Money is a touchy subject…
I mean if you earn it, then it's yours…
You decide where, when and what you will spend, waste, or invest your money into.
I personally have a difficult time with giving away my money, possessions, etc.
One day, I came upon Proverbs 23 and when I read the following verses, I was hit Hard!
Hit with the reality of MY Stinginess!
"Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. 'Eat and drink,' he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments". – vs 6-8
I was challenged by the Holy Spirit to LOVE MY NEIGHBOR after reading that chapter. My neighbor at the time, was a LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, FREE LOADER! So I already had a difficult time loving my neighbor. Every Monday morning, I would walk to the bakery and purchase a loaf of bread. Once, I returned to my home, I would grab a pen and write on the paper bag John 3:16 in Spanish. Then I would call out to my neighbor from my porch and hand my neighbor the loaf of bread. I thought I should feed my neighbor both physically and spiritually with bread. I continued to purchase a loaf of bread for my neighbor every Monday until I returned back home to the states.
God talks a lot about MONEY in the Bible, a few examples
- Deuteronomy 15:7-11, "Give generously to them and do so without a grudging hear; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to" – vs 10
- Proverbs 49, "Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them – the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough" – vs 6-8
- Ecclesiastes 5:10, "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless."
- Matthew 22:15-22, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" -vs 21
- Mark 10:17-27, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" – vs 24
- Mark 12:41-44, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They have gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything- all she had to live on" – vs 43-44
- Revelation 3:14-21, "You say, "I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" -vs 17
The World Race is going to be a period of time, where I can give up my Security in my Money, Possessions, Home, Family and Friends. I'm not saying it is going to be easy, but I know God will show me what it truly means to RELY on HIM for EVERYTHING!
To rely on Him for Strength in the morning when I don't think I can get up and minister and love people.
To rely on Him for Daily Bread when I can no longer choose what I want to eat and when.
To rely on Him for Protection in the face of danger, demons and fears.
To rely on Him for Comfort when I'm tired of sleeping in a tent and miss my family.
The list can go on and on…
I don't want to be a Slave to Money, but a Servant to God!
Check out this video, if you want to be challenged in this subject!
