The following can and will be a blessing to you if you embrace its Truths.
One of the stickiest subjects to write on is financial. Why? Because of what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:
10 For the love of money (greed) is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I have been around many wealthy people over the years as well as many who were poor. Your current financial condition does not determine whether you are greedy, it simply impacts your intent and actions. Wealthy people will attempt to hoard what they have, never considering they have enough to sustain them. Jesus warned us “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions" and then spoke of the self-serving wealthy in the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
We are to be rich toward FATHER by laying up treasures in Heaven, not by building bigger barns. What does by rich toward FATHER mean? Psalms 112 provides us some insight:
1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments (of Love)
2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever
As we pursue to closer relationship with Our Heavenly Father, we open up the windows of Heaven to provide blessing. Fear and greed cannot and will not stand in the Presence of FATHER. FATHER will bless those according to their calling and will meet every need for HE is faithful and trustworthy to do so. As we hear HIS Word specifically to us, we will respond and pursue the path HE directs us to. This path will produce the finances not only to sustain us but will also provide an increase that we may become cheerful givers. I know this from firsthand experience.
Once HE leads us away from lack, we must be vigilant in properly stewarding the abundance. We must not become like the rich fool and continue to hoard, thinking only of “self”. We have brethren in need and we must be sensitive to HIS Voice when he directs us to give. FATHER will use those with a willing heart to carry out HIS Plan. Paul provides a warning to those who have wealth:
1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Faith requires us to give before the fruit of this giving comes forth as the Law of seedtime and harvest applies. You must plant seed before you can yield a crop. However the seed must be planted with a motivation of Love rather than greed. FATHER knows your heart and will respond accordingly. When seed is planted in good ground, thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold is the result. The Parable of the Sower applies in many areas with finances being just one of them. Psalm 112 continues and provides us a contrast between the righteous man and the greedy:
9 He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.
We must quit being so sensitive about money. FATHER once told me: “Money is a commodity to ME, you should treat it the same way”. As we seek to bless other, we take on HIS Divine Intent of Love and HE opens up HIS treasury to replenish the supply. HE is not broke and has unlimited resources to draw from. Selah!