The opera singer, Jenny Lind agreed with Solomon when she sang, “It’s never enough.” (1) Ecclesiastes 5:10 says we’re never satisfied with our income. Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13 that he had learned how to be content in plenty or in want. How do we find a happy medium between the two extremes?
Finances are always a sticky subject. Like the worker in 1 Timothy 5:18, we want to be paid for our efforts but also want to contribute to ministry through donating our craft. And then there’s the issue of putting food on the table and paying the electric bill.
While preparing to pay taxes last week, I was again amazed how quickly expenses can outweigh income—and yet, Jesus told us to pay our taxes. (2)
Mary Hunt says, “One of the universal laws on money is that everything you own is on loan from God.” (3)
If we view our wealth as a loan, we will be careful to treat it as the gift that it is.
What about you? Are you a starving artist or a wealthy novelist? Our view of money will impact a life of scarcity or one of abundance in the way we treat others. Let’s look at this further.
Exercise:
Mary Hunt provides six debt-proof principles. Look up the following passages and respond.
- God is the Source.
Who gave you the ability to earn a paycheck? Psalm 100:3.
- Money is not for Spending.
What will the wise person do? Proverbs 21:20
- Never keep it all.
How did the Good Samaritan show generosity? Luke 10:25-37.
- Never spend it all.
What does it mean to be prudent? Proverbs 19:14.
- No more new debt.
What illustrates our relationship with debt? Proverbs 6:1-5.
- More money is not the solution.
How do we show responsibility by our attitude toward money? Titus 1:7
As I wrapped up my tax preparations, I was reminded of all the wonderful opportunities God had granted in the past year. I had the money I needed and that was enough. He is spreading His message, and I am invited to partner with Him in that ministry. That is the biggest blessing of all.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Is your security in money or in God?
References:
- The Greatest Showman
- Mark 12:13-17
- Mary Hunt, Debt-Proof Your Marriage (Grand Rapids, Fleming H. Revell, 2003), 255.
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.
Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.
Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.
Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net
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