City Life Starter

I. The Word:

But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that he may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:4

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich and He adds no sorrow to it. Proverbs 10:22

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-12

II. Study Questions:

1. Which do you think will produce more spiritual benefit in your life, need or
abundance?
2. Are being diligent in your job so God can bless you?
3. Why does Scriptures say God wants to give the power to make wealth?

I think through this week’s sermon and other recent starter posts we have established the dangerous nature of money. Now we can look at some of the positive aspects of money found in God’s Word.

Just because something is dangerous doesn’t mean we should never use it. For example, automobiles are dangerous, yet almost every day I get in mine and drive around Houston. With so many other cars on the road, I often feel I am taking my life into my own hands. However, what protects me are the traffic laws, stop signs, traffic lights. Similarly, the proper response to the dangers of money is not to make oneself poor but to handle the money God gives us according to His principles.

There have been people in my life for which it seems the Lord just blesses them with money all the time. One of those people was the head pastor of the church I was part of in Houston back when I was in the full-time ministry. He had sold insurance before going into the full-time ministry and had been very successful at it. He gave all that up to serve God’s people and do the work of an evangelist. He didn’t make a lot of money at my church because we only had about 300 people, but he had a beautiful home, dressed really well and more than that, he was always reaching into his pocket to pay for everyone at the coffee shop or wherever we were. In other words, he was a blessing to others and God continued to provide for him by giving him enough that he was constantly a source of blessing for others. This impressed me immensely and made me want to emulate him.

Sometimes I get the cart before the horse: If the Lord blesses me, I will be generous. Unfortunately, it is the other way around. The scriptures above teach that wealth will flow to me for three reasons: my diligence (work), my desire to be a liberal giver, and my thankfulness to God for all I have. What is really interesting is that Proverbs 10 says that God will not be sorry He has blessed me financially!

Thanksgiving is a good time of year to take stock of our lives and ask ourselves if we are responding to money the way the Lord intends. Are we responding to the Lord purely out of need or out of faith? Are we generous and in the habit of giving? Lastly, are we thankful for what the Lord has given us?