Are you familiar with the scripture related to this from when Jesus spoke in Matthew 6? In verse 21 He said “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. If we honestly think upon this verse, we can understand how the Word of God is described as a penetrating sword in Hebrews 4, able to sift our thoughts and purposes.
The intent of Christ speaking this was not to condemn us, but to illuminate the difference between placing our affection on this world and with Him and His Kingdom. The two verses preceding help focus where our aim should be - “Do not gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth not rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal.”
Consider how when we give of our finances, be it tithes and offerings, a gift towards a ministry, or helping someone in need, that the Lord regards this as placing treasures in heaven. Once we have given that amount with a cheerful heart, in essence it changes from being an earthly dollar to a heavenly one.
If we are not tithing to the Lord, can a careful study of our spending show that we are placing other things before Him? In Isaiah 55 it is written “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (the profuseness of spiritual joy). Because God created us, He knows what will ultimately satisfy us – and that is closeness to Him.
The scriptures were not written to make sure the church has enough finances, as God will always make provision for His will to be done. They were written so we would place the Lord properly in our lives – as our Creator, our source and who we receive The Life from that Jesus spoke of and is.
The more that we regard His Word in our finances, first from giving as we are instructed, then the more we will also be able to make wise choices in our spending. It may be by overcoming temptation to spend on something fruitless, or waiting for the timing to be right when you have enough to make a purchase without using credit or borrowing. Next time I will expound greatly about how the correlation between reading and meditating on His Word will bring us towards freedom from debt.
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
