Wealth
The search for security
Dear Reader,
Wealth and poverty are not determined by the amount one has in the bank or the assets that are owned. Rather, wealth and poverty are a mindset we carry based upon a Truth revealed. I didn't always know this.
If we base our understanding of wealth according to the world's standards, it teaches us to seek after influence or assets to gain wealth. In other words, we are to look to man to satisfy a perceived need. This thinking is fully grounded upon the personal ability or the ability of others to satisfy a personal agenda or goal. It is how we are taught by the world system to operate. Find a need and fill it. That's a good business model, right? It makes sense if we are traveling in the world system circles and as responsible adults, we do have a responsibility not to neglect the stewardship of our resources
So given that it might benefit us to be familiar with the workings of this world system, and given that we should not neglect responsibility, as a follower of Christ, what should be the mindset by which we operate? Is there another way of looking at this?
As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, a member of the Church Jesus is building, we know that our source of sustenance and blessing is not from people, but from God. Will He move people to give? Yes, of course, but it is still God who does the moving and not us (manipulation) and it is to God whom we look for direction, blessing and obedience, not to what men can offer us by association or gift. We say this, but do we believe it? What is our default setting? We look to people around us, who can help?
So like the widow at the judges door we should be persistent and continually ask God for what we want, right? That's biblical, right?
Well, I would counter that with, does a child need to ask repeatedly for food and shelter from a good and loving parent? There is a truth here, though, God is the source, but He isn't like the judge that needs to be hounded to answer. I do believe there is no harm in presenting our need to God. I do not advocate, however, for us to suddenly become childish in our pursuit of God's blessings like a small child hounding their parent for a cookie before dinner. Some things we do need to work out according to the Word already written for us to consult. And for other things we need to wait and trust our Heavenly Father to answer.
I know it's a hard concept to grasp. How do we NOT look to men for what we need to live when we are living in a world system?
By being obedient, be faithful in the little things. Be good stewards of all God gives. Mature adults steward wisely according to the Will and Word of God. Children are provided for and trained in righteousness. If we persist in coming to God in a childish way, always receiving and never giving, always demanding and never stewarding with wisdom, can God trust us with more than just the essentials?
Luke 16:10-13 says,
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore, if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
In this scripture the "wealth" that is its talking about is "where it is personified and opposed to God"
Reference link In my estimation this would mean looking to people for provision. It could mean an employer, gifts, influence and popularity. It is also very likely that people worship (devote themselves to, have an allegiance to, make all their decisions according to) wealth and the gaining of wealth. This is a big problem. The first problem is the definition of wealth being used and the second is that this idolatry will eclipse the instructions of the Lord for your life. Mammon will demand a decision for allegiance . We can't go in two directions at the same time. Pursuing one will leave us empty of the other. (consider the rich young ruler in Luke 18)
One example that I am familiar with involves the Church system as I experienced it. When Jim was a pastor, it was the congregation that paid the salary through tithes and offerings. The denomination provided housing, utilities and insurance and much more. As pastor he was responsible to report to the larger district council the progress or lack of progress regarding finances and attendance. His success as a pastor and future pastoral assignments was based upon these reports. Congregants could also “report” upon the progress of the pastor in his duties (or lack-there-of). This created a loyalty not to God, but to the building of attendance, the denominational requirements and the successful development of ministry in the eyes of our peers and authorities. Looking to people to provide what was determined as “successful” made somewhat difficult to maintain the singular focus on Christ alone. It took a lot to go against the status quo and speak truth. Many pastors do opt for a peaceful life compromised by seeking provision from men instead of embracing the Freedom in Christ as the bible teaches and the wholeness it offers.
I often found those who received the success and accolades of people would say that their success was God's approval. They heartily embraced a prosperity message. Those who were not as successful and remained financially restrained would often say that was God's will for them, and they would embrace a poverty mindset as being somehow more godly than those who had embraced success. I know, I used to meet with the clergy spouses at retreats and we would "catch up" (commiserate together) on who is doing what and our opinion regarding it. Our first questions for one another often had the goal of finding out how big the congregation was, how good were the facilities and what programs were offered...Those serving small or medium sized congregations and limited facilities (like we did) often grouped with like minds embracing the poverty mindset as a kind of concealed blessing of God for us to figure out. Those with large congregations and numerous programs in motion grouped together and didn't often mix with those seemingly of less influence.
See how the world system regarding wealth, success and poverty distorts and divides the people of God? How tragic!
Living in the Law of the Spirit of Life requires that we trust God. As a citizen of the Kingdom and member of the Family of God, when we rely on Him to provide, we must do so at rest in His Goodness. It is good stewardship to obey His directions written for us in Scripture to read and applied through revelation by the Holy Spirit.
However, this is not easy on our own if we have not managed properly the Word of God in our lives or the resources (little or much) He has provided. If we do not know the Word or if we are not sensitive to His Voice in the matters that concern Him, then we are left to our own understanding and Proverbs 3 will tell us that is not a very good idea and will not lead to “straight paths”. The doubt and fear will creep in and hide amidst the rationalizations and traditions we adopt to make ourselves more comfortable. This leads only to compromise. And once let in, it is hard to get rid of without confession and a conscious decision to replace deception with Truth.
We need one another! We need others to help us think outside of our box and get beyond our own personal needs and wants to recognize the blessings of the Kingdom. We need fellowship and accountability of studying scripture together, submitting our understanding for correction and /or expansion to a Kingdom focus rather than a personal focus with self as center.
Even the most well-meaning and spiritually minded person at times needs to check their motivations, HONESTLY check them, submit understanding and make course corrections if needed or help others with their understanding.
So. Dear Reader, I pray that you do not have stress or anxiety regarding provision and that your focus is firmly set on Christ. I pray that you are aware that God knows and God will provide good things, and that He firmly establishes the plans of the righteous and will not allow our feet to slip on the path He has designed for us to follow. May our sense of wealth not be rooted in the counting of pennies, but instead be rooted in the perfect Love of the King whose provision for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose—that’s all of us, beloved--is more than sufficient.
May we all be reminded that the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death by which the world system operates.
Grace and Peace,
Anne
Ps 66
Proverbs 16
Romans 8
2 Timothy 1
