Money: A tool that God uses that many miss.

Probing Proverbs: 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

I remember having a dinner with one of my disciples on a Sunday night. We were catching up concerning a relative we had been praying for concerning their relationship with God. Unexpectedly, his relative had decided to attend church after several decades of not doing so. As we sat my disciple seemed dismayed. I had preached a message on God’s desire to be God in all of our life, not just some parts. He went to lunch with this relative, who spent the entire time complaining about how all I preached on was money. The reality was, that word was used only once by me, at the very end of the message as I closed my message. I stated, “God wants You!” Your time, talents and money have all been entrusted to you by Him.” He is focused on You, not those things.”

I told my disciple not to be downhearted, this is very common. Even with believers, we can discuss almost anything, but if we sneeze the word “money,” their defenses go up immediately. In some ways I understand why this is; man has used religion to bilk millions from people for centuries. How sad that the “Truth” and “God” get blamed, instead of the greedy little heart so many humans have…religious ones, famous ones and atheistic ones! 

It is interesting though, that something as simple as little pieces of paper can help us really discover in what condition and where our hearts are in reality. Money can be the greatest tool that God uses to grow our faith. The Scripture can talk to us about almost any topic and we will remain open, but often, the minute money is brought up we become defensive or dismiss the passage because "God is not interested in money". That is true – God is not interested in money - BUT He knows that we are and He knows it competes for our heart. So if we are honest we will ask ourselves the question "If Christ is the Lord of my life, have I included my wallet?” If we honor God with our talents and time, why not with our money? What God considers honoring for you is between you and Him, the key is to ask Him. 
One major struggle we will be forced to deal with, is the lie that we need money to live. Yes, that is the normal way God supplies, but if we consider the examples throughout the Scripture where God supplied a different way, because individuals were depending on Him, we will realize we don’t NEED money, we NEED God! If we depend on God, He will feed us even without money. If we depend on money…money will enslave you!

The so what?  How much time do you spend thinking about money? How much time do you spend communing with God? Have you sat with God and asked Him to become the One that you depend on for all other things in your life? Which makes more sense, depending on a Sovereign God or depending on governments, insurance companies, careers, and money? Simplify your life, go to God and ask Him to teach you how dependable He is!