Five C's

Staying in line with spiritual warfare and the antithetical dichotomy of the world's view versus God's view regarding the impact of money in our lives, I am going to discuss what financial institutions base all financial decisions off of, the Five C's of Credit and compare it with God's Five C's of living for Him. Establishing our lives with God's Five C's will inevitably overflow and shape characteristics of societies Five C's, but the purpose is to live for a higher power and authority. Breaking out of the constraints and box-like structure we are forced to conform to and living for the Creator of the universe that often times feels opposite of the world.

When applying for a loan with a financial institution, a person is asked to fill out an application. This application requires you to provide your social security number, income, years employed, assets, asset detail, liabilities, and business or personal financial statements. All this information is then used to determine credit worthiness through the ability to repay whether it be cash flow or repossession, current and future market conditions, and past credit decisions.

It only takes one application to figure out the importance society places on these conditions, especially when trying to dig out of a financial hole. For most people, these conditions then subconsciously become a way of life. Parameters in which we live in order to stay within the mold of acceptance. They persuade our decisions, shape our lives, promote accumulation and preservation, and ultimately define who we are in society. The quickest judgment of who we are is the credit score. This score will make or brake people for many years.

The Five C's of Credit as society shapes us are as followed:

1. Character - This is an evaluation of stability. Length of time at jobs, residential living length, bill paying. Experience, track record, and concentration of business and industry in which you work.
2. Capacity - Ability to repay loan based on all debt owed and expenses. Debt-to-income ratio.
3. Capital - Net worth. Value of assets minus your liabilities.
4. Collateral - Any assets that a lender has a right to take ownership of and use to pay debt.
5. Conditions - Any number of outside circumstances taken into consideration that may affect a person's financial situation and ability to repay.

The antithesis is the Five C's of the Word as God shapes us to live for Him and not society.

1. Conviction - 'Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Nehemiah 8:9.
   1. This is one of the greatest proofs that the Bible is really God's inspired Word in showing its unique ability to convict men and women of their sins.
2. Correction - As for the deeds of men, by the word of Thy lips, I have kept from the paths of the violent. Psalm 17:4
   1. There are many symbols for God's Word that can be found in the Bible itself. It can be thought of as a mirror (James 1:23-25), a seed (1 Peter 1:23), a lamp (Psalm 119:105), a sword (Ephesians 6:17, and even as food (Hebrew 5:12-14). But the Bible also serves as a measuring rod or ruler. Many teachers have used wooden rulers in their classes not only to give the right measurement but, on occasion, to correct a misbehaving pupil. God's Word likewise can do both of these things. It should be used as a standard against which to measure our beliefs.
   2. Sometimes our heavenly teacher, the Father, uses His written ruler to correct us when we are in the wrong. Israel's great king David once experienced this. "Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Thy Word (Psalm 119:65-67).
   3. There are times when God's Word can correct believers when they are in honest and unintentional error. Aquila and Priscilla, a godly Christian couple, use the Scriptures to help a powerful young preacher named Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). Paul does the same thing for some former disciples of John the Baptist he meets in the city of Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7).
3. Cleanses - How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. (Psalm 119:9)
   1. The bronze laver was a piece of furniture in the Old Testament tabernacle (Exodus 38:8). It was made up of a huge upright bronze bowl filled with water, resting upon a pedestal. The priests would often stop at this laver and wash. The Word of God may be thought of in terms of that laver, for it too has the power to cleanse. The Old Testament laver could only remove the physical dirt from human hands, but the Scriptures possess the ability to take away our moral filth (1 Peter 1:22).
   2. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). How does the Word of God cleanse or prevent in our lives?
      1. Cleanse from wrong thoughts. Sometimes we are tempted to think critically of others; God's Word can prevent this. (Psalm 1:2)
      2. Cleanse from fearful thoughts. (Joshua 1:8)
      3. Establishes our total thought life. (Philippians 4:8-9)
      4. Cleanses from wrong words. James seems to be God's expert on the sins of the human tongue. In the first chapter of his book he deals with this very thing and shows the absolute necessity of dependence upon the Scripture to keep our words true. (James 1:22-26)(Psalm 119:172)
      5. Cleanses from wrong actions. Jesus promised us this would be the case: "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." (John 15:3)
      6. Finally, God's Word will keep us from wrong thoughts, words, actions; or else wrong thoughts, words, and actions will keep us from God's Word.
4. Confirms - Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." (John 8:31)
   1. To confirm means to fully establish a truth or fact. The Bible should be used to confirm the truth in our own hearts.
      1. Confirms our salvation. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." (John 5:24)
      2. Confirms the hand of God in all of life's bitter disappointments. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
      3. Confirms our forgiveness when we sin. At times believers carry an unnecessary burden of guilt over past sins and failures. Even when confessed, it is difficult believing God has truly forgiven and cleansed them. The Bible assures us that all confessed sin is instantly and eternally forgiven. (Psalm 32:5; 103:12; Isaiah 38:17)
5. Comprehension - To make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer to him that sent you? (Proverbs 22:21)
   1. In a general sense it can be said that the Bible was written to convict sinners of sin and to equip believers for service. 
      1. Comprehension for evangelism. (Acts 8:26-35)
      2. Comprehension for counseling others. 1 Timothy 1:3; 18; 4:13-15; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 15). "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." (1 Timothy 4:6)
      3. Comprehension for using one's spiritual gifts from God. A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to the believer for the purpose of edifying the church and glorifying God. Paul states a knowledge of God's Word will provide us with the maturity we need to use our gifts in the most effective way. (Ephesians 1:17-19; 4:7; 11-14)
      4. Comprehension for battle with Satan. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

Practicing the Five C's of God's Word we are not guaranteed Capacity, Capital, or Collateral. Conditions may change as God leads us in different directions or circumstances take a turn in which we did not anticipate. We may be required to change homes or jobs periodically as we prayerfully listen and follow God's direction, and we need to be open and ready for that change if necessary. But we are guaranteed a strong Character for living a life God intended and wants for us. Honest, ethical, moral, caring, content, servitude, and loving to name just a few. 

It is important to not get caught up in the worldly requirements of money. Debt is presumptuous of the future and can lull us into a static lifestyle. Sticking with a good paying job that affords us the luxuries we have established. Change requires hard and often times drastic decisions to a way of life we have grown accustomed to.