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| Title: 'UNLIMITED SUPPLY'/C.Penc - Visual Prayer Art by Rev.Bola A. |
In my experience as a minister of the gospel, over several years I have found much confusion amongst the Church brethren, on what constitutes right Spiritual conduct and practice, concerning our financial affairs. I personally take the matter of Financial Stewardship very seriously for a number of reasons:-
1. My own personal prosperity and peace of mind.
For many years before I was a born again Christian, I struggled greatly with money. It was a source of frustration and confusion for me. As even though I had spent 5 years studying at University to Post graduate level and passed all my exams, the true nature of money, wealth, prosperity and how to achieve these in life, seemed to always escape me.
I had studied Economics and Management accounting in my University years. I had also majored in Sales and Marketing, of both the private sector for business, and in the public sector for Church and Charitable concerns. Yet I constantly felt that an important part of the puzzle concerning money was missing from my education on the subject, so I needed to do my own learning and research.
One of the major stumbling blocks that I needed to overcome was the 'Spirituality versus Materialism' ideology, which has been extensive even amongst Christian believers. The belief that the Spiritual world and the Material world are in opposition to each other. Therefore a believer could not be both spiritual and materialistic at the same time. Further added to this belief is the idea that money itself, is not spiritual, but materialistic. And so having material or financial desires, goals, and intentions was a somewhat 'un-spiritual' undertaking.
Beliefs like: 'it is more spiritual to be poor than rich'; or 'money is the root of all evil' or 'you can't serve two masters, both God and money'; meaning that you had to choose between money and spirituality...etc..etc....
This practice of mis-quoting the bible, or quoting it out of context, in relation to material prosperity, has been very confusing, and no doubt has created a great deal of upset and dis-empowerment amongst Christians.
My personal belief is that this has all been instigated by Satan to confuse and undermine the body of Christ and the work of the Church. Which leads to the second reason why I have taken this matter so seriously.
2. Christian financial stewardship is an integral part of discipleship, that impacts our lifestyles, and also resources God's mission in the world.
Money is needed to spread the Gospel, and to minister to a world in need of healing. We cannot adequately minister to the world if we are poverty stricken. Is God poor? We only need to look around at the abundance supplied by nature alone, to know the answer to that. God is not poor, nor does He expect us His children to be poor. Money is simply a necessary medium of exchange, to carry out the will of God on earth.
As Christian believers, we are required by our faith to refrain from all evil doing. So if we accept the belief that 'money is the root of all evil', then it not surprising, when we do not have much money, or cannot adequately handle money. Because of course we don't want to dirty our own hands by handling so much of this 'root of all evil'.
This is the false belief, that in the past has kept me, and so many Christian believers in poverty. If you look at that bible quote closely, it is not money that is the root of all evil, but greed for money. It is greed of any sort, and for anything at all, including money, that is sinful, and not money itself.
When I came to this personal realisation about the nature of money, my own financial circumstances made a remarkable improvement. I began to see money for what it really is... a medium for the exchange of good and services, a tool that can be used, as a means to bless the world around me. That's all money is, a resource, a tool. It is neither to be worshiped or maligned as evil.
Having realised that truth, the next question to ponder is, how then can money be managed as a tool or resource, for blessing ourselves and our world?
Let me say I believe the act of financial stewardship, managing money, and material possessions wisely, to be an incredibly spiritual activity. Earning money is a spiritual activity. Spending money is also a spiritual activity. So is saving and investing wisely.
Greed on the other hand isn't spiritual. Neither is hoarding, debting, living above one's means, or earning one's money by abusing, undermining or hurting others. Yes, money is involved in all these activities, but it is really how we use it, and for what purposes, that matters to God. I have come to understand, that in this world, the devil uses money for his purposes, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ uses money for His Glory.
So what does the Word of God (Scripture) say about money?
There is no shortage of Biblical material on money. There are over 2,300 verses in the Bible on money, wealth and possessions. It's mentioned frequently in both the Old and the New Testament, and Jesus talked about it in his parables. Here are just a few examples to look up:-
1.Money as Priority
Deut 26: 2-3
2 take some of the first fruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
2Cor 8:5
5 And
they gave in a way that we did not expect: They gave themselves to the
Lord and to us before they gave their money. This is what God wants.
2. Money as an Act of Worship1Chron 29:10-14
David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
2Cor 9:7
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
4. In Community
Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
2Cor8:13-14
13 We don’t want you to have troubles while others are comforted. We want everything to be equal. 14 At
this time you have plenty and can provide what they need. Then later,
when they have plenty, they can provide what you need. Then everyone
will have an equal share.
5.Money - Sacrificial
Luk 21:1-4
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
2Cor8: 2-4
2 These believers have been tested by great troubles, and they are very poor. But their great joy caused them to be very generous in their giving. 3 I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford. No one told them to do this. It was their idea. 4 But they asked us again and again—they begged us to let them share in this service for God’s people.
6. Money - Cheerful Giving
2Cor9: 7-8
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
7. Money - Tithing
Mala 3:8-10
8 “People should not steal things from God, but you stole things from me.“You say, ‘What did we steal from you?’
“You should have given me one-tenth of your things. You should have given me special gifts.
“You should have given me one-tenth of your things. You should have given me special gifts.
Pro 3:9
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and the first part of your harvest.
8. Debting
Pro 22:7
7 The rich rule over the poor. The one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.
Rom 13:8
8 You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands.
3. Now my third reason for taking financial stewardship so seriously is this: The scope of Christian life includes how we use the money, time, talents, and possessions that God has entrusted to us, while we are alive. For example:
Generous giving for a Christian is to be second nature.
So is applying are gifts and talents in service to the body of Christ, and for those to whom we are responsible, without wasting them.
Managing our time, possessions and resources wisely, and sharing them with others, in such a way as to resemble the overflowing generosity of God.
These are all important reasons why I believe that correct, scripturally based information, concerning financial stewardship must be taught, learned and practiced by every Christian believer, and in every Christian Church.
The purpose of this site is to provide as much scriptural teaching and encouragement as possible on matters of financial stewardship. I will continue to write and post Bible based articles and lessons concerning Money, wealth, prosperity, and financial freedom, to help edify the believer and the Church body, as led by the Holy Spirit.
You are welcome to keep coming back for this FREE information, and to send us your comments, testimonies, questions and insights. We are also able to support you with more in-depth assistance and life coaching concerning these matters. You may send your comments or enquiries to Pastor Bola:-
bolaamail-church@yahoo.co.uk
*My Prayer
May you be forever free of poverty and lack.
May all your financial needs be adequately met.
May your cup of abundance run over.
May all your financial sins and errors be forgiven.
May your God given skills and abilities be wisely employed.
May you find favor and merit in your vocation and career.
May the Almighty God continue to favor you and yours with financial abundance, prosperity, peace, health and joy in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Peace and Love
Rev.Bola.
(copyright: 9April13 -ARR)
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