Let Him
"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your insight or understanding." (Proverbs 3:5). Our God is inviting us to let Him have His way in our lives.
Consider how many times we've willingly received instruction over the years - in school, college, job training, a fitness class or a DIY video online. Yet when it comes to acquiring and applying knowledge from the One who has always existed and created us, loves us unconditionally and knows all things - are we seeking and obeying in the same manner? Today, we'll zero in on how that looks in our finances.
Please reread the opening verse again... and realize that in following it we are not "adding God" to our way of life... for it says to not rely on our insight or understanding. Instead, we are allowing Christ to live through us as is written in Galatians 2:20 "...it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me". Having this mindset, we are submitting ourselves to God.
So how do we allow Christ to live through us in our finances? Let's look to the Word, beginning with Colossians 3:23 on the way to apply ourselves at work - "Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul) as (something done) for the Lord and not for men". When we do, we can better persevere through challenges and bear with difficult coworkers or bosses. We'll bring out our best performance and cause our lights to shine as a testimony for the Lord. That type of effort will return to bless you financially as well.
Having earned our wages, we trust in the Lord by first setting aside the tithe to Him. The wise action to take is that once you've been paid to either write out the tithe check or give online that same day. This prevents our flesh from later getting in the way, succumbing to a purchase that "pushes out" the funds to tithe. In Malachi 3, God clearly states His perspective of withholding the tithe, calling it robbing Him. However, He also says that in obeying He will pour out such a blessing until there shall not be room enough to receive it.
We also trust in the Lord by giving to others - whether needy individuals or to ministries that serve. First, we can have our ears and eyes open to be sensitive to needs that arise, as is written in Proverbs 22:9, "He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor." Giving can also include your time or talents in addressing a need.
Our spending should be a focal point of yielding to God, as it can usually be traced to the impulses of our flesh that cause our finances to go out of whack. In Galatians 5 it communicates squarely where these troubles come from - "the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh". However it also provides the right path... "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Because the Spirit will always agree with God's Word, it is important to daily be reading and absorbing, as that will increase your sensitivity to the Spirit.
Let's cover one question - have you trusted God with your eternal salvation through Jesus Christ? If your answer is yes, then consider and answer this... if I can trust the Lord with something as priceless as to where I will spend all of eternity, in His holy presence, can I then freely trust Him in what He says to do with these finances here on earth?
Lastly, be encouraged from David's Psalm, written in Chapter 37: "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass."
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
