One often hears about people who have lost everything. A great friend of mine almost lost his whole farm. A while ago a friend of Crossroads wrote to say that he had just lost all his millions.

None of us, absolutely no one, can guarantee that we’ll still have our money tomorrow. No, I’m not afraid; my money is in the bank. And a few years ago, when America woke up, one of the major American banks had folded and everybody’s money was gone.

Money is not guaranteed.

WARNING:

¹⁷Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow.

If we think about it, the average person spends nearly double his waking hours working to earn money. Why do you work? Why do you have a business?

To earn money.

But as soon as we have it, TV, radio and mall adverts encourage us to spend that money we have worked so hard for. We haven’t even seen our money yet, and half is already gone from the bank account.

The whole world revolves around money.

There’s nothing wrong with having money – it’s what we allow money to do to us that can be wrong (read the sentence again).

Therefore, this advice: Make God bookkeeper of your money. Ask his Spirit to help you with your money. When God takes over the management of your banking, even you will be able to make a big difference in other people’s lives. ¹⁸Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous.

No, sorry, I can’t even make it to the end of the month myself. Give to others? No way! Who’s managing your finances? Do you know how hard I’ve worked for my money?

My friend, there’s no guarantee. Everything can be gone tomorrow.

Let God lead you and go and give bread where it is needed. Go and look for places where God wants you to open your wallet. Go and find people God wants to spoil.

This is not an option that children of God can exercise when we want to. No, it’s a command. In a way your wallet must convert too. In a way your wallet needs to open for anyone God wants to bless.

I learn a lot from an older man in town, although I’ve never met him. His business was still young and financially it wasn’t going that well. One day on his way to a make-or-break opportunity, he asked God to help him and promised that if they got the business, he would give 30% of his profit to God. He got the business and gave the 30% to God. A few years later he turned the calculation around and he now gives 70% to God. His business is investing millions per month in God’s business!

And you?

Scripture
1 Timothy 6:17-21

Reflection
How converted is your wallet?
Who do you trust?
Are you rich in God’s eyes?

Prayer
Lord, You talk to me about money. Please help me convert my wallet. Please help me manage my finances, because on my own I just make a mess. Amen.