it.

Escaping Trouble

2 Chronicles 15:1-7
[15:1] The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. [2] He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. [3] For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. [4] But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. [5] In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. [6] One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. [7] But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

What kind of people was God "troubling?"
Could God "trouble" your health, time, money, and career? This calls for a greater fear of God and a more responsible approach to how we manage these limited resources.
How can we know that maintaining Life Skills requires consistent time and cooperation with God?
The work of what kind of people will be rewarded?

Wisdom into Skill

Proverbs 4:7
[7] Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

The Hebrew word translated here as "supreme" means first, beginning, best, chief.
Above all other skills and traits to personally acquire, none is better than wisdom.
Getting wisdom must become first and best priority.
What is the cost of wisdom?
Are you willing to pay that cost? All you have?
How can you begin each day with wisdom?
How can wisdom help you with managing time, money, career, health?
If you have great deficits in any of these areas, first look back at your pursuit and application of wisdom. Are you getting advice from appropriate sources in each area? Are you following the advice?
Wisdom helps you know which skills to use when.
Why is wisdom so expensive?
Wisdom also translated as "skill."

John 1:1-5, 14

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning.

[3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. [4] In him was life, and that life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it....
[14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word of God who became flesh is Jesus. He became human and had to practice life skills in the light. His time living on earth was glorious, so Jesus has life skills to be imitated.
The closer you get to Jesus, who is the Word of God, the brighter your life skills are.
When we are in the light and close to Jesus, we can better identify the dark patterns of life that are ineffective.
One of Jesus' incredible life skills was knowing how to operate in multiple manifestations. He functions excellently as a humble son as well as the highest authority--the king of kings. For us, think of how we can imitate that on the job.
Study Jesus' life and word to increase your understanding and application of godly life skills.

Practicals

Talk to someone who is out of debt, has a balanced budget, and gives generously and consistently to God. That's the wise person to get advice from.
Ask someone already in shape to give you a workout plan.
Ask a healthy eater to share their diet with you.
Ask an experienced couple how they meal-prep to save money.
Before grabbing that late-night snack, ask yourself how much wisdom is going into this decision.
For whatever area in life skills that there is currently no progress after much effort, get an accountability partner. For example, if you think you are doing everything right in your job search yet you are still not getting hired, have a conversation at least 2 times per week with an employed Christian about how your job search is going.

TIME SKILLS

Time Management

Time Mobiles is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. Like a car with only 1 tank of gasoline, I drew this as a reminder that our own time is a limited, non-renewable, and valuable resource that we must navigate and utilize wisely.

Psalms 90:9-10
[9] All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. [10] The length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

We eventually will "pass away" in this life.
Coming to terms with our own mortality should serve to humble us into being more purposeful and intentional with our schedules--with the finite number of days we have left on this earth.
What is one of the factors that may give a person ten extra years--if God so allows it? Strength. That's why becoming strong in life skills matters. It can be a factor that gives you more time.

Psalms 90:12
[12] Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

How do we learn life skills from God? We need God to "teach us" life skills by comparing life situations to examples in the Bible. That means we need to know our Bibles better.
When we learn "to number our days," we realize that we only have a limited amount of days operating in this body on the earth. As the son of God in the flesh, Jesus lived only 33 years on this earth. He made those limited days and years count, leading to a resurrected life.
Will your days and years lead to a resurrected life?
Align the hours of your day with what the Holy Spirit wants you to do with your time.
How can we "number our days aright?"
Infuse a godly structure and order to daily routine.
Don't just do whatever feels right in the moment.
Have a purpose to the hours of each day.
What's one result of godly time management? "A heart of wisdom."

Matthew 5:23-26

[23] “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

[25] “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. [26] I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Don’t let urgent matters linger.
“Settle matters quickly.” Think of how much freer you would be if you stopped procrastinating.
Gain wisdom to understand what cannot wait.
Stop right now and ask a person who knows you what is the most pressing matter for you to address this week?
If you have urgent matters, do you really have time to be lazy?

Matthew 5:29
[29] If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Cut off unproductive activities.
Make a list of unproductive activities.
What behaviors are you ready to throw away?

Matthew 5:37
[37] Simply let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes,' and your ‘No,' ‘No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

When you agree to be somewhere at a certain time, that’s a “Yes” answer. Don’t be late.
When committing to do something (“Yes”), map out what it takes to get it done.
These things take reallocation of time.
What if God said, "Yes, I will save you," yet because he was very busy, never made the time to put your name in the book of life?
Jesus also gives us the liberty to say "No," and mean it. It means that there are times it is godly to say "No."
Are you doing things under your "Yes" answer, but you really mean "No," and your heart is not into the activity? Then you may find yourself pleasing people, but not God.
What are some examples of when it is completely righteous to say "No," and mean it?
Pop Quiz: What could go wrong when scheduling a 60 minute meeting immediately followed by another 60 minute meeting?

New Chapter for Life Skills Book is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta

The theme of this comic--removing time-wasting, useless distractions--will be repeated multiple times in this book because such things have a nasty way of creeping back into our lives. So be vigilant, expecially with technology. New Chapter for Life Skills Book is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on zeroone.

Practicals

When thinking about what to do with your time, consider how it will effect others. Can you modify your schedule to impact more people. For example, instead of traveling to an event by yourself, would car pooling be more strategic?
On your mobile phone: Turn off all notifications from social media apps OR uninstall those apps. "Gouge it out."
Increase calendar usage with reminders.
Practice hour blocking of your daily schedule.
Not counting sleep, work or school, and recurring meetings, if you add up all your open blocks of time, count how many hours of unscheduled free time you have.
When should you check your calendar?
Since time is a non-renewable limited resource, eliminate wasteful activity from your schedule.
If you're not getting enough rest, schedule your rest, but make sure it is refreshing.
Track how many hours of video watching you do. If it's a high number, replace some of that time with more productive quality times.

Goals

Luke 13:31-35
[31] At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

[32] He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' [33] In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

[34] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! [35] Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”

Use the S.M.A.R.T.S. method of goal setting: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Serious.
Does Jesus set goals?
Are they numerical?
Does Jesus face opposition to his goal?
What are the forms of opposition Jesus faces? Casual conversation, threats, as well as physical and even violent barriers.
What does Jesus wanting to gather his children together have to do with his goal?
What numerical goals should you set right now?
Pray about the goal first before you confirm it as a goal.
What happens when, at first try, you are blocked from getting hired at the company where you want to work?
Goal setting and working toward the goal's accomplishment--in spite of opposition--are life skills.
What's one of the keys to goal fulfillment (verse 33)? Determination: "In any case, I must keep going."
Notice how serious Jesus took his goal: Go tell that fox... I will reach my goal.
Don't make a goal if you are not going to take it seriously.
I will add to my life skills. I will level up in health, money, career, and time management!
Jesus told people about his goals.
Tell another trusted person about your goal. Ask them to hold you accountable.

In Genesis, after the flood, we see God do something remarkable with reminders that we need to do more of in our own lives. Reminders help us manage time better, especially when it comes to accomplishing long-term goals.

Genesis 9:14-16
[14] Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, [15] I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. [16] Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Certain agreements are so important to God that he does very colorful things to "remember" them time and time again.
Since God makes a stunning visual reminder for himself (verse 16) about important things, shouldn't we?
Notice the nature of God's reminder: it is recurring. When we set reminders to achieve goals or to manage time better, one reminder is often not enough. We need frequent and recurring visual reminders.
Think of unmet goals in your life. What is a visual reminder you can make right now to help you accomplish that goal?
Make a visual reminder right now for an important goal.

Overcome Goal Opposition

1 Chronicles 11:4-6
[4] David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there [5] said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. [6] David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.

When opposition comes to your goals, what do you typically do?
For how long do you get discouraged by opposition?
Are mere words enough to stop your goal?
Are thoughts enough to stop your goal?
What was David's solution to opposition?
If your goal is godly, don't let opposition stop you.
What is the main characteristic of how David filled his army "commander-in-chief" position.
Most positions are based on specific results.
Did Joab fight hard and compete for his position? Do likewise.
How does this relate to how you interact with your employer, potential employer, or customers?
What are the entrepreneurial components David built into the job?
How does entrepreneurialism relate to you right now?
Is there entrepreneurialism in ministry? Missions? Career? Health? Time? Money management?
In your career, do you promise results that you do not deliver?
Joab "went up first." His being early to the battle was part of the victory.
In careers and business, being first can give you an advantage. For example, first to apply, first to find that new customer, first to arrive on site, first to connect with strategic partners, first to form a support network, first to see market and industry trends, etc.
Discuss a few modern day examples of advantages of being first.
Can a lazy person be first?
Can a procrastinator be first?
Can a distracted person be first?
Think faithfully, like a future "commander-in-chief." Make a decision to lead something that will bring career advancement, and don't back down to opposition.

1 Chronicles 11:8
[8] He [David] built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

Joab, as David's new military chief, is flexible in his role. He could not only attack (destroy) but also restore (build).
As employees and students, we must become effective at offense and defense. Can you think of ways you can do both (offense/defense) in the professional world?
Learn to battle and build.
Do you get upset when given an unexpected and new task that you did not think was part of your role?
How much do you think employers value flexible workers and flexible attitudes?
How can you learn from Joab?

Practicals

Review your resume. Then ask another professional person to review it.
Pray about what your career goals should be.
A goal is the pursuit of specific end result. Milestones are the sequential steps required to accomplish the goal. Make at least 1 career goal. Write down milestone steps it will take to accomplish this goal.
After your morning quiet time, review your milestone steps to see what action can be taken that day toward your goal.
Before each milestone is achieved, troubleshoot a few top barriers that could stop the milestone from being reached and come up with contingency plans on how to remove ("attack") each barrier.
For those employed, ask your supervisor what you can do to improve.
Study what good managers of people do. Management can be a good growth job for more disciples of Jesus since we are already called to lead people effectively.
Get on a managerial training track (in school or at your job). When you can manage people well, you can transfer into a variety of industries, making you less dependent on the success of one company, or one industry during economic uncertainty.
Commit to coming to weekly leaders meetings in the church. This will show you how mobilizing (managing) people toward specific goals (despite opposition) is a practical life skill that can be applied to most management roles in the workforce.

Order

Order is an optional component of time. I say "optional" because how we use our time--orderly or disorderly--is a choice. We can use our time to create well thought out plans and implement those plans over time, or we can misuse our time to have very little structure and watch disorder overtake our lives.

Having personally tried both ways over and over--order and disorder--I have found order to be harder yet highly rewarding and disorder to be easy yet eventually disastrous. In fact disorder was a frequent theme in my early comic book writings because disorder creates so much juicy drama--yet very little peace. That was my life and that's all I really knew at the time. Only as I matured did I learn about the blessings and benefits of an orderly life. I had to get educated on how to have order. I had to grow some new skills in being orderly if I wanted a lasting peace. Not surprisingly, the same place we can find peace is where we can find order: in the Bible.

Colossians 2:5

[5] For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

It is a "delight to see" people being orderly.
Orderly operations are a sign of "how firm your faith in Christ is."
Orderly disciples are obedient to the structure and ways that Jesus and his leader have set up in the church.
Orderly operations should carry over into your job, your classes, your scheduling in life.
Contrary to the notion that faithful people go randomly about with no structure or plan, in the Bible, faithful people operate by order.
The faithful are orderly.
The order was visible.
Can people see the order in your life?

1 Corinthians 14:33

[33] For God is not a God of disorder but of peace...

God identifies himself as a God of order. We are called to follow him.
We must become people of orderly activities.
A disorderly schedule will not bring peace to your life. Take time to plan, to coordinate, and to align your plans with relevant others.
A church following God will have order in their lives and in their operations.
An employee following God will have order to their labor (as much as it depends on them).
Order is part of God's peace.

1 Corinthians 13:40

[40] But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Think multiple times per day about your schedule and how you plan for things to operate.
For everything to be "done in a fitting" way, we must review our schedule with those we are working with well in advance.

Practicals

Make a habit of not eating breakfast until you check your schedule for that day and the next 3 days.
Account in your schedule for unknown delays by getting up early and departing your home earlier than needed.
Arrive early to everything.
Start on time.
End on time, or end early.
Study brevity, speaking with time efficiency in mind and "let your words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Brevity is also a chapter in another book of mine called Bible Math.
Your home should reflect order, with cleanliness and no mess.

Strength to Strength

Psalms 84:5-7
[5] Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. [6] As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [7] They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Biblical blueprint for how to grow.
Strength in God (verse 5), not self.
Set heart on pilgrimage (verse 5): move it close to God.
Improve your environment (verse 6). Transform environment with water for fruitfulness.
Go from strength to strength (verse 7): strive to grow daily, all the way to your last breath.
Hebrew word for "strength" also translated efficiency, ability, might, army, force, virtue, valor, power.
Want to appear before God in paradise? Go from strength to strength. That's who makes it.
Person with life skills will always be leveling up.

Proverbs 4:18-19
[18] The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. [19] But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

A healthy disciple of Jesus starts bright and keeps increasing. That's the path of the righteous: strength built from strength.
Righteous focus on increasing life skills.
Wicked are clueless. Not sure why budget is off, why low energy, why often late to meetings. Unsure about schedule, career, health, etc. Their life is in darkness. Surprised at how frequent they stumble.
Solution is to start with one godly trait, increase that and add another life skill. Keep increasing "till the full light of day."
Example: Work schedule is well defined, written, and clear to you. Add your weekly ministry activity to your calendar. Look for areas to maximize the brightness of your time.
Get to the point where you can show someone your calendar and not be ashamed of all the inefficiency there. Rather be a bright example of a skilled life schedule of growth.

Matthew 28:18-20

[18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

By what means does Jesus expect the church to grow?
Within Jesus' great commission, there are 2 essential functions that the disciples are expected to implement. What are they?
According to Peter Drucker, a highly acclaimed management advisor, what are the 2 essential functions of business?
"Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business has two--and only two--functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation create value, all the rest are costs." - Quote from Peter Drucker (1954), The Practice of Management, pp. 39-40
Marketing and Innovation must be at the heart of what you do professionally.
Innovation Definition: The act or process of introducing new ideas, devices, or methods
Marketing Definition: The act or process of selling or purchasing in a market. The process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service
How is this understanding beneficial to you as an employee (or business owner)?
If you cannot demonstrate that you will strengthen a company with their marketing and/or innovation functions, why should they hire you?

10 Second Sales Pitch Structure

Introduction
Simple Product/Service Description
Ask prospect to DO something

Activity: Be Strong in Selling Yourself

How good are you at pitching your services?
Write your pitch
Practice your pitch

MONEY SKILLS

Money Management

Money is supposed to be a medium of exchange and a store of value. It is supposed to be a tool that we use for good, not evil. This means we must learn to manage money in a way that will make God happy.

I believe God uses money also as a tool to teach us and test what is in our hearts. The way to pass the test is to use money and love God. Sadly, many people reverse this principle; they love money and simply use God.

1 John 2:15-17

[15] Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

This is one of the most disobeyed verses in the Bible.
How often do we love things in the world because they become deep cravings and idols?
If you love money, that's from the world. Your culture taught you that.
If you love money, you will manage it very lustfully, yet fail to live "forever" with God.
When you learn to love God's will, your desires will change, and you can replace loving money with simply using money as a tool to implement God's will.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

[19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

This verse calls us to take a big-picture view of what money is. Yes, you can laugh at a feast, and perhaps on occasion drink one glass of wine to be merry (if you don't have an alcohol problem), but if you don't gain a healthy understanding and usage of money, you will not be able to answer life's challenges.
Used in the Bible 403 times, the Hebrew word "kesep̄," translated here as "money," can also be translated as "silver." In fact, it is more often translated as "silver" than "money."
It takes much energy and time to dig the mines that yield silver. Because silver has a real-world value and use case, that metal historically became one of the main ways in which value was exchanged. Silver basically became money.
Most societies in this century have moved away from a mining-backed monetary system and have adopted more of government-backed monetary supply where paper, electronic credits and debts are issued yet without any correlation to rare metals. This is an important distinction and deviation from Biblical money, so currency debasement will keep increasing. In other words, the item you bought 5 years ago with 5 dollars now costs 10 dollars. That same item today is not more valuable. Rather your base-level value of currency keeps dropping (debasement) because the money supply is no longer scarce.
Despite the differences between Biblical money and what is considered money today, we still need to work hard for money. Just keep in mind that just saving the money will actually lose you value over time--kind of like a battery that leaks. Sadly it means you'll have to work even harder and also invest smarter.
To receive consistent money, we need consistent employment (or sales from our own businesses). In essence then, money is a way to store the value of our labor. Similar to a battery which stores energy, think of money as a way to house the energy that you expended to earn the right to expend that energy later. Put simply, money = battery for work.
From the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, God designed us to work. In light of this, when we say "money is the answer to everything," we can just as easily understand that work-which-produces-money leads to answers for everything. Let this be a warning for all those who are doing extensive work that does not bring in any income.
God knows that income-earning labor is a main construct in how he designed people to exchange value (energy) and be part of a productive society.
When we misuse money, it becomes--literally--a paper trail account of our sin. It's the answer to where we have been misappropriating funds (and time) for wrong purposes.
Money is the tool that we have to use appropriately... and that is the solution ("the answer") to everything: how we give financially back to God, how we give to the poor, how we provide for our household, how we budget, etc.
A literal translation of this verse closes with a grand truth: "silver answers all." This means how you work, store, and spend your valuables will be heard throughout all parts of your life, so make it count in ways that please God.

Luke 16:1-13
[16:1] Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. [2] So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'

[3] “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg— [4] I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'

[5] “So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?'

[6] “‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'

[7] “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?'

“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'

[8] “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. [9] I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

[10] “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. [11] So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? [12] And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?

[13] “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Why was the manager about to get fired?
Why was the manager commended?
What is the waste in your budget? Your time? Your diet?
If you had to "give an account of your management" of God's money (verse 2), would your master be pleased?
Did the manager know how much was owed by his master's debtors (verse 5)? Shows terrible accounting.
God watches what we do with his money. That's why we need an accurate budget.
This may appear counterintuitive, but to have godly success with money, we have to NOT love money (verse 13). In a world that often wrongly promotes the love of money in popular culture, it takes skill to not love money.
Notice what is being tackled in the budget? Debt.
Who did the manager's urgency please?
Budget helps you "be trusted with very little" so you "can also be trusted with much."
Pleasing when debt is reduced from being out of reach to being within reach of payout.
God can reward those trustworthy with the little they have (verse 10). Budgeting is a skill--a discipline--that helps us become trustworthy with our spending.

Luke 9:23
"...If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself..."

Often debt is a result of undisciplined living, which includes undisciplined spending. This is an unwillingness to deny self.
Living beyond your means can be selfish.
Creating and maintaining a budget is not the most exciting thing to do, but we must deny our urge to ignore it. Focus on wise, thorough budgeting.
Deny the foolish urge to spend money without discipline. Rather keep track of all your spending on a budget spreadsheet. Then you can track where the money is really going.
Part of denying self in your budget is by putting God first in the expense category.

Romans 13:8
[8] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Which debt is the only allowable one?
Commanded not to stay in continual financial debt.
God wants your debt to be over and done with.
If a debt lasts more than 30 days, it stands out (outstanding). So there must be a responsible plan to pay it off.
If you get a monthly letter or phone call from creditors hounding you to pay your debt, that stands out. It's an "outstanding" debt that God wants you to have a plan to get out of.
God does not want you to let your outstanding debt continue.
Literal translation: "Owe nothing to anyone..." (NASB).
So what will it take for you to get out of debt and/or stay out of debt?

Practicals

Make time for meal prep.
Eat much slower: take time to chew longer. When you eat fast and are multitasking, often what you eat goes down so quickly that the brain does not fully register that you have put enough food in you, which causes you to eat even more, and therefore spend more on food.
Never buy drinks. Carry a water bottle.
Don't buy things on credit unless you pay it off in-full without interest that month.
For every purchase ask, "Do I really need this now?"
For bigger potential purchases, wait a week to make sure this isn't an impulse buy.
Pay off highest-interest debts first.
Complete a full budget annually.
Put weekly giving to God first at the top of your budget. Part of denying self means God is your priority weekly expense, not you.
What happens if you are sick one Sunday and don't give your weekly contribution? Is that more money for you, or do you make it up to the Lord?
Consider your budget a living document that needs revision with the changes of life.
If possible, become a homeowner vs a renter, but research this carefully because you are commanded by God not to let debt be outstanding. Must have stable income to pay off the debt as early as possible.
Before taking a school loan, consider whether that education will lead directly to a highly in-demand career.
Use the Something In/Something Out principle. When buying some new object, set a guideline that before the new purchase, something you already have has to first be given away, or sold. This can help deter impulse buying as well as clutter.

Growth

How can we grow? Build rewards into harder tasks. That's what Jesus did, and we will look at this from a spiritual and financial perspective.

Hebrews 12:1-3
[12:1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. [2] Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What was Jesus' reward? What was the joy set before him?
The establishment of his church: Us being saved. Fulfilling God's promise to Abraham. Being back with the Father (at the right hand of God).
What rewards can you build into harder tasks? For example, say you want to watch a few movie trailers in the middle of the day. Set a goal of not giving yourself that reward until you research getting a potentially cheaper phone service plan.
Do not grow weary about completing your budget, exercising, etc.
Consider the noble goal of becoming a homeowner, not a renter. How can you do that while also staying faithful to Jesus?
Learn to keep eyes fixed on Jesus while also working toward the goal of becoming an owner.
When you focus on growing just 1% better as a person every day, even if you fail every other day, that's still over 180% annual growth. Think how that could add up for earning raises or growing a side-hustle.

Running the race marked out for us as we fix our eyes on Jesus means so much. One of its applications has to do with understanding that we do not become Christians, nor do we stay Christians in a vacuum. Rather we operate in a financially charged society with economic responsibilities. To grow in our money earning abilities, is much like a runner's progress. At first we waste energy because we are untrained. Yet with a mentor and constant practice, we grow in skill, stamina, and experience.

The same is true for the race--or pursuit--for more income. It's pretty normal to want more money. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that. In fact, as we age and increase the amount of people we are responsible for, having more money becomes a great need. The challenge will always be to grow in our earning ability while simultaneously NOT letting our personal pursuit of money grow into an all-consuming idol. Such growth is not the kind that will get us wisdom.

Proverbs 23:4

[4] Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.

Why is it important to show restraint as you pursue a greater income?
You could foolishly exhaust yourself leaving no time for God.
Living mainly for money makes a person weary.
NASB shows how constant thinking about riches will drain you: "Do not weary yourself to gain wealth. Cease from the consideration of it."
Take appropriate action based on economic research rather than trusting in your own clever obsession.

Put Money to Work

There is a highly entrepreneurial principle in the Bible about maximizing certain resources to work for the benefit of you and God's kingdom. Most directly it can be seen in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). To appreciate this parable more, there are a few key concepts to embrace.

In the ancient world, a "talanton" (or "talent" in English) was a specific weight of currency.
Reading before and after the parable, its context is about God's kingdom, which is the church.

Matthew 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents

[14] “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. [15] To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [16] The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. [17] So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. [18] But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

[19] “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

[21] “His master replied,' Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

[22] “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

[23] “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

[24] “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

[26] “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

[28] “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

The master (God) entrusts people with money (verse 14). Are you being trustworthy with money?
Everyone has "abilities" (verse 15). Are you using your abilities to put the money that God gives you to multiply?
How quickly does the man with 5 talents put the money to work (verse 16)?
What is his rate of return?
One of the people with less talents still put it to work and multiplied it (verse 22).
For the man given 1 talent, what stopped him from putting the money to work (verse 25-26)?
Third person was wicked and lazy. He did not do anything with the money but buried it. He called worthless servant by God. He was not faithful or responsible with what God gave him. How about you?
Being unwilling to try is wicked according to this parable.
Regardless of how much you have, what can you do this week to put money to work?
The master harvests where he has not sown and gathers where he has not scattered seed. What does that mean?
Be entrepreneurial by disrupting new markets. Don't wait to be invited into a business. Start breaking into viable sales avenues now. Just make sure, as you do spend time building your business, that this business never becomes your idol.
When you understand that raising money is pleasing to God, and that you can please God, you can become more flexible in what jobs or business opportunities you may pursue.
Since this is a parable about the kingdom and our responsibility to multiply money to the benefit of life in the church, we all need to keep asking ourselves: how are we doing with multiplying money to benefit the kingdom?

Practicals

Start a side business that draws from in-demand abilities you already have. The key here is "in-demand," as in what service or product that you offer are customers willing to part money with to actually do business with you?
When investing in stocks or other assets that you have researched and believe will eventually go up in value, only invest amounts in which you are willing to completely lose.
When researching potential investments, don't simply believe people who are already heavily invested in that same investment. Research counter arguments. Look for metrics that are verifiable and valuable to future growth. Analyze multiple data points, not just one.
Take all your loose change that has been doing nothing and invest it.
Learn to cut costs, negotiate prices or bills, and renegotiate.

Investing

A Crypto Unicorn Is Born by Joe Chiappetta is rare digital art, available on MakersPlace. As financial satire, this cryptoart comic strip pokes fun at some of the sillier, yet all-too-real things going on in the never-boring and never-secure world of investments.

Investments come in all shapes, sizes, and risk levels: homes, cars, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, gold, silver, cryptocurrency, art, collectibles, NFTs, and more. "Of making many books there is no end..." (Ecclesiastes 12:12) and the same is true about investment products. Opinions about these investments are literally all over the place, and there is no consensus or unity as to what is best. In fact, I have seen that too many financial advisors and investors are typically strongly biased towards what they are already invested in, or what they get a percentage of when you invest in what they are promoting.

Yet past success is never a certain indicator of future success. Only God knows the future. Gratefully, when it comes to investing, there are a number of core scriptures from God's own word to always consider before putting any money down.

1 Timothy 6:17

[17] Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Putting your "hope" in your investment is forbidden.
"Wealth... is so uncertain." God has embedded an uncertainty principle into all worldly wealth.
Investors must take to heart that valuations will always have uncertainty associated with them, and this is by God's design.
If you do invest in anything, regardless of what you think are the positive elements supporting your investment, understand that its value can go down or up, or both.
In fact, the only thing Biblically guaranteed is that its value is "uncertain."

Ecclesiastes 9:11

[11] I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

"Time and chance happen to" the "brilliant" as well as the not-so-brilliant.
Referring to your investments, this means you can attempt to make the most researched, "wise" investment strategy, but because of the "time and chance" principle, which happens to "all," your investment could still fail, or do amazing, or stay flat, or all of the above, over time.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

[1] Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. [2] Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

The Hebrew word translated as "Cast" also means to "send away, let loose, let go." Are you ready to let go of valuable things (bread) in the hope that something more valuable will be found later?
Are there things you are holding onto in your career that you really need to let go of?
It takes a certain degree of faith and patience to "cast your bread upon the waters." You're giving up something valuable in the hope that there will be a good return "after many days."
When you become an investor, you will see how so much more is NOT in our control.
The phrase "after many days you will find it again" means there is a degree of work that goes into investing--even after the investment is made. You have to assess economic conditions on an ongoing basis to know how to manage your investment... to know how to "find it again." In other words, know how to eventually cash out of that investment at an unknown later date.
If you have a hard time giving up control, investing may not be for you.
Casting your bread upon the waters due to unknown disasters best illustrates the principle of investment diversity.
If all your investments are focused on one asset, and disaster comes upon that asset, your investment can fail.
Diversify what you do to bring income in.
Diversify your network of contacts. How can this be helpful?
Beware of financial advisors who tell you what the future will bring based on price charts and "technical analysis" because "you do not know what disaster may come upon the land."
Disaster can wipe out any investment.
Note the verse 1 phrase "after many day you will find it again." For investment, you should--at the very least--look for what has good potential to remain a good store of value. For example, a 5 dollar bill (in USD) is not a true store of value because 30 years ago we could use it to feed 2 people at a restaurant. Yet today, in too many restaurants, that same 5 dollar bill would not even cover the cost of 1 meal. The value in a 5 dollar bill is not stored... it keeps getting lost.
"Many days" means that investing takes time. Your patience will be tested. Beware of get-rich-quick schemes and promises that you can buy something and flip it right away for a higher price. Sometimes that can be the case... but sometimes not.
When investing, consider what your time-horizon is. Are you prepared to hold that asset for a longer time if it does not do what you estimate it will do? Or will you need that money in 3 months?
Casting your bread upon the waters also shows the importance of giving things away. When you give something away, it is not in your control anymore. In fact, it is entirely out of your control. For business growth, determine what you can afford to give away that will attract new customers. In the Biblical example, bread is a low-cost simple yet useful item.
What simple but useful low-cost item or service can you give away to grow your career or business?
The Hebrew word translated as "bread" in verse 1 can also be translated as "food." How can this verse be applied to your health? Think of what you "cast" away when you fast.
How can this verse be applied to your time management or your career?

Ecclesiastes 11:3

[3] If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

Clouds "full of water" are essential to crop growth and prosperity. In the same way, what you invest in must be "full of" very useful material.
If you cannot easily explain the use case for what you want to invest in, it it really a good investment?
Clouds full of water that "pour rain upon the earth" have certain liquidity. How liquid is what you want to invest in? In other words, how fast can you cash out if you need to?
When an investment or a career path "falls" like a tree in the woods, don't expect it to magically get better. A tree stays completely fallen until strenuous labor is put into that fallen tree to move it. There is no substitute for hard work. And some things stay wrecked forever.
Notice from Ecclesiastes 11:1-3 that essential, useful, simple, and highly in-demand items are highlighted: bread, water, rain, and wood. Summing up these verses, a diverse investment strategy focused on essential, useful, simple, and highly in-demand items or services with clear liquidity might be successful... until unknown disasters strike.

Proverbs 13:11

[11] Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

"Little by little" is the Bible's advice on how to grow your finances.
Beware of get-rich-quick promises.

Psalms 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

From a worldly perspective, you can do everything proper, following other successful investors, but that could still fail if God does not build with you.
Investors need to beg God to support their investment or it will be "in vain."
Practically speaking, for the Christian, this means walking with God every day, begging him to support what you have invested in.
If you are not building and watching over the things in the Bible that God calls you to build and watch over, why would God build and watch over the things you want?
Build with God. Guard with God.

1 Kings 10:27

[27] The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills.

King Solomon, as head of the government, had full authority to change the scarcity or abundance of money and thus devalue a previously valuable asset. The same can be true of governments today.
The Hebrew word translated here as "silver" is also translated as "money."
Currency, commodity, and other asset values can radically change with changes in government.
Sometimes your asset value will go up with these changes but sometimes down.
So much of investing outcomes are completely out of our control.

Putting all these verses together, we get a clearer view that investments are actually uncertain risks vulnerable to time, chance, disaster, and even God's own actions. Simply put, we are talking about gambling on so many unknowns. Once a person understands that investing is a form of gambling, then the field can be approached with more truth, caution, and less foolish thinking such as "this investment is a sure thing."

Practicals

How many people are already using the product on a daily basis?
How useful is the product?
Who is on the team promoting/marketing this investment?
Who is on the team operating this product?
Do claims (hype) about the product match what the product currently does today?
If a key member of the team behind the investment left the project, would the investment suffer?
If your investment went to zero, would you be financially ruined?
Consider dollar cost averaging.
How easy and quick is it to cash out of the investment?
How limited is the supply of this product?
Since the Bible says to "test everything," how can you know your research is reliable.

Economics of Leadership

Economics refers to production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Since all of us consume goods and services, and many of us produce and/or distribute such goods and services, we all operate under economic conditions. Put simply, you cannot escape economics, but if you don't understand economics, you will be less likely to succeed or maintain success.

Moreover, you could be a successful investor, employee, or student, but if you do not have a respect for how economic conditions and economic leaders can influence your own personal results, you may be caught in disorderly conditions that could derail all your hard work. Therefore understanding of how leaders impact economies can be very useful, as well as how unity (or lack thereof) can make or break leaders, individuals, and even whole economies.

The Bible has much to say about economics. In fact, a whole book can even be devoted to just the following verse.

Proverbs 28:2

[2] When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

When a "man of understanding" cannot be found to lead, and it is concurrent to rebellious people entering into a new business together (even if that business is disruptive to the status quo), that new business may do well. That new business--in limited cases--may even do so well that the "rebels" gain so much support that they become the new unified leaders who consolidate under a new understanding and maintain a new order. Can you think of examples of this?
As this relates to investments, if what that business produces or offers is not sinful, then it might be worth looking into as a potential investment opportunity. However once a "man of understanding" from the previously disrupted market rises up to consolidate power and unify the people, that new disruptive business could decline.
What are some examples of this?
When many people are not unified with their leader(s), expect disorder and competing would-be leaders fighting for attention. This uncertainty can lead to price instability and even price declines.
When a system gets too large and complex, and things cannot be understood and controlled, it typically means more disorder, rebellion, and decentralization of power can be expected. For a market, this can lead to price instability and even volatility.
In general, decentralization brings greater price variances. So you may be able to buy things at a lower price while elsewhere they are selling at a higher price. Similarly, you may be able to sell at a higher price while elsewhere the item sells for less.
A man who "maintains order" needs command of the power structure and network to gather appropriate "knowledge" about what the true market conditions are. Then this leader can take appropriate action to stabilize the market.
In decentralized conditions without much order, expect "many" rebellious actors, including independent leaders competing for influence, power, and investment. Some of these people may even have useful ideas and will convince people to invest in their venture. Yet because there are so many rebellious leaders vying for attention, the lack of market unity plus the fierce competition will keep their value typically low (even if some are falsely convinced that the value if high). Again, in these cases there can also be more price volatility, as publicity hype-cycles rise and fall.
Practically speaking, how does this relate to your operations?
When investing, look carefully at the governing structure, company structure, marketplace structure, and also geopolitical events that can disrupt it. Ask the following questions: "How unified is the industry I may invest in? Who is leading these institutions? What are the leadership threats to this investment? Does what I plan to invest in have an easy way for me to fully and quickly cash out when I am ready? What are the tax implications of my investment?"
Basically when it comes to investing, it does greatly matter who is in charge, and if that person or entity is actually in charge... or not.
How can the economics of leadership also be applied to your health? Time management? Career?

CAREER SKILLS

Careers

A career is an occupation performed for a significant period with opportunities for progress. Practically speaking, therefore, someone in a career should never be completely settled. They should always be looking to strengthen and advance in their position and income. This can be seen clearly from Bible history too.

1 Kings 20:21
[21] The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans. [22] Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”

After a big win, the king of Israel is not told to slow down. He is called to get even stronger.
Can you identify potential attacks to your career?
In careers we need to always be looking to strengthen our position. That can mean within the same company or it may mean different a company.
The prophet told the king of Israel what must be done to thrive. Similarly, we need godly direction in our careers to be strengthened and withstand attacks to our ability to earn income.
"See what must be done" means we need to know our industry better. Is there a future in it. When you know the metrics of your company and the industry you are in, it is easier to understand what you should do next.
Never settle down and get stagnant. That is an invitation to be replaced.

Seeking Better Jobs, Promotions, or Customers

Matthew 7:7-8
[7] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

The Greek word translated here as "seek" also means "to crave, demand something from someone" (Blue Letter Bible).
Seek, from Thayer's Greek Lexicon mean "to seek in order to find."
Have an expectation of results.
Note the in-person persistence. "Ask... seek... knock.
There is a heavy faith component to job seeking as a disciple. Do you believe you will find a good job?
Get physically present with the one you are asking for employment.
You’re not just asking God for a job. You’re working hard to ask people for jobs.
Unemployed? Then full time job is seeking a job. That means an 8-hour per day job search, at least 5 days per week until you get hired.
Underemployed? Then spend at least 2 hours per weekday looking for a better job.
Should you just have 1 resume?
Make your asking and seeking manageable by keeping an organized file system for your resumes (so you can reuse and refine them). Example: Resume_Chiappetta_Manager01.pdf, Resume_Chiappetta_Manager02.pdf, Resume_Chiappetta_Sales01.pdf
"Ask" employers for follow-up on jobs you've applied for, and in many cases, "it will be given to you."

Matthew 7:3-5
[3] “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? [4] How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Must take a really close look at how you present yourself: resume, application, personal appearance, how you communicate, etc.
Remove the plank from the job candidate.
Strive to "see clearly" what employers see.

Colossians 3:23-25

[23] Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, [24] since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. [25] Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

From verse 23, for those unemployed or underemployed, how much of your heart should you put into your job search?
While employed at various companies, who are you actually serving?
Is God pleased with your "serving?"
Being a great employee pleases God and is full of rewards.
Being a great employee can lead to promotions. That higher pay can help the church too.
Being a great employee also makes the gospel extra-attractive to non-Christians.
If you are willfully doing what is wrong on the job, or in your job search, or in school, "there is no favoritism." You will "be repaid for" your "wrong."
Some new employees miss out by being too opinionated early on. They get fired or quit because they didn’t like the way things were done. Be patient and humble. Seek to learn and understand first, prove your value to the company, connect with the leaders, and then (perhaps) suggest improvements respectfully.

Proverbs 10:4
[4] Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

The Greek work translated here as "diligent" also means "sharp" and "determined." In a poetical sense it also means "gold," as in very valuable. This begs the question: what are you doing with your hands? Does what you do bring value, sharpness, and determination into your life?
If what we do is with due diligence, then good income ("wealth") will come.
When unemployed or underemployed, there is great temptation to be lazy.
Solution is hard appropriate work.
What's the difference between work, and appropriate work?
Diligent hands do the proper task, not just any task. For a job search that means balancing online applications with much more in-person human networking.
Avoid the lazy-minded practice of picking a career path that has few job openings. Rather pick in-demand jobs for industries that appear to be growing.

Practicals

Social capital: leverage your existing relationships to find hiring opportunities. This includes friends of friends, relatives, and anyone you meet. If that list is small, then it means you need to meet more people in the industry you are interested in.
Face-to-face interaction must be sought with hiring managers or people who can refer you to them.
Follow up on every job you apply for.
When unemployed, get any job that does not conflict with meetings of the church and while in that job, look for a better job.
Telephone your local government office and ask them what are the in-demand jobs and high growth. A number of cities have workforce development offices that track this data and partner with local employers. In the USA you can find some of this data at O*NET Online through the US Department of Labor.
Where there are transferable skills, add your service in the church to your resume under a section called Volunteer Experience. For example, what church activity is this task describing? "Canvased public areas to promote community events and increased attendance at these events on a weekly basis."
Write a business-focused bullet point that describes the action of helping church members work through personal issues.
Consider adding these points to your resume (if true):

Volunteered for monthly events, including fundraising, outreach, and education.
Demonstrated strong commitment to organizational mission and values, and contributed to its growth and development.
Collaborated with other members and leaders to plan and execute programs and services that met community needs.

Work

Work can be defined in many ways. "I got my school work done." "Raking the leaves was harder work than I expected." In fact, even the process of thinking takes mental "work." Yet for the purpose of surviving and prospering in our life skills, it will be most beneficial to describe work in a much more narrow way: think of "work" as you being consistently engaged in specific acts of labor that lead to income.

Proverbs 24:27

[27] Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

This is a scripture about how to establish yourself through hard, sequential work.
When moving to a new location, or a new phase in life, priorities matter.
The sequence in which we do work is important.
The first step describes "outdoor work." That Hebrew word translated here as "outdoor" is also translated as "streets" and "abroad." In other words, get out of your house and get a job in the community. The same goes for your job search. Get out of your house and meet employers (or clients). Thinking you are going to get a job simply by job searching from your couch on the internet to land a work-from-home job rarely happens. In the current economy, most people will need to take to the streets to find employment and maintain it.
Finishing "your outdoor work" provides you with a safer environment (as much as it depends on you). That's going outdoors into the community and getting an appropriate job, securing suitable partnerships, transportation, security, etc.
Notice it says to "finish" your outdoor work. One of the things this can represent is being upwardly mobile in employment. In other words, you take any job while networking for better jobs that provide a living wage.
Getting your fields ready means removing stumbling blocks and barriers to growth from your life.
What are examples of barriers in need of removal? Lack of updated and effective resume. Lack of budget. Lack of marketable skills. Poor work ethic.
Planting your fields requires discipline and patience. But if you're settling into your house first (impatient for comfort), people may starve or be malnourished.
Once a solid track record of vigorous work is established, then some of your focus can turn towards constructing a house... because you've earned the funding for it.
In summation, this whole verse defines the wisdom of setting up your well thought out income-generating labor scheme first. Then-and-only-then should you build your house, and the comforts that come with stable home life.
Now let's read Young's Literal Translation to draw more conclusions: "Prepare in an out-place thy work, And make it ready in the field--go afterwards, Then thou hast built thy house." What this shows is the effectiveness of commuting into an inconvenient "out-place" (into the world) to earn income. This practice is the primary and essential way to actually get your own house built.
Doing work in God's defined order yields a godly defined life.

Ecclesiastes 11:4
[4] Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

Are you more of a watcher or a planter? Your consistency in income can often show you the answer.
It is fine to be observant ("watch the wind"), but make sure you are also highly engaged in planting and reaping.
Too much observant analysis can be paralyzing.
How much time do you spend thinking or daydreaming compared to how much time you produce concreate work that will "reap" a harvest of income?
Are you merely looking with a lot of mental energy when you should be laboring to reap?
How might you know if you are too observant of the wrong things? When you spend too much time meddling in things outside of your area of responsibility while your own career lacks sustainable income, that will become a huge problem. Or perhaps you've taken on responsibilities that you cannot afford to maintain.
When a person is focused on the wrong things, regardless of how fascinating those things are (such as "the clouds"), there will be little to no income.
If you are not in farming, to "plant" in today's language, refers to actionable things you do with the expectation of income.
For the employed, "plant" efficient, consistent, and appropriate job tasks.
For the unemployed (or underemployed), plant resumes, job applications, in-networking interactions, and follow up calls.
For the self-employed, plant sales calls, promotional opportunities, and cost-cutting measures.
For students, consider how this would apply to student life.

Ecclesiastes 11:5-6
[5] As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. [6] Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

Certain fascinating matters (like "how the body is formed in the womb") are a waste of your mental energy to attempt to understand. Use your mental energy to focus on doing productive, money generating work.
At work, set yourself the expectation to be productive from the very start of your shift. Plus, reserve energy for later in the day as well.
Since "you do not know what will succeed, whether this or that," as time permits, consider an intermittent side job (AKA side-hustle) that does not conflict with you performing godly responsibilities in the church.
Diversify your outreach. Diversify your revenue.
You were created to not "be idle." You were created to be a productive worker.

Ecclesiastes 11:7
[7] Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

Where possible, figure out ways to do at least some of your work outside. Sunlight is good for you.
When having business meetings, conduct them outside if possible, provided people are informed and prepared for that day's weather. Having a walking meeting can be very productive.
If the meeting or work cannot be outside, maneuver to do your work in a sun-lit room with windows. The sweetness of the light can help the work be more pleasant.
If these tips are not possible for your field, make sure you try and take your work breaks outside where possible.

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12

[11] We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. [12] Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

God's people are commanded "to settle down." Learning to settle down provides a base of stability for those in your household and those you invite over for hospitality.
From Thayer's Greek Lexicon, the word translated here as "settle down" is also "descriptive of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, and does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others."
Busybody means "to bustle about uselessly, to busy oneself with trifling, needless, useless matters" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
At first glance it may be difficult to detect a busybody. In fact, a busybody may appear to be working, but nothing productive comes from such labor. So we have to look at the measurable results of our labor.
Idle here means disorderly, out of rank.
An idle person deviates from the prescribed order of rule. Someone who has repented of idleness looks carefully at the hard and fast rules of economics and does the labor required to fund their lifestyle.
Idle people don't do the APPROPRIATE work needed.
People were told "to settle down and earn the bread they eat." This calls for an ongoing commitment to stable employment--being a wage earner living within their means. Therefore, aside from disasters and unforeseen calamities, people were expected to have earnings that covered their living expenses.
People were expected to be givers, not simply takers.
A settled-down student of Jesus therefore learns to be peacefully employed so that the bills are paid and the budget is balanced. This creates a welcoming and attractive environment for others to imitate.

Practicals

Create or update a budget to see if you are earning enough at your job.
Pray to advance your job situation every day.
Ensure that the jobs you take do not conflict with you seeking first God's kingdom and being present when the church meets throughout the week (Matthew 6:33).
As a general guideline for most situations, don't quit a job until you get a better job.
Hope is not a plan. Therefore, visualize which better and higher paying job you want to be employed at 6 months from now. Then determine what steps you'd need to take to get that job. Come up with a written plan to level up to that better job.

Delightfully Driven

One of the rare and delightful patterns to see in any workplace is a whole team that is responsible, totally unified, and focused on the money generating tasks of the company with great attitudes. I say "rare" because I have actually never seen this in all my years in the workforce, yet longed for it--particularly as I moved up in management. And I say "delightful" because, deep down, everyone wants to work in a peaceful, kind, frictionless, safe, fair, and productive environment. As it turns out, there are examples of such workplaces, and they are literally under our feet.

Proverbs 6:6-8

[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! [7] It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, [8] yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

What creature are we supposed to imitate?
Be self-motivated.
What does wise, ant-like timing look like on a job or a job search?
Have so much integrity that a supervisor will trust you and know that you will act responsibly.
Become happy and humble to follow a leader while also being a worker who typically doesn't need much oversight because you're internally driven.
Speaking from experience, these workforce traits are ones that managers absolutely delight in. They make a worker more likely to get hired and not just retain their job, but also to move up in a company.

Take some time to pray and meditate (think deeply) about what God delights in. Ask him to show you what gives him great joy. Ask God to help you keep his ways in managing your health, career, finances, and time.

Read part of the below song that David sang to the LORD.

2 Samuel 22:20-25

[20] He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. [21] “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. [22] For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God. [23] All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. [24] I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. [25] The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

"Spacious" living, as well as good health, career, finances, and productive use of time, are all rewards from God.
Are you pursuing the rewards over God?
Pursue God; then it is clearer how the rewards come.
God is the giver of rewards.
Why did God rescue David (verse 21)?
Does God delight in you?
Does God delight in how you have been managing your Health? Career? Finances? Time?
Is God delighted at how often you miss your weekly contribution to him?
Is God delighted in your on-the-job behavior?
Would God look at your hour-to-hour schedule and be delighted in how you maximize your time?
In verse 24, David sings that he is blameless before God. What is stopping you from singing that lyric?
Does your level of righteousness and cleanness have anything to do with the quality of rewards God can give you? See verse 21 and 25. "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.... The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight."
The rewards are in accord with your own righteousness and cleanness in God's sight.
The opposite of clean is dirty, defiled.
Clean or dirty: Which word describes your eating habits more?
Clean or dirty: Which describes your on-the-job (or job seeking) behavior?
Clean or dirty: Which describes your level or organization (time management)?
Clean or dirty: Which describes your consistency in giving to God.
Clean or dirty: Which describes your spending patterns?
Reread verse 22. "For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God."
The word "evil" also means wicked, condemned as guilty.
Is there anything "evil" in how you manage your health? Career? Fiances? Time? Are you guilty of misusing these areas? If so, repent. It is time to apply "the ways of the LORD," and watch the rewards come.
Strive to be the person described in verse 20. "He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me."
Does a great relationship with God unlock new rewards?
Have the faith to believe these rewards can include good health, career, finances, and time management.
Ask God for a great relationship with him, ensuring that you are obeying how he says to have a great relationship.
Take time on your knees to speak to God with words of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (a humble plea). Doing this daily is a life skill that will propel you towards more life skills.

Career Networking Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Proverbs 28:1

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

This section will boost your confidence and boldly equip you to market, sell, and network with anyone, for new jobs, new customers, or new strategic relationships. Put simply, we will learn to leveraging powerful relationships despite power differentials.

What was the greatest sales interaction you ever experienced and why?

Self-Examination: Pretend you've been duplicated.

Would you network with yourself?
If you were a boss, would you hire yourself?
What do you need to change professionally?
What is stopping you from growing?
Confidence vs. Arrogance: What's the difference?
How can you be confident yet humble as a professional?
How confident are you?
What do you need to be confident about?

How Business People Think: A VP of Sales has the following lines of thinking:

Market Constantly
Market to the Right People
Market Better than Competition
No Time for Causes
Wish job had more meaning
Long for simpler life
Can I make individual difference?
Wish to increase value plus also meeting deeper purpose: Two birds with one stone.

The professionals who demonstrate themselves to provide solutions and assistance in a few of the above points can be seen as valuable allies within companies.

The Power of Questions

What does your company do?
What is your role?
How long have you been in that role?
If underemployed: Have you heard of my company?

The Power to Relate

Make human connection
Industry-related news discussion
If married, make sure you wear your ring
If parent, eventually mention something about kids
Upbeat Talk about Sports, Weather

Power Realities

If another professional is at the same meeting you're at and you are feeling intimidated, remember that they need something too (otherwise they would not be there networking like you). Don't get insecure. Get bold.
Find out what person needs: What are you hoping to get out of today's session?
Find heart-strings
Person may long for your job or field

Power Insecurities

Recruiter may make less than you
Job conditions may be worse than yours
Business Owner may not draw salary due to low profits
May be on temporary contract
Person may be burnt out--looking for new area of focus

Network Busters: Do Not...

Be Underdressed
Be Long-winded
Arrive Late
Belittle Yourself

Belittling Examples

You've probably never heard of my organization but...
I know you're a busy person but...
We're going through funding cuts but...
We're a bit understaffed but...

The Power of an Example: Find something measurable and positive that you have accomplished professionally and look for opportunity to bring this up in conversation.

We helped Walgreens hire 17 people for their retail stores; this was during the recession!
We helped PepsiCo receive $23,000 worth of media exposure from 1 of their hiring success stories.
We helped employers find 137 workers with disabilities last year.

Dangerous Dreamers

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."

From T. E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph

Find the dangerous dreamers.
Collaborate with them.
Imitate them.
Be the righteous who are as bold as a lion.

Practicals:

Get in a group and have a professional networking session ASAP.
Look through calendars of city, county, community, chamber of commerce, and conventions centers to see what industry related event you can attend as soon as possible.

HEALTH SKILLS

Health/Wellness

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
[4] that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, [5] not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

Epithymia = Lust = desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden
Pathos = Passion = an affliction of the mind, emotion
Will you decide what patterns that you need to forbid in your life?
Reconsider sleep, diet, and exercise patterns.
Does what you do with your body honor God?
How "in control" are you?
How willing to "learn" are you?
Our only hope is to "learn" what works.

1 Timothy 4:8
[8] For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Physical training has "value" for this "present life."
Refers to exercise and diet. The value is short (some value) because life is short.
Not taking care of your body decreases its value.
NASB calls it "bodily discipline."
For the short while that you're alive in this body, have bodily discipline.

Psalms 23:1

[1] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

When we are acutely conscious of God being our perfect shepherd, what we want changes from more worldly things to more spiritual things. This completely impacts our health.
Young's Literal Translation says "...I do not lack."
When feeling in need of something, that's when we need to go to God the most.
This is a great passage for those having difficulty with over-eating.
Next time you're tempted to eat something you know you shouldn't, try reciting this passage 10 times first. Then ask yourself if you really believe it. Then ask yourself if you really need to eat that excess food.

Practicals

Daily exercise (and right now).
Pick 1 exercise you will do every day before you eat.
Write down 1 thing to change about your diet.
Before eating, perform a stomach self-test; put your hand on your stomach and push out as much as you can with your gut. Look down. Then ask yourself if you really need to pack more stuff in there.
Don't eat while doing something else. Look at your food. Be patient.
Reduce how much processed food you eat. If God didn't make it, is it really worth putting in your body?
Change what you do before bedtime. Eliminate late night eating and video browsing.
Rather than scrolling through social media in bed before dozing off, pray before bedtime.

Diet

Please watch this "Life Skills: Eat Wisely" class video. As a MERCYworldwide resource, the fun, practical and healthy dietary tips in this 35-minute video help us make wiser, Biblical choices in our eating. These patterns then lead to more energy, effectiveness, and wellness, along with much money and time saved.

Health Wheels is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. This carrot-powered sports car should remind us, as drivers of our own eating habits, to level-up not just in street style, but in good health as well.

This section on diet is written by Denise Chiappetta.

I am so excited because I get to talk about food! One of the fastest ways I found to build a connection with someone is to realize that we both enjoy the same food: even better when it is healthy food.

God created eating to be a source of pleasure. But eating too much, or making bad food choices, has been an issue literally since the beginning (Genesis 3) when Eve ate something she shouldn’t have! Like Eve, what are you eating that you know you shouldn’t be eating?

The diet industry is currently worth 72 billion dollars. So there’s a lot to say about diet. For now, here are a few concepts that I have found to be both helpful and sustainable over the years.

Diet Tip 1: For the most part, eat food that God created.

Ask yourself, "Would they serve this in Heaven?"

Is this a realistic scenario? You reach the pearly gates to hear “Well done my good and faithful servant. Here’s your Heavenly Welcome Gift Bag with your Snickers Bar, can of soda, and bag of Doritos?” I think not.

I ask myself, "Does what I’m putting in my mouth look even remotely like something God created?" God created fruit, not gummy fruit snacks. He created chickens, not chicken nuggets. He created wheat, not donuts.

In Mark 7:19 it says Jesus "declared all foods clean." So we need to ask ourselves, "Is this really food? Or is it a string of chemicals?"

God didn’t create red dye #40...yet it’s in what I’m eating! Even with products sold for our “diets” many of those protein powders and bars are full of added sugar and chemicals. Just eat an apple instead! It’s actually a simple pleasure of life to eat truly healthy, real food, in moderation.

Diet Tip 2. Becoming partners with God in creating the food! In Genesis 1:29 it describes how in the beginning, God gave us "seed bearing" plants and trees "for food." The good news is that many plants are still healthy to eat today!

I have a small garden. It’s a true pleasure to pop a fresh tomato into your mouth that you and God worked on together. It’s another way to interact with God in creating something beautiful. When I eat my home grown tomato, I know what it’s not sprayed with.

Moreover, seeds are relatively cheap while groceries from the store keep getting more expensive! Supply chain issues add all sorts of hidden costs to that food-like item you've become addicted to. So growing some of your own food will give you direct access to some fresh food.

Even if you don’t have “land” you can do container gardening. I have an aeroponic tower garden which takes up the same amount of room as a Christmas tree. You’re probably not going to get seriously fat eating fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and strawberries.

I do realize that most people won't become farmers. Yet even growing a tiny bit of your own food will remind you what real food actually looks and tastes like. It will also help you gain a deeper appreciation for Jesus' many parables about farming.

Personally, Joe and I choose to eat a mostly plant based diet. Of course, God did tell Noah that animals could be used for food. However, I do think it’s worth putting out there as “food for thought” that our modern day meat industry is a far cry from Bible days when David played the harp for his sheep while they grazed in the pasture. Many of the sheep and cows we eat in modern times are pumped with various drugs and have never even seen a pasture or experienced a thoughtful human caretaker.

Diet Tip 3: If God didn’t create it, use a small bowl.

We can have an emotional connection to food. Traditional cultures and family gatherings may serve special cookies or cakes. In the church, we host Bible Discussion Groups. As leaders and hosts, shouldn't we then lead the way in providing healthy choices and portions for our spiritual family? Bottom line is that you can enjoy the time with your family and enjoy some of your favorite treats without needing an antacid later or gaining two pounds in two days.

Diet Tip 4: Eat healthy, be healthy and stay that way!

Most people eventually struggle with their weight on some level. Maybe it’s been a struggle since you were young. Maybe you’re young now and you feel like you can drink Red Bull and eat cookies all day. Whatever category you’re in and however fast or slow God sets your metabolism, we all will have to accept God's discipling of us through weight gain and the side effects of unhealthy food choices.

My husband is in his 50s and in good shape! He also starts every day, after prayer and Bible study, by eating 2 carrots and exercising. I consider eating 2 carrots for breakfast a struggle. I hate carrots and I don’t start my day with them, but I make my own healthy food choices. This year I trained myself that if it’s past 7pm and I want to stick something in my mouth, I often make it an apple.

Once I turned 45, I realized I could get angry about how all my pants seemed to have suddenly gotten tight, or I could get humble about it, have some integrity and adjust to the new reality of a slower metabolism. Good news, My pants fit again and I’m not angry anymore. Maintaining a healthy weight takes self discipline. But as disciples, we have the tools we need to cultivate that!

So eat food God created. If God didn’t create it, use a small bowl, be humble before God about weight gain and food choices and maybe even try growing your own food!

Response to Ongoing Pain

The pain that comes from health problems can take up a considerable amount of our time and energy. In finding solutions to increase our health, let's start by asking a few questions:

What are some of the factors that lead to health problems?
How connected are physical issues to spiritual issues?
Does guilt ever play a part in health issues?

Psalms 38 presents a perfect, and sometimes unsettling outline for what to do when we experience physical and emotional pain. Get ready for a bumpy ride that gratefully ends well for the faithful.

Psalms 38:1-8

A psalm of David. A petition.

[38:1]

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

[2] For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me.

[3] Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin.

[4] My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

[5] My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

[6] I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

[7] My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

[8] I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

When health problems occur, one possible reason is "because of my sin" (verse 3), which brings about God's "wrath."
Understand that this is one POSSIBLE reason. There are other possible reasons. So if someone has health problems, that does not automatically mean they are in sin. However, when we appreciate that any particular health problem MIGHT be a result of our sin, a positive thing to do is look at this as another opportunity to get closer to God.
Does guilt have a weight (verse 4)?
What is the definition of guilt?
In Hebrew, the word translated in verse 4 as "guilt" is "ʿāôn," which means "perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity." Understand that a depraved action makes us "guilty" whether we have been "caught" in the sin or not: whether we "feel" guilty or not. Guilt is a condition, not a feeling.
Reading this psalm, what does guilt have to do with health?
Be aware also that physical health pain can lead to mental health issues, such as "mourning" (from verse 6) and "anguish of heart" (from verse 8). These in-and-of themselves are not sin, but if prolonged, such behaviors can lead to depression, which can result in lack of faith.
Note that David, the psalmist, journals about this. He gets very open about what is going on. That's an essential step in recovery.

Psalms 38:9-11

[9] All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

[10] My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

[11] My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

Don't isolate when in pain. Continue to seek godly fellowship. However, be prepared (looking at verse 11), that such issues could put a strain on your relationships.
Be extra-focused on having great times with God (verse 9).
What statements does the psalmist make to confirm he is aware of God's presence?
Stay acutely aware of God's presence. Our "sighing is not hidden from" God (verse 9).

Psalms 38:12-14

[12] Those who seek my life set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they plot deception.

[13] I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth;

[14] I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

Prepare that your influence, understanding, and even communications may become disrupted.
That's why pursuing great relationships with a few trusted disciples will take extra focus. You will need trusted spiritual advisors to help you through these times.

Psalms 38:15-18

[15] I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

[16] For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

[17] For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

[18] I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

"Wait for" the LORD (verse 15). See your need for him.
Stay faithful.
Pray in your weakness with humility.
Rely on God.
Confess your sin.
Don't merely take note that you should confess your sin. Stop what you're doing right now, get with another faithful person and "confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16).
We need an appropriate emotional response to our sin. We need to be "troubled" by our sin (verse 18) so that we can be cut to the heart and repent.

Psalms 38:19-22

[19] Many are those who are my vigorous enemies; those who hate me without reason are numerous.

[20] Those who repay my good with evil slander me when I pursue what is good.

[21] O LORD, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.

[22] Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Repent by pursuing "what is good."
Note the fear of God in David. Make sure we have our fear of God on straight.
Get urgent in your prayers.
Based on Psalms 38, what is a key reason the some health problems exist and even persist?
Do you see your need for the Savior?
Once you and a few others in your life can confirm that you are doing all the things outlined in the psalm, you will be in a better place.
If the health problem in question persists, at least you have eliminated one of the potential causes of your pain while also getting even more focused on God as you wait for him to lead you to the next phase of his plan for your life.
The relief of knowing that God is not angry with you brings a special and warming kind of healing that endures forever.

Fasting

The term "fast," in the Bible, means to abstain as a religious exercise from food and drink. We will discover, from the scriptures, that fasting is one of the core practices of life for people who follow God. In other words, it is a life skill.

Fasting is not only great for us spiritually, but the physical benefits are also considerable (assuming you are not pregnant or a nursing mother). Some of these benefits can include eliminating stored toxins, resting the digestive system, losing weight, lowering risk of obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, sleep apnea and some types of cancer, reducing inflammation in cases of Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Of course, if you have a serious medical condition, consult your doctor first.

Genesis 2:15-17

[15] The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. [16] And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; [17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

From the earliest days of human existence, dietary restriction and self-discipline were expected.
It's no different today.
Can food affect you spiritually?
Certain foods are bad for you. Some even usher in death!

Genesis 3:1-7

[3:1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?”

[2] The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, [3] but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'”

[4] “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. [5] “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

[6] When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. [7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Who is the first person to challenge the wisdom of dietary restrictions?
When you don't want to fast today, who does that please?
The very first sin of mankind involves eating food that should not be eaten.
Sins surrounding food and lack of discipline around food are still common today.

Matthew 6:16-18

[16] When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [17] But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [18] so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

The phrase "when you fast" is used twice here by Jesus.
Jesus expects his followers to fast.
Fasting is part of life. Therefore, is fasting a life skill?
When will you fast?
A proper, humble fast eventually "will reward you."

Matthew 4:1-4

[4:1] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

[4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

When you fast, you reestablish God as your source of strength, power, and rewards.
When you are spiritually focused, fasting helps you overcome temptation.
So much of eating is in our heads. Jesus went 40 days without food.
Do you think you need food more often than you actually do need food?
How often do you eat compared to how often you read the Bible?

Nehemiah 1:3-6

[3] They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

[4] When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. [5] Then I said:

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, [6] let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you.

Find out what is broken in your life. Fast over it.
When growth is stalled, or you're even in decline, it's time to fast.
Fasting shows you trust God more than food.
Fasting shows your level of urgency and commitment.

Practicals

Be very specific in what you are fasting from and even write it down first to make sure this is something you will complete. Then commit it to God in prayer.
Your fast should have a very clear start and end time.
Your fast should be for 1 (or more) specific reason(s).
Your fast should be precise in scope: what is allowable and not allowable.
For example, "This coming Monday, I will only consume water and no food or other drinks from 7pm through 12pm the following afternoon so that God, you will move my business to get 2 new clients this week."

Unpolluted

James 1:27

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

The skill of operating in a state of faultless religion has so much to do with fighting pollution in our spirit and our bodies.
Think about what you have been putting into your body over the last 3 days. Would God see it as pollution or things that nourish?
Keeping yourself from pollution in Greek means to be spotless, free from vice, unsullied. Note that a vice is a fault.
Take some time to write down what vices you have in your diet? Write down vices also in your career, budget, and scheduling habits.
Is your mind being polluted by social media? Before using social media, ask yourself, "What is my purpose for going on this site and how long should I be on this site?"
One vice most people have is with their misuse of added sugar, also known as "refined sugar." Its overuse (debauchery) is a cause of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, tooth decay, hyperactivity, and increased fatigue 1 hour after consumption.

Ephesians 5:18

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,"

Just as the stupefying pleasure of alcohol can lead to more abuses of it (as in debauchery), the same is true of added sugar.
The Greek word translated here as "debauchery" is anything done in excess. At its core is the abandoned person, as in one too far gone to be saved.
Are you too far gone in your eating habits to change? Beware then of debauchery.
Added sugar has highly addictive properties and in the past 5 decades has been increasingly included in most processed foods to increase taste as well as increase your compulsion to consume more of that food. In short, adding sugar to food is a sales strategy: included into most processed food so businesses can make more money off of you at the expense of your health.
If you repented of food-related debauchery, wouldn't you eat less junk and thus be healthier while also saving money?

1 Peter 4:3

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."

The Greek word translated here as "debauchery" means unbridled lust or excess. It can also be translated as "licentious," which means lacking legal or moral restraints.
Are you unable to restrain your poor eating choices?
While "Jesus declared all foods clean" (Mark 7:19), added sugar (also known as processed sugar) is created through a complex human-made multi-chemical and multi-machine process. If people actually saw how far removed the tall plant called sugarcane is from processed sugar, they would be shocked. In short, processed sugar is so manufactured and perhaps even "mutated" that it is not really a naturally grown food anymore. Rather it is a business product, having more drug-like properties, and these properties do not promote health.
Added sugar used to be a very rare luxury spice.
Are you taking in added sugar in excessive amounts? Debauchery? Haven't you already "spent enough time in the past" making those mistakes?

1 John 5:19
[19] We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

"The whole world" means 100% of the world.
According to this verse, 100% of the world is controlled by the devil.
Is the food industry part of the world?
A business model where the goal is to get you to eat more than you need as well as to eat things that are not actually nourishing foods or not even foods at all is a well-documented part of the world's added sugar industry. Should you follow Satan's diet, or the Lord's?
Regarding added sugar, consider the phrase, "Sugar has become the new tobacco." What does that mean?
Being "under the control" of anyone means to be under their power and subject to it.
When it comes to your eating habits, whether it be too much sugar, salt, or fat in your diet, it is time to move yourself out from Satan's power and get under God's power.

Practicals:

Start reading the label of everything you consider buying before you buy it. If added sugar is in the ingredients (including many words ending in "ose" such as "fructose, sucrose") ask yourself two questions: (1) Why does this item need added sugar in it? (2) Do I really want to pollute my body with excess sugar?
Eliminated added sugar from your diet or greatly reduce how much added sugar you consume.
Watch at least 1 documentary about the health dangers associated with added sugar.
Before every eating choice, put your hand on your stomach, push your stomach out as far as it can go, and ask yourself, "Am I polluting or cleansing by putting this particular food or drink in my body?"
Stay off all social media unless you can use it for 5 minutes and then get completely out it. If you repeatedly keep going back to it on the job or during a job search, you will quickly "pollute" your concentration.

INTEGRATED SKILLS

Love Is a Life Skill

1 Corinthians 12:31

[31] But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If you started reading the Bible from this scripture and kept going, you'll find that all 13 verses thereafter talk about one main theme in stunning detail: love.
Love is "the most excellent way."
The Greek word translated here as "excellent" is "hyperbolē." It also means a throwing beyond, superiority, exceeding greatness (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
Love is "the most excellent" of "the greater gifts."
Practically speaking, if you want to be "throwing beyond" your current skill level, into a "most excellent" and greater gifted level of skill, you must infuse what you're doing with love.
Should love therefore be classified as a life skill?

When we think of different life skills that benefit groups of people, what comes to mind right away? Usually it is very measurable abilities: being able to cook for a family, budgeting accurately for a household, scheduling group activities efficiently, etc. So at first glance, love may not appear to be a life skill. Yet as we look deeper into the core components used in life skills (time, health, career, and money wrapped around relationship with God), what we should see is an underlying essential layer: love.

The reason why people learn to cook tasty and healthy food for more than just themselves has to do with love. Growing up, my mom had a sense of kindness and protection so she made awesome dinners. My dad planned and organized a camping trip in our backyard for our entire little league baseball team and it was quite epic. Why do parents do such moving things? It all goes back to love. Therefore love must fit into the core diagram of life skills, but where exactly?

Life Skills with Love Diagram is digital art by Joe Chiappetta. Represented as a car tire, all life skills elements operate best when they revolve around God at the center. The spokes of the wheel are the many components of Biblical love, giving a massive boost in skill to how we can effectively manage our time, health, career, and money.

Think of a wheel: specifically a car tire. God is the hub (perfect center in which everything revolves around), the spokes emanating out from the hub represent love, and the rubber of the wheel is like a pie cut into four sections (time, health, career, and money). The tire treads, and the tire tracks left behind are the impact of all these components working together: God's Love + Your Love + Time + Health + Money + Career = Life Skills

Since love is indeed a life skill, and since love can so often be mistaken for lust in society today, we need to illustrate love in greater detail.

PART 1. Love Is Preferential Treatment

As someone who used to be a valet in my much younger years, the concept of preferential treatment is surprisingly simple to appreciate. Regardless of which venue I was parking cars at, whether it be a restaurant, a country club, or a banquet hall, our behavior as valets was entirely predictable. We always--without fail--gave preferential treatment to the drivers with very nice, expensive cars. We'd put them up-front, expecting to get a bigger tip. If they were regular customers, we'd even memorize their names and be as friendly (as loving) as possible. These expensive car owners would get better treatment. In essence, from a highly worldly perspective, we loved them and we showed it by our consistent actions.

As valets preferring to give our very best treatment to the owners of Corvettes, Ferraris, Jaguars, etc., we were nicer to these owners, more respectful, more careful, and quicker to serve them. In fact, in an exit rush--when many customers want to leave at the same time--we would serve the expensive car owners first. That's preferential treatment. As valets, we loved their cars, we loved their owners, and we showed that love with entirely observable actions.

With this understanding in mind, the Biblical concept of love is easier to conceptualize. Just replace the monetary motivation with spiritual motivation. As young, hustling valets, money motivated our love. Now as those who want to mature in Christ, the motivation to be loving has to come--not from cash--but from wanting to be like Jesus. Therefore a word study on love is in order.

Love Defined

Agapē: Greek noun often translated "love"
Pronounced ag-ah'-pay
Strong's Definitions: love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:—(feast of) charity, charitably, dear, love.
Benevolence: disposition to do good, act of kindness, generous gift [Merriam-Webster]
Affection: a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something : tender attachment : fondness [Merriam-Webster]
Charity: (1) generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering also : aid given to those in need, (2) benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity [Merriam-Webster]
Good-will: Thayer's Greek Lexicon also defines agapē as good-will = "a kindly feeling of approval and support : benevolent interest or concern" [Merriam-Webster].
What all these terms have in common: preferential treatment.
Agapē is frequent in writings of Paul, John, Peter, Jude. We can see their preferential treatment for God, his message, his people, and those who are lost in the Bible. The preferential treatment of Biblical heroes is evident in how they spent their time: doing skillful things with love--boosting their skills far beyond what they'd be without love.
Is this heroic, Biblical kind of preferential treatment frequent in you?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

[4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. [8] Love never fails...

Just from this list alone, there are many components to displaying Biblical love (agapē).
The many components of Biblical love require skill to simultaneously implement.
Love is a multifaceted life skill. Going back to our car tire diagram, each love spoke emanating from the hub can now be labeled. Spoke 1 is patience. Spoke 2 is kind. Spoke 3 is "not envy," etc.
Reread this passage, replacing "love" with an overarching term for love from our definitions; love can be summed up as "preferential treatment."
Preferential treatment is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs.
Preferential treatment doesn't delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Preferential treatment is always protective, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Preferential treatment never fails!
Failing in relationships a lot? At work? At school? Perhaps you are not loving a lot.
The Biblical brand of decision-based "love never fails."
We are talking about a consistent decision REGARDLESS of FEELING.
Don't be rude to your future self; eat healthy now, exercise now, invest now.
Eating healthy and exercising daily is always protecting (verse 7) the body God gave you, and setting a good example for others.
A loving person has conscientious preferential treatment toward others while understanding that taking care of themselves helps them be even more effective at serving others. This is why Biblical love is one of the greatest life skills.

Practicals:

Be on time (early). That's being kind to everyone else's schedule. Lateness = rudeness.
Love always protects means you care enough to call regularly, help people be more like Jesus, schedule encouragement times, serve the poor, and are a great example on and off the job.
Be forward-thinking. A protector maintains a balanced budget and balanced diet. Someone wanting to plan for the future is resourceful in career planning and in investments.
Love is not self-seeking: give to God each week.

PART 2. Love Is an Action

Agapē is from root word "agapaō"

Agapaō pronounced: ag-ap-ah'-o
agapē = noun, agapaō = verb
Agapaō (verb): to love, to be full of good-will and exhibit the same: to have a preference for, wish well to, regard the welfare of, to take pleasure in the thing, prize it above other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without it [Thayer's Greek Lexicon].
Ask yourself who you have preference for and do you act upon those preferences?
If so, that's love.

Matthew 22:36-39 (agapaō)

[36] “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” [37] Jesus replied: “LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘LOVE your neighbor as yourself.'

100% of heart, soul, mind.
It's a commandment. Takes work, effort.
Commandments are needed when likelihood is to go astray.
Example: Breathing is not a command. Always naturally do this.
Don't freak out if not "feeling" love for God.
Decision to invest 100% in the relationship whether you feel it or not.
Top commandment.
Matter of priorities.
God must be who you prefer to focus your whole being into: heart, soul, mind.
Example: Secondhand Love, Pete Townshend 1985 song: "Don't bring me secondhand love.... I don't want your secondhand love."
Is God getting your leftovers?
Or is God getting preferential treatment (love, agapaō) from you?
Give your best (your preferred treatment) to God, your neighbors in and out of church, career, and school.

PART 3: Love Is Sacrificial

1 John 4:10 (agapē then agapaō)

[10] This is LOVE: not that we loved God, but that he LOVED us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God's sacrificial love must be the focus: the big deal.
Love defined is very sacrificial.
God is looking for sacrificial preferences that you make to advance his cause, and help others.
Isn't that Jesus on the cross?
Leaders: Love your people, or they won't stay your people.
Love, loved, beloved (dear friends "agapētos") used 30 times in 1 John 4. Only has 21 verses.

Practicals:

Read 1 John 4.
Ask 1 person how you can be more loving like Jesus.
Put Biblical love into how you use your time, health, money, and career.

PART 4. Love Is Expending Yourself

2 Corinthians 12:15 (agapaō)

[15] So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I LOVE you more, will you LOVE me less?

Example of love: preference to "very gladly spend for you everything I have, and expend myself as well."
Expend "ekdapanaō" means to "to exhaust by spending, to spend wholly, use up" [Thayer's Greek Lexicon].
False thinking: I'm exhausted at Christianity, so it must be bad: it's not good for me. Wrong.
Expending love is Bible love: Jesus' love.
Who are the people you expend yourself for? That's who you really love.
Who do you call? Who do you pray for? Who do you pursue for Bible studies, quality time? That's who you prefer: who you really love.
Expend yourself for God, his people, and the lost.

PART 5. Love Is a Salvation Issue

1 John 4:16-17 (agapē)

[16] And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. [17] In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

There's a great frequency to what you "rely" on.
Always go to God for your reliance.
Reliance is shown in prayer, fellowship, Bible reading, thoughts, deeds.
Being loving like God completes us.
God's love gives us confidence on judgment day.
True Christians "in this world are like" God. Since God makes the most of time, money, health, and career, and since we are supposed to be like God, we should make the most of these resources too.
Being like God is a salvation issue.
Living in love with God is a salvation issue.
If judgment day were right now, (1) do you have great confidence in God's love and (2) have you been loving like God on the job, in your time spent with people, in how you spend money, and in healthy habits?

Love Conclusion:

Give that preferential treatment, that sacrificial treatment to your boss, coworkers, classmates, friends, strangers... with God at the center of it all.
Use time as a resource to love more people. Same goes for your money and health.
Expend it all for the Lord...
So you'll be ready for the day of judgment...
So you'll be saved.
Be like God. Be loving. Be the life skill of love.
That's what LOVE IS.

Prudence

Proverbs 8:5

[5] You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

We are commanded to "gain prudence."
What does prudence mean?
Prudence is discretion, guile (cunning), subtle (cleverly delicate), crafty, cautious.
Are you cautious about what you eat? Are you cautious about what you say "yes" to? Cautious about what you say "no" to? Are you cautious about what you spend money on?
Prudence (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary): (1) ability to govern and discipline oneself by use of reason, (2) sagacity (keen, farsighted discernment and judgement) or shrewd in management of affairs, (3) skill and good judgement in use of resources, (4) cautious or circumspection as to danger or risk.
Do you have keen, farsighted discernment, discipline, and judgement when it comes to your health, time, money, and career?
Since prudence is keen, farsighted discernment, can you be financially prudent without an up-to-date annual budget?
The good news is that God says prudence can be gained.
How can you gain these things?

Proverbs 15:5

[5] A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Listening and obeying correction is prudent.
How well do you take correction?
Do you think you're prudent but people have to tip-toe around you because you are easily offended when corrected? Then you are not prudent.

Proverbs 12:16

[16] A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

Which describes you more?
If you are easily offended, you're not prudent.
What's the opposite of prudent?
How can overlooking an insult help you in business?
To overlook something is to look above that situation (however painful), and into the desired result that you want. That's patient foresight. It's "prudent."
Can an impatient person be prudent on the job?
Customers and coworkers will insult you. Winning them over gains you more influence.
How can overlooking an insult help you in time management?
People will insult you with lateness any trying to waste your time. Practicing diplomacy and courteous brevity will help steer your schedule back to efficiency.
How can overlooking an insult help you with your health?
Insults, when not forgiven, can result in a pattern of stressful, resentful, and bitter thoughts. This can lead to overeating, substance abuse, or other damaging behaviors to your mental health.

Proverbs 12:23

[23] A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.

How can keeping knowledge to yourself help you in your career?
Learn what first-mover advantage means.
You will see injustice and bad decisions in your career. Some issues are useful to address. Some matters, however, will work themselves out without you having to waste time on it while "the heart of fools blurts out folly." Such people take themselves out of the equation eventually by their own foolish behavior. Pick your battles carefully.
For your career, instead of trying to reform your company with talk that goes nowhere, perhaps it is better to take your knowledge to a new company with better pay.

Proverbs 13:16

[16] Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.

Can a person act "out of knowledge" if they don't keep an account of their time and money?
Look on the calendar for your Monday. Go hour-by-hour to see what your plan is.
If you don't have an up-to-date budget, you can't possibly act out of knowledge.

Proverbs 14:8

[8] The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

A prudent person is an effective thinker.
Does thinking take work? Must be intentional. Thinking takes reallocation of your time.
How much time do you think about your strategy (ways) for your health, time, money, and career?
If not thinking about these areas on an ongoing basis, what does the Bible call you?

Proverbs 14:15

[15] A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

Be very selective about what you believe. Takes planning, analysis of your "ways."
Review what prudence means: keen, farsighted discernment, discipline, and judgement in your management of resources.
Align your beliefs (faith) with your prudent thoughts.
Do you believe something merely because the Internet says it?
To guide you in giving "thought to" your steps, it can be very helpful to write things down: keep a food diary, exercise journal, an hour-by-hour schedule, a budget, a tracking sheet of employers to follow up with.
Make sure your steps toward health, time, money and career have a Biblical basis.
Money Example: An investor gets excited about a potential money-making opportunity because many sources are promoting the opportunity. The scripture to apply here is Proverbs 18:17. "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him." Question why these sources are promoting the opportunity? Are they just trying to pump their own investment in a coordinated manner for their own personal gain? Is there substance beyond the hype?
Health Example: Because I grew up believing that that cookies and candy were not that bad for me, as an adult it became very difficult to give those thigs up once I started having health problems. I had to apply much prudence to rebuild, step-by-step, my eating habits from scratch.

Proverbs 22:3

[3] A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

What dangers do you see to your budget?
What dangers do you see in your diet or lack of exercise? Or are you too "simple" to see anything wrong?
Find refuge in exercise, healthy eating, frugal spending, scheduling daily, and career advancement. Do all these things take time? Yes, but when you see the danger, you make the time.
What dangers do you see to your use of time? Look at what you do before you go to sleep, and right after you wake up. How do you spend your time right after getting off work? On a long drive, do you always listen to the radio, letting the world lead your thoughts, or are you making productive phone calls?
Do you waste time staying up late on social media or gaming? Taking "refuge" means turn off your electronics, put them in a different room, and get to bed at a reasonable hour. See the danger in your misuse of time.
Take refuge means change your diet, spending patterns, career path, and schedule.

Proverbs 21:16

[16] Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.

A path is a very specific way to go. Are you more of a path-keeper or a wandering stray?
Operating with prudence is a life/death issue.
Prudence is a matter of survival... a life skill.
Remember one of the definitions of prudence: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by use of reason.
Can you govern and discipline yourself without measurable goals?
"The path of prudence" must be paved with goals that you stick to with discipline.
Set 1 prudent goal and 1 milestone right now. Write it down.

Proverbs 8:12

[12] I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

[13] To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Where there is godly wisdom, there is prudence (verse 12). They "dwell together." If someone thinks they are wise, yet there is no evidence of prudent action, can they really be wise?
What's the difference between wisdom and prudence?
The two words, wisdom and prudence, are synonymous, yet wisdom is more about learning/thinking while prudence is more about thought put to action.
Wisdom (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary): (1) ability to discern inner qualities and relationships: insight, (2) good sense: judgment, (3) generally accepted belief, (4) accumulated philosophical or scientific learning: knowledge.
Prudence (from Merriam-Webster Dictionary): (1) ability to govern and discipline oneself by use of reason, (2) sagacity (keen, farsighted discernment and judgement) or shrewd in management of affairs, (3) skill and good judgement in use of resources, (4) cautious or circumspection as to danger or risk.
A person can be wise, knowing exactly what should be done. But does that person have the courage and diligence to do it? That's prudence.
Example of wisdom without prudence: you know you should overhaul your resume, network to get a better job, follow up more in person... but you don't make it happen.
Prudence is deliberating well (with follow up toward self and the good of others).
Aristotle (350 BC) taught that prudent people act on their knowledge.
Great reason to become prudent is it is a God-fearing characteristic (verse 13) that reduces waste in your life.
Prudent people manage things in life effectively because they don't want to offend God with their use (or misuse) of resources, especially (1) time, (2) health, (3) career, and (4) money.
What's an easy way to tell if you are prudent or not?
Show me your past week's schedule plus this coming week's schedule.
Look at your diet and even down at your waistline.
Track where your money goes. Are you prudent in giving to God?
God hates pride (verse 13). A prideful person will waste resources but think they are doing everything fine.
Pride fakes prudence. What does that phrase mean? A prideful person merely thinks they are prudent.
"To fear the LORD is to hate evil" (verse 13). Why is this stated right after the topic of prudence?
Lack of prudence is "evil behavior." If you say you fear God, but you're not prudent, do you really fear God?
Why isn't the term "life skills" in the Bible?
Bible uses the term "prudence." In fact, prudence is life skills.
Memorize the definition of prudence.
Throughout your day, as you go through each decision, ask first: is this prudent?
Example: Does what I am doing when no one is looking showing God that I display the ability to govern and discipline myself well?

Proverbs 8:13, 17

[13] To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.

[17] I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Look at the love/hate dynamic of wisdom.
Wisdom hates "evil behavior." Wisdom loves those who love and seek godly wisdom. Do both parts of wisdom's love/hate principle define you?
Gain wisdom by aligning what you love and hate with what the Bible says.
Gain prudence by applying wisdom in your actions.
Gain prudence and you gain life skills.

Prosper in Perspective

For us to have lasting prosperity, we must become highly engaged in an interactive partnership at work between us and God. At varying degrees on this earth, God gives us the finite resources of (1) time, (2) health, (3) money, and (4) labor. Once we see these 4 components as gifts, it would be wise to center these gifts around a lifestyle that pleases the gift-giver: God. When we maintain such a perspective and "act justly" (Micah 6:8) with these gifted resources, all sorts of additional blessings and good things can come our way.

Jeremiah 22:15-16

[15] “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. [16] He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.

This is one of so many Bible verses teaching that the LORD prospers the people who "defend the cause" and take care "of the poor and needy."
Serving the poor is an action that the "right and just" do. In turn, this can open up more prosperity from God.
Serving the poor is an essential part of relationship with God: "Is that not what it takes to know me?"
Serving the poor is a key factor in God allowing more to go well with you. Therefore serving the poor is a prosperous life skill... a disciplined way to prosper as you impact those in need.
God can bless your life and ministry even more when righteously serving the poor.
Schedule time to serve the poor!

Proverbs 19:17

[17] He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

Serving the poor is serving God.
God rewards those who serve the poor.
The Hebrew word "šālam" translated here as "reward" also can be translated as "cause to be at peace" and "to make safe, complete."
There is a great depth to how personally God takes it when a person serves the poor in kindness. It can bring God's peace and safety in a very rewarding way.
Just as greasing the wheels of a car makes the vehicle run more smoothly, giving to the poor makes life run more smoothly--more divine.
Serving the poor enhances your life. Become skilled at it.

Psalms 84:11

[11] For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

There are a few words here we need to define for us to understand how to have a blameless walk.
The Hebrew word translated as "blameless" is "tāmîm." It means without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, whole (Strong's Definitions).
The Hebrew word translated as "walk" is "hālaḵ." It's more than just putting one foot in front of the other. It also means to keep apace, to go with, to go after, to pursue, to imitate in manner and life, to be associated with.
Put together, this passage teaches that God pours out a potentially unlimited amount of goodness on the undefiled people consistently associated with him in wholesomeness.
It's God who regulates the flow of "good things."
Why is being blameless so essential to prospering? Because we are called to a prosperous relationship with God that we too often self-sabotage by our misuse of God's resources.
A blameless "walk" refers to the whole lifestyle associated deeply and undefiled: how to center your money, time, career, and health around the LORD.
God does not withhold good things from the blameless. If you believe you are blameless, and still are waiting for the good things, maybe you're not as blameless as you think.
Too often, a person wants good things and favors from God yet the way they use their time, or money, or career, or health may be defiled.
While God does not withhold from the blameless, the blameless still often need to take some sort of action to go and get what God is not blocking from them.
When you consistently "favor and honor" God, you'll find that he favors you with good things.

Deuteronomy 28:1-3

[28:1] If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. [2] All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: [3] You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

Hebrew word for "blessing" here means a gift, benefit, a present, prosperity, invocation of good, benediction (to speak well of).
God delivers prosperity.
What does God require of those who want to prosper? (verse 1)
Consider the difference between "obey" and "fully obey" (verse 1).
Where will these blessings be applicable? (verse 3)
Write down what commands you are "carefully" following as well as which commands you are not careful to follow.
Despite life's ups and downs, if there is not overall prosperity in your life (or a return to prosperity after periods of trial), make sure your relationship with God is not lacking consistency.
For those with challenges getting a good night's sleep because you lie in your bed with a variety of worries (we've all been there), that's a sign you need to get on your knees and pray. If this continues, pray and read the Bible before bedtime, remove coffee and added sugar from your diet, and stop eating at least 3 hours before bedtime. Also stop looking at computer and phone screens at least 2 hours before bedtime. Add exercise to your daily routine. Take a walk in the cool of the evening. If the issue still persists, ask what commands of God are you not "fully" obeying? If you've gone through all the lists of sins in the Bible, confessed your sins to a fellow Christian, and repented, yet still have sleep issues, don't give up. In some cases, professional medical advice may be helpful.

Deuteronomy 28:4-6

[4] The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

[5] Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

[6] You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

How thorough is God's blessing (prosperity) for those who obey?
How is your home life (when you come in)?
How is your life out of the home with career, school, social activity (when you go out)?
Requires consistency on your part. Or do you act one way in public, yet a different way at home?
Would your boss or teacher appreciate how you act when they are not looking?
The plan is for all your activity to be blessed: prosperous.

Deuteronomy 28:7-14

[7] The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

[8] The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

[9] The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. [10] Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. [11] The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

[12] The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. [13] The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. [14] Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

Enduring prosperity is a gift for those who obey God. However, there will still be conflict (trouble) from "enemies who rise up against you" (verse 7). Therefore don't lose heart during periods of painful opposition. Make sure you are obeying God, including in how you treat your body, the resource of time that God gave you, as well as your career and money.
Do you believe that "everything you put your hand to" will be made to prosper by God (verse 8)?
Everyone wants "abundant prosperity" (verse 11) yet only the obedient receive this blessing from God.
Are God's people supposed to be lenders or borrowers (verse 12)?
Who are you supposed to be in debt to?
There is a top and a bottom (verse 13). A head and a tail. Which are you? What will it take for those not at the top to get there?
We are commanded not to be "following other gods and serving them" (verse 14). Most modern-day religious people dismiss the concept of serving other gods since it conjures up imagery of ignorant ancient people bowing down to man-made, lifeless statues. Yet the false gods of today are cleverly shrouded yet highly active in today's society. Make sure the following false gods have not secretly crept into your life: the gods of money, gods of career worship, celebrity gods, influencer gods, comfort-food gods, entertainment gods, etc.
Make sure you are not the one blocking God's blessing due to bad behavior, because we see in the Bible that God loves to bless his faithful people.

Spend time now praying on your knees about the following:

God's plan to bless you.
Your obedience to carefully keep God's commands.
Your health, including wisdom in what you eat, your sleep routine, and exercise plan.
Your wiser management of your time.
Your wisdom in managing money.
Wisdom in advancing in your career without that becoming a false god.
Consistency in not being distracted or deceived by false gods.
Effectiveness in a lifestyle of serving the poor and needy.
Gratitude for all the blessings of God.
Pray to always be walking with God blamelessly: meaning you become consistently associated with Jesus' ways in an undefiled, wholesome lifestyle.

That's praying for Life Skills: to prosper in a godly perspective.

Integrity

Integrate all essential skills together to produce complete (whole) victories.

Proverbs 1:32-33
[32] For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; [33] but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

We need to have simple (pure) hearts, yet navigate in the world through its complexities.
Simple here means naïve. Easily influenced, good or bad.
Waywardness = backsliding.
"Complacency of fools" is actually translated "prosperity of fools." False sense of security because there is temporary prosperity.
Complacent is being unconcerned, not taking action on what is needed.
People get complacent when they think everything is fine enough--not an emergency.
Can a person be complacent (unconcerned) about how they manage time?
What's the biggest sign of a person unconcerned about how they manage time?
Don't keep a consistent calendar/planner.
Doing things, but not the right things?
Do a time blocking exercise.
What are areas you can have a false sense of security about? Spending money that is not yours (debt)?
Feeling healthy enough yet overweight or out of shape? Thinking your job is secure while not being a good employee?
Not looking for a better job when you know you're in a dead end industry?
Do you have a false sense of security? Might be why you're complacent.
What's the solution? Listen to God (hear and obey). Brings safety, ease, no fear of harm.

Proverbs 15:19
"The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway."

2 kinds of people. 2 different paths.
Lazy person is blocked by thorns while upright person blazes down the highway.
God influences which path we are on based on our attitude about him and about work.
How you approach work defines which path you end up on.
I have even seen 2 people on same road under same circumstances: person with faith + appropriate action blazes forward while person without faith/action gets lazy about the journey (even the smallest obstacles become "thorns" to them).
Which person have you been?
Who sees you as a person of faith and action? If not many people, possibly not much faith and action.
Which person does God want you to be?

Job 27:5-6
"I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. [6] I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live."

Reproach is to express disapproval or disappointment.
Job faces reality, checks his conscience continually to make sure he is aligned with God's righteousness.
Connection between Integrity and righteousness.
Integrity is where righteousness and conscience are working together.
Integrity does not back down when things get tough.
Integrity has moral obligation to do what is right.
Integrity unapologetically stands in the way of those who try to water down total commitment to God's standard.
Hebrew word for integrity here is also translated "innocence" (Strong's H8538 tummah).
Will you be guilty of having an inconsistent performance, or will you be innocent?
Life Skills is about having the wholeness (integrity) of being centered in your relationship with God while wisely managing your health, time, money, and employment situation in a way that pleases God.
In other words, faith and appropriate deeds.
What does integrity of Health look like? Money? Time Management? Career?
Face the demands of reality with integrity. Let's level up!

Practicals

Turn your schedule into a living document that shows progress in health, time management, finances, and career.
As calendar appointments, add the following to your weekly agenda: exercise, meal preparation, career search, budget review, and quiet times.
Ask people you live with (or those who know you best) which areas you need to improve in most urgently: health, scheduling, finances, or career.

Advice

Getting good advice is a life skill. In Proverbs 15:22, advice-seeking is shown to be one of the deciding factors between failure and success. "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed."

Yet it is often not enough to simply get advice from a bunch of random people. What matters is making sure of 3 things to the best of your ability: (1) you are in good standing with God, (2) your advisors are in good standing with God, (3) and your advisors are not deceived about the particulars of the issue in question.

I have found that too often, when people get advice (self-included), one or more of the above is sorely missing and it makes a huge difference in the outcome. The death of Ahab, king of Israel, illustrates these things best... with a shocking flare.

1 Kings 22:1-35

[22:1] For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. [2] But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. [3] The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don't you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”

[4] So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” [5] But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD.”

[6] So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Go,” they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king's hand.”

[7] But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?”

[8] The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say that,” Jehoshaphat replied.

[9] So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

[10] Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. [11] Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'”

[12] All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the LORD will give it into the king's hand.”

[13] The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”

[14] But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me.”

[15] When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the LORD will give it into the king's hand.”

[16] The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

[17] Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'”

[18] The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

[19] Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. [20] And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?'

“One suggested this, and another that. [21] Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.'

[22] “‘By what means?' the LORD asked.

“‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said.

“‘You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.'

[23] “So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.”

[24] Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from the LORD go when he went from me to speak to you?” he asked.

[25] Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room.”

[26] The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king's son [27] and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'”

[28] Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

[29] So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. [30] The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

[31] Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” [32] When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, [33] the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.

[34] But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded.” [35] All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.

Verse 5: Jehoshaphat does not blindly follow (at first). He demands godly advice.
Verse 11: Charismatic people (Zedekiah) claiming to speak for God can be very wrong, even when they have popular religious support.
Verse 22, 23: Who allows the lying spirit?
The unpopular view of Micaiah was the one that should have been listened to more carefully.
Verse 32: Even Jehoshaphat does not end up following the godly advice he urged Ahab to seek. So Jehoshaphat nearly dies in battle because of it.
In this instance, the majority of people in the kingdom through they had god's approval. They thought they were doing God's will. Yet they were wrong.
Ahab, king of Israel, died because (1) he was not in good standing with God, (2) his advisors were in an unknown standing with God, (3) the charismatic advisors he listened to were deceived about everything.

Practicals:

Seek the word of God first, then godly advice from a person in good standing with the Lord.
Be extra-careful before even thinking you can speak for God accurately about what's to come. Speak the Bible and godly principles, but outcomes of the future are only known by God, as explained in Ecclesiastes 8:7. "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?" For people who try to influence others or justify themselves by using the phrase, "this is God's will," you may want to choose your words more carefully.
Don't surround yourself just with those who agree with you. Different points of view can help you see things you would not otherwise have seen.
Pay attention to unpopular views. Truth is never a popularity contest. Truth is a condition.
"Test everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). In other words, qualify and verify what is being stated and advised. Consider the source, the context, the content, and the bigger picture, which always must include God.
Make a pro/con list when advice or opinions differ.
If you take godly advise for a while but then stop following it, first ask yourself what changed to make you stop wanting to follow that advice.
If someone gives you a diet or workout to follow, do your own research first, and look at that person's life. What are the results?
Get career advice from people already in the industry you want to be in. Yet test it against what the Bible says too.
If someone is giving you investment advice, how much guess work is involved? Are macroeconomics factored in? What is that person's track record of success? Since "wealth... is so uncertain" (1 Timothy 6:17), how can the advice be so sure?
Discuss your schedule with a trusted, faithful, and productive person, asking if there are ways to maximize or streamline your time. Do this on a monthly basis.
Beg God to lead you to godly advisors.

Some Pain Is Good

Victory through Affliction

Job 36:21
"Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction."

Affliction is a cause of pain, distress, suffering.
The affliction is there often to get you to do something different, to overcome something.
Solution is to lean into the affliction, not to escape to sin.
During affliction, the thing to always do is persevere.
Yet too often people run away, quit, escape, ignore, and never get refined.
Deal with real issues, despite the pain.

Consider the following poem I wrote after reflecting on all that God has done in my life.

Pain that Leads to Change

I study economics because I used to be poor.
I study health because I used to be unhealthy.
I study careers because I used to hate my job.
I study time because I used to have none to spare.
I study light because I used to be in darkness.

What do all these sentences have in common? For each one, to bring about improvement, I had to start hating the troubled condition that I was in: and not just hate it, but the condition had to produce in me an urgency to repent of whatever bad behaviors of mine that contributed to the problem. In other words, to level up in my life skills, I had to first change my mind--which led to a radical change in my actions. That concept, which the Greeks call "metanoia," literally changed my life for the better.

So I thank God, despite all my weakness, for the ability to level up... for calling me to be a metanoia man.

Survive the Beating

Thriving through the Biblical Beatings of Life

War Torn Your Town is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub. I drew this to illustrate the intense fight that comes to every person... right where we live; it's the spiritual war, and no home town is exempt. So battle-stations, one and all!

How do most people start their day? Do we ease into it as if life is merely a carefree walk in the park? All people--starting with ourselves--must be reminded that we have a powerful enemy. That enemy wants us to waste our time and money. He wants us to be in jobs that become our idols and be so distracted or discouraged by health issues that we stop trusting God. This enemy is known as the devil, or Satan. This should serve as a severe and instant wake-up call. This is a call to arms!

Revelation 12:12

"...But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

It is certainly somewhat gratifying to know that the devil's "time is short." However, one of the problems with that shortness, is that we coexist in that same "short" time period as the devil. The scripture spells it out in no uncertain terms: "the devil has gone down to" the earth. That is our earth--where we live! As such, we must ready ourselves with God's word to be prepared in this spiritual war.

Indeed, this enemy is not just powerful, but he "is filled with fury." Therefore the time is now (and forevermore) to mold ourselves into a battle-ready position. Think of it as expert remodeling of our lives to survive Satan's schemes and come out more faithful.

Much of the Bible is written to show us what happens when we do things God's way, and what happens when we do things our own way. Life skills is about becoming a wise builder of your time, health, career, and finances. One very graphic example is highlighted as Jesus compares two types of builders.

Matthew 7:24-27

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Two types of builders are contrasted here, along with what they have built. Notice that the work of both builders takes a very serious beating. Don't get upset that a spiritual beating is coming for everyone. Rather be encouraged that those who build on Jesus, the rock, completely survive the storm. Their work carries on!

As you reflect on the Wise and Foolish Builders, consider how you can practically build a schedule, a budget, a career, as well as a meal and exercise plan that weathers the storms of life well.

As soon as you can, take time to pray about the most recent few weeks of your life. Include prayers requesting help with your health, time management, finances, and career. Then answer the following questions:
Is what you are building enhancing Satan's kingdom, or God's kingdom?
Are there a lot of waste and/or fruitless tasks in your schedule?
Is what you are building going to weather the coming storm?
Is your budget aligned to build God's house?
Which of Jesus' words are you specifically putting into practice?
Are you building up your body with junk food or healthy food? In other words, are you a wise or foolish builder?
What can you do more of so that you are firmly putting Jesus' words into practice?
Make a commitment to be a wise builder who has its foundation on the rock and master of all life skills: Jesus Christ!

Practicals

Read labels on foods before you consider buying each item.
If major ingredients in the food you are about to buy include substances you've never heard of or don't understand, don't buy it.
If an item has "0 Fat" or "Low Fat" on the front label, to add flavor, the manufacturers probably included added sugar to the item to make it taste better. Don't buy it.
Items advertised as "sugar free" or "0 Sugar" most likely have other artificial sweeteners added, so you are just trading one damaging substance for another.
Once you decide to remove added sugar from your diet, it takes 1 to 2 weeks for your body and mind to fully adjust. There will be some pain to this. Weathering that storm is worth the effort to be free of added sugar's damaging and expensive influence.
Try to go a full week eating only meals you have prepared and see how much money you save.
Don't eat while doing something else, like multitasking. Chew slowly and look at your food.
To avoid crashes in your schedule by overbooking, don't commit to anything until you have checked your schedule first.
For those employed, communicate to your boss how you add value to the company. Doing this on a monthly basis sets the stage for when you are ready to ask for a raise or promotion.
Your first impression to employers (or clients) could take an unnecessary beating if you have an questionable email address. For example, ChillinAndNappin@gmail does not communicate a solid work ethic. In such cases, get a simple email that has your name and no frills.

The Business of Forgiveness

Forgiving is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on OpenSea. I drew and animated this to highlight the power of forgiveness changing a person's character. On the job, at home, and everywhere in-between, we all need to give and receive that priceless commodity called forgiveness!

What does forgiveness have to do with life skills? As it turns out, quite a lot. Consider how often a fellow employee does something to offend or hurt us. In a number of these cases, we can hold a grudge, yet think, because we are well-mannered enough, that the person we have a grudge against doesn't know it. Yet people can often sense when something is not right in a relationship due to body language and other social cues. And of course, God knows!

Then there are times when we have offended others on the job, deep down we know it, but are too prideful to apologize and make amends (repair the relationship), even though the Bible says "Fools mock at making amends for sin... (Proverbs 14:9). I have been there too often. That lack of seeking forgiveness and making amends can directly lead to on-the-job trouble. Such behaviors are self-imposed roadblocks standing in the way of job growth and more money. How is that for a life skills disaster?

Gratefully as it relates to forgiveness, Colossians 3:13 has some incredible spiritual and business direction for us all. Notice I said "direction," not advice. These are non-negotiable commands of God here that we must take to heart at home and on the job. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

In the workplace issues of unforgiveness can drastically slow down morale, productivity, and performance. Think of all the time you or others have complained about work on company time while not getting the job done. Unforgiveness, in turn, can block us from getting raises or promotions. In very small business it could even lead to the downfall of the whole company. I actually saw this happen once and it was not pretty.

If the person we hold a grudge against is our boss, there must be a great urgency to forgive. It pleases God and can keep us from getting fired. Can you guess who is in line to be the first to get laid off? Often it's the people that the boss knows have a bad attitude.

Consider also how unforgiveness can affect your professional network. I can recall times where I needed help in my field, yet was unwilling to call a colleague I knew who could help because I had not forgiven them of past workplace issues.

In my years as a frontline employee, supervisor, manager, director, and business owner, I have seen countless ways in which interpersonal conflicts cost people grief, loss of money, and loss of new business, and even loss of jobs. Yet so much of this can be avoided when we remember the Apostle Paul's words "...Forgive, as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13)."

In short, unforgiveness is not only bad for the soul... it's bad for business. So go through all your professional relationships and make sure you have forgiven everyone. It's a life skill that pays off in this life and the life to come!

Repetition

The principle of repetition is entirely familiar to us in many ways. From the football players who learn their plays by running them over and over in endless practice hours, to the elementary school children reciting their multiplication tables for the one hundredth time, to the morning routine of brushing your teeth because that's what your parents trained you to do in your formative years, repetition is how new practices can become our core behaviors. God built us to learn in this way, so it should come as no surprise that repetition is essential to life skills.

The context of the following passage is preparation to make it in the promised land. The Israelites are about the cross over the Jordan River to take the land that God has prepared to give them. One of the most remarkable elements of this passage is that the entire success of this nation depends on whether or not they will use repetition to embed God's ways into their entire existence.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9
[5] Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. [6] These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. [7] Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. [8] Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. [9] Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

God gives a very immersive command. Notice he's calling for all (not some) of our heart, all of our soul, and all of our strength. That's is 100% of our whole being.
From this passage alone, how many different ways are we supposed to be incorporating the scripture into our life?
God does not merely give a command and then not help us understand how to obey it. He shows us the way. The way is repetition.
Think for a moment about how much repetition of all kinds has shaped your behavior... both good and bad. The repeated bad choices lead to problems. The repeated good choices lead to improvements. As an exercise, think specifically of one bad repetitive choice you have been making as well as one specific good choice. Discuss the consequences of both. For example, speaking personally, on the bad side, I too often break my rule of not eating after 7pm. On the good side, I continue to choose not to eat snacks with added sugar.
From the passage in Deuteronomy, God's plan for his people to be successful is to start their day, continue their day, and end their day with his repeated words. These words, once pressed deeply into us, lead to us making good choices.
God's word needs to be repeated in such a variety of ways in our life, that it eventually becomes a healthy routine always running in the background as a base layer of who we are.
With this book (and really any self-help book) that calls for major behavior change, the only way for the time spent reading the book to be effective is for the reader to reread it many times with the intent to do what it says.
Train in these concepts. Make them so familiar as behaviors that you just do these things as part of your life... as common as brushing your teeth has become.
If you don't repeat godly commands and internalize them, you are destined to repeat ungodly failures, for all the world to see.
While sometimes repetition can appear to be boring in some circumstances, learn to see it how God sees repetition: as an essential tool of growth.
Verse 8 talks about binding God's word on our foreheads. In the same way, binding healthy eating, exercise, sleep patterns, scheduling, finances, and career growth into our minds is really the only way all of these categories will change. Our minds need to be reprogrammed... by the Lord!
From verse 9, for any Life Skills principles that are extra difficult for you to change, write a large note to yourself and put it where you will read it every day. For example, put a note on the entrance to your kitchen that says "No snacks after 6pm." Or make yourself a computer calendar reminder that sends you a message every Saturday night at 9pm that says "Give your weekly contribution to God."

1 Timothy 4:16
[16] Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

The words "watch," "closely," and "persevere" give us an indicator of what category this verse falls under: repetition, not quitting, getting consistent.
Watching "your life... closely" is a repetitive discipline. It is a life skill.
For example, part of "life" is employment. A closely watched job search lifestyle means you apply for a job and then you follow up with that employer a number of times with the goal of connecting with a real person to pitch yourself as the ideal hire.
How is your own follow up going?
According to this verse, are life skills part of the salvation issue?
The word "doctrine" means teaching and learning. Just as with "life," the expectation is to start carefully watching what you have been taught and what you teach. For the Christian, that, of course is anchored on the Bible. Yet there are more teachings to watch closely, because so much misinformation is also taught publicly. Remember old commercials that used to teach smoking cigarettes as being good for you?
Therefore reexamine what you've been taught about food, exercise, scheduling, money, and career growth. Are you closely watching these areas of your "life?" Are you looking for Biblical examples? Is what you have been taught about any of these areas wrong or incomplete? Or perhaps you were taught well but that was ages ago, and you never made those teachings a repeated good routine in your life. Either way, now is the time to restart watching "life and doctrine closely."
For more specific Christian doctrine (teaching), also see my book, Bible Math.

Practicals

Reread this book at least 3 times.
Every month, teach at least 1 person principles from this book.
Talk specifically to others about what you have changed since starting Life Skills.
Use this book in your morning devotional times as part of your training with God.
Pray now to have godly repetition in your life.

Defilement

Defile means to pollute, contaminate, sully, soil stain, corrupt. In the Old Testament, the same Hebrew word for "unclean" is "defile." Defile is the opposite of pure and clean. What we will find in the scriptures is a wealth of direction and inspiration surrounding defilement. The concept can be divided into two essential skills: The first is the skill of keeping ourselves undefiled. The second is learning when to actually defile our own personal things and behaviors which have defile us.

Hebrews 12:14-15

[14] Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. [15] See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Verse 15. The Greek word "miainō" translated as "defile" also means "pollute, contaminate."
When a person is polluted/defiled/contaminated, what do they need?
What is the connection between being bitter and being defiled?
If the bitter root is not completely removed, defilement is inevitable.
Bitterness defiles many.
Whose responsibility is it to deal with bitter attitudes?
"See to it" is every true Christian's responsibility to effectively attack bitter attitudes.
"See to it" is a responsibility to make God's grace very evident.
A defiled person can be far-removed from the initial cause of the bitter root. These bitter roots take their time to grow up. Therefore removing oneself from a troublesome, embittering situation is not the same as repenting of the bitter attitude that defiles.
Becoming undefiled is a salvation issue. Verse 14: Without holiness no one will see the Lord.
If you try to fix what causes the trouble but don't remove the bitter root, what will happen?
Does making "every effort" involve avoiding the painfully real issues?
Verse 14. Making "every effort" to live in peace and to be holy means, not just transient peace, but godly healing.
Work through your past and set aside self (including attitudes, hurts) for the Lord's special purpose (holiness). This will make you a better and more marketable employee.

Titus 1:15-16

[15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. [16] They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

The Greek word "katharos" (verse 15) means pure, clean, clear, free from corruption, free from anything that soils.
The word "corrupted" (used twice) is the same Greek word elsewhere translated as "defiled."
Can a corrupted person be fully conscious of the true (clear, clean) issues?
Defiled people must repent in their "minds and consciences." Then they can approach issues from a pure, clean perspective.
A defiled person believes the wrong things--often very passionately. Can you come up with examples of this from your own life?
Remaining defiled is "detestable."
Defilement makes a person "unfit for doing anything good."
Solution: get help to restore a pure relationship with God and others by dealing with the initial issue that corrupted/defiled.

Looking at what King Josiah does to the alters of false gods is a most moving way to see how we can respond to defilement in an exciting and freeing manner.

2 Kings 23:12

[12] He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the LORD. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley.

Did the king remove himself from the people?
A defiling influence was previously left in the temple.
Temple is a metaphor today for the church and the disciples of Jesus' church.
Is there anything left in you that is an unholy, defiling behavior or influence?
Remove, smash, and throw away the bad behavior. This cleansing life skill should be carefully applied to anything that slows down our own growth and effectiveness, be it spiritual, health, career, finances, or scheduling.

How did Josiah become a king effective at removing defilement?

2 Kings 22:1-20

[22:1] Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. [2] He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

[3] In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: [4] “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. [5] Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD— [6] the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. [7] But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully.”

[8] Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. [9] Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” [10] Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

[11] When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. [12] He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: [13] “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.”

[14] Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

[15] She said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, [16] ‘This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. [17] Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' [18] Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: [19] Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. [20] Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'”

So they took her answer back to the king.

Josiah had help. He stayed with his team of faithful people.
Verse 2. Imitate David.
Verse 6, 7. Notice the liberty given to those building the kingdom.
Yet are the people autonomous or under a central leader?
Verse 8. Who finds the Book of the Law?
Verse 5, 9. "Entrusted" people to work thoroughly. Can people say that about you. Being thorough is a life skill.
They did things according to the Bible, even in the face of disaster (verse 16).
Someone whose "heart was responsive" (verse 19) applied new life skills because they wanted to be better for God.

2 Kings 23:14-16

[14] Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.

[15] Even the altar at Bethel, the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin—even that altar and high place he demolished. He burned the high place and ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole also. [16] Then Josiah looked around, and when he saw the tombs that were there on the hillside, he had the bones removed from them and burned on the altar to defile it, in accordance with the word of the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who foretold these things.

Nation was defiled.
Some of these defiling things happened hundreds of years prior.
Don't think because an issue is in the distant past, that means it is automatically resolved.
Josiah takes action to (1) destroy the defiling influence and (2) defile what defiled his nation. There's still a godly way today to implement that skill: the skill of defiling that which needs to be defiled.
Josiah was thorough and radical.
Are you thorough and radical?
How do you think it feels to smash to pieces the things that influence you to sin?
When defiled, we must go on the attack to defile the behaviors that defiled you.
For defiling things that influence your own self-defiling behavior, defile all access to it.
Make a public, radical spectacle out of the things and behaviors that have tarnished your life.
It is completely appropriate to "boast in the Lord" (2 Corinthians 10:17) so feel free to make a well-communicated example to others about how you have repented. People need to be inspired to overcome.
From verse 16, has God "foretold" your repentance, yet you are still putting it off?
We are talking about a serious all-out attack on your sin.
Renounce your old behavior with new life skills.

Practicals

There is no end to the exciting things you can do to defile that which has defiled you. The key is that whatever you do in this regard, it causes no harm to others. Here are just a few examples.

For those in long-standing debt, cut up one of your credit cards and leave it on your kitchen table. If you still need to boost your credit score, keep an emergency credit card locked away just for bigger purchases that you will pay off the balance in under 30 days.
Burn all the junk food in your house at a fire pit.
For those who oversleep frequently, sleep on the floor for a few nights.
For those getting into repeated sin using their smart phone, get a flip phone and leave your smart phone in a corner of your room with a spoonful of dirt on top.
If television has become an idol, smash your television to pieces, or sell it and give the money to Christian missions.
As evil thoughts pop into your mind, immediately picture them being tossed into a gross pit of sewage and toxic waste.
Uninstall games and social media apps from your phone. For those able to use social apps for outreach without getting defiled, then still uninstall them and just use a web browswer to interact with these sites. Otherwise you'll be mentally defiled with the endless chime of distracting app notifications. In such cases, your phone becomes your leader and you're the slave to it... as opposed to the healthy approach where your phone is just a tool that you lead.

Breath of Life Skills

Ecclesiastes 10:4
"If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest."

Being calm during intense situations can be difficult.
Even an animal can breathe. What should the breath of a disciple look like?
Deep prayers and deep breaths are documented stress reducers.
Becoming calm through deep breaths "can lay great offenses to rest."
How often do you take deep breaths?
How often do you make great errors?
Does your phone make you more or less calm? Then why use it so much?
The Hebrew word translated here as "calmness" can also be translated "health" or "healing."
Healing is essential to rest.
Health is essential to a world full of offenses.

Practicals

Have daily quiet times that you can remember throughout the day and refer back to.
At work or school, focus on calming yourself through prayer and taking deep breaths.
In overly heated situations, consider if walking away briefly would help to calm things down.
Turn off all notifications from your phone, except your own calendar notifications and phone calls. Constant interruptions do not help a person remain calm and peaceful.
Aside from emergency situations, have a consistent bedtime so you can get the calming that comes from a good night's sleep.
Stop consuming drinks with caffeine, as this is classified as stimulant drug.
Stop consuming items with added sugar, since sugar has addictive properties and has drug-like side-effects that are not calming.

Crucified Life Skills

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
[18] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

[20] Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [22] Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [24] but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Work the cross into everything you do, even the little things.
How can you practically do that?
Clue is in what the cross was an instrument for.
How would preaching "Christ crucified" help your finances, health, time, career?
Was putting people on the cross in the first century a public spectacle? A warning too?
Crucify your evil desire to eat junk, not look at your schedule, buy stuff you don't need, be lazy, etc.
Make a public spectacle of these evil desires by putting such desires on a cross.
Practically, what does that look like?
Crucify a seated lifestyle. Get vertical.
Crucify rushed breathing. Learn 3-4-5 Breathing: Count of 3 breaths in, 4 to hold, 5 to exhale.
Crucify materialism.
Crucify the desire to eat 3 meals every day. 16 hour fasting 2 times per week is medically known to be good for your brain (neuroscience journals).
Skip breakfast or dinner a few times per week.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2
[1] When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. [2] For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

How long have you ever done what Paul has done here?
Paul was focused on knowing Jesus, plus what the cross means, plus nothing else.
Know Jesus + Jesus Crucified + 0 Other Things = Effective Discipleship.
Paul prioritizes what he thinks about: effective spiritual minimalism.
Most people are all over the place. Simplify your mental focus. Hone your skills to revolve around Jesus.
Narrow what you know so there is ample mental energy to address career, health, schedule, and finances in a way Jesus would approve.
Contrast that with a person who knows all the latest celebrity gossip, sports news, work/school/ family drama, and an abundance of social media as well as streaming movies.
What would your schedule look like if you resolved to know nothing "except Jesus Christ and him crucified?"
What would be different about your budget if that was your focus?
How would this apply to a student or a person who still has to keep a secular job?
Paul gained a superior understanding about the workings of life through deep focus on the cross. It aided him in all areas of his journey.
How can such a focus help you with your health? Your career?

What are some of the radical elements of the cross?

Long term plan involving many people and circumstances.
Extremely bold, dangerous.
Incredibly sacrificial, generous, inspirational.
In key areas, relying on the miraculous.
Eliminates wasteful tasks and futile thinking.

How can this practically be applied to life skills? Let's crucify our desire to be irresponsible with our time, money, career, health, and relationship with God.

Discipline of Life Skills

Ecclesiastes 10:10
"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success."

Sharpen yourself.
When your results are "dull," more strength and/skill is needed.
Growing in life skills is essential to success.
How is skill developed?
Discipline, hard work, focus on particular areas.
"Skill" at meal prep, budgeting, daily exercise, scheduling meetings and on-the-job (or school) commitment to represent Jesus "will bring success."

2 Timothy 1:7
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Who does God give these gifts to?
God gives disciples a spirit of self-discipline.
Greek word translated as "self-discipline" means sound mind, moderation, self-control.
Its root word means "teach to be sober."
What does it take for a person to become sober?
For those timidly (fearfully) thinking they just don't have the head for being very effective with their health, time management, career, or finances, that is not true. God gave you a spirit of a sound mind. It is up to you to use it.
Sober up to what is needed to advance in life.
Get the garbage out of your life. Get pure.
God doesn't give garbage. God gives "power."
Search deeper inside your spirit. Dig up this spirit of self-discipline.
Why might it be initially difficult to tap into this spirit of self-discipline?
Might take hard work to uncover it, especially if it's been buried under your sin.
What kind of discipline would it take to conduct your job search 8 hours per day, 5 days per week?
Tap into the gifts of God: the gift of life skills!

The Sword of Life Skills

Sword of the Spirit Mobile is rare digital art by Joe Chiappetta, available on AtomicHub.

The need to metaphorically "attack" is essential to growth. For example, in a career, bad business habits and lazy unproductive times need "attacking" with productive, measurable results. The out-of-sight/out-of-mind nature of customer behavior needs to be "attacked" with a wise and steady stream of good publicity.

With this fighting spirit, the Bible has much to say about the importance of battle. Consider just one verse from the famous "Full Armor of God" passage.

Ephesians 6:17

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Notice the first word here: "Take." We are commanded to be takers of battle armaments: specifically takers of spiritual weapons. One of the most essential objects to take hold of is "the word of God," yet interestingly, it is described as "the sword of the Spirit."

That battle-related statement is no mistake. God wants us to relate the Bible to his own personal spiritual weapon--and he wants us to use it. Let's get it into our minds that the Bible is the sword of the Holy Spirit.

Too often people put down "the sword" at work (or school), operate merely on their own strength, and then gradually pick the sword back up after work. I have caught myself doing this countless times, forgetting that I can (and must) use the sword of the Spirit to solve workforce problems too.

While we may "punch in" and out of jobs, Satan does not stop attacking us just because we are at work. We must therefore use God's word at every moment. Make a decision to swing that spiritual sword on and off the clock of paid employment.

It can be helpful, therefore, to consider three things that a sword is designed to do: (1) intimidate the enemy against attacking, (2) attack the enemy, and (3) defend against the enemy.

Because the battlefield is basically everywhere we live and think, it means we need to use this weapon in absolutely every area of life, including health, time management, career, and money management. For example, let's say you have your own business (or side-hustle), but not enough customers, and you are a little tired of working that particular day and you want to stop business activities many hours earlier than usual. What scripture could help "attack" such unproductive thinking in this case?

Galatians 6:9

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Physically, if you let that scripture hit you properly, you just gained a few more hours of productive business initiative. And spiritually, you just took hold of the Holy Spirit's personal weapon ("the sword of the Spirit") and seriously wounded your temptation to be lazy, triumphantly pointing the sword to new areas you can market your business.

Practicals:

For work or school, on a notecard, write out a different scripture verse every day and review it at the top of each hour on the job.
Call a brother or sister to pray with during a lunch break.
Study how much the Bible talks about farming (work) and its spiritual components.

As further exercise, discuss how you could use the "sword of the Spirit" to "attack" other stalled areas of your life, including health, time management, and money management. The more you practice this exercise, the more you realize how essential the Bible is to absolutely every area of your life.

Commanded to Level Up

This chapter has a related and supplemental audio sermon on YouTube.

2 Peter 1:3-11
[3] His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

[5] For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

[10] Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, [11] and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Verse 5: Are we commanded to level up?
Why would God really want his disciples to keep growing, advancing, leveling up?
Look at what we are to "add to our faith." Verse 5-7: "faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love."
Verse 6: Need to acquire self-control. Is self-control essential to Discipleship? Health? Time management? Finances? Career?
If you are tanking in any of these areas, look at your self-control, and what comes before it: "knowledge."
Verse 8: "Possess these Qualities in Increasing Measures." Expected to increase in productivity and effectiveness.
Must be learning new skills.
Verse 3: Who is the source of life skills? God's power has "given us everything we need for life..."
God gives us the powerful ability to have life skills, but we have to activate it by embracing our knowledge with actions.
Are you honing your abilities, or neglecting them?
Verse 4: Why is it important to know God's promises? Do you know God's promises?
Verse 4: "Escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
What are some of these corrupting "evil desires?"
Slap the time-wasting apps off your phone.
Turn off notifications (except calendar reminders).
Are you seeking God or seeking interruptions?
"Wealth... is so uncertain" (1 Timothy 6:17)
By design, wealth is unstable. Yet are you still relying on wealth over God?
Convinced that your investment will make money? Not only is wealth uncertain: so is your future. Only God knows the future.
The reason why there are so many different financial forecasters and advisors on this earth is that they all say different things and they almost never accurately predict what will happen when.
Oh but your investment will go up because you're a disciple? Please stop thinking that. Would God change the uncertainty principle of wealth, that's been written plainly in the Bible for centuries (1 Timothy 6:17), just because you invested in the latest fad, gamble, uncertainty?
To be legit, you've got to budget.
Are you single looking for a relationship? If you want that honey, first be responsible with money.
Keep track of where every dollar goes.
Can't afford a car? Work a steady job and save cash in a jar.
Volunteers, such as unpaid campus workers: that's a very noble task. But if there is no income, and no plan for paid employment... How long can you afford to fund that lifestyle?
Find out through a budget or you'll be begging through a tin cup.
Finish your budget, then you can judge it--not fudge it.
Pay off your debt, not your pet.
Stop browsing the internet. Earn paychecks that reduce debt.
Manage your Time, or face the Crime... the crime of wasting hours upon hours of unproductive chill time, me time.
Spend more time on your calendar than your avatar.
Get your head out of the stratosphere; keep a calendar.
Let your Yes be Yes, or create a big mess. (See Matthew 5:37.)
Let your No be No, or your failure will show.
There are times, according to Jesus, that it is godly to say "No."
Physical Training is of some value... (1 Timothy 4:8) but decaying in your chair, you get NO value out of Physical Training. Exercise daily!
Coffee is fantastic mainly for making corporations rich. It is of little actual benefit to humans--no significant nutritional value.
Artists know that coffee makes new paper look dirty and stained... and the drug in it (caffeine) can in many cases soil your mind--and strain your nerves too. Have you become reliant on coffee to revive your mind, rather than God?
But... do you still "need" coffee every day... because you're a slave to it? Stop.
Could you use the thousands of dollars already wasted on coffee for something better?
Have no money for God, yet somehow you're funding a soon-to-be oversized gut?
For the women, if you can afford makeup and use it, that is your choice. Yet if you are in deep debt, why pay for makeup to alter the pretty face that God already gave you?
Somehow people find money for snacks regardless of income level. Do the same for God.
Have no job? Maybe employers don't care how good you are at video games? Can you get those hours of playtime back and trade them for a consistent job search?
Food with Added Sugar is delightfully exciting... exciting to Satan as he cheers on your compulsive behavior, your addictions, your bigger belly that makes you sluggish, and of course, your incoming diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Make every effort to add to the good you already know how to do: in health, schedule, money, and career.
Get off your rear; learn to steer--away from your corrupting evil desires and into the additive life skills that God's power is destined to unlock
A car needs a road. The road is Jesus. He is "the way" (John 14:6). So we all need to get the car moving the right way on the right road. And a car has 4 wheels: health, schedule, finance, and career. It just takes 1 flat tire to stop the whole car. So start getting your life in tune. Get a tune-up.
Start cruising with the Lord by adding to your faith life skills.
Add some hot skills to your life. Stop driving No-Wheels; drive some Hot Wheels!

In your health, schedule, finances, and career, let's level up with the Lord.

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Life Skills

LIFE SKILLS Book

Level-Up with Biblical Principles for Life to the Full

Table of Contents

RELATIONSHIP-WITH-GOD SKILLS

TIME SKILLS

MONEY SKILLS

CAREER SKILLS

HEALTH SKILLS

INTEGRATED SKILLS

RELATIONSHIP-WITH-GOD SKILLS

TIME SKILLS

MONEY SKILLS

CAREER SKILLS

HEALTH SKILLS

INTEGRATED SKILLS