Spiritual Empowerment for Single People V

THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS: PART III

However, in the area of giving, reason and wisdom must prevail in all circumstances.  God gives us common sense, and we must use it.  A radical, but well thought out, profligacy in sharing, well-timed, is always rewarded by our Heavenly Father.  The more of the virtuous acts of the great personages in the Bible we reflect in our own lives, the closer to being like Christ we become.  We can learn from all  of them, from Solomon's asking for wisdom above all else, to Joseph's prompt obedience to heavenly inspiration, to Mary's fiat, etc.  We don't have to be rash, and kill hundreds of Baal-worshippers like Elijah, or like Judith and cut off the head of every Holofernes we run into.  We have been further enlightened by the coming of the Messiah; we must always question our motives and act out of love.  If we are sincere and honest, God will direct our steps, and lead us, if not to lay down our lives, at least to lay down our spare cash.  What spare means to one means something else to another, and we must be wise, prudent and yet still radical.  Because I did Christ's will for the rich young man once or twice, I need not do it again.  Doing it once is enough to bring many graces into one's life.  Jesus asked the rich young man once to sell all he had, and even then he said, "All things are possible with God", referring to achieving the Kingdom of Heaven, when his suggeston was apparently refused.

Be grateful that you are alone with God as your closest companion; your only responsibility is to yourself and to God.  No sensible mother would or should take from her own children's need to give to another.  But you, as a single person, are free, and alone live with the consequences of your action.  Each state of life has both its powers and limits.

Try to be content with what you have, and not make a habit of such things as gambling and chance.  Winning, for most of us, is a rare thing; and even if it weren't, the fewer addictions we have, the better.  It can become a cause of bitterness for someone who keeps praying to win money which is not necessary for life, and never seems to win, but instead, just goes into debt.

Thank the good Lord you live in the USA, if you do, where it is easier on the poor than almost anywhere else.  I have finally adapted to how much God has given me, and feel quite rich and in need of nothing.  Yes, I buy a lot of my things from dollar stores and value stores, but one would be surprised how good the quality is there.  It took years of development for me to accept my financial situation, and to be reasonable in spending on myself and giving to charity.  Now that I am content with my lot, I can work on my real problems, such as sensuality, sloth, concuspicience, over-sensitiveness and using curse words when angry.

I have sent my books to a literary agent, so I will wait to open my business until the response comes back.  Then, I can let the publisher do the marketing, and do what he or she tells me to do.  If they don't want the books, I will find a way to market them myself.

Thank you for reading this blog!