What Are You Ready For?

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Today's Passage: Matthew chapter 6
Memory Verse: Matt. 6:19-21

Without even realizing it, we've become impressed by the wealthy of this world and their riches. We watch them acquire more and more things that they couldn't possibly use in their lifetime. Oh, we talk a good game about how wasteful they are-- for spending millions of dollars on one-time purchases that will never be worthwhile -- but secretly we admire them for the ease with which they bask in seemingly unlimited resources.

Question: What's the first 5 things you'd do if someone gave you 10 million dollars? The answer to this question determines whether you are ready for the next financial level of life. When this question was posed to me, 4 out of the 5 things I thought of were about me. Essentially, I would've used the money to show God what a lousy job He does taking care of me. Think about it. One million to tell Him my house was too small, five to show Him how I need to retire, and another half million to show Him what a real wardrobe looks like. That's when I realized I had a lot to learn about wealth. You see, God is not a fool. He'll never raise a person up to have to compete with who they are. When He makes one wealthy, they first have to understand the reason they're wealthy. Wealth is given to God's people in order to expand HIS kingdom. If you're going to be wealthy, you want your wealth to be useful, movable, and workable. Wealth that is under the control of some outside entity is what is considered stored up. And as you know, the wealth of the wicked is stored up.....for the righteous. Having wealth requires great responsibilty like finding creative ways to build the kingdom
of God. How many people would a million dollars feed? These are the questions God wants us to ask Him. Listen: If God can get it through you, He'll get it to you.

Finally, as you become a giver (because God's getting to bless you as you change your mindset) remember to make sure God gets the glory. The left hand doesn't have to know what the right one is doing. Start small by being a blessing to someone in your neighborhood or church. After doing so, privately give God praise for the ability to do it. And make sure the one you blessed know that the blessing came "by God's grace". Now get ready! You're about to experience a whole new level. Make sure you handle it with extreme care. Be blessed!

Prayer: Father, You have a specific plan for blessing Your people. You want those who don't yet know You to encounter Your love through us. I pray today that You will take the sacrifice we make now by multiplying the works of our hands. And more than anything, let the people who receive from us know that they have received from You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.