How a Bold Question About Money Actually Changed Our Lives
Have you ever had someone say something that annoyed you at the time but later you realized that God used that one comment to plant a seed and change your perspective?
This one occurred when Rev was a Seminary student assigned to do hands on instruction at the church where I was teaching 3rd grade. One of his assignments was making shut-in calls with an older gentleman from the church.
Harry was respected and loved by everyone but he had this one habit that could get on a person’s nerves. He referred to everything he “owned” as “belonging” to God. He drove God’s car and listened to God’s radio and so on and so forth.
So, Rev was a little put off when Harry asked him about our giving habits. We were poor students. I mean really poor students who were doing the best to make ends meet and we believed we were giving to the best of our ability.
But Harry challenged us in that conversation to 1. think of everything we had as a gift from God, and 2. faithfully give at least 10% of our income.
And Harry’s bold challenge about money changed our lives.
In Luke 16, Dr. Luke shared the way Jesus challenged His followers to change the way they thought about their finances.
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
Luke 16:13
When you and I think about our jobs and our incomes as blessings . . . gifts from God to be used generously for His glory. It changes everything. We start looking at Him with greater gratitude and at everything we have as ways to love others for His glory.
A Prayer to Trust God
with the Blessing of Money
Lord, You are Creator, Redeemer, Helper, and Friend. You are Lord of all! All we have is the result of Your loving care and creative hand. Your blessings extend to every corner of our lives.
Please forgive me for valuing things of this world more than I do the things that last forever. You have blessed me with all I need now and forever.
You forgive me and cover me with your grace, mercy, and love. You give me peace and joy, courage and strength, protection and provision. Please help me remember that all I have is a gift from Your hand and please help me to faithfully care for and use all I have been given in ways that will give Your glory and reflect Your love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
An important point to remember when it comes to our attitudes about money is…
Money is a hard and deceptive master. Wealth promises power and control, but often it cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made—and lost—overnight, and no amount of money can provide health, happiness, or eternal life.
Life Application Bible Notes
Stewardship is “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.”
All we have is only ours to use and the best way to do that is to prayerfully trust and obey God’s will and use all we have for His glory. And I have to tell you that change in attitude turned out to be an amazing blessing!
On today’s note write:
Everything is a gift from God to be used for His glory.
May you be blessed today as you prayerfully invite God to guide your use of all have.
Such a great reminder today, Deb, that all we have, all we “own,” are gifts from God. May we use our resources wisely and to His glory.
Blessings!
Just last night I was teaching in Ezekiel 7 about the people throwing their money in the streets once they realized it couldn’t deliver them from the impending judgment. They pridefully were relying on “their” money. A good reminder here that our money is God’s.
Amen, Rachel! Absolutely everything we have is a gift from God. We put so much importance on power, popularity, and possessions, and when we come to the end of our lives . . . it will all seem so very unimportant. Blessings!!