The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Friday, June 3, 2022

GIVING AND THE BELIEVER

Wealth is just a tool to help others; those with the right motivation give generously without any reservations. It can also act as a magnifying glass, bringing into focus any unknown character flaws. Luke 16:10-11 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” An inability to use godly wisdom in handling a little thing like money indicates bigger problems.

Our giving is an expression of our trust. The more we learn to trust God, the less discomfort we’ll feel opening our wallets. Money is unreliable, as many who have trusted it have learned the hard way. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10, NLT). We set ourselves up to get hurt when we put too much trust in our wealth; this isn’t God’s plan for us.

Money can have a strange effect on people. It has the ability to reveal our character, and can bring out either the best or the worst in us. Physical wealth is the least thing in the kingdom of God, yet it’s the one thing that believers can struggle with the most. A wrong relationship with money holds us back; the right relationship with it can empower us to make a positive difference in others’ lives. God wants to bless us financially—and bless others through us—but we block the process when we choose not to give. Giving is sowing a financial seed in faith but, even with the right motives, our giving is hindered if we eat up all our seed.   Haggai 1:5-7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!”

Managing our money wisely and living within a budget leaves us with more seed to sow in the form of more financial resources.

Confession: 

As the seed of Abraham, and heir of the whole world, my prosperity is unlimited; all things are mine! I lay up gold as dust, and I walk in the realm of superabundance, wherein I’m graciously supplied with every good thing, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Reading:

Isaiah 60:11 “Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that [men] may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and [that] their kings [may be] brought.”

Zechariah 1:17 “Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.”

Read through the Bible in 1 year: 2 Samuel 20:14-21:22 Acts 1:1-26 Psalm 121:1-8 Proverbs 16:18

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Catch-up day & Pr 3.1-35