Here are a few common questions: "Doesn"t the Bible say that cash is the root of all wicked? Are you suggesting that a holy God would stoop so low as to overcome something as vile as our finances?"
My responses to those two questions are "no" and "yes." The right Bible quote is:
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some individuals, excited for cash, have roamed from the faith and pierced themselves with numerous griefs.-- 1 Timothy 6:10 NIV
Money is amoral, neither good or bad, how we handle it"s the challenge.
Therefore, we should not be shocked if a holy God wishes to make use of money to guide us, challenge us, and enhance us.
The late Larry Burkett explains that there are over 1,000 references to money in the Bible, 2nd just to the topic of love.
In reality, it was Burkett"s book, Your Financial resource in Altering Times, that inspired this post.
How Does God Work Through Our Financial resources?
1. To Strengthen Our Rely on Him
It"s easy to trust God when all is going well, however how about when you lose your task, have unanticipated clinical expenses, or when your vehicle breaks down and you don"t have the resources to spend for the repair service? During those trying times, God wants to turn our anxieties into trust:
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will certainly be offered to you as well.-- Matthew 6:33 NIV
The only way some of us will look up is when we"re flat on our backs. God understands this and will utilize those times to satisfy our requirements if we"ll put him initially.
2. To Establish Our Trustworthiness
Every financial transaction is an opportunity to show our trustworthiness to God and to others. According to Thomas J. Stanley"s book, The Millionaire Mind, the number one element associateding with the success of multimillionaires is "being truthful with all people." We shouldn"t be amazed. As we prove our reliability to others, they"ll be drawn to us and want to work with us.
Whoever can be trusted with hardly any can likewise be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with hardly any will certainly likewise be dishonest with much.-- Luke 16:10 NIV
3. To Prove His Love
As our heavenly Father, God wishes to provide for us if we"ll just allow Him to.
If you, then, though you profane, understand how to offer excellent presents to your children, just how much more will your Dad in heaven offer excellent gifts to those who ask him!-- Matthew 7:1 NIV
How does our Dad offer? He cares for us by offering us the ability to work and by providing chances to earn money. It"s all His and He wishes to show His love for us by providing us.
4. To Demonstrate His Power Over the World
When God put Joseph in a position of power in Egypt, God promised (with a dream he gave Joseph) seven years of prosperity which would be followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:27 -57). Pharaoh carefully appointed Joseph to ensure that Egypt would keep grain throughout the bumper crop years in order to sustain the country and surrounding countries during the lean years. Then God demonstrated his power over the world by offering those seven great years and 7 bad years.
Sometimes we allow our tunnel vision to prevent us from realizing that our God is in control of not only our finances, but those of the whole world.
5. To Unify Christians Through Shared Blessings
We know and God understands that our financial resources have an ebb and flow to them. When times are excellent, He expects us to show believers in requirement. When times are lean, others will certainly step up and bless us. Paul points this out to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 8:15 as he challenges them to give generously to the needy Christians in Jerusalem.
6. To Supply Direction for Our Lives
Do you"ve an abundance? God wants to offer you wisdom about how to manage that abundance (Matthew 25:15 -29). Are you having a hard time financially? God"s promise is:
Let"s not end up being weary in doing great, for at the correct time we"ll certainly gain a harvest if we don"t give up.-- Galatians 6:9 NIV
7. To Please the Needs of Others
The reality of life is that we are our bros" caretaker. I do not know what other spiritual groups react frequently to catastrophes around the globe, however I do understand that God anticipates Christians to as shown:
If any individual has product possessions and sees a brother or sister in requirement however has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that individual?-- 1 John 3:17 NIV
Final Thoughts
God works in every facet of our lives, including our financial resources. He"ll utilize those financial resources to teach us to trust him, to end up being trustworthy, to prove His love for us, to lead us, and to satisfy needs of fellow believers and unbelievers.
We should anticipate absolutely nothing less from a sovereign God.
7 Ways God Is Working In Your Finances
http://creditvisionary.blogspot.com/2015/07/7-ways-god-is-working-in-your-finances.html
Bible, financial resources, Jesus, Larry Burkett, New International Version