"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind". Jesus said in Matthew 22 this was the most important commandment. So with such a priority placed on following this, how does it look in relation to our finances?
First, considering our work we're instructed to strive to do our best in Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men". Many of us can grow weary at times, but if we recall this verse and loving the Lord it will strengthen us to see the bigger picture, which includes God being honored in our work and a shining witness in the workplace.
With our income we express our love for the Lord by giving in tithes and offerings. We do this by putting the Lord first - in settling in our heart that we will give, and next in our mind that we will write out the tithe check or give online before we address any other matter. In Proverbs 3:9 it is described as "honoring" the Lord with first part of our income. If we love Him, we will be pleased to honor Him.
We also express our love for the Lord in giving our time or money to others... and God regards it lovingly and very personally in Matthew 25 where the Lord recalls of being fed, given water, welcomed, clothed and visited in prison directly when it was done unto the least of any person - it was done unto Him.
In our purchases we love the Lord by regarding Him above our temptation to spend or overspend on something that is fruitless - especially on items that would involve using credit or borrowing. We love by regarding His Word first, to "owe no man anything except to love one another". Waiting for the timing to be right, when we can afford it is another way we place God first and love Him.
So whether our expressions of love towards the Lord are in working heartily and diligently, setting aside tithes and offerings for Him before other things, giving of our time and money to meet the needs of others, or giving into God's timing and avoiding overspending and exercising patience, it all points back to the heart of our Lord...
"For God so loved that He gave..." (John 3:16)
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
