It Isn't About Money

Several years ago, I found myself worrying about money – a lot. I had made several foolish financial decisions. It got to the point that paying bills was a tense, stress filled experience and it seemed like I never had enough. God finally got through to me that I was leaving Him out of my money decisions, and He directed me to many places including 2 Corinthians 9.10-12 (NET)

Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

God’s purpose for my money (really His money) was not that I would have enough or more than enough, but that I might be generous on every occasion. God would supply what I need to be continually generous. Couple that with Matthew 6.33 and worries about money fade; but this is not about money…

It probably took two years for me to get to a position where I could be comfortable relying on God financially. During that time and after I began to find the same anxiety I had with money, I was experiencing with other concerns and situations. I wanted to control each circumstance for myself in my life and paid for it with a good deal of stress and failure. My job, my family, my home, almost everything was a point of anxiety and stress even while I learning to be generous; but this is not about money…

As I was learning to allow God to deal with my money, it occurred to me that God’s purpose for my money could be applied to all the other areas of my life. With money, God’s supplies what I need to be generous so that needs are met and in the meeting of needs God is praised. With all the other stress filled areas of my life God’s concern was that I learn that how I live in such a way to minister to others and to bring thanksgiving to Him; but this is not about money…

What this is about is trust – trusting God to have His will in every aspect of my life and in every aspect of how He uses me to accomplish His purposes. In doing so that He will sustain me through everything, even sickness and death. Paul learned to be content with every circumstance he found himself (Philippians 4.11). Paul and Silas sang praises to God while shackled in a dark dirty prison (Acts 16.23-25). When Habakkuk heard that God was going to bring Babylon to execute judgement on Israel (Habakkuk 1.5-12), he was able, through his fear, to praise God and to trust Him (Habakkuk 3.16-19).

I can trust God in anything and in every circumstance. Whether it is pain, or fear, or sorrow, or poverty, I can trust Him. I can trust Him because he has already done everything for me to save me and to have me be in His presence for eternity. He did this through the sacrifice and the resurrection of Jesus Christ that demonstrates that He loves me (Romans 5.6-11).

May I say with David in Psalm 62,

62:1 For God alone I patiently wait;
he is the one who delivers me.
62:2 He alone is my protector and deliverer.
He is my refuge; I will not be upended.
62:3 How long will you threaten a man?
All of you are murderers,
as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence.
62:4 They spend all their time planning how to bring him down.
They love to use deceit;
they pronounce blessings with their mouths,
but inwardly they utter curses.
(Selah)
62:5 Patiently wait for God alone, my soul!
For he is the one who gives me confidence.
62:6 He alone is my protector and deliverer.
He is my refuge; I will not be upended.
62:7 God delivers me and exalts me;
God is my strong protector and my shelter.
62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people!
Pour out your hearts before him!
God is our shelter!
(Selah)
62:9 Men are nothing but a mere breath;
human beings are unreliable.
When they are weighed in the scales,
all of them together are lighter than air.
62:10 Do not trust in what you can gain by oppression!
Do not put false confidence in what you can gain by robbery!
If wealth increases, do not become attached to it!
62:11 God has declared one principle;
two principles I have heard:
God is strong,
62:12 and you, O Lord, demonstrate loyal love.
For you repay men for what they do.