Being honest with God about your Finances
(Prov 13:7 NIrV) Some people pretend to be rich but have nothing. Others pretend to be poor but have great wealth.
This morning we continue our series, in this verse Solomon gives us two extremes. On the one hand, there are those who are poor, but pretend to be rich. They attempt to live extravagantly, spending more than the make, and giving others the impression that they are well off. The problem is that they are not. They are in above their heads and their desire to impress others keeps them in the hole of debt and despair.
They display one thing in public, but when they are alone the reality of their situation sinks in and it leaves them wanting help, but not wanting to be exposed to get it.
This is a terrible situation, but it is unfortunately one that is common in the United States. Even in the midst of an economic downturn, there are many that continue to spend more than they make just to maintain a public image that is nothing but a lie.
On the other hand, you have those that are well off; who through hard work and God’s favor have become very wealthy. Instead of using their riches to be a blessing, they hoard them and even worse, they put up a façade of poverty. They would rather maintain an image of poverty, than to allow others to know that they are wealthy.
With wealth comes responsibility. The more you have, the more you can be a blessing to others with. God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants (Gen 12:1,2), so that we could BE a blessing to others. It is a terrible thing to have the means by which to be a blessing, but to choose rather to display an image of poverty, so that no one would expect you to make a difference (financially) in the lives of others.
I meet people from time to time that tell me, “ I don’t want much. I just want enough for me and my family.” While that statement might sound religious, it is not Godly. That statement exposes a level of selfishness. If all you are concerned about is you and yours, then you don’t understand your God.
Your God wants to bless you to make a difference within your sphere of influence. This ability to make a difference is definitely NOT limited to money, but it sure does not exclude it either. Solomon was extremely rich and he knew first-hand the responsibilities, before God, that riches bring with them. When you get a chance, read Deuteronomy chapters 10 and 26. There are other passages, but these speak of the responsibilities the Jews had to take care of the widows, orphans and foreigners (or strangers) at the gate. Those whom the Father had blessed with much had a Godly responsibility to ensure that those who were less fortunate were taken care of. There was no welfare system, no government assistance programs, just the Kingdom of God making a difference in the lives of others.
So what does this mean to you ? Let’s look at both categories:
1. To the less fortunate: If you fall into the first category and you are struggling financially right now, then you must heed Solomon’s warning and live within your means. Don’t concern yourself with putting up a façade for others. Just seek to please God by working hard, keeping Him first, and seeking His wisdom to get you out of your financial situation. With hard work and God’s favor you will eventually see a turn-around.
2. To the well off: If you are blessed to have more than enough for you and yours, then praise God! Seek to be a blessing to those who are less fortunate. It is ungodly to display an image of poverty when you know you are not poor. That doesn’t mean that you have to flaunt it, but what it does mean is that the Father does not want you to shun your financial responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others. You are blessed TO BE a blessing!
Father, I than You for giving me the wisdom to govern my finances responsibly. I know you want to make a difference in the lives of others. I also know that You will not rain down money from heaven. When You want to bless someone in the earth, You always use another human to be the channel through which the blessing comes. I declare, by faith, that I will walk in Your wisdom, I will manage my finances in a Godly way, and I will be the channel through which You can bless others! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
(Prov 13:7 NIrV) Some people pretend to be rich but have nothing. Others pretend to be poor but have great wealth.
This morning we continue our series, in this verse Solomon gives us two extremes. On the one hand, there are those who are poor, but pretend to be rich. They attempt to live extravagantly, spending more than the make, and giving others the impression that they are well off. The problem is that they are not. They are in above their heads and their desire to impress others keeps them in the hole of debt and despair.
They display one thing in public, but when they are alone the reality of their situation sinks in and it leaves them wanting help, but not wanting to be exposed to get it.
This is a terrible situation, but it is unfortunately one that is common in the United States. Even in the midst of an economic downturn, there are many that continue to spend more than they make just to maintain a public image that is nothing but a lie.
On the other hand, you have those that are well off; who through hard work and God’s favor have become very wealthy. Instead of using their riches to be a blessing, they hoard them and even worse, they put up a façade of poverty. They would rather maintain an image of poverty, than to allow others to know that they are wealthy.
With wealth comes responsibility. The more you have, the more you can be a blessing to others with. God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants (Gen 12:1,2), so that we could BE a blessing to others. It is a terrible thing to have the means by which to be a blessing, but to choose rather to display an image of poverty, so that no one would expect you to make a difference (financially) in the lives of others.
I meet people from time to time that tell me, “ I don’t want much. I just want enough for me and my family.” While that statement might sound religious, it is not Godly. That statement exposes a level of selfishness. If all you are concerned about is you and yours, then you don’t understand your God.
Your God wants to bless you to make a difference within your sphere of influence. This ability to make a difference is definitely NOT limited to money, but it sure does not exclude it either. Solomon was extremely rich and he knew first-hand the responsibilities, before God, that riches bring with them. When you get a chance, read Deuteronomy chapters 10 and 26. There are other passages, but these speak of the responsibilities the Jews had to take care of the widows, orphans and foreigners (or strangers) at the gate. Those whom the Father had blessed with much had a Godly responsibility to ensure that those who were less fortunate were taken care of. There was no welfare system, no government assistance programs, just the Kingdom of God making a difference in the lives of others.
So what does this mean to you ? Let’s look at both categories:
1. To the less fortunate: If you fall into the first category and you are struggling financially right now, then you must heed Solomon’s warning and live within your means. Don’t concern yourself with putting up a façade for others. Just seek to please God by working hard, keeping Him first, and seeking His wisdom to get you out of your financial situation. With hard work and God’s favor you will eventually see a turn-around.
2. To the well off: If you are blessed to have more than enough for you and yours, then praise God! Seek to be a blessing to those who are less fortunate. It is ungodly to display an image of poverty when you know you are not poor. That doesn’t mean that you have to flaunt it, but what it does mean is that the Father does not want you to shun your financial responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others. You are blessed TO BE a blessing!
Father, I than You for giving me the wisdom to govern my finances responsibly. I know you want to make a difference in the lives of others. I also know that You will not rain down money from heaven. When You want to bless someone in the earth, You always use another human to be the channel through which the blessing comes. I declare, by faith, that I will walk in Your wisdom, I will manage my finances in a Godly way, and I will be the channel through which You can bless others! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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