With God

Let us learn to be content.” Do not store up for yourself treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where the treasure is , there your heart will be also” . Regardless of our words, most of us have not learnt how to live in contentment.

Contentment is mentioned seven times in the Bible and six of the seven have to do with money. One of the goals of God’s Economy is to learn to become content. In Philip. 4.11-12 Paul writes, ” I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in prosperity.” We are not born with the instinct of contentment; rather it is something we must learn.

Think about these questions :*Am I happy with God’s provision for my life? * Do I have big dreams, feeling miserable because of what I don’t have? * Will I be happy when I buy what I want? or have I learned to be happy even when I must save to buy what I want? * Would I be happy even if God were to say no to what I want?

Material things compete with Christ for the lordship of our life. We need things to live and God provides these things for us but acquiring things must not be the main goal of our life. Jesus warns us that money will attempt to master us. He said , ” No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. They spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. We should not fall into the materialistic trap because the love of money is the root of all evil. Can you honestly say that God and not money is your master?

The way we manage our money reflects our relationship with God, “Whosoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” ( Luke 16. 10 )

The concept ” with very little ” can be applied to the money and possessions we have. How are we managing “the very little” that has been placed under our care? This is often a secret or hidden area in our life. When we are in close fellowship with our God, we obey His Word and He is at the center of our financial decisions. We practice patience, self-control and faithfulness.

On the contrary when we are irresponsible in the way we use our money, we demonstrate that God is not our Lord. The way we manage our money is an external expression of an internal spiritual condition. When we manage money as scripture instructs, we demonstrate that we have entered into a closer relationship with the Lord.

A learned poet Oscar Wilde said about money : ” When I was young, I used to believe that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old , I know that it is. For this reason the Bible talks much about money. More than 2,350 verses relate to managing money and possessions. Moreover Jesus Christ said more about money than almost any other subject.

He knew that much of our lives would center around its use. During your normal week, how much time do you spend earning money in your job, making decisions on how to spend money, thinking about where to save and invest money.

There are two economic systems in the world : God’s and man’s. Bible gives enough detail regarding God’s economy and reveals that it usually contradicts man’s. The most significant difference between these economic systems is that in God’s economy the living Lord plays the central role. It is difficult for some people to think of God as being involved with our finances, because God has chosen to be invisible and operates in the unseen supernatural realm.

+ O.K.Tirkey

St luke chapter sixteen deals with the subject of money and the object is to teach us the proper place of money in life.

How we handle our money affects our relationship with people and the society at large.

God , the master, is the owner of everything, the controller of all events and our provider. Our responsibility is to be a steward which means a manager or supervisor. the position of a steward is one of great responsibility. He or she is the supreme authority under the master and has full responsibility for all the master’s possessions and house hold affairs.

Let us therefore handle God’s money entrusted to us faithfully.

Many people say : ” We shouldn’t worry about money”. In many parts of the world , it seems like Governments change the financial policies and laws so fast that we have to be experts in finance to survive. Its a good thing the Bible has 2,350 verses that talk about managing money and possessions.

As the world system intensifies a consumer culture that constantly creates new needs, it is difficult for us to focus on the “things above” and be faithful to God our creator and Redeemer. Nevertheless Bible says that what we treasure will capture our hearts. Our treasures are the true focus of our lives. They are the priorities we uncover by asking : Where do I spend most of my money, time, energy, talent, creativity and dreams for the future ? For what do I strive ?

” Seek ye first the kingdom of God , and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” – Bible.

Society says: God plays no role in handling money.What I possess I alone own and I alone control my destiny.

Scripture says: What I possess, God owns. He is the sovereign, living God who controls all event.

To make the best use of your life you must never forget two truths : First – compared to eternity, life on earth is extremely brief. Second -Earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached to the things of the earth like money, property and lustful object.

Pray like David : ” Lord remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered and that my life is fleeing away. My entire life time is just a moment to you. Human existence is but a breath and we heap up wealth for someone to spend.

The Bible says, God has planted eternity in our hearts. We all have an inborn instinct which longs for immortality. This is because God designed us in his image to live for eternity. He has wired our brains with that desire.

One day your heart will stop beating. That will be the end of your body and your time on earth. While life on earth offers many choices eternity offers only two : Heaven or Hell. It is your relationship with God on earth that will determine your place in eternity. and how you handle your money on earth will affect your relationship with God.

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God “your will be done” And those to whom God says, ‘ all right then, have it your own way’. Tragically, many people will have to endure eternity without God because they chose to live without him here on earth.

God will take care of you, be not afraid.