What Kind Of Prosperity Do You Want?
Here’s my big message for you today: Give Big, Gain Big.
Last week, I talked about pain as an essential ingredient to success. Today, I’d like to talk about the second gift of giving: Prosperity.
People ask me, “Bo, are you a prosperity preacher?”
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the prosperity gospel. Even if you’re not, it would be good to know what it is—so when people ask you if you believe in it, you’ll know how to answer.
You see, I believe that in relation to money, there are three types of gospels being preached today.
There’s only one Gospel, of course. It’s the Gospel of Jesus. But because we’re human beings, the gospel is preached in various ways with various interpretations.
Here are the three types of gospels:
1. prosperity gospel
2. poverty gospel
3. practical gospel
Let me spill the beans here: I preach the practical gospel.
By the way, please don’t try to google “practical gospel”. You won’t find anything about it out there. Because I coined the phrase myself. It’s my approach to life.
There are three big differences between each of these gospels, and I’ll explain them to you now.
First Big Difference:
What Is The Sign of God’s Favor?
1. Prosperity Gospel
Prosperity preachers live in luxury.
Prosperity preachers live in gated mansions with 14 rooms. They wear Armani suits. They wear a Rolex watch around their wrist. They drive in a shiny gold Rolls Royce. They fly in their own private jets.
Many people are scandalized because their wealth comes from their huge salaries, taken from the tithes and donations of their church members.
Yet they still flaunt their wealth.
Why?
Because they believe that ostentatious wealth is a sign of God’s favor.
2. Poverty Gospel
From the other side of the spectrum is the poverty gospel.
And Poverty preachers believe that poverty is a sign of God’s favor.
Because we’re a Catholic country, we Filipinos are more familiar with the poverty gospel than the prosperity gospel.
Why? Remember that celibate nuns and priests were our teachers in school—Nuns and priests who took the vow of poverty. (Note: I’m not looking down at the vow of poverty. It’s a very special and beautiful call from God to celibates.)
But because of this, deeply etched in our subconscious is the belief that if we really want to be holy, we should be poor like St. Francis of Assisi. If we want to gain brownie points with God, we should be poor like Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Somewhere in our subconscious, we believe that in God’s sight, rich people are second-class citizens of the Kingdom.
That’s not true.
Here’s what I believe in…
3. Practical Prosperity
I don’t believe that ostentatious wealth isn’t a sign of God’s favor. (I believe ostentatious wealth is a sign of foolishness.)
Nor do I believe that poverty isn’t a sign of God’s favor too.
Here’s the difference between these three gospels:
The prosperity gospel believes in scandalous prosperity.
The poverty gospel believes in spiritual prosperity only.
The practical gospel believes in simple prosperity.
I believe simplicity is the happiest way to live.
The sign of God’s favor isn’t wealth or poverty.
The sign of God’s favor is generosity.
Two Benefits of Living Simply
Each year, my income increases.
My small businesses are growing. And I work hard to keep on expanding my income everyday.
But deliberately, my lifestyle has remained simple.
Why?
Two reasons:
1. So I can give more.
2. So I can relax more.
Simplicity is the wisest way to live your life!
The Greatest Car In The World
I’m relaxed.
I live in a simple house.
I live in a small house.
It’s so small, if I have visitors, all I have to do is close all the windows and open the door of my Refrigerator. And you’d think I had central air-conditioning.
I can build a bigger house. But I’ve decided not to do that because I don’t want to complicate my life.
I also drive a simple car.
Again, I can now afford to buy a better car, but I don’t want to do that.
I always tell people that my car is the greatest car in the world. I know. If you look at my car, you won’t look at it again. It’s so ordinary. But I call it the greatest car for three specific reasons.
First reason: Imagine that I’m in an intersection waiting for a green light. And a shiny blue BMW moves right beside me. And hiding in the street corner is a kidnapper, watching both of us. And he’s wondering, “Hmm, who should I kidnap?”
Guess who he’ll pick?
My car is the greatest car in the world.
Second reason: When I park my car, I park my car. I walk into a mall and I’m not thinking of my car. I totally forget about it. If I owned a Jaguar, I don’t really park my car. In my mind, I bring it along with me. I’m always worried that someone scratches it, bumps it, or steals it.
My car is the greatest car in the world.
Third reason: One day, I was driving on EDSA. And a car hit me on the side. We both stopped our cars. I looked at the other driver and saw that his car was old. The other driver looked at my car and he saw that it was old. We looked at each other, smiled, waved at each other, and drove off.
Isn’t that wonderful? My car is the greatest car in the world.
Look: I’m not saying you can’t buy a new car.
One of these days, I’ll need to upgrade my car.
But you’ll definitely not see me driving a Rolls!
Where I Got My Lessons On Simplicity
I’ll always be grateful to my parents for teaching me the beauty and power of simplicity.
They taught me that there are just some things that are more important than a big house or a flashy car.
When I was a kid, my father had a car.
Well, at least it looked like a car.
My classmates had cars with a little bit of rust.
I felt that Dad had rust with a little bit of car.
It was so old, everytime we drove it, you thought the drum and bugle band was passing by.
I wondered how come my classmates had beautiful cars.
I also wondered why my classmates had expensive homes with expensive décor. I remember visiting one of them. They even had huge Egyptian Jars from the Nephertiti era.
In my house?
We too had jars.
But ours came from the Nescafe era.
My mother even taught me how to be simple in my clothes…
My Holy Attire
When I was in Grade 4, all my classmates wore khaki shorts as our uniform. But slowly, some of them started wearing long khaki pants. So I told my mother, “Mom, can you buy me long pants?” She nodded her head and said, “Let’s save up for it.”
Uh-oh. I heard those words before.
That could take two years.
True enough, when I was in Grade 5, I was the only one wearing shorts.
When I was in Grade 6, I was the only one wearing a bikini. Because I had gotten taller, and my shorts had shrunk. And we couldn’t buy a new pair of shorts because we were saving up for my long pants.
Finally, when I graduated, Mom gave me long pants.
But as I walked the aisle on graduation day, I felt my pants was extra heavy. I realized the pant’s hemline had 7 folds.
I later asked my Mom, “Why does my hemline have 7 folds?”
Mom answered, “So it’ll be adjustable as you grow taller.”
When I was in high school, my classmates started wearing jeans. So I told my mother, “Mom, please buy my jeans. And please don’t say we’re going to save up for it, because that will take a century.”
I was surprised because she bought my pants the next day.
I wore it and paraded it to my classmates with great pride.
My classmates were shocked. “Wow, Bo is wearing jeans!” They inspected it. “Our jeans are Levi’s. What’s yours?” They read the label. “Ludy’s?”
To this day, I still wear Ludy’s jeans.
Why do I look good?
Nasa nagdadala yan.
You Can’t Judge If Someone
Is Living Simply Or Not
By the way, there’s no one standard of simplicity.
You can’t peek over your shoulder, looking if the other person beside you is living simply or not.
Simplicity is relative. The simpler you are, the less relatives you have. (Sorry, my mind short circuits sometimes and comes up with these terribly corny jokes.)
Simplicity is a posture of the heart.
For example, I know of someone who drives a P4 Million Volvo. That may not be simple for you but that is simple for him. Why? Because he’s so wealthy, he can afford to own a Ferrari, A Porsche, and a Lamborghini—but he decided not to. So he can give more to God’s work.
I repeat: There is no one standard of simplicity. Each person must decide what is simple for him.
Second Big Difference:
Does God Want You To Be Rich?
1. Prosperity Gospel
Prosperity preachers believe that God wants you to be rich and it’s a sin to be poor.
2. Poverty Gospel
Poverty preachers believe the very opposite. They believe that God wants you to be poor and it’s a sin to be rich.
3. Practical Gospel
Here’s what I believe: God wants you to be generous.
And to be rich or poor is a choice that God leaves up to you. He really leaves a lot of choices to us: Where to live; How to serve Him; Whether to get married or not; Whether to dye our hair green or purple…
A lot of people ask me, “Bo, what is God’s will for my life?” Usually, they’re asking it in relation to a job they’re applying for, or migrating to another company, or getting married with someone.
They think that God has a detailed plan for them.
I don’t believe in that. If God has a detailed plan for us, He shouldn’t have given us a phenomenal brain. He should have made us robots!
But He didn’t.
He gave us incredible creativity and a powerful imagination.
Why? To fill in the details.
I believe God’s will for us is a broad vision, not a detailed plan. He calls us to love Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls. How we’ll do that is really up to us.
I’m a father for my 2 boys.
My greatest dream for my kids isn’t to become rich.
My greatest dream for my kids is to be grown-up men who will live for others. Grown-up men who will give big and gain big.
Now if they can do that as wealthy men, that’ll be wonderful. That’ll be a great bonus. Because they can use their wealth for God’s work.
God is Father, and I believe He wants us to be as loving as Jesus is loving. To be rich or poor is our choice.
Third Big Difference:
How Do You Prosper?
1. Prosperity Gospel
Prosperity preachers teach that if you want to prosper, you only have to tithe—and prosperity will come.
Go ahead. Pick up a book written by a prosperity preacher. Most likely, you’ll discover that half of the book will be about tithing.
Don’t get me wrong.
I believe in tithing.
I tell people to do it all the time.
But I also believe that tithing isn’t enough to make you financially blessed.
2. Poverty Gospel
And then there’s the poverty gospel.
They believe that you should just tithe, suffer in this valley of tears, and wait for Heaven to come.
3. Practical Gospel
What do I believe?
I believe that if you want to succeed in your finances, you need to do two things: You need to tithe and take charge of your finances.
By taking charge, I mean living simply, wiping out your consumer debts, saving and investing, and develop an entrepreneurial thinking!
Both the prosperity and poverty preachers teach you in investing in Heaven only.
I believe in investing both in heaven and on earth.
I believe that you should give 10% as your heavenly investment, and 20% as your earthly investment.
Personal Sharing
People tell me, “Bo, I like you because you walk your talk.”
I laugh and say, “Perhaps it’s not because I’m holy. Perhaps it’s because I’m an artist.”
You see, I love to communicate visually.
On stage, I act, I show props, and I tell stories with drama.
And one of my favorite visual aids in my talkis my life.
Because I believe that “who I am speaks so loudly, you won’t hear what I’m saying.”
My life is far from perfect. Believe me.
But I struggle to live by this talk: I earn as much as I can, I save as much as I can, and I give as much as I can.
For example? I avoid the prosperity gospel.
How?
I decided not to receive a salary from the tithes of my community, Light of Jesus. Please know that the Bible says we should financially support our leaders. In fact, all our fulltime leaders receive allowances—and rightly so. I’d love to give them more support for all the fantastic work that they do.
But my position is very sensitive: I’m Founder and Presiding Elder. In recent years, there have been many scandals of religious leaders using tithes of their members to fund their mansions and private jets. And because of this, people are watching. That’s why I opted not to receive a salary.
I also did two other things: Being an author of 18 bestselling books, my author’s royalties are quite sizable. I decided to donate that for ministry.
I’m also one of the highest paid corporate speakers in the country. I also chose to donate all my speakers’ fees back to the ministry.
Why?
Being generous gives me so much joy.
But because of these decisions, I’ve experienced first hand the statement—that God cannot be outdone in generosity.
By being extra generous, it caused me inner pain (remember my talk last week?). Enough inner pain to fuel me to work, grow, and expand my businesses!
God has prospered the work of my hands.
I’ve tested the practical gospel.
It works!
My friend, Give big, Gain big.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
PS1. You Don’t Have To Be Stuck In Your Financial Hole Forever. I’ll teach you how to become prosperous God’s way. Thousands of TrulyRichClub members have already learned my wealth philosophy: “Earn as much as you can, save as much as you can, and give as much as you can.” If you want me to mentor you in your financial life, join my life-changing TrulyRichClub. You’ll never regret it! Through the Club, you’ll grow your income. You’ll grow in abundance. You’ll gain financial freedom.
To know how to prosper God’s way, click the link below:
Yes Bo, Teach Me To Prosper God’s Way
PS3. Protect Your Family Life From Thieves. Don’t let the world steal away the joy and love from your family life. You deserve a happy family! I can teach you how to build a circle of protection around your marriage. I can teach you how to build a circle of protection around your relationship with your kids. Grow in your love for one another. Join my FamilyRebornClub and bless your relationships.
To know more about family life, click the link below:
Yes Bo, Teach Me How To Protect My Family Life
Filed under: happiness, Simplify Your Life, Wealth/Money, Blogs by bosanchez
Hi Bro Bo,
Once again, i thank you for another inspiring article. Thank you for reminding us to live simply…
More power.
eLviN
thanks for the reminder
again thank you…
a lot of thanks. God bless!!
I enjoyed reading this…. God bless Bro Bo
GREAT…. Now I know what’s our purpose in life…
Hello Kuya Bo,
Good day.
I am an accountant, working in an international bank here in the Global City, Taguig.
Thanks for the inspiration. I really like your weekly inspiring stories. I want to join in a networking company. I know it’s good and the products are fairly priced. I am offering this decision to God.
Please pray for me and hope to get your thoughts. Thanks so much.
regards,
randell
bro. bo, ur talk today is so true… i always experience that when you give with your heart, even when you don’t expect anything in return, it just find its way back to you a thousandfold… God indeed cannot be outdone in terms of generosity… God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.
Another great, great article! Thank you bro. Bo for posting this.
thank you,mr bo sanchez, for another inpiring article.
You’re really my IDOL.
good morning po =)
thank you so much for reminding us to live in simplicity..
may your dreams come true too.. =)
Hi Bo! Thank you for the inspiring message.
I don’t have a clear view of where my life is going now. I don’t have a job. I want to get a job here in Singapore but it’s been a month now and I still have no job. I supposed to attend the 1st birthday of my daughter last week but I prefer not to instead I extend my stay here in Singapore. I know I am losing time with my kids but it is for them that I’m doing this.
Your inspiring messages helps me to move forward. Please pray for me & God bless you.
Awesome!
Monday is an exciting day of my week, coz I keep on refreshing my mailbox for your new Articles.
Thank you soo much Bro Bo for another wonderful and inspiring article.
Godbless You Always
brother Bo, thanks ones again for this reminder,its always good to be reminded to remain simple, to live simply and happy. To God be the Glory! and more power to your ministry bro. Bo.God Bless!
Thanks for an enlightening message.
dearest bro bo,
thanks for reminding us to remain simple…and also for sharing us your very inspiring stories…
cant wait for your next message…
God be with us always…
Hi! Brother BO…
You make my day complete.. as i read your soul food for today , i so much inspired for being simplicity …. hahhaha i laugh because its true ( Nasa nagdadala yan. )
Bo i have some request i hope you will send me your last year 2009 soul food..because i don’t have copy of it..
thank you so much Brother Bo to inspire the People of God. to give more HOPE as they travel this world full of Burdens..
Wow, thanks again brother bo for another inspiring message, and thanks for reminding us to be simply. Thank you so much.
you are so funny bo.it’s great to learn and laugh at the same time.you are the coolest preacher ever! i wish i could see you in person. it would be a dream come true.
hi Bro. Bo,
I thank you for your insights… they are one the bests… My friends need to meet you and know you so they will share in with your great wisdom.
grace
Dear Bro. Bo,
Practical gospel is the best gospel. you are right. absolutely right.
thanks for this.
You will be long remembered, like Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, Joel Osteen and the like.
thanks bro bo,
.
wow! a very good life article… and i can’t help but laugh. it cheered me up bro bo. thanks!
Dear Bo,
Thanks for the wonderful message . . . GOD BLESS . . .
Hi Bro. Bo,
It was a fun article. It made me giggle at some part of the stories.
However, it made me think, too, which is usually what happens when I read your stories or blogs or whatever these are.
As I was going to the Prosperity Gospel concept, I couldn’t help but think comparing all those prosperous preachers with their own religions as that with the Pope. I mean, they’re the top leaders of their religions and it seemed they’re the most prosperous too. I mean, Italy (or Vatican) couldn’t be denied of its ostentatious display of wealth. It goes the same, I guess, with all the prosperity preachers you are saying. And I guess, we had a taste of that here in our church as priest are constantly redecorating the church (the building structure) adorning it with all lavishness. I mean, I thought to myself why are they doing this. I mean, if they like to adore God with all those lavishness why don’t they do it to the people. Doesn’t God stay in the hearts of the people and not on some building structures? Why don’t those priests spend it on people, like you, Bro. Bo, with all your ministries. In fact, I decided not to give that much to our church here anymore but instead give it to your ministries because I knew for sure where my money go. I mean, it goes to where they should go, to God’s anawim.
As for Poverty Gospel, I was thinking . . . was St. Francis of Assisi wrong in his decision to deliberately get rid of himself with all kinds of earthly possession. Well, I kind of saw this on that “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” movie. I mean, is that right? I mean, you had realizations on this when you were a staunch advocate of his life before. Were they wrong? Well, Mother Theresa of Calcutta seems to be different. I guess, she did go the way of the extreme Poverty Gospel. I mean, doesn’t she accept donations, like you, just to help those anawims in India. There was, in fact, a controversy that she receives from drug lords or gambling lords, even. But, what’s the right position or right thought on this? It just made me think while reading your story here.
brod. bo
thank you once again bo i want to live simply just like you!u amaze me by your powerful teaching!ur really a modern Christ u teach what u practice!bravo!
Sorry, I mean, Mother Theresa of Calcutta DIDN’T tread the path of extreme Poverty Gospel concept as that with St. Francis of Assisi.
Hi Bro. Bo, thanks again. God bless
I watch your video of this talk…I giggled…but then again I read it again….and giggled again….that’s really inspiring with a lot of humor. God Bless Bro. Bo.! thank you so much.
@Oliver C. Cabrera
St. Francis of Assisi took a vow of poverty because he came from a prominent family of cloth merchants and he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. In his youth, he was prominently displayed wearing bright clothing, his rich friends, and his love of pleasures. He took a vow of poverty because worldly wealth was a distraction for him in his spiritual life.
Not everyone is called to a life of poverty. One can take the vow of poverty if and only if 1.) They are unmarried and have no children/family to support. 2.) They have a spiritual calling and to teach the gospel to know the plight of the unfortunate.
We have an obligation to provide for our kids and immediate family (husband and wife / parents/grandparents).
>
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:10
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Sorry that should be 1 Timothy 5:8…
dear bro.bo
thanks for the message.it is really inspiring.If only we can all learn to live simple and appreciate life as it is
then i think this world of ours will be a better place to live.
but i believe that God has a plan for all of us and we all have a purpose in life.I pray that God will continue to bless you and your family !you are a blessing to others who really are in need of spiritual guidance.thanks again.
powerful, and inspiring.
Thank you, Bro..your writting inspire me..To live simply and ill put in mind your practical gospel..I’ve learned so much with your book ,Simplify and live the good life .
May the Lord continue to bless you with His wisdom..God bless.
thanks for sharing, very inspiring.
gving ’til it hurts… i’m on it right now… and true enough, i try to earn more so i can give more and provide for my daily needs… pero ang hirap huh! hehehe
anyways, again, bro bo, many thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Bro. Bo for sharing your practical view in life.
There is section in the kerygmaforum about stock investing and it is nice to see our kababayan having interest in stock investing. We hope that people do invest in stock to help themselves and to help others.
Bro. BO, you’re really such a heaven sent… you never failed to open our eyes to what is good.. to what is more pleasing to God’s eyes… thank you for this wonderful piece again! to GOD always be the GLORY =)
Hi! Sometimes I lose interest in making money. i don’t know what it is but since I dislike my course accounting, sometimes I feel the same way about business, except when I read about it, that’s why I read a lot about business to learn so much about it. I have been a constant follower of my strategy of employment for money making and just starting a business from the money that I make from employment. What I want to do hopefully is to start from nothing or scratch and sell some things and gain money, lots of it, as I go on, and thus establishing a business. But making money has been a challenge for me. And sometimes, I grow hungry and weary before I can even make my first bucks. I wish sometimes that I have the ability to make money as others do. Anyway, I am continuing to pray for it and hopefully live the life that I wanted to live in this earth because you really sometimes cannot do a lot of things if you don’t have money. Give big. Gain big. I wish it becomes easy.
brod bo
Bravo!you really practice what you preach about living simply thats why you are loved by God and everyone of us.It also tickles me about what you wear when your young comes from Ludy and i can relate to you my garments comes from ukay-ukay and hindi naman halata nasa pagdadala lang no!he,he,he.im practicing what you preach.God Bless!
Hi Bo,
Thank you
I’ll fill one page up if I write all the reasons, but I think these two words are enough. You inspire change in me, one article at time.
Good night!
Thanks Bro Bo for this practical message in life and God bless you and your family for all your endeavors.
” Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God. ” Jesus says.
Rich or poor, the key to the Kingdom is detachment of the heart from the world and all its empty promises in relation to one’s Salvation. Detachment from the love of the things of this world liberates one’s soul from the tentacles of possible , inevitable, insatiable greed that brings many distractions in our journey to the Kingdom. St. Jose Maria Escriva said that the body and the spirit are in continues warfare. They are two enemies that you cannot separate. Or they are friends that don’t get along well with each other. If the body is given a little more preference, it betrays the soul, he said.
To Oliver— your question reminds me of the scene when Mary Magdalene bathed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume. Judas commented that it was a waste, and that it could have been given to the poor. It was her love for the Lord that prompted her to do it just like the story of Mary and Martha. ” Only one thing is needful, that to love our Lord. ” Just like when we prepare our home for a party, it’s just proper that the we love to decorate the church for the Mass where guests meet on the Feast of Heaven and Earth / where we all become ” One Body in the One Lord ! ”
Our hearts finds Joy in God, as St. Augustine said, ” Our hearts are restless Lord, until it rests in You ! ”
BE HAPPY ALL !!!
Thanks Bro. Bo and family !
its really great! i learn a lot from this story and surely will apply this to my personal life… let us be a blessing to others even in a simple way!
thanks for another inspiring blog. It really kept me back on my feet again> Waiting for more great blogs from you. God bless you/us.
Thank you Bo for another very inspiring message. It keeps us in check. Thank you also for leading the way in what you coin as practical gospel. It’s what I see as what Catholics all over the world need to hear.
@ elusivestar
Thank you for the message! I just pray that love was the genuine motive with those elaborate structural designs. But it makes one really think deep if it is when in your church they keep having those second collection (for church projects on those elaborate structural designs) on Sunday Masses where, in fact, it was even the priest who says that Vatican does not allow such. I mean, doesn’t the first collection answers all their needs? But thank you for your wonderful example.
@ Anino
Thanks for the reply. It made me think deeply about callings on this Month of Vocations. However, it made me think also who does not have a family/children to support to? When does one decide not to support family/children when called to a life of poverty or would one never get the call if one has children already? I guess, this answers married priests allegation that they should be given a chance. I mean, they shouldn’t be anymore, should they? Well, I guess, here is that “Dios na ang bahala,” concept comes in. Don’t you think? Thanks for that wonderful reply, anyway.
@Rommela
I think Bro. Bo has a lot to say in his Soulfood Archives about your quest of making it big in business. One such thought to go by there which is also stated in this blog is that I hope your quest is to “Gain Big to Give Big.” But then again, I guess it was the reverse.
Be happy everyone!!! I strongly believe that’s what God wants all of us to be and to have it to the full.
thanks Bo!
@Randell
I know how you feel in deciding whether to join or not to join a network marketing business. I pray to God about my decision, I can say that a miracle happen and decided to join one. Now, im thankful for my decision and I can no give more because i have the capacity to do so. You can also read Robert Kiyosaki’s “rich dad, poor dad’ where he says that its a good thing to join such business, you just have to be careful in choosing the right and legitimate business. I hope it helps, you can email me at j_h_e_n_a@yahoo.com if you have inquiries. Godbless!
you make may day Bo! every time i read your column ha ha what a writer you are…
Thank you Bo for sharing your life, that in itself is a generous act. By allowing yourself to be vulnerable in the eyes of the world and allowing God to work in your life, you have inspired many people.
I agree with you on living a simple life and following God\’s will for us. Since both are subjective, they can be a little tricky to adhere to. I believe though that God gives us tools to guide us in our discernment.
To God be the glory!
U always remind me to live a simple life.
Thank you so much!
More and more blessings to come so u can help more and more people.
Dear Bo,
I agree with you 100% that if you give more, the blessings will be pouring. The BIble does not lie, proven and tested in many who have tried.
More power, God bless you more. Thank you.
In Christ,
Nelia
Dear Bro Bo:
Just like you, I still wore shorts until I was in Grade 5. Nothing can be more humiliating than being in your khaki “salawal” & worn out Gregg shoes while the rest of your classmates (from an all boys school) are already wearing long pants and cool black moccasins/chasers from Otto.
Anyways, I just would like to ask if there is really a brand of jeans called “Ludy’s.” Because if there is, Id like to check them out.
Thanks!
Jerome
Brother Bo, you’ re simply heaven sent! You have inspired me for almost 2 decades now. I always praise and thank God for making you His instrument.
Thanks for another very inspiring work. More power Bro.Bo.
you simply rock kuya bo! a great reminder for me! =D
Wow!
true, simplicity is a posture of the heart.
Thanks Bro. Bo
God bless you more!
simple and practical living is the way to go!
thank you bro. bo. god bless!!!
another great read. hilarious and practical. thanks bo
Thank you so much for a very inspiring reminder of living simply. Living simply is living without worries because you believe that God is always with you.
Bo,
I laughed hard at some of the experiences you’ve shared. I can relate to some of them…
Thanks for this great article…
LIVE SIMPLY so that others may SIMPLY LIVE!!!
Shiela
I think it is a common thing for us Filipinos that whenever we get promoted or given a raise, our lifestyle adjusts almost automatically.
We are fond of thinking of ways on how to spend our money rather than save or invest.
Brother Bo can afford to give much because his simple lifestyle does not adjust to his increasing level of income and I think that is one of the secrets.
Just live simply so that others may simply live.
Thanks Bo for another inspiring article. You never fail to inspire me. Keep it up.
wow…. really.. this article is amazing… you’re heaven sent bro.Bo.. Godbless you and your family
Thanks for answering this question that lingered in my mind for sometime now - ” Are you one of those Prosperity Preachers?” but I knew that this message would come one of these days. Anyway, thanks for the simple message of living the Gospel for others.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Luke to \” Take care to guard against all greed, for though one maybe rich, one\’s life does not consist of possesions.”
One does not need to be wealthy to have a greedy heart, but most of the time they are the ones… If one wants to try to be perfect - live simply! That I see in Mother Theresa, St Francis, all Religious and Priests who would like to live their lives for God and others.
Thanks Bo for being a good exsimple.
Hi Bro. Bo!
Shalom!
Thank u so much for such very inspiring message….LIVE simply…Give MUCH! I believe that whatever life we want to live ..is a a very noble choice that God has given us. The concept of choosing to be poor or to be rich…is our own prerogative, what matters most is the intention of how we become generous in sharing our treasures to our bros. and sisters, anyway, if we die and leave this world we cannot bring all our earthly wealth…only the riches that we gained inside our Heart!
Thank you again…to God be the GLORY!
thank you.
Maraming Salamat Bro. Bo! Really it’s the best thing to do and the prosperity I want also. Thank you for your insights and inspiring words. Live in Simplicity and Generosity. =) True, simplicity is a posture of the heart.
To God be the Glory!
God bless!
amen
thanks bro. Bo!!
To Oliver — Hi! Thanks for the kind words ! One is not really obliged to give in the church’ collections. The gift without the giver has no meaning @ all. Not only through treasure can we do our part as Christians , but also sparing our time and talent in the parish that we belong to. The Religious have even a bigger spiritual family to serve, as they are called / chosen to lead God’s flock, just like the Shepherd who leads his sheeps to the green pastures and the clear, cool waters of peace, joy and love in our Lord Jesus !
Have a very good day !
Thanks Bro. Bo and family !
BE HAPPY ALL !!!
Dear Bro Bo,
Thank you for this article. It inspired me to live a simpler life, so I can give more.
Thank you for being God’s messenger..
God bless us!
@ elusivestar
Thank you for reminding me of the word “religious.” Actually, my bad image of priest vis-a-vis Prosperity Gospel was never directed to the religious priests. In fact, kudos to all religious priests. I have no qualms about their spirituality because as far as my experience with them, I’ve witnessed they’ve been truly living the spirituality of their calling but much to the point though of relativity of its simplicity just like Bro. Bo said. My daunting questions were more directed to the diocesan priests. In my 5 years of serving one of the ministries in our church before, I have yet to see diocesan priests who are truly committed to their religious calling. I mean, actually living the spirituality of their calling as maybe compared to those of the religious priests. Because in my 5 years of service, with the many diocesan priests coming and going through our church, I was only touched by one whom I would say really had the true call as shepherd to the flock. Well, my prayers goes to all priests though, especially the diocesans, that they’d be more faithful to the call God has for them as that shown by their patron saint Josemaria Escriva.
Happiness to one and all!
Hi! Bro Bo,
Thank you for always inspiring and reminding me to be geneous.Truly, as we received blessings from the Lord we should also be a blessing to others. Give ’til it hurts and give ’til it hurts no more.
Godbless you and your love ones.
thank’s
I honor you Bro. Bo.
Thanks for this wonderful message..
God bless. Pls continue to inspire souls….
Hi Bo!
I love what you wrote in this article. For me, I was a Jesuit social worker in Myanmar and because of Financial problem, all of a sudden I shift my career as a social worker to become a sailor. I lost my beloved dream of getting a scholarship and then be a social worker forever. So I couldn’t understand HIS will because I thought I was doing good for people and yet I leave my beloved job to become a sailor, material and non-spiritual job.
Now I read and thank your article for I feel that I can gain enough and share good financial help to people. So Pray for me and my future in doing God’s will with satisfaction and joyfulness.
thanks for this inspiring message.God bless
Bo, who do you rally give your tithes to? The Church? or The Group or community?
Thanks for the inspiring message?
you are amazing Bro. Bo! I attended the feast last Sunday in PICC. It was my first time…I love it…
Good day !
Am just reminded of what is written in the New Testament—
” Blessed are you when men reproach you and say all kinds and manners of evil things against you. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in Heaven. ”
” Do not judge and you will not be judged . For whatever measure you passed against others will be measured back to you. ”
” First remove the beam / speck from your own eye before you can remove the speck from your brother’s eye. ”
” Love one another as I have loved you. ” says our Lord.
Let us all pray for another !
BE HAPPY ALL !!!
JESUS LOVES US !!!
i would say yes for tithing i experience it in my life that if ugive and give and give god will bless ur life. theres a song if u give the lord the lord will give u more he open heaven door if u give what u have to the lord. its in Malachi 3:8-10 here god challenge us to give our tithes and just see that he will pour his bleesing …
Thank you for all the inspiration! God bless us all!
thank you dear bro.Bo!
another inspiring message..i thank God for a person like you! youre so generous about God. there are many sayings/quote stating God’s plan for us,but now i learned that it’s really up to ME! it’s my choice. i asked God to guide me on my way to my dreams! to become a nurse from God,not just a registered nurse.
God bless us all!
bo,
it was inspiring to read your article. however, my dilemma is this: i have a business that i think needs close supervision because i want to know firsthand my customers’ complain. (my staff won’t tell me, because they know i’ll reprimand them)and this leaves me tied to my business all day. when i want to do other things like serving in a community. But as you said, you work hard . so, how do i do that? increase my income but not being so tied down to my business ? thanks and God bless..
dear Bo,
May God continue to bless you. thanks so much for the inspiring talks, stories and messages.
Bro Bo.. i havent read your articles lately and i saw this on in my email and its so inspiring and its like a wake up call for me and surely to many… thank you for always sharing your insights and for being an inspiration for us… god bless
Thank you so much Bro Bo for inspiring me through your words
Thanks Bro. Bo for the inspiration. You made me laugh on your jokes and I can actually relate to these as I hadsome similar experiences. As I recall my past experiences of poverty, I sometimes cry and laugh at the same time. Cry because I feel sorry for myself and laugh because we were able to survive and can now make fun as we look back to those experiences.
I always pray that God will continue t obless and help my family in order to help others more. Please pray for us.
God bless you more and your family and more power.
Your car story made me smile and I recalled an incident exactly the same like yours. I was entering the parking area of a mall and I was looking around looking for a free parking space and then suddenly I heard a thud! I hit the car ahead of me. We both went out of our cars, look at both our cars and he commented: No problem, pareho pala tayo, old school cars! we both smiled and shake hands and went separate ways!
, in your message, you shared about your own experience going to school wearing jeans with Ludy’s brand, i kept on smiling with a teary eye cause I do can relate this during my younger days, and i’ve done this to my children too only, i cut the brand tag on it and cover them with a nice belt . your messages,notes and stories are an inspiration to many people, pls contnue to share with us…God bless and more power!!!!
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hey bro bo thnx again for the inspiring messages being a simple.really im a practical prosperity coz i want to enrich others and i want serve to the poor with my wealth…god bless..
thank u Bro. Bo for your very inspiring messages and stories. True, simplicity is the real beauty. I keep on reading your articles.
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