Hebrews 13:5-6(NLT)
“5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Some of the biggest issues in the lives of believers are rooted in financial instability. If we’re not personally dealing with financial struggles ourselves, we probably know someone in our intimate circle who is. Money is an area in life where it can seem as though the curve balls are continually thrown our way. Ducking and diving bill collectors has become a habit for many of us, and this can do a number on our faith if we’re not careful. You want to get to a place where you’re satisfied with what you have, but the routine of constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul is consuming your focus. It is important to know that this isn’t God’s Will for His children.
God has made it very clear that we should keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t aspire to go higher and achieve more for ourselves, but as God’s children, we are required to make sure our motivations are anchored in Christ. It is also equally important that we remember God’s plan for maintaining financial stability, and it involves the privilege of tithing.
Tithing is sowing at least a tenth of the gross amount of the fruit of our labor into the economy of God’s Kingdom. We give the world 90% or more, and we shouldn’t neglect being obedient when it comes to tithing. God created us to be sowers. In Genesis 1:28(KJV), Heavenly Father gave Adam and Eve the marching orders for humanity, and it hasn’t changed. This verse tells us, “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God blessed Adam and Eve with the ability to do what He required, and then told them to get busy sowing their energies into being productive and fruitful. This is our mandate.
We can also see from Hebrews 13 that God doesn’t want us placing our focus on the rewards. He wants us to focus on what He’s instructed us to do and let HIM take care of the rewards part. This is often where a lot of us go off the rails financially. Money gets tight, we become anxious and worried, and our relationship with God slips to second because we start concentrating primarily on what we need. This keeps us from staying in a thankful state of being.
We shouldn’t become fearful that people in the world might take our blessings away. Jesus Christ warns us in Matthew 6:24 that we can’t serve two masters. We can’t live in both fear and faith at the same time. We are either going to trust God or fear people. Jesus tells us not to worry about what we’re going to eat or drink, or what we’re going to wear. The Father clothes and feeds the birds, so surely, He will take care of us. Jesus warns us about having too little faith and tells us not to worry about things because God knows what we need before we ask anything of Him. In Matthew 6:33, he commands us to seek the Kingdom of God above all else. Nothing should come before seeking God and trusting in His provision.
In John 10:10, Jesus Christ declared that he came to make a more than abundant life available. He showed us the way to achieve the absolute most out of life, and it is by trusting God. Heavenly Father has given us a calling to fulfill and a purpose to pursue in life. When we take care to avail ourselves to God’s Will, Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 6:33, that God will take care of adding all the blessings we need. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Lord Is My Helper”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.