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Giving to your supplier

‘All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.’ 1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV

Generous people are always comfortable talking about money, and they are even more comfortable giving it. Self-centred people obsess over keeping what they have, and how to get even more. That’s why Jesus, who was the most generous person in history, spoke so much about money. He understood its source, its use, and who owns it all. Sixteen of his thirty-eight parables deal with how to handle money and possessions. In the four Gospels, one out of every ten verses deals with the subject. The Bible has five hundred verses on prayer, roughly the same amount on faith, but over two thousand on money and possessions. 

Is God trying to tell you something? If so, what? It’s this: everything you have came from God! So you’re not an owner, but an administrator of His estate. That means when He taps you on the shoulder and says, ‘Give to this person or to that cause,’ you don’t argue or rationalise but say, ‘Yes, Lord!’ After raising the money to build the temple, David prayed: ‘Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You’ (vv. 12-14 NKJV). When you give to God, you are just giving back to your supplier.

Prayer Point:

Thank You, Father God, for the wisdom You have revealed in Your Word about how we should handle our money and the things we own. I pray that this advice will be the guide of my generosity and of my attitude towards my possessions. Lord, please help me be willing to give back to You what You have so generously blessed me with. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Pray your alphabet 

‘With thankful hearts offer up your prayers.’ Philippians 4:6 CEV 

Rachel and Jim owned a commercial building, half of which Jim used for his dental practice. For fifteen years they had no difficulty renting out the other half, which provided extra money to pay their bills. Then they lost their tenant, and an estate agent told them, ‘Forget about advertising for a while – absolutely nobody is renting.’ To ease her stress, Rachel started swimming laps at the local YMCA pool. One day when she was feeling especially anxious, she decided to pray as she swam, using the alphabet to keep track of the number of laps. She focused on adjectives to describe God, starting with the letter A. ‘You are Almighty God,’ she prayed during lap one. B. ‘A benevolent God, a bountiful God,’ she prayed on the next lap. And then C, ‘You are a caring, creative, can-do God.’ By the time she’d completed twenty-six laps, an hour had passed and her fears were gone. She knew God would provide. A short time later a physical therapist called to say she’d noticed the ‘For Rent’ sign, and asked to see the office. It was exactly what she wanted, so she and her partner rented the space. Rachel still prays while she’s swimming laps. ‘After all,’ she says, ‘I’ve discovered God’s goodness stretches from A to Z.’ 

Are you worrying about something today? Here’s a better option: ‘With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel’ (vv. 6-7 CEV). 

Prayer Point: 

Lord, help me to not be anxious over anything and to pray about everything. Help me to focus on Your goodness rather than my needs, and to be thankful for all that You have done – including the answer, when it comes. Let Your peace control the way I think and feel. Amen.  

Acknowledgements: God’s Little Devotional Book (Colorado Springs, CO: Honor Books, 2005), 211. 

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What do you have? 

‘It is God who works in you.’ Philippians 2:13 NIV 

If you don’t have what you need to accomplish your dream, you may have the wrong dream or the wrong plan! Jesus turned a boy’s lunch into a banquet for 5,000. That boy was in their midst; all the disciples had to do was find him. Don’t allow your ego to make you think all the answers must come through you, otherwise you’ll limit God. Just look for the ‘little’ that’s around or within you, then put it to work! 

Jesus didn’t turn the loaves and fish into a mountain of bread. No, He involves us in the process. Imagine seeing what’s in your hand multiply each time you give it away. God still works that way! In 2 Kings 4, a minister’s wife was in trouble. The breadwinner had died, the bills had piled up, and the creditors were taking her two sons to work off the debt. When she turned to Elisha he asked, ‘What do you have?’ God always asks us that! She answered, ‘Just a little pot of oil.’ He replied, ‘Go and borrow all the empty pots in town and start pouring oil into them; then sell the oil, pay off your debts, and live off the rest’ (2 Kings 4:1-7, paraphrased). 

With God you always have enough to create what you need! God can do ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Start acknowledging what God has placed within you. Your resources are in your gifting, your tenacity, your relationships and your connection to Christ! 

Prayer Point:

Thank You, Father, that You will enable me to do what You have called me to do. Help me to recognise the resources You have provided – whether my own or others’ – and most of all, help me to look to You for Your enabling. Thank You that You can multiply the little I have and bring other people alongside me to fulfill Your purposes. Amen.  

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God and your money (4) 

‘The Word became flesh.’ John 1:14 MSG 

Jesus came into the world for two reasons. First, to give you the greatest gift of all – eternal life. Second, to let you know He cares about every detail of your life. ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth’ (John 1:14 NKJV). In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it: ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.’ 

Roughly 20 per cent of everything Jesus taught had to do with your finances, your job, and your earthly needs. He cares! And when you can’t make ends meet, the Bible says, ‘God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory’ (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). When your business is going under, His promise is ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit’ (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV). 

God cares about the burden you’re carrying today, so if your needs aren’t being met, re-evaluate your understanding of your heavenly Father. Have you even discussed your finances with Him? How about the purchase of your home? Did you feel the inner confirmation of the Holy Spirit that the timing was right? Have you been tithing, sowing into God’s kingdom and expecting a harvest in return? Seed sown in good ground always produces a harvest, and faith is the magnet that pulls the harvest into your life. The word for you today is – God loves you and wants to bless every area of your life. 

Prayer Point:

Father, You gave Jesus, the Son that You loved, and with Him You gave everything. So I know I can trust You with the practical details of my life, because You won’t withhold any good thing. Help me to involve You when making decisions about my money and possessions. Thank You, Father. Amen.  

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God and your money (3) 

‘Help in time of need.’ Hebrews 4:16 NKJV 

When you have a spiritual, physical, relational, or financial need, God says He will meet it. But some of us have a hard time believing this. After all, Jesus condemned the rich man for overlooking the poor man sitting on his doorstep. And God hasn’t changed His position on that issue. Jesus told the story of a man so busy making money that he had no time for God. ‘But God said to him, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?” Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God’ (Luke 12:20-21 NLT). And He hasn’t changed positions on that issue either. 

Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple because they were ripping people off. He went so far as to call them ‘a den of thieves’ (Mark 11:17 NKJV). Does that mean God is interested in meeting our spiritual needs but not our material ones? Let’s be clear; your spiritual needs should always be your highest priority, but let’s allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves. When it comes to God and your money, Jesus said: ‘Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). Note the word ‘everything’. When you’re in right standing with God, you can pray with confidence and ask Him to bless you in all things! 

Prayer Point:

I pray that I would not be shy in asking for Your help, Lord. When there’s more month left than money, help me to remember to call out to You. Father, show me Your ways, ways where finance is a servant to Your kingdom and not the other way around. Lord, You have never let me down, so I pray today for all my needs to be met, and for there to be more than enough to bless others with the abundance You will give to me. Amen. 

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God and your money (2) 

‘In all things at all times, having all that you need.’  2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV 

Let’s begin by saying it again: what you believe about God and your money will determine what you believe Him for. If the reason you want more is to ‘keep up with the Joneses’, or brag about what you own, don’t expect God to bless your plans. The Bible says, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble’ (James 4:6 NIVUK). Humility says, ‘Lord, everything I have is a gift from You. And everything I’ll ever need comes from You.’ 

Before you ask God for more money, you must know that your heart motive is right. And when you know it is, you can stand on this Scripture: ‘Whoever sows sparingly will...reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will... reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion’ (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV). 

Who does God give seed to? Sowers – not hoarders. When does God multiply your seed? When you sow it to fulfill His purposes. 

Prayer Point:

Lord, help me to trust You with everything, including my money. Help me to be faithful in stewarding what You have already given me so that You can entrust me with more. Please show me where You wish me to show generosity today. Please highlight different people and projects to me so that I can invest what You have given me. Thank you, Lord. Amen. 

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Afraid of failing? 

‘I was afraid, and went and hid your talent.’ Matthew 25:25 NKJV 

What would you attempt today if you weren’t afraid of failing? In Matthew 25:14-30, a wealthy businessman entrusted his entire estate to three key workers. He gave the first five talents, the second two talents and the third one talent. Now when you realise that in Bible times one talent was about 15 years’ salary, you begin to grasp what an opportunity this was. It was a defining moment that gave each of them the opportunity to 

a) test their skills in the market; 

b) develop personal initiative; 

c) practise good judgment; 

d) profit from their investment. 

And two men did exactly that; but the third was afraid of failing. He decided to play it safe, so he buried his talent. Note: he wasn’t judged for what he did; he was judged for doing nothing. In fact, Jesus called him wicked and lazy! (see Matthew 25:26 NIV). Fear of failure will always make you want to bury your gift. Unless you’ve the courage to start, you’re already finished! 

When God commissioned people like Moses, Gideon, Deborah and Esther, they all had to overcome their natural fears. So will you! Fear of poverty made Jacob deceive his father. Fear of starvation made the Israelites want to run back to Egypt. Fear of their critics made the disciples forsake Jesus in His darkest hour and it made Peter deny Him three times! Refuse to let fear stop you! How you use the gifts God’s given you is a matter of the utmost importance. The truth is that it’s the basis upon which you’ll be judged! 

Prayer Point:

Lord, fear sometimes holds me back and restricts me from following Your plan for my life. Forgive me where this has happened. Help me to recognise the lies of the devil, who wants to prevent me from being useful in Your kingdom. Help me to break agreement with his lies. I choose instead to listen to what You are saying about me. Amen.  

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Revisit the promises you’ve made! 

‘You will fulfill your vows.’ Job 22:27 NIVUK 

The former president of Baylor University, Rufus C. Burleson, once told an audience, ‘I’ve often heard my father talk about the honesty of his old friend, Colonel Ben Sherrod. Threatened with bankruptcy in his old age, and staggering under a debt of $850,000, a lawyer told him, “For just $5,000, Colonel, I can find a technical flaw in the whole thing, and get you off.” The old Colonel replied, “Sir, your proposition is insulting! People trusted me. I signed their notes in good faith and the last dollar will be paid, even if charity digs my grave.” My dad once took me to see him and his face and words are still imprinted on my heart and mind. 

‘Integrity is not doing what’s easy or what’s popular; it’s doing what’s right!’ Furthermore, if you have a right to hold God to His Word, doesn’t He have the right to hold you to yours? 

Listen: ‘You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways’ (Job 22:27-28 NIVUK). Go back and revisit the promises you’ve made! Why? Because nothing is more important than your confidence before God! 

Listen: ‘If our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask’ (1 John 3:21-22 NIV). Could this be your doorway out of trouble, or the key to the breakthrough you’ve been looking for? 

Prayer Point:

Lord, You tell us to 'let our yes be yes, and our no be no'. You also warn us against making promises lightly. Help me not to make promises to You or other people in an attempt to manipulate or gain an advantage. If I do promise something, help me to make good on that promise. I want to show the same integrity and faithfulness as You do, Lord. Thank You that I can trust You to keep Your word. Amen.  

Acknowledgements: God’s Little Devotional Book for Teens (David C Cook, 2001). 

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God can restore your fortunes 

‘The LORD restored his fortunes.’ Job 42:10 NLT 

In his book The Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers, Patrick Kavanaugh discusses George Frideric Handel’s musical masterpiece Messiah. An unpredictable composer at best, Handel spent much of his up-and-down career moving from one failure to another. In those days bankruptcy wasn’t an option, and by 1741, Handel was drowning in debt. Without a miracle, prison was inevitable. He decided to perform his farewell concert and retire a failure at age fifty-six. But when a friend handed him a libretto on the life of Jesus based on selected Scriptures from the Bible, everything changed. Handel threw himself into writing and composing, and in a staggering stretch completed Part One in six days, Part Two in nine days, and Part Three six days later. He worked feverishly, driven by one overwhelming purpose. Servants left meals outside his door, afraid to disturb him. Once, when a servant did find the courage to open the door, the startled composer cried out, with tears streaming down his face, ‘I think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself!’ He had just finished the much-celebrated ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. 

What a comeback story – and the Bible is filled with them! The first forty-one chapters in the book of Job describe all that he had lost: his health, his wealth, and his family. Then, in the last chapter we read, ‘The LORD restored his fortunes...The LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning’ (vv. 10-12 NLT). And what God did for George Frideric Handel, and for Job, He can do for you when you put your life in His hands. 

Prayer Point:

Lord, when I’m wrapped up in myself, help me to see You in my situation. Help me realise how interested You are in all areas of people’s lives. Even when I’m going through difficult times, Lord, help me to keep my integrity and follow Your path. For the times when I’ve made promises I never kept, help me, Lord, to revisit them and be the answer I’m meant to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acknowledgements: Cooke, Phil, One Big Thing (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012), 169. 

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It’s a choice 

‘Yet I will rejoice in the LORD.’ Habakkuk 3:18 NKJV 

Pastor Jim Penner says: ‘I’ll never forget...as an eight-year-old sitting on the step when my mother opened the door to two men who handed her some papers...As tears rolled down [her] cheeks it didn’t take me long to figure out what happened. Money was tight...the bank hadn’t been paid and...our car was repossessed. I also carry with me another image I cherish to this day of my mother praying in her room. In the face of fear two words came through... “Thank You! Thank You!” I thought, “Thank you? You just lost your car; we have no money; what’s going to happen to us?” Her prayer continued, “Thank You, God, for what You’ve provided...and that we have something to eat tonight”...So it went...fifteen minutes, maybe more. Looking back, I gained a lifetime of wisdom in those precious minutes. My mother taught me an attitude of gratefulness in the midst of adversity that I’ll never forget...The tough times didn’t end overnight...but in the years to come God blessed my mother for her steadfast faith.’ 

Gratitude isn’t a natural response to adversity; it’s a discipline you develop. 

The psalmist said, ‘Forget not all his benefits’ (Psalm 103:2 KJV). In the midst of trouble, when you don’t think God has blessed you, sit down and recall His faithfulness and you’ll end up filled with joy. Habakkuk said, ‘Fig trees may not grow...there may be no grapes on the vines... no olives...no food growing in the fields...no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the barns. But I will still...rejoice in God my Saviour’ (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NCV). When you take time to give thanks for the blessings in your life, it will change your outlook and attitude. 

Prayer Point:

Lord, help me to give thanks even in difficult times for Your many blessings, and most importantly for Your presence. You have promised never to leave or forsake me. One day I will be with You in heaven, and it will be so easy to praise You there, when we are face to face. But Lord, it means so much to You when I praise You now, in the midst of trials. Give me the faith to do this, knowing that You will work even these difficulties for my good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.   

Acknowledgements: Wyatt, Keri, ‘Growing in Gratitude’, accessed June 21, 2010. Christianity Today; Penner, Jim, ‘Hope in the Lord’, accessed July 24, 2010.

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