Anyone with investments knows that investments go up and they go down. If you invested in resources, with the fall in oil prices, your investment portfolio will be have made a down-turn. It seems that we can’t win in this. Or, we lose on our investments and find the cost of our daily commute goes down.

Recently, the prime lending rate was reduced. This will result in lower borrowing rates for consumers. The down side is that housing prices will most likely increase due to more people getting into the housing market. Whether this helps or hurts you depends upon whether you may be in the market to buy or sell.

It seems that the evening news goes from one tragic event to another. The whole world was tuned into the tragic events in Paris last week. We are holding our breath realizing that extremists seem bent on becoming terrorists. And, we realize that it can happen in our own back yard!

On top of tragic world events, we hear of local incidents – stabbings, shootings and other violent crimes – that affect the lives of so many on a daily basis. It happens in areas known for crime as well as areas that are considered to be safe. It hasn’t been that long since a portion of a street in my own neighbourhood was cordoned off with yellow police tape. Residents were shocked to learn of a “suspicious death” that occurred there. That death was later determined to have been a homicide.

During this time of year, liquor stores do a booming business as everyone stocks up for the holidays. Parties will highlight alcohol consumption. Of course, there will also be the usual police check points  to stop people who may be driving while intoxicated.

Does the Bible provide any guidelines for drinking alcoholic beverages? Actually, it gives a very balanced approach. The Apostle Paul advised the young evangelist, Timothy, to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake (1 Timothy:5:23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.). Notice he said “little.”

Other Scriptures let us know that it is not permissible to drink to excess. Proverbs warns that a drunkard will come to poverty (Proverbs:23:21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.) and the New Testament tells us to not keep company with a drunkard (1 Corinthians:5:11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.).

This time of year the stores and malls are packed. There are times when it is difficult to even find a parking place. We are pressed for time but find that what we must do will take longer as the checkout lines are as jammed as the parking lot.

Of course, for many this isn’t the only concern this time of year. For those who observe Christmas, there are presents to buy, special food and drink to stock up on and parties to attend. All of this puts extra strain on an already tight budget.

Does the Bible offer any advice about wealth and our attitude toward money? Does it give guidelines of how to handle our finances, where to spend and what our priorities should be? Check out the Managing Your Finances booklet. It might help you prevent making some crucial mistakes.

Anthony Wasilkoff