Do you know one of the things that causes more issues in marriages, families, businesses, and churches? You guessed it by the title of this article, it's money. However, the Bible has a lot to say about money. In fact, the Bible addresses money over 2,300 times. Jesus talked about money more than heaven and hell combined. Money.
Most people when it comes to the subject of money always quote this Bible verse: "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). But most people assume this passage means money is the root of evil. That's not what the Bible says though. It says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money is not evil. Let me repeat that again. Money is not evil.
MONEY IS A MOTOR, NOT A MOTIVATION
Money is not designed for us to live for, but for us to live by. Listen to what the Bible reveals, "But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth ..." (Deuteronomy 8:18). It does not say, "God gives you wealth." It basically teaches that the capacity to produce wealth is put in your hands. In other words, money is just a motor to get us to our destiny. And God has put the capacity to create wealth in our hands.
So, stop believing the poverty gospel - that God wants you broke as a joke. No. Reject that. God does not want you living from paycheck to paycheck the rest of your life. Pastor, God does not want your church living from offering to offering. He has placed in your hands the gifts and talents to produce wealth.
"Oh, you are a prosperity preacher." Not at all. I am actually a principle preacher - if I follow the principles of God's Word His promises will take place in my life. It's that simple. Nowhere in the Bible will you read that God designed you for poverty. Now, yes, there may be seasons of poverty - I grew up in poverty - but it was a season. Then, all of a sudden, God takes you into a new season. Follow His principles and you get to His promise.
STOP BEING AFRAID OF MONEY
You cannot be afraid of money, thinking that if you get money you will all of a sudden walk away from God. No, money does not push you away from God, your decisions do. I don't love money, but I am also not afraid of it. I don't worry about, "Well, if I have money, I will walk away from God." No, my spirit declares, "Father, the more you bless me, the more I can bless those around me." I am not afraid of money in the hands of God's people. I am afraid of the wrong people with loads of money.
Some Christians have accepted the lie that "money is evil" and they have allowed themselves to remain in the cycle of poverty. Money is not evil. The love of money us evil. I don't love money, I leverage it. I want to use every dollar to honor my Father, bless my family, and build the Church of Jesus.
You will always avoid what you are afraid of. Don't fear it. Don't be afraid to talk about it.
DON'T HATE ON THOSE WHO HAVE MONEY
Oh, yes, most people who don't have can't stand the ones that do have. This is so true. But you can never judge someone's harvest because you don't know the seeds they have sown or the price they have paid. I am a blessed man. My family is blessed. We are far from wealthy, but we are blessed. I have some very wealthy friends in my life and I love watching God bless those people around me. I want to see people succeed spiritually, relationally, emotionally, and financially. It really brings me joy to celebrate the success of the people in my life.
I will never hate on someone else's blessing. It will rob me of the opportunity for my blessing. After all, if God put those resources in their hands, I want to encourage them to use those resources for the greatest Kingdom impact. So, celebrate the blessings of God on other people.
Don't compare your prosperity to someone else's. To someone prosperity is making $50,000, to someone else $250,000, and to some in parts of the world $25 is prosperity. Embrace God's blessings on your life, but don't compare it to someone else's.
BE FAITHFUL WITH YOUR MONEY
I know that one of the greatest ways to see God bring increase into your life, ministry, organization, or business is to just be a faithful steward. The Bible reveals a very simple truth: "Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much" (Luke 16:10). Jesus was saying that if you are faithful with the little you have He will put more in your hands to manage. If you want to walk in blessing start by being faithful with what you currently have.
How can you be faithful with your money?
Live within your means.
Honor God with your tithe (10% to your local church)
Save for the future.
Start your retirement early.
Plan on providing an inheritance to your children.
Help the people around you.
Pray for wisdom everyday for how you manage His money He allows you to steward.
Remember, money is not evil, it's the love of money that creates evil desires and behaviors. So, don't love it, leverage the money God blessed you with.
DAILY SCRIPTURAL DECLARATIONS:
1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
1 Samuel 2:8
He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Deuteronomy 28:12
The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.
Ecclesiastes 5:19
And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.
Proverbs 11:25
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.