Marriage Devotional

‘“Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests. Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service. These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests. So give them fine linen cloth, gold thread, and blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Design of the Ephod
“The craftsmen must make the ephod of finely woven linen and skillfully embroider it with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. It will consist of two pieces, front and back, joined at the shoulders with two shoulder-pieces. The decorative sash will be made of the same materials: finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. “Take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the tribes of Israel. Six names will be on each stone, arranged in the order of the births of the original sons of Israel. Engrave these names on the two stones in the same way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of gold filigree. Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the Lord . then braid two cords of pure gold and attach them to the filigree settings on the shoulders of the ephod.
Design of the Chestpiece
“Then, with great skill and care, make a chestpiece to be worn for seeking a decision from God. Make it to match the ephod, using finely woven linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet thread. Make the chestpiece of a single piece of cloth folded to form a pouch nine inches square. Mount four rows of gemstones on it. The first row will contain a red carnelian, a pale-green peridot, and an emerald. The second row will contain a turquoise, a blue lapis lazuli, and a white moonstone. The third row will contain an orange jacinth, an agate, and a purple amethyst. The fourth row will contain a blue-green beryl, an onyx, and a green jasper. All these stones will be set in gold filigree. Each stone will represent one of the twelve sons of Israel, and the name of that tribe will be engraved on it like a seal. “To attach the chestpiece to the ephod, make braided cords of pure gold thread. Then make two gold rings and attach them to the top corners of the chestpiece. Tie the two gold cords to the two rings on the chestpiece. Tie the other ends of the cords to the gold settings on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. Then make two more gold rings and attach them to the inside edges of the chestpiece next to the ephod. And make two more gold rings and attach them to the front of the ephod, below the shoulder-pieces, just above the knot where the decorative sash is fastened to the ephod. Then attach the bottom rings of the chestpiece to the rings on the ephod with blue cords. This will hold the chestpiece securely to the ephod above the decorative sash. “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord . ‘ Exodus 28:1-12,14-29(NLT)

At their core, Aaron types believe money should be used as a means to serve others. They carry a strong sense of duty or obligation to use their resources for other people’s benefit. When it comes to money, Aaron types first think of the needs of the world around them and then turn attention to their own needs. They’re sacrificial with finances. In Aaron’s life, we rarely if ever see him focused on his own financial needs; he simply serves the Lord and the people, and God provides for him through the people and their sacrifices and offerings.

Both Aaron and Abraham types are similar in their others-centered inclinations and actions. Their motivations differ, however. Whereas an Abraham type is primarily motivated to put others first out of a desire that another will experience joy, delight, or feel noticed through hospitality, Aaron types are inherently motivated out of a sense of duty and responsibility to provide for another person in need—it’s just the right thing to do.

Abraham types may use money to help others feel special and noticed; Aaron types view money as a way to make certain all is square and just, that needs are addressed. They just want things to be right, which is what we’d expect from an Aaron type whose namesake was a priest who spent his days making certain that every detail of the law was followed precisely pertaining to resources in the form of sacrifices and offerings. Certainly, the Scriptures teach that all people should provide for those in need, and any responsible person who has an inclination toward any of the money types will do so. For Aaron types, however, this inclination is a primary motivation for how they relate to money, and it stems from their basic belief that money should be used to help others.

Aaron types reveal to us the image of a God who serves the people according to their needs, who enters into the most disgusting and deplorable situations to bring about reconciliation and renewal. Aaron, like the Lord, serves the people in love and humility. Aaron types will inspire you with their level of carefree trust, which enables them to use money in others-centered ways.

Next, you’ll learn about the David money type.

from The Seven Money Types

‘Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord , because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord , not against us.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord , for he has heard your complaining.’” And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud. Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. These are the Lord ’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord . So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.” So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord . There will be no food on the ground today. You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.” Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord ’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day. The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers. Then Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: Fill a two-quart container with manna to preserve it for your descendants. Then later generations will be able to see the food I gave you in the wilderness when I set you free from Egypt.” Moses said to Aaron, “Get a jar and fill it with two quarts of manna. Then put it in a sacred place before the Lord to preserve it for all future generations.” Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses. He eventually placed it in the Ark of the Covenant—in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant. So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. The container used to measure the manna was an omer, which was one-tenth of an ephah; it held about two quarts.’ Exodus 16:1-36(NLT)

Moses represents financial endurance, which requires well-ordered financial habits. We see this in his life in the way he implemented meticulous, thorough, and extremely structured systems pertaining to resources. Financial endurance doesn’t happen with haphazard, disorganized financial thinking and practices. Moses types are very organized with money and love thorough, thoughtful, short-and long-term financial plans. They find a system that works and they stick with it. They come to life within structure. Moses types are steady-handed, consistent, and determined.

Moses types believe there should be a place for every dollar, and every dollar should be in its place. They’ll check to make sure this is the case, and often so. Doing this provides Moses types the assurance not only that they are doing their part to provide for their needs in the most responsible way possible, but also that they have done everything within their power to prepare for financial situations that may arise in the future.

Moses was highly organized with resources. The books Exodus and Leviticus are stocked with examples that illustrate the plans Moses received from the Lord and had to execute, plans that called for meticulous resource management. Moses types love order, especially in their finances. They view it as the secret to longevity and long-term financial vitality. And while they think about money all the time, their well-ordered financial lifestyles provide space for them not to worry excessively about money.

Next, you’ll learn about the Aaron money type.

from The Seven Money Types

‘Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream. The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant. Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.” Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.” “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up. “In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.” Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine. “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen. “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.” Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.” Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt. As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure. During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.’ Genesis 41:1-57(NLT)

Joseph types view their money and other resources as means to make connections. Interestingly, the name Joseph literally means “may he add,” and he was always connecting one thing to another. Joseph types live in this same vein. They see the relatedness in all things. They form connections between ideas, products, processes, and relationships. They view money as a tool to build bridges between seemingly unrelated parts, creating a cohesive whole where one entity is connected to and draws strength and opportunity from another.

Joseph types view money as a means to open doors of opportunity for themselves and others. Because Joseph properly stewarded resources in Potiphar’s home, in prison, and for Pharaoh, he was continually promoted and advanced in his career, even when all odds forecasted certain demise. The way he handled resources unlocked potential in his life, making way for him to become the most powerful person in the land, and also opening doors of opportunity for his family—all because of the way he held resource management in high regard, and the way he trusted and listened to God’s activity in his life. For Joseph types, it’s never solely about the money, but rather what the money makes possible. They’re connecting the now to the not yet, and resources, properly stewarded, are skeleton keys to unlock the future.

Joseph types believe money should be used to forge and strengthen relationships, helping them make needed connections. We see in Joseph’s life in Egypt that his stewardship continually afforded him access and connection to important people around him: given charge over inmates in prison; granted stewardship over Potiphar’s home; anointed as second-in-command over all Egypt—all because he knew what to do with resources. Joseph types believe money should be used to initiate and strengthen relationships; they’ll use resources at their disposal to gain access and opportunity to those they believe they need in their lives. They use their money to network and build relationships, and because of this, their calendars are full with lunch and coffee appointments. They’re always with somebody.

Next, you’ll learn about the Moses money type.

from The Seven Money Types

‘Then Jacob hurried on, finally arriving in the land of the east. He saw a well in the distance. Three flocks of sheep and goats lay in an open field beside it, waiting to be watered. But a heavy stone covered the mouth of the well. It was the custom there to wait for all the flocks to arrive before removing the stone and watering the animals. Afterward the stone would be placed back over the mouth of the well. Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked, “Where are you from, my friends?” “We are from Haran,” they answered. “Do you know a man there named Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” he asked. “Yes, we do,” they replied. “Is he doing well?” Jacob asked. “Yes, he’s well,” they answered. “Look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the flock now.” Jacob said, “Look, it’s still broad daylight—too early to round up the animals. Why don’t you water the sheep and goats so they can get back out to pasture?” “We can’t water the animals until all the flocks have arrived,” they replied. “Then the shepherds move the stone from the mouth of the well, and we water all the sheep and goats.” Jacob was still talking with them when Rachel arrived with her father’s flock, for she was a shepherd. And because Rachel was his cousin—the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother—and because the sheep and goats belonged to his uncle Laban, Jacob went over to the well and moved the stone from its mouth and watered his uncle’s flock. Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he wept aloud. He explained to Rachel that he was her cousin on her father’s side—the son of her aunt Rebekah. So Rachel quickly ran and told her father, Laban. As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
After Jacob had stayed with Laban for about a month, Laban said to him, “You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives. Tell me how much your wages should be.” Now Laban had two daughters. The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel. There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face. Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.” “Agreed!” Laban replied. “I’d rather give her to you than to anyone else. Stay and work with me.” So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days. Finally, the time came for him to marry her. “I have fulfilled my agreement,” Jacob said to Laban. “Now give me my wife so I can sleep with her.” So Laban invited everyone in the neighborhood and prepared a wedding feast. But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob, and he slept with her. (Laban had given Leah a servant, Zilpah, to be her maid.) But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob raged at Laban. “I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?” “It’s not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn,” Laban replied. “But wait until the bridal week is over; then we’ll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me.” So Jacob agreed to work seven more years. A week after Jacob had married Leah, Laban gave him Rachel, too. (Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.) So Jacob slept with Rachel, too, and he loved her much more than Leah. He then stayed and worked for Laban the additional seven years.’ Genesis 29:1-30(NLT)

Jacob types draw out life’s full flavors in faces, places, experiences, and objects that others may overlook, helping us pay better attention and notice life in all its beauty and mystery. We see this in Jacob’s life when he experienced a dramatic, life-changing encounter with God, inspiring him to memorialize that moment by pouring oil on a rock, a rock that every time he saw it, or walked by it with another person, would tell a story about God’s activity.

Jacob types discern beauty all around them. They don’t have to look for it—their souls’ lenses filter beauty and draw it to the surface of their awareness. Jacob types, perhaps more instinctively than other types, “see God in all things, and all things in God.” Pouring oil on the rock, Jacob took an average and normal item and created a meaningful moment. Jacob types have this ability to draw forth life’s beauty—and God’s beauty—by the way they use their resources.

In Jewish understanding, something is beautiful if it endures. Something else can be pleasing to the eye and not attain this status of true beauty, because true beauty persists and remains. It is not transient and has nothing to do with the kind of beauty associated with today’s commercialized pursuit of remaining youthful, fit, and attractive—none of which are inherently evil desires.

True beauty is anchored in and stems from the beautiful One, the Creator God. In this way, something can be beautiful even if it’s not pretty; it’s beautiful because of its essence, its intent, and the way it is used. Aesthetic beauty has its place, but it must have its basis in this reality to be truly beautiful.

Jacob types represent a mix of Abraham and Isaac types, with the Abraham type embodying hospitality and God’s free-flowing love and the Isaac type embodying God’s discipline and restraint.

Next, you’ll learn about the Joseph money type.

from The Seven Money Types

‘When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. ‘ Genesis 26:12-14(NLT)

Isaac types are focused and determined with their finances, seeking to make the most of their resources. The God who redeems even the direst situations, who makes the most of resources countless times in the Scriptures when his people experience lack, is revealed through the disciplined mindsets and actions of Isaac types. Isaac types see potential in all things because with God anything is possible. Therefore, nothing is wasted—everything is maximized.

If you give Isaac types a dollar, they will do their best to turn it into ten, not because they like making money, but because of an inner determination to maximize potential. It is crucially important to delineate between self-centered multiplication and maximization, and it all comes down to motivation. Isaac types are not motivated by a sense of more is better in and of itself, but by a sense of most—that is, maximizing resources so the most possible good and potential use of the resources results.

Isaac types likely have a strong desire to know where their money is going. Their budgets are generally organized, and they have a plan that takes into account their future financial needs. They’ll analyze their budgets to make certain they are maximizing their resources, often inflicting tight, self-imposed financial restrictions on themselves, limiting the amount of money they (or others sharing their budgets) will spend on personal enjoyment or seemingly frivolous endeavors.

At their best, Isaac types’ discipline is based in a mindset that longs to bring honor to the Lord because they take so seriously the resources he has entrusted to their care. They think, “I must make the most of this because God has placed this money within my sphere of influence.” They view themselves as God’s partners in bringing about good in the world by how they use money, so not one dime is wasted. They even find ways to monetize the most normal, everyday experiences and objects in life, seeing potential to maximize resources in ways others overlook.

Next, you’ll learn about the Jacob money type.

from The Seven Money Types

‘The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. “My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.” “All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.” So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. ‘ Genesis 18:1-7(NLT)

Abraham types use money and other resources—however much or little—as opportunities to show God’s loving-kindness to others. They view their personal resources, which are tangible expressions of their money, as means to bless others because that is part of why they, like Abraham, exist. “All nations on earth will be blessed through him” (Gen. 18:18). They realize the blessings they’ve personally received afford an opportunity to prepare a table full of choice food for a stranger or friend, sheltering them from life’s pressures at the hearth of their hospitality—and doing this brings them fulfillment.

Abraham types, who are very others-centered with their approach to money, don’t use their resources for the purpose of drawing attention to themselves, but to point to the goodness of God while at the same time encouraging the hearts of the ones receiving. Serving others with resources is not an act of drudgery for this type.

Essentially, Abraham types reveal the hospitality of God, the One who desires to care for and comfort his children with special kindness. Abraham types go out of their way and over the top to make certain those in their sphere of influence feel valued, accepted, and empowered, and they use the full force of their resources to send this message.

Abraham promised his mysterious guests a little water and a morsel of bread; he delivered a full-course meal from the choicest of his stock—the best he had to give. Similarly, Abraham types go above and beyond what is promised or even expected to ensure that others have not only what they need, but also what they desire. Abraham types underpromise and overdeliver because they see money as a great resource to make an everyday moment, or a person, feel special.

When it comes to money, their first concern is not how far they can stretch a dollar, but rather how they can create pleasurable experiences for others, experiences that surprise and delight. For example, when invited to gatherings, instead of bringing a four-dollar Vegetable tray, if they can afford it, Abraham types will likely show up with a rack of ribs and a couple of sides. Because of this core characteristic, Abraham types will commonly spend a larger-than-usual portion of their incomes on meals, gifts, or other means of showing exceptional hospitality.

Next, you’ll learn about the Isaac money type.

from The Seven Money Types