Our Mission

To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.      

Deuteronomy 13.1-4 observes, when a prophet or visionary gets up in your community and gives out a miracle-sign or wonder, and the miracle-sign or wonder that he gave out happens and he says, “Let’s follow other gods” (these are gods you know nothing about), “let’s worship them,” don’t pay any attention to what that prophet or visionary says. God, your God, is testing you to find out if you totally love Him with everything you have in you. You are to follow only God, your God, hold Him in deep reverence, keep His commandments, listen obediently to what He says, serve Him—hold on to Him for dear life! MSG

False teachers of God shall arise. Some will look like they are blessed by God for they will bear much ‘fruit’ for God. Yet they are false because they falsify Who the One True God is and what He requires of us. What does He require?

That we love Him with everything we have in us. Can He be God and require anything less? Can He be our God and we give Him anything less? We are to follow Him. His word is the light to our path. Ignoring Scripture is to keep from following our God. We are to hold Him in deep reverence. This means we fear God’s opinion more than man’s opinion. We are more concerned with God’s judgement of us than man’s judgement of us.

We are to keep His commandments. Obedience is the practical demonstration of love for God. The Word makes clear what our God requires of us and expects from us. We are to listen obediently to what He says. The Word of God must be studied, meditated upon then acted upon in conformity to His will. We are to serve God. We are His hands and feet for the establishment of His kingdom upon earth as it is in heaven. We must work diligently at the winning and discipling of the nations.

We are to hold on to Him for dear life. God our God is to be our greatest love, greatest desire, greatest joy and the One we most seek to honor and glorify on earth. This is what God requires of us. This is what it means to be a Christian or follower of Jesus.

Our Opportunities

1. CBMC welcomes The Global Leadership Summit. Business leaders, everyday you impact those around you through your influence—for better or worse, in both big and small ways. During a season that may have depleted your energy and left you in the dark, it’s time to rediscover a new hope for your future in order to amplify the positive difference you can make. Learn more here then contact Mike for a special discount code for you and your team!
2. Mark your calendars for July 21. The first CBMC live luncheon event, since the Covid shutdown, is scheduled for that day! Pray now for the unchurched men you want God to bring into His kingdom, then plan to bring them to this luncheon so they can hear God’s call to be reconciled to Him through Jesus the Savior.

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

June 14, 2021 

Financial Lessons From The Tortoise And The Hare

by Jim Mathis 

Most of us are familiar with Aesop’s fable about “The Tortoise and the Hare.” The humble tortoise challenges the arrogant hare to a race. The quick rabbit jumps to an early lead, then decides to take a nap. He awakens to find the tortoise has trudged pass him to win the race. The supposed moral of this story is that slow and steady wins the race, but often when children are asked their interpretation, they say that the hare is clearly faster, but he shouldn’t have stopped for the nap. Nobody really wants to identify with the slow and steady turtle. 

I like to think of financial security as a long, steady, and sometimes boring race, a marathon not a sprint. To me, having financial security means not being awake at night worrying about money or paying the bills. It is not about being rich but being able to make plans without being limited by a lack of financial resources. 

Among my friends are several millionaires. None of them won the lottery, came up with a brilliant invention, made a hit recording, or landed a huge business deal. They all just spent less than they earned, paid their bills, and invested the rest over a long period of time. Proverbs 28:19-20 says, “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.  A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.” 

Warren Buffet is one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He freely gives financial advice to anyone who asks. A reporter once asked him why so few people take his advice. He quickly answered, “No one wants to get rich slow.” Accumulating wealth the “Buffet Way” is not hard; it just is not exciting.

The Bible’s Old Testament book of Proverbs offers a number of excellent principles about how to properly handle money and wealth. Here are some other examples: 

Haste is a very unreliable approach to financial management. Like the proverbial speedy rabbit, it may seem easy to acquire wealth in a hurry. But it can be lost just as quickly. “A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 28:20). 

Do not become a servant to debt. Purchasing things on credit, whether for personal use or a business, is tempting. It might even seem like a shortcut to our goals. However, it is important to realize debts must be repaid, limiting one’s freedom in the use of financial resources. As Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”  

Do not become obligated for the debts of others. Cosigning, or serving as a guarantee for payment of someone else’s loans, even if it is for a family member or close friend, can be dangerous. It is wiser to give money than to become liable if the other person fails to meet the obligations. “Do not be a make who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you” (Proverbs 22:26-27). 

Failure to save a portion of your earnings can prove costly. Almost as dangerous as trying to live on credit is a habit of spending everything that you earn, leaving no savings or surplus. What will you do in an emergency? “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has” (Proverbs 21:20). 

© 2021. Jim Mathis is a writer, photographer and small business owner in Overland Park, Kansas. His latest book is The Camel and the Needle, A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money. He formerly was executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

June 14, 2021 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Had you heard the fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” before? If so, what was your conclusion about the moral – the underlying message – of this story? Do you think it is relevant for a principle for financial management? Why or why not? 

1. How would you describe the way you handle your finances? If you had the opportunity, would you make any changes? 

1. There are many people who promise “get rich quick” schemes. Have you ever considered any of them seriously? What is their appeal? And what do you think are problems with them? 

1. Do you think how a person handles their finances, whether personally or in a business, can be a reflection of their spiritual faith and convictions? Explain your answer.

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 10:2, 11:4,28, 13:11, 15:16, 23:4-5, 28:22,25, 30:8-9 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com