"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." (1 John 5:19)
Most of us can agree about the prevalence of the enemy in society at this time, in nearly every place and arena, attempting to influence those who know and do not know the Lord to go astray. Today, we will look at where this influence is attempting to sway us away from God's will in our finances and how we can remove that noise.
Beginning with much of advertising, the goal is to excite you into spending, whether you have the money or not. In freely using sensuality, greed and covetousness, they attempt to lure you in, to indulge beyond your good judgement. They don't care if you even have the money, because they also entice you to simply charge it, or make "easy" monthly payments.
Upbringing and peer pressure can influence you. Your parents may have freely given into excessive debt, growing up in school with the "crowd" wearing certain brands and having expensive gadgets, and today attempting to keep up with neighbors, friends and coworkers all contribute to the noise attempting to steer you away from what you know is right.
And of course, our own flesh, which in Galatians 5:17 is stated to be opposed to the Spirit. The flesh tries to veer us away from the correct path, pleading that we will not be happy if we do not buy that "thing".
All of the noise above will never mention one thing - what are the consequences of that purchase? The ads do not show the person struggling to make those payments. Your parents probably did not share about the stress of their finances with you, nor are you likely allowed to know about the anxiety of your neighbors and coworkers to make ends meet. And certainly your flesh will never raise the aspect of when that bill becomes due.
How do we remove the noise? The answers are God, God and God.
God's Word: He holds all wisdom (Daniel 2:20). As we take in His Word as a necessity and meditate on it, the Word becomes a sifter to us when the noise appears, giving us discernment to know what is right and wrong and to discard the influences that are false and lead to destruction, moving forward only in what is right.
God's Presence: Getting alone and quiet before God, thanking Him, confessing shortcomings, meditating on His greatness and especially listening to Him will quickly remove you from the noise, bringing you the words you need to hear. And James 1:5 invites us that if we lack wisdom, to ask of God, who gives generously to all.
God's Holy Spirit: He is called our Counselor in John 14, and is ever present in you. When the noise is audible to buy something sizeable or enter into an agreement, turn your inner ear to the Holy Spirit, who will bring to remembrance all you have learned, will always agree with the Word of God and His trademark is we will be led forth with peace.
Lastly, in removing the noise, reflect and remember this from Psalm 46:10:
"Be still, and know that I am God"
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
