As we know, many people are fearful and anxious about the future, their ability to survive financially. William Barclay said our wherever we invest our values, time, talents and money reflect whom we BELIEVE AND TRUST, and this reflects how we respond to and deal with uncertainties in life.
Our world encourages us to have a good life by looking after ourselves by becoming rich, gaining power, status and ‘stuff’. But Jesus challenges us to “seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness” and help others by using the time, abilities and finances God entrusted to us. God created us to have a personal relationship with Him, working with Him in caring for His creation, as channels of His love and grace in a hurting world. Our Bible says that “GOD OWNS EVERYTHING ON THIS EARTH and EVERYTHING I HAVE AND NEED, IS FROM GOD”. We brought nothing into this world and will carry nothing out.
God promises to supply our needs AND His condition is that we MUST be generous. This promise does NOT INCLUDE our ‘WANTS’. If we wonder why there are many people whose needs are not being met, that’s because GOD BLESSES OTHERS THROUGH OUR GENEROSITY. He’s blessed us with incredible gifts: creation, talents, abilities, spirituality, time, friendships, family, shelter, clothing, food. And the most IMPORTANT GIFT IS to be HIS friend and live with HIM forever through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Randy Alcorn says: “God doesn’t prosper me to raise my standard of living He prospers me to raise my standard of giving”. Therefore, when we sense God calling us to help people in varying ways, either ourselves or through organizations who help a wider range of people, we’re obeying the Lord, exercising faith and will receive HIS PEACE AND JOY in times of uncertainty, and we’ll find ourselves asking these questions, not just occasionally but daily or hourly: “Jesus what do you want me to do with all you’ve entrusted to me: My abilities, talents, spiritual gifts, time, the profits of my business, possessions and money?”
God wants to see everyone put their faith and trust in Jesus so that lives, marriages, families, communities, cities, nations and our world is TRANSFORMED THROUGH US – HIS CHURCH – who are passionate about making the INVISIBLE CHRIST VISIBLE through our lives, love and generosity. Do we trust GOD enough to obey His Word? Are WE being FAITHFUL with what God has entrusted to us? My prayer is that we will shed tears of joy when we see the people who end up in heaven directly or indirectly because we gave our lives and our resources away in love of God to others. Regardless of what we have done/not done in the past, we’re still in a position to assess our lives and to change through God’s Grace.
We can use our AFFLUENCE to IMPRESS OTHERS in this life OR we can use our AFFLUENCE to INFLUENCE others to know Christ and prepare for eternity with Him. May what will be most important to us THEN be most important to us NOW knowing that the God who has been faithful will continue to be faithful, and that we can trust Him in everything. As we follow Him faithfully in this life, we will find victory over our fears and anxieties, and experience a peace that transcends all human understanding. Let us pray for God’s guidance and wisdom as we go forward!