Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. NKJV
Our Heavenly Father is the Possessor of Heaven and earth. HE knows where all the resources are and reveals them as needed. HE is the One Who established gold and silver as having value. Man has substituted HIS value for their own, a counterfeit so to speak. There have been many attempts throughout history to dilute the medium of exchange by those in power. Each and every time they failed. Greed was the source of their motivation and thus we are warned to be vigilant when dealing with money and not allow greed to take root in our lives. Greed is a primary attribute of the self-preserving spirit and oh my it is subtle.
Men have convinced themselves that Our Heavenly Father cannot or will not be involved in their finances as HE is in other aspects of their lives. They can believe in salvation yet they can’t seem to believe that HE might prosper their work and increase their provision. Their unbelief in this area keeps the storehouse door closed. They are of little or no faith in this area, they are void of HIS Word.
Our Heavenly Father reserved the Promised Land for HIS people. It is the land of milk and honey, the land of sufficiency. The people were in bondage to Egypt (the world) and HE was their Deliverer. HE performed mighty miracles to set them free, HE moved upon the Egyptians to finance their journey, yet they still walked in unbelief. Why? They didn’t listen and believe HIS Words. They could not or would not overcome their state of bondage. They left Egypt physically speaking but in their minds they were still slaves to the system. They believed in their bondage more than they believed in their Deliverer. They feared death more than they believed Our Heavenly Father and HE revealed that to them in a test:
Exodus 20:18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
We must be willing to die to the flesh. As we put off the old man, we are ready to properly receive from HIM and this includes receiving and distributing needed assets for the spreading of the Gospel. We are to be pure conduits but until we believe that HE is able to provide ALL things, we will defer to other brethren who have overcome the bondage of Egypt. If men’s hearts would change due to miracles, the entire nation of Israel would have been spiritual giants for they witnessed great miracles of deliverance by Our Heavenly Father. You must HEAR His Word and believe on it and this includes acting on it.
Do you dare to come boldly to the Throne of Grace? The prayer of a righteous man avails much. Our Heavenly Father sets aside assets to be distributed through the “givers”. HE moves upon men and circumstances to insure that HIS givers have sufficient means to operate. HE assesses their intent to determine if they qualify as givers. A giver is simply imitating Our Heavenly Father. A mature son takes on the same characteristics as THE FATHER.
In Malachi chapter 3, HE nets it all out:
8 “Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
The “takers” are in bondage to the devourer. They look at ways to satisfy their lack and address their needs. They rely on the old man to try to somehow fulfill their needs. They look to the system of bondage rather than honor Our Heavenly Father by aligning their intent with HIS. You say “How can I give when I am broke and can’t pay my bills?” My reply, “Start giving something, anything. You have time, give some time to benefit someone else. Help an elderly person, help a neighbor. Change your focus of being a taker to a giver. You must start somewhere. Bake cookies for your neighbor. Write a letter of kindness to a neglected person of the past.”
People use the excuse that they need money to be givers thus they are in a “catch 22” situation. Our Heavenly Father uses just weights and measures to determine HIS distribution channels. You may give time and receive money from a different source. You may give money and receive an idea for a new venture, a restoration of relationship, or a Divine healing of a chronic health issue.
The blessings of obedience found in Deuteronomy 28:1-14 apply to us spiritually, financially, emotionally, and physically. To omit one of these areas is to say that Our Heavenly Father is insufficient to meet a need. Possibly the one thing that needs to change is the subtle intent in your heart. Are you a giver or a taker? Your actions, time, and your checkbook reflect your fruit. Maybe its time to inspect the fruit. The mature firstfruits are presented and offered at the Feasts. The immature must wait… It’s time we dealt with the tougher areas of being an overcomer.