A Banker Who Doesn’t Love Money?
Profile on: Paul Lindholm, the owner of Security State Bank, among others.
Most people’s mental image of a banker is similar to the group of old, pin-striped cronies on Mary Poppins who urged young Michael Banks to invest his “tuppence” rather than spend it. Fortunately, Paul Lindholm of Fergus Falls, Minnesota does not fit this stereotype at all. Perhaps that’s because he realizes there is much more to life than money.
Pursuing God’s plan
Paul’s life started about as far away from the world of banking as you can imagine: On his father’s farm in rural Minnesota. But the more time Paul spent on the farm, the more he sensed his destiny lay elsewhere. Having always enjoyed the business side of farming, Paul decided to get his business degree. Married with three children, going to school was a gutsy move, but Paul and his wife Ruth were confident they were pursuing God’s plan for their lives.
Displaying an affinity for hard work that he had learned back on the farm, Paul finished the four-year course in two years, graduating with honors. Following graduation, Paul received job offers from several large companies, but he did not want to live a big city, so he took a job with a small bank in a town of less than 2,000 people. Starting out as a teller, within three years, he was hired to manage another larger bank in another town.
Paul managed that bank for seventeen years. During this time, he developed a close relationship with the bank’s owner, so close that the elderly gentleman promised Paul he could buy the bank after the owner died. However, when the bank owner’s will was read, it mentioned nothing of their agreement.
“I felt betrayed,” says Paul. “This man was very honest in all other things. Why wasn’t he honest with me?”
Seize the opportunity
Although disappointed, Paul seized an opportunity to purchase a bank of his own. His son also came to work with him, much to Paul’s delight. After ten years, Paul was able to repay all of the money he borrowed to purchase that bank. Then he heard about a larger bank that was for sale, and he decided to buy that one, too. It was not long before he was able to pay off that loan as well to the tune of $3 million. Now most of his family is involved in the banking business.
Paul attributes his success to a financial arrangement he made with God early on in life. When he was a young boy pulling weeds on his father’s farm to earn spending money, Paul began giving ten cents to God for every dollar he earned. As Paul’s income increased, he started to give twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty percent or more of his income to Christian ministry. This was a pattern he modeled after his father.
“Whenever my father made more money, instead of increasing his lifestyle, he increased his giving,” says Paul.
Giving like this has helped Paul to understand that he does not really own anything. Everything he has is a gift from God. Giving back to God is Paul’s way of acknowledging this fact. And despite this practice, Paul has ever been short of money!
“There’s more to life than money in the bank,” Paul says. “And giving is never an end in itself. It is all about changing people’s lives. Having a good relationship with God, being trustworthy, supportive, understanding and helping others prepare for their eternal destiny these are the things that really bring satisfaction to life.”
What is the most important thing in your life? Let Jesus show you. If you don’t know Jesus or if you are uncertain about your eternal fate, we encourage you to pray the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be.
8 Responses to “A Banker Who Doesn’t Love Money?”
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A great article! Wow! Someone who practices what he preaches!
What is it that Jesus taught us to do? — To practice what we preach? Yes, and is that not the essence of the Christian life?!!! Here is a man and his family who were led by God to realize the importance of money; namely to use it to help others. Oh, how often I fall short of doing that!
Dear God, forgive me for thinking first of all about filling my own small pocket, while there are people who are hurting, who are looking for true friendship, for understanding and for love. I pray that all of us will ask “what would Jesus do?”, and then be bold enough to act as the Spirit leads. In the name of Jesus; Amen.
If you would like to meet the real Paul Lindholm and see what he has been spending his money on
while we are working hard for our money to make our loan payment to his bank, Please look at this,
Go to Google and type in Paul Elmer Lindholm Lee county FL Mug shot. and you can see what he has been up to. I’am Pissed he has been playing everyone in Fergus Falls and Billy Gram.
Hi Terry, it would seem to me that you have more information about Paul Lindholm than what has been stated here in this story. I have looked at the information you have pointed us to and tried to find more information about Mr Lindholm’s arrest in Lee County Florida. There is some information accessible by internet but it is limited.
Let me say, I am not impressed with Mr. Lindholm because he is perfect but because he has a relationship with Jesus and looks to Jesus for leading in all areas of his life, even his business decisions. That doesn’t mean he is perfect. The Bible holds up many men and women as examples for us but still shows us that even a guy referred to as “a man after God’s heart” is susceptible to selfish sinful behaviour (I am of course speaking about King David).
That is the great hope of the message of Jesus: we are accepted because of what Jesus has done, not on the basis of what we have done. That is what motivates me to follow Jesus more diligently: I want Him to lead my thoughts, attitudes and actions. But like so many followers of Jesus, I sometimes lose my focus and follow my own desires and hurt God, myself and many other people. But as John writes, “If we confess our sin, He [God] is faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) That forgiveness is not based on what I do, but is firmly grounded in the reality that Jesus has already paid the penalty for all of my in when He died on the cross for me.
Now it would seem to me that you perhaps have been hurt by Paul Lindholm. That is the great tragedy of our sin, it has far-reaching impact on the lives of many people. If that hurt is of a personal nature I would recommend that you find some way of addressing that with Mr Lindholm directly. Perhaps it would be helpful to talk with someone about that. Let me invite you to talk with one of our mentors. It is free and private. They can help you look to Jesus for direction in your life to see how best to respond to the hurt you have experienced. Just fill out the Mentor Request Form at http://powertochange.com/experience/talk-to-a-mentor/ and one of our mentors will get in touch with you soon by email.
Let me pray for you: Lord God, I pray for Terry as he tries to figure out how to deal with the incongruence of Mr Lindholm’s testimony here and the information that he has of this man’s life. I pray that You would guide his thoughts, that You would help bring healing to any hurts that might be there, and that You would communicate Your grace to Terry and the mistakes that he has made in his life. Thank You for the sacrifice You have made for us and that for all who trust in You, they can have confidence in Your love and acceptance for all eternity. Amen.
Funny the mug shot is now hard to find, Now to find type in the same then click on Images top of the page.
Hi Terry, do have a personal connection to this story of Paul Lindholm?
yes
Dear All,
This is really an excellent article and I agree with this. I remember, when I was working, I never used to give God the way I supposed to and I had a real hard time for finance. But, when I started giving my tithes sincerely, really from my heart and till today I have not lacked for anything. God is so faithful. Yes, my friends, God doesn’t need our money. Everything is God’s and He created everything. In the Bible in Psalm 50: 12 says…If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
So, I encourage each one to give God first. Your priority must be God and He will bless you.