“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” is instructed to God’s people in Joshua 24:15. The question is meant to penetrate every area of decision in our lives. With money, spending, debt, generosity and finances mentioned so frequently throughout God’s Word, we certainly should consider whom we are serving with the decisions we make in these areas. Today, we’ll cover some basic foundations to reinforce whom we are to serve.
Let’s begin with how we earn a living. In Colossians 3 we’ve been encouraged to obey those who are our earthly masters, to work at our task with all of our heart as unto the Lord and not unto men. If an employee chooses this way, would they not stand out to their supervisor, be rewarded and viewed as irreplaceable, and also be a great witness to the unbelievers at their workplace?
Once we’ve received our wages, we choose first to honor the Lord, for in Psalms 24:1 it reads “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it”. God is the Creator of it all, we then choose to show our reverence and love towards Him by giving in tithes and offerings. The Lord’s promises to those who obey include to rebuke the devourer, to open the windows of heaven, for their storage places to be filled with plenty, and their vats overflowing with new wine.
Next, the crucial piece is to choose contentment. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us “I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am. I know how to live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. He received his contentment from Christ. It is in this reliance that will provide patience, enabling us to turn away from choices of spending money we do not have that plunge us into debts.
Then let us choose to be generous, for God approves of this work and promises to bless those who do so – (Proverbs 24) There are those who generously scatter abroad, and yet increase more… The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered. (Proverbs 11) He who gives to the poor will not want. By being generous, it will soften our heart towards the things above, which will help us in every area of life.
Lastly, choose to take steps towards becoming a debt-free household. Keep track of your spending in real-time, especially credit card use. Attend a Debt-Free Class at Broomfield Assembly of God, a free 3-hour teaching packed with practical steps and scriptures that set you on the path to future freedom from debt. Become involved with a Financial Fitness Fellowship, a monthly gathering of encouragement, prayer, sharing and instruction to strengthen your walk towards being debt-free.
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
