ASSETS = LIABILITIES + OWNER’S EQUITY

In order to have a fruitful and abundant life, we must make sure that the experiences we gain through life’s ups and downs are channeled into further improving that life, building character with God’s help. In physics, every action has an equal and opposite reaction (2^nd Law of Motion). Similarly, basic accounting principles (GAAP) state that every debit has to have equal credit, a yin for every yang.

LEFT SIDE                                          RIGHT SIDE

Debit (increase)                                    Debit (decrease)

            Credit (decrease)                                  Credit (increase)

When we are born, we are given a tabula rasa or a clean ledger on which to make our debit-credit entries in life. As we advance in years, we gain experiences that build upon our life or ASSET base. Some of these experiences are in the form of OWNER’S EQUITY or direct investment by God, our parents, our peers, the people we meet, friends, etc.

            Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 

Others are in the form of LIABILITIES or trials, some of which God allows, while others stem from conflicts with other people and/or circumstances. How we react to these positive investments and seemingly negative trials determine whether we have a NET INCOME or increase in character or a net loss.

At the end of the fiscal day, the net income (or net loss, if any) is added or debited to our life’s experience, increasing (or decreasing, if otherwise) our asset base. Applying the debit-credit accounting principle, our character is simultaneously credited or increased.

ASSETS = life’s experience

• Cash = blessings (here and now)

Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
 

• Accounts Receivable = future blessings (faith and hope in the Kingdom)

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 – 10

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared as ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:13 – 16

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

• Fixed Assets = talents or natural abilities/gifts that God gives you (may increase or decrease in life, depending on how we manage them).

Matthew 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; straightway took his journey.

• Non-Tangible Assets = fruit of the Spirit (e.g. love, joy, peace, good family life, harmony with others)

Galatians 5:22 - 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

LIABILITIES = trials  

• Accounts Payable = trials, hardships, toils

Job 1:20 - 22 The Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

James 1:2 - 4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.

Hebrews 11:23 - 26 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

OWNER’S EQUITY = God’s grace, investment in our life

• Preferred Stock, non-voting shares

Ephesians 2:8 – 10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

• Common Stock, voting shares

Matthew 5:45 - 48 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

NET INCOME (added daily to OWNER’S EQUITY) = striving to have a fruitful life resulting in character growth

Matthew 5:48 Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6:1-4 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 25:20 - 21 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold I have gained beside them five talents more. His Lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I Corinthian 3:10 -11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let evbery man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laidm which is Jesus Christ.

Life has its uncertainties; some attribute it to the Fortuna or Fate, others to plain luck. However, the Bible tells us that we all share the same human experience, whether good or bad.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happened to them all.

Job 24: 22 – 24 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. Through it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

There is a common saying that “death unites all” or death is the great “equalizer”. An example of this is during ‘reunions’ in funerals where former affiliates get to inevitably see each other and invariable exchange banal pleasantries. Despite the small talk however, mankind does share a common fate as a consequence of their sin and mortality. Once we reach the end of our natural life, the human spirit returns to God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt you eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Even the Earth will undergo a literal death where every physical thing shall be burned up.

2 Peter 3:10 - 12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

In short, all our physical assets and liabilities will be wiped clean. So the Bible tells us to live as best we can with what we have (maximize opportunities, blessings, etc.):

Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity; for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

What will remain are the intangible (or spiritual) assets and related owner’s equity that God has endowed to us during our life, including the growth in character (if any).

I Corinthians 3: 12 - 14 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every madn’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

I Timothy 6:19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.