Christians, when finances come into your life, what thoughts come into your mind? Are you immediately thinking about a new gadget, TV, or vehicle you can buy? Do you think of fun things you can do, or maybe a vacation to go on? When money comes into our possession, as Christians, we are stewards. If God brings finances into your life, it is meant to be a tool.
What do you think when someone hands you a tool? Time to get some work done, right? There is responsibility, accountability, and effort involved. What do you think when someone hands you a toy? You think about how much fun you can have with it, right? God has a plan, purpose, and will for everyone of our lives. There are people we are meant to help, needs we are meant to fill, people who need what we have been given, but we must look at it that way. God wants us to have the tools to help people, but He has to be able to trust us with those tools. How many of us Christians WANT to be able to steward more finances for God?
I know I want to be able to and I know God wants me to be ready. However, just like any good carpenter would do, before I am allowed to handle bigger, more dangerous tools, I must be educated, informed, instructed on HOW that tool works. I need to know how to safely use it. I need to know any common hazards or mistakes people make when using that tool. Depending on the size and type of tool; it could take my finger off, or take my life if improperly used. It is the same with finances.
Different amounts present different dangers for us: different traps, temptations and challenges. God is loving and will prepare us for what He has prepared for us, but we must be ready and aware. With great responsibility comes great danger, and God wants us to be able to avoid the danger, succeed in His calling and make Him proud. When I was a spiritual child I thought money was a toy, now I see it is a tool and accept that responsibility to use it wisely, In Jesus Name, Amen.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Acts 2:44-45 (NIV)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. I Timothy 6:10 (NIV)
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it caused them to stumble into sin. They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. They made it into vile images; therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them. Ezekiel 7:19-20 (NIV)
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? No one can serve two masters. Whether you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Luke 16:11-13 (NIV)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2017
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