"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
How many times do we get excited about a raise, tax returns, etc... and think only of our family and what we'd like to do for them - or worse yet, of ourselves. Don't get me wrong, God wants us to be debt free. But, do we let that stand in the way of helping others? When we give or help others, do we do so by the prompting of the holy spirit, or with our own flesh. I can attest that if you do something out of your own selfish gain - even the gain of satisfaction in seeing others "happy", it will not be the blessing it could have been if the Lord had been in it.
The first couple years we were married, we didn't have much money at all to work with. You wouldn't believe it if I told you! lol! Yet time after time, you would not believe what God worked out for us. He used family, strangers and our church to bless us. I remember at one time saying to the Lord "God, this is too much. I can't handle anymore blessings". I was so overwhelmed by HIs love for us not only taking care of our needs but also supplying some of our wants as well. What an amazing God we serve!
I encourage you to be in prayer about your finances. Not just when things are looking bad but when they are good as well. Pray before you go to the grocery store, the mall or wherever you shop that God will allow something to be there you need and help you resist those things you do not. Pray for those you can help and that God will show you how to be compassionate to them as well as a help. God will make things clear to us if we quiet down and listen:)
How many times do we get excited about a raise, tax returns, etc... and think only of our family and what we'd like to do for them - or worse yet, of ourselves. Don't get me wrong, God wants us to be debt free. But, do we let that stand in the way of helping others? When we give or help others, do we do so by the prompting of the holy spirit, or with our own flesh. I can attest that if you do something out of your own selfish gain - even the gain of satisfaction in seeing others "happy", it will not be the blessing it could have been if the Lord had been in it.
The first couple years we were married, we didn't have much money at all to work with. You wouldn't believe it if I told you! lol! Yet time after time, you would not believe what God worked out for us. He used family, strangers and our church to bless us. I remember at one time saying to the Lord "God, this is too much. I can't handle anymore blessings". I was so overwhelmed by HIs love for us not only taking care of our needs but also supplying some of our wants as well. What an amazing God we serve!
I encourage you to be in prayer about your finances. Not just when things are looking bad but when they are good as well. Pray before you go to the grocery store, the mall or wherever you shop that God will allow something to be there you need and help you resist those things you do not. Pray for those you can help and that God will show you how to be compassionate to them as well as a help. God will make things clear to us if we quiet down and listen:)
Comments