Section 3:  Your Available Resources

There are five types of resources you must understand and control if you are going to become a successful person. 

Spiritual Resources 

“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” 

-Matthew 4:4 

We were created in the image of God with the ability to connect with the Divine essence. For this purpose, spiritual resources have been given to us. These resources include words of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy. Each of these resources are gifts and they have the purpose to build up our communities and strengthen our spirits. Additionally, the Creator provides spiritual armor - truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and prayer. (Ephesians 6:13-18a) The Creator also gave us spiritual fruits; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) Each of these spiritual resources can transform a bad day to a good day, or weakness to strength. 

Physical Resources

When you were created, your spirit was placed into your body. Your body is a wondrous creation, which can move, eat and heal itself. Your physical body allows for you to interact with the tangible parts of creation. There are five senses that serve as a resource to your existence: you can see, taste, hear, smell and feel the embrace of a loved one. Yet, although your body is a temple and a divine creation, you cannot just use it however you feel without consequence.

Material Resources 

The Creator also provided the earth’s natural resources, including gold, aromatic resin, onyx, and rivers to nourish the earth. There are vast geographical and geological treasures on this earth which are all part of the Creator’s gracious provisions for your life. These material resources have been used for the purpose of exchange, eventually evolving into the material resource we are most familiar with which is currency (money.) Financial resources are provided to you for more than pleasure but also for the fulfillment of your purpose and potential, it is important to to exercise wisdom and discernment when managing them. 

Resources of the Soul 

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul” 

-1 Peter 2:11 

You are a living spirit and you have a soul. The assistance you receive from your mind, your will, your feelings are the resources of the soul that the Creator has given you. Think of what life would be like without these resources. They are the primary means by which you express who you are. Your spirit depends on your soul, as does your body. If you guard your soul, your spirit and your body will be well. Belief takes place in the spirit, but thinking takes place in the soul. You can believe one thing and think something completely different. What you THINK is what you become, not what you believe. Jesus came preaching repentance (changing your thinking) because He knew our thoughts influenced us much more than our beliefs. The resources of the soul are not available to you unless you allow God to transform your mind. 

Time

Most of us at some point in our lives have wished that we had more resources that we actually have, especially time. Time is a divine gift from the Creator to humanity, serving us as both a blessing, and a protector. Time is protection. Yet, while time as humans experience it is a temporary interruption into eternity, it was given to support us in our fallen nature. However, we were also made to be eternal beings. 

Time is the only true universal currency. This universal currency, when respected, has no need for conversion rates and is the only currency that remains consistent at all times. Time, as a currency, can appreciate and depreciate, as with financial currency. It can also be stolen, abused, lost, squandered, devalued, and revalued. The proper use of time, as with other resources, maximizes potential. Conversely, the abuse of time destroys potential. The only time you have is now. Get busy, and use it wisely.