Continuing from the foundation built on the first Sunday of our finance convention, today we consider practical ways to balance all the given principles of finances in scripture to ensure victory in this area. The church has focused on only one fundamental principle of wealth – the principle of giving, however; the Word of God has more instructions for us to adhere to, that will altogether transform our lives to the standard of God.
It is of paramount importance that we align our thoughts to what God has said, ‘..as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is’ (Proverbs 23:7) – we carry out entire lives in our hearts, therefore we must be awake to these contents so as to not become victims of passive thinking. ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success’ (Joshua 1:8) – this passage shows us that the Word has everything that we need to succeed, and that we have it in our own hands to make this success come to pass through meditation and practical application.
Additionally, Apostle Paul told the church of Ephesus, ‘So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified’ (Acts 20:32); wherein the term ‘give’ means to deliver and bring forth. There is also no substitute for the ministry of the Word, only the Word can do what the Word does.
When considering all His teachings on finances, the Lord Jesus’ three areas of focus can be narrowed down to these three: wealth creation, managing wealth, and giving. He balanced these three key areas to deliver to his followers a stable message of prosperity. In Proverbs 3: 9-10, the Word says, ‘Honour the LORD with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine’.
In this verse we see the promise of an increase when we give what we have to the Lord, but how does this happen exactly? Money will not rain from heaven, it will not appear out of nowhere, the child of God is meant to create a channel through which God can bless them with plenty. We see this clearly in the Bible, ‘The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand…’ (Deuteronomy 28:8) – and again, ‘…because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand’ (Deuteronomy 15:10); the blessing is in the doing. If you are not putting your hands to work, the Lord does not have a stream through which to flow His blessings to your life. The Lord does not limit this work to just one stream of income, He said He will bless ALL you put your hands to.
Therefore, get to work child of God, God is waiting to rain heavens on you! Apostle Paul told the church, ‘If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat’ (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Another sure way to create wealth, is through savings. The Lord has declared His blessing over your storehouses, but if you have none, He cannot express that dimension of blessing over your life.
Additionally, to manage money well, you need to be clear on its intended purpose. In the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16, the Lord told a story of the man who used his manager’s money to make friends for himself.
Jesus concludes by saying, ‘Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home’ (v.9).
This essentially means that money serves you best when you use it to change people’s lives for the better. ‘If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need’ (Ephesians 4:28) – Apostle Paul shows again the intended end for wealth creation, serving others – including your family (Proverbs 13:22).
Lastly, develop the right relationship with money. In the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16, we see how the manager had not made money the centre of his affections; and although his servant was stealing from him, he applauded his shrewdness.
Money should not rule you; the Bible tells us that the blessing is Jesus and the enablement we get through Him, wealth is just the by-product of THE blessing. ‘Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit’ (Proverbs 23:4); once you get into the web of hunting money down, it will own you. Keep money as a tool, your servant – do not lower yourself under servanthood to the quest for wealth. Remain content at all times (1 Timothy 6:6), and money will not rule over you.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your word regarding our finances, You have given us all we need to make a success of our lives and to be effective workers of the gospel together with You. We receive the grace to perform Your word, to do as You say, that our ways may be prosperous before all men. Amen!
