Be Set Apart.

I'll start off this blog by defining what being set apart means to me.

Picture a bag of M&M's. When you dump them all out there are all different colors, but they are all still M&M's. Pick any color, there's the Christians. Pick another color, those are Buddhists. Pick another, Islamic. Pick another, atheists. Etc. But  no matter what, they are all still M&M's. They are all contained in a bag together, and they all taste the same. Just like an M&M, we are suppose to be around others and associate with them. The only difference between us and them, is that we are a certain color and they are another. We aren't better or superior, we are equal, we are chocolate. On the inside, we all struggle with the same things. It's what we choose to do that creates a different outward appearance, sets us apart. It's not a physical placement of being set apart, it's an emotional, spiritual, and decision making set apartness. Because even when you separate all the M&M's by color, they are all still M&M's and they all taste the same. Yet there is a chemical difference in each color in order to get 5 different colors.

This is the chemical make up of unbelievers, those addicted and a slave to sin, pain, and suffering...

^"19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21

Sounds pretty rough. Check out the make up of a Christian (what we work towards, it doesn't happen over night)

^"22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" Galatians 5:22-23

I don't know about you, but I would much rather have love, joy, and peace rather than hostility, quarreling, and jealousy. Yet, the first is the hardest to let go of because it's our nature to be that way. It takes a great deal of hard work, heart sifting, and changing to get there. This is how we do it.

"²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there." Galatians 5:24

I don't know about you, but that is so powerful.

Now, what does that look like? Lets say you're a Christian and have Christian friends, or non Christian friends. Your friends decide that they want to go to this party where you know everyone is probably going to get trashed. This is where you become set apart and die to your sinful nature to say yes. Anything listed in Galatians 5:19-21 should not be participated in. That is how we are set apart. Not by how much we read our Bibles, how many services we go to, or how much we volunteer at the church. We are set apart by the way we live, and what we choose to participate in. The less you participate in Galatians 5:19-21, the more you will become verses 22 and 23. As a whole, it seems extremely hard. But if you take it decision by decision, moment by moment, day by day, it will become easier and easier and the opportunities to take part in verses 19-21 will become less and less because people will know where you stand. You will still be an M&M, you'll just be a specific colored one.

What do you do when a friend of yours falls into Galatians 5:19-21?

^"1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." Galatians 6:1-3

I think Paul said it perfectly. Especially verse 3. That is why I wrote this blog, to clarify that being set apart has nothing to do with being prudish, but everything to do with sin and simply choosing not to take part.

Money

‎"The servant who received 5 bags of silver began to invest the money and earned 5 more. The servant with 2 bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and buried the master's money." Matthew 25:19-20 (the first Dave Ramsey plan)

I literally laughed when I first read this story in Matthew 25, because that is what SO many people to with their money. They dig a hole, and burry it, with some of them burying themselves and even their families with it! I don't know that I can be the guy who turned 5 bags into 10, but I can at least be the guy who had 2, saved and worked to have 4. Everyone nods their head and agrees that this is the way to prosperity, but very few ever do it because of our now society. Everything has to be blazing fast, we can get what we want as soon as we want it with credit cards, and because of it we are all impatient. It's sad. But, if we could just have patients and hold of on getting the newest thing,  we would be greatly rewarded.
"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance." Matthew 25:29
The concept represented in a parable has so much truth. This is what Dave Ramsey is talking about. Quite frankly, most Americans should be grounded because of how irresponsible they have been with money from the get-go. Sure, I'm 20 years old, and yes I really don't know much about investing, saving, and the true expense of having a family and what not, but it's all the same concept right? Don't bite of more than you can chew! There are dollar menu's for a reason people! Yes, it sucks. You won't have the clothes, electronics, experiences, food, house, car like others might. It's a slight discomfort only short lived. Your saving will take you much farther than the newest smart phone and those who experience it say that being secure in your finances is such an awesome feeling. These people can genuinely be happy and not worry! Because they are living within their means and not just surviving paycheck to paycheck. Your savings will only grow if you don't spend it and you can't invest if you don't have anything to begin with, and investing is a proven key to earring more money.
I'm only 20, so I really don't have this stuff down but I am trying so hard to at least be the guy that turned 2 bags of money into 4 so that eventually I can be the guy with 10. Despite the criticism I know that I might get, I'll share my financial plan. First off, I tithe. I give about $200 a month back to God, and not once do I regret it. When I tithe, God provides for me and I always seem to have enough money to fill up my gas tank and pay my bills. When I don't tithe, I'm a frantic stressed out mess. Tithe. Second, I am in college and as many of you know, it's expensive and right where the big debt whole for many people begin. Fortunately, my first two years were all paid in cash. My parents agreed to pay half of my tuition, so I took on the other half and my books. For the remainder of my schooling, they will be unable to do the half thing with me. So far I have been able to save $3000 off my yearly bill by being hired as a residents assistant, and have applied for several scholarships that I am waiting to hear back on. In the mean time, I am trying my absolute best not to spend. However, I do have a self reward system set in place. The way my savings account is set up, when I have 1,000 in it I will be sent a lovely $50 Visa gift card! That is the ONLY way I am going to allow myself to do any shopping right now, which is a huge motivator. Also, I am not going to upgrade my cell phone unless I receive enough scholarships to cover my tuition for the next two semesters or more. Which is very difficult because the wiring is messed up and my screen will turn white with shades of pink and purple or freeze up until I remove the battery. No, it does not have water damage. This is a huge motivator to pray, and pray HARD that I get those scholarships! haha! I do not eat out, unless someone else is paying. I car pull when I can, and I conserve my gas tank. Yeah, it really stinks. But I am so happy! I'm not worried about money any more! I was able to cover my car needing new brakes and rotors no problem recently, when before that would have sent me into a melt down spiral of stress and despair. I have calculated it, and at the rate I am going, I will be able to cover at least one semester in cash. That, feels so much better than a new phone, new shoes, new clothes, a trip to a theme park, concert, road trip, beach, or fine dinning. IT IS WORTH IT! I encourage all my college readers to seriously apply this to their finances. It is so true, when you can handle a little you can handle a lot. You will be given even more for saving and, when the time is right investing. But for now, invest in you. Saving now is investing in your future! You will have so much more freedom. I look at it this way, maybe I'll miss out on a few really cool trips now (A LOT of people I know are going to foreign countries constantly), but after I'm graduated and have no student loans and can use my paychecks to buy a car, house, and save all within the first few years. I can go on a vacation to wherever I want EVERY year, while you are still trying to dig out of your hole (which is impossible by the way because by digging(spending) you are only making it deeper. I suggest saving so you can buy a ladder.)

I have no clue what true expenses are, but I really feel like I'm on the right track and plan on taking some financial planning classes to fill in the blanks.

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I wrote that in the beginning of May. Since then I found out that I did not receive those scholarships, and I have yet to be able to hit $1000 in my savings account. It stinks,  but I have not lost hope. I truly believe more in God's provisions than my fears. I am waiting to hear back from some possible aid from my school, and someone gave me $1000 for my tuition today...Yeah. I started bawlin. lol! God is so good! Even though I was disappointed that I didn't get the scholarships I applied for, I knew God just wanted to really show himself true to me and blow me out of the water. I have always noticed that just when I am disappointed with a situation, God distracts me with the impossible. I absolutely love when He shows off, and I smile knowing that what I was hoping for didn't happen means that He's about to do something huge.