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December 5, 2023
Stewarding What God Has Blessed You With
Beloved one, Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT)
My precious child God, the Father, knows that money is on your mind a lot. So much so that Jesus spoke and taught about money more than he did any other topic! The Bible contains about 2,350 verses on money, and 15% of the Bible is about money and possessions, which is more than any other single topic including Heaven, Hell, faith, or prayer! Greed will destroy you. (Proverbs 15:27) If you become focused on accumulating more wealth, you become focused and driven by greed and are never content. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
Often, greed opens the door to other sins, and you find yourself falling farther from God and what He has for your life. You must be careful to protect your hearts and minds against greed and to practice contentment. (Luke 12:15) Not only to live being satisfied and thankful for what God has given you but also in being generous in giving! (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
God is the Owner of everything, including your money! Nothing you have belongs to you! God owns it all! You are stewarding what He has put in your care. Allow that to sink in; it will shift your thinking – it applies to every area of your life, your body, the way you spend your time and money, how you invest in your talents and skills, and the way you treat your family and friends. So, you can’t say “my” anything because it all belongs to your Heavenly Father. He created the Heavens and the earth and all that is in it. (Psalms 146:6)
Isn’t it true that you came into this world with nothing
and you will leave with nothing? Because of this, food and clothing are enough to make us content. However, those who crave the wealth of this world slip into spiritual snares. (1 Timothy 6:7-8) They become trapped by the troubles that come through their foolish and harmful desires, driven by greed and drowning in their sinful pleasures. (1 John 2:16) So they take others down with them into their corruption and eventual destruction.
Loving money is the first step toward all kinds of trouble. Some people run after it so much that they have given up their faith. Craving more money pushes them away from the faith into error, compounding misery in their lives! (1 Timothy 6:9-10) Paul told his spiritual son Timothy; you are God’s man, so run from all these errors. Instead, chase after true holiness, justice, faithfulness, love, hope, and tender humility.
So, fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, for this is your calling-celebrating in faith before the multitude of witnesses
