Finances – A better way
by Mark Hendrickson
The old “law” -- The curse resulting from sin
** You must work to provide for yourself
Genesis 3:19 All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your dying day.
** If a man doesn’t work he shall not eat
2Thessalonians3:10 …. if any would not work, neither should he eat. (this is in a context of laziness)
** Six days shall you work and then rest on the seventh
Exodus 16:26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there shall be none.
These “laws” work very well. Even our secular culture lives under God’s laws and proves that His laws work. We have built much of our culture, character and work ethics upon and around these “laws”. We see them as essential, foundational and noble for stability and advancement in life. And without greater revelation, these lower laws are the “force” that makes our work produce gain.
But there is a higher law!
Romans 4:1-6
:4 – to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt
:5 – but to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly his faith is accounted for righteousness
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Hebrews 11:6 He that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
This new “law”is activated and experienced when a person simply and purely casts himself into the Lord’s care, trusting the Lord for everything,and keeping his conscience as clear as possible.
Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of Godas a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
The higher law is:
** Do not worry – Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven
Luke 12:22 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?26If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.30For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things[3] shall be added to you.
32"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
God’s higher ways are such that they supercede the lower laws. They don’t cancel them out, they just go above and beyond the old laws. Just like Jesus didn’t cancel out the Old Testament laws, but rather, he fulfilled them and gave a better covenant - a better way.
We can choose to still live under the old law that says: If I work 8 hours, I will get 8 hours pay. It works very well – even the heathen work this God-given principle. But it limits what God can do in our lives because the results of working with our own hand have the limits of time, space, and strength.
If we put our trust in the higher law, then our potential resource is unlimited because nothing is impossible with God.
Matthew19:26 With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Finances – A better way
(cont page 2)
Rest / Ceasing from labor
Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
:4 For we who have believed do enter that rest
:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience
:7 Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts
:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need
Re-training / Renewing our minds
We should re-train ourselves to the higher law - a renewing of our minds and asking God to give us a faith to walk and live in it. If we have “faith” then Jesus said, “According to your faith be it unto you.”
Matthew 9:29 According to your faith be it unto you.
Heb 6:11 Without faith it is impossible to please Him…
“But aren’t you just trying to “manipulate” God?”
It’s not like we’re “twisting His arm” at all. He would love for us all to walk in simple childlike dependency. In fact He said, “Unless you become like a little child you can’t even enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Mark 10:15 Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
He’s waiting to release Heaven’s resources upon the ones who walk simply before Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him.
Note: Work can be one of God’s tools to help form us – especially for young people who are in development stages of life. It can be a tutor to train or discipline us. Consider Psalm 107:12 Therefore He humbled their hearts with labor.
Getting free from debt
Something to consider, if you have debt: Jesus said to pray like this in the Lord’s prayer, “…. forgive us our debts AS we forgive our debtors…” We must forgive if we are going to be forgiven – in the spirit realm as well as in the natural.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
If fact, make it a project with God. Remind Him of His word – “God, I set my heart to forgive others ‘debts’, now would you forgive my debts in like manner?”
“How does God provide?”
When we sow “obedience” we don’t necessarily reap in ‘like kind’,and His promises don’t always come immediately or BUT they WILL come!
Hebrews 6:12 …who throughfaith andpatience inherit the promises.
Do not depend on money having to pass through your hand in order for you to experience the provision of the Lord. Just simply expect His provision for you. It could come through a computer error discovery at your bank or someone paying your bills or …. His ways are limitless. Remember, He’s a creative God – He loves to create!
Dwelling Place Ministries
11011 Olive St, Kansas City, MO 64131 Phone: (816) 943-8813
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