Congratulations! You’ve started the journey. The first ten days will focus on the perspective God has and wants us to have towards money. In Hebrews 13:5, the writer says: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I Leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
To avoid debt God tells us to be content with what we have. Can you do that? In other words, if you were not able to get any more stuff—no more new cars, no new furniture, etc.—could you be cool with that? Before you answer, realize what God is trying to get us to understand. God is saying: Be content with what you have…because you have Me.
Factoring that dimension of meaning into being content with what you have, can you now answer my question about being content?
Can you see the logic behind this approach to controlling debt? God is challenging us to see that we should not let stuff fill up our lives. Rather, we should see how His love and presence is all satisfying.
What financial decisions is this interpretation of Heb. 13:5 challenging you to rethink?
In what way does this meaning of this verse get you to reduce the emotional pressure for acquiring more stuff?
Let’s talk about how you can establish a list of stuff that you NO longer need to buy if you got a revelation of God’s promise to never leave you.
I don't need a TV half the size of my wall. For me it would be a distraction that would keep me from engaging in more creative and productive activities.
ReplyDeleteIn Philippians 4:11, Paul writes "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." I believe that God wants to bless us abundantly, but if he (God) cannot trust us with what we have now...then why would he give us more? The issue then is really about our motives and intentions. As I wait on him today, I pray that my motives and intentions will be pure so that WHEN the "exceedingly, abundantly....more" blessing comes I will be a good steward.
ReplyDeleteIt is a challenge to avoid the pressure of seeking after material possessions rather than the unsearchable riches of Christ.I am still battling myself to be content with what I have, so others might prosper by me seeking spiritual treasure rather than earthly.
ReplyDeleteJesus should be all we need. But it's hard in this materialistic driven world to separate "needs" from "wants". As Christians we have to keep our eyes on the prize in order not to get "caught up" with pursuing the "wants" of this life instead of pursuing God. I know there’s nothing I need more, besides God. I pray today that we seek to have more of Him and that He becomes our “wants” then we will have all we really need. As He said, "...seek His kingdom and righteousness first..." (Matt 6:33) and let Him provide our needs as He promises to do in Matt 6:32. He never fails to do His part so I pray that I will do my part and continue to love less the things that can be bought with money.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that when I maintain a lifestyle of prayer and intimacy with God, the temptation for more stuff is not a battle.
ReplyDelete...don't get me wrong; there's not a month that goes by that I don't "entertain" the idea of a bigger flat screen....or an iPad...(especially with the new thinner, lighter, faster iPad!)...but my lifestyle doesn't required it. I know "me" and a bigger flat screen would turn me into a couch potato. And right now (thats right, the option is there), I don't travel enough to make an iPad a practical item in my life...so my MacBookPro fits my current need. And with the money I would use, I can invest in Kingdom building. I sleep better at night.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Pastor and the key is to maintain a lifestyle of prayer. God has promised us he would meet our needs not wants. It is our wants that get us in trouble. Let us all be patient and wait on God he will give us the desires of our hearts but not the foolish things, those wants that keep us in the bondage that so many of us are in now.
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