How God Does Not Use Wealth (Including Money)

Debt Free Living God’s Way

By Bob Louder, Christian Post Contributor Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Intro

You know that God has a will, a plan, and a purpose for your life. Sometimes God uses money to help bring about this will, plan or purpose. But did you know that according to the Bible, there are ways God will not use money in your life? For example, if you see any of the following situations working in your life, you need to know that these situations are not from God.

First, God will not use money in your life to cause fear and anxiety in your life.

But, there are a lot of Christians who have fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, irritation, and aggravation about money situations. If you are one of these unfortunate folks, you need to know that God says, "It's not Me who is in charge of your life. You have yielded your life elsewhere."

Jesus tells you in Luke 12:22, "...do not worry abut your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes...." Remember the test? Remember Proverbs 10:22--"It's the blessing of the Lord that brings wealth and He adds no trouble to it." If you have worry, fear, anxiety, and all the rest in your life, God does not have the place in your life He wants to have. If the material things in you life (including money) cause you anxiety, you have either denied His wisdom or moved out of His will. In either case you consider yourself an owner, not a manager. You have not surrendered the material areas of your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

God does not use money to separate families.

Yet, according to most every counselor, money is the No. 1 separator of families today, even among Christians. James said, "What cause fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" (James 4:1).

During our counseling sessions, most couples say they had more spendable income when they first started out, along with far more peace. Now, they make 10 times more but spend 11 times more! Why is this? One reason is because they spend so much time in front of television and Internet advertising. (Do you want a good indication as to whom or what is really in control of your life? Compare your TV and Internet time to the time invested into your quiet times…ouch!) It's a known fact that advertising is designed to foster the attitude that you must always move up. You cannot stand still. You must always strive for the biggest, the best, the newest, or what someone else has. Advertising fosters the attitude of discontent. These attitudes do not come from God.

God does not use money to buffer you from all problems.

If you believe that He does, you are apt to have your faith destroyed. Why? Because, as you have already seen, many times God will use problems, including financial problems, to build you, mature you, to strengthen you and bring you closer to Him.

God does not use money to develop your ego.

Remember what Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:17? "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

It's a shame that in our churches we often elevate some and look down on others because of their secular, social, or professional position. Let me give you a personal opinion: I believe that one day we will all show up in heaven working for a little old lady we never heard from, never saw a single day of our life. Why? Because she was out doing the best she could, with what she had, where she was. There is absolutely no evidence in scripture that there is a greater reward for a preacher that for the person who sweeps the floors and takes out the trash. Your reward will depend upon how well you do what He gives you to do and help others to do the same.

Remember, the amount of money, position and authority you have all comes from God. Your job is to do the best you can with what you have where you are. Nope, God does not use money to develop your ego.

How many of these situations do you see up and operating in your life today?

The more you see the more you can be sure that Jesus Christ does not have the place in your life that He wants to have. As the matter of fact, the more of these you see the more you can be certain you are headed for or are already in "financial bondage."

Next time we will talk about what financial bondage is, look at some symptoms and causes, and finally see what can be done. For now, be certain there is hope. Please realize that before you can move to a higher spiritual plain in the area of your finances, you first need to learn to recognize some of the problems you have which need to be solved. You need to learn to recognize the symptoms of financial bondage before you can move into "Debt Free Living God's Way." This is why God wants you to know that there are ways He does and does not use money in your life.

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Bob Louder is the Founder and President of Christian Financial Ministries (www.good-steward.org). Bob is also the author of the new best selling book, "Debt Free Living God's Way," available only on the Internet (www.debtfreelivinggodsway.org). Since 1987 Bob has helped people in hundreds of churches all across the country and in the European military community learn, understand, apply and pass on "Debt Free Living God's Way" principles and practical applications. He has represented some of the top Christian financial authors and ministries to include Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsey, Christian Financial Concepts, and Crown Ministries.

Copyright 2006 Christian Financial Ministries, Inc., All Rights Reserved. You may reprint this "Special Report" in whole or in part without permission from Christian Financial Ministries, Inc. Please credit material used to Christian Financial Ministries, Inc.