It’s time for true confessions.

There was a time when our personal finances were a mess. We were drowning in a sea of debt, late fees and overdraft charges. I was robbing Peter to pay Paul. In fact, I was also hitting up Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Even though I had read dozens of books on motivation and success…and even personal finances, I obviously didn’t know how to put this information to work. Something was going to have to change or I was going to struggle forever.

The “aha” moment finally came when I met Brother John Avanzini whose teaching turned our financial lives around. The thing I finally figured out was that wealth has as much or more to do with obedience to God as it does with math.

And by the way, our problems were not caused by my fine wife, Bev. . .but me.

After my “aha” moment I began Understanding What God Says About Money.

I found that changing my mindset about money to embrace God’s principles actually opened the windows of heaven on my behalf and then God honored my willingness to walk in obedience.

God wants you to live well! As your Heavenly father, God’s desire is to see you healthy and wealthy in every way.

3 John 2 says:

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

He wants you to live the good life NOW.

Where Does Wealth Begin?

Deuteronomy 8:18 very clearly proclaims that God “has given us the power to get wealth.” He even states His purpose for our ability “…that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

God promised Abraham and all the generations to come that if we followed His plan, we would be rooted and grounded financially so that no economic problems could ever uproot or overthrow the orderly operation of that covenant on earth.

So, not only does He give us His promise of wealth, He says it won’t be affected by the economic ups and downs of the earth.

Understanding the Wiles of the Devil

As much as God wants the best for you, the enemy will try to steal it in subtle ways. There is an evil influence present in this world that wants to separate you from your money.

Why? If he can talk us out of our money, we will no longer be effective in fulfilling God’s plan here on earth. But remember, God knows everything and has an answer for every problem if we seek Him for every answer.

God gives us the principles to stay out of debt. In First Corinthians 10:13 it says:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God wants our money to work for us not against us.

Five Things God Will Never Do With Money

Recently, I saw a poll in USA Today which said that 65% of all Americans either always or sometimes worry about money.

Literally, if ten people are standing in a row. . .only three people will not be worrying about money.

1.      God will never use money to worry us.

If a Christian is worried, frustrated, and upset about money, God is not in control. God said that worry is not in His plan for our lives.

David Geffen, music magnate, said:

“Anybody who thinks money will make you happy, hasn’t got money.”

Matthew 6:25 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?”

Two verses later. . .Matthew 6:27 in the New International Version says:

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Philippians 4:6 also in the Amplified Bible says:

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”

If we are relying on His guidance, He will supply all our needs, just as He has promised.

Philippians 4:19 says:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

So, believing that, we can concentrate on other things.

Maybe it’s time for a little humor.

Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian said:

“Dogs have no money. Isn’t that amazing? They’re broke their entire lives. But they get through. You know why dogs have no money? No Pockets.”

Sometimes we just need to lighten up when it comes to money.

2.      God will not use money to corrupt us.

Although God will not use money to corrupt us, the Bible warns us not to let Satan deceive us through financial snares.

James 4:3 in the Amplified Bible says:

“[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.”

Money is for movement. By living God’s principles, we are blessed without falling for the enemy’s wiles.

You can never out-give God.

Randy Alcorn, noted Christian author, said:

“God is the greatest giver in the universe, and He won’t let you out give Him.”

Whenever we plant into His Kingdom, He multiplies it back to us. After all, seedtime and harvest were His idea (Genesis 8:22).

You can never out give God.

King David knew that God had prospered him and allowed him to defeat all his enemies.

While sitting in his home talk with Nathan the Prophet. In 2 Samuel 7:3 in the Message Bible David said:

“Before long, the king made himself at home and God gave him peace from all his enemies. Then one day King David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look at this: Here I am, comfortable in a luxurious house of cedar, and the Chest of God sits in a plain tent.”

BUT GOD. . .that’s two of our favorite words. BUT GOD had a bigger gift in mind for King David.

2 Samuel 7:11 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And as from the time that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord declares to you that He will make for you a house.”

Then in 2 Samuel 7:16 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.”

This story powerfully reminds us that we can never out give God. While He invites our gifts and offerings, He will always give us far more than we could possibly give Him. He will never be a debtor to anyone.

Psalm 50:12 in the New International Version says:

“If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.”

If you have time read the biographies of Milton Hershey, Thomas Welch, John Cadbury and R.G. LeTourneau. All these men lived off 10% of their income . . . while doing watched their income increase dramatically.

3.      God will never use money to build our egos.

God does not want to build our bank account balance as much as He wants to build our character and what’s in our hearts.

Pastor and author John Piper said:

“Wise people know that all their money belongs to God.”

John Piper also said:

“The person who thinks the money he makes is meant mainly to increase his comforts on earth is a fool, Jesus says. Wise people know that all their money belongs to God and should be used to show that God, and not money, is their treasure, their comfort, their joy, and their security.”

Money does not corrupt anyone. It merely reveals the character that already lives in an individual. Walking with God is a change that begins inside before it ever appears outside.

God is not against us having good things. He is against good things having us. When we leave this world, we will take nothing material with us.

All we will have for all eternity will be the treasures we laid up in heaven. Those treasures are not deposited by human ego, rather by humility and the working of God’s principles.

Remembering this next sentence will help keep us balanced.

“Lord. Help me to always remember what is important. . .not money in the bank but Jesus in my heart.”

Matthew 6:19-20 in the New Living Translation says:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

When our priorities are right. . .we don’t have to worry about our egos.

4.      God will not cause Christians to hoard.

There is a distinct difference between saving and hoarding. Saving is biblically recommended in order to be prepared for what inevitably lies ahead.

Proverbs 21:20 in The Living Bible says:

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.”

Hoarding is putting money aside for accumulation purposes alone. Hoarding prevents Christians from seeing the needs of others.

Dr. Billy Graham, who’s now enjoying the fellowship of the millions he led to heaven once said:

“God has given us two hands—one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing.”

James 2:15-17 says:

“If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).”

The Message Bible translation of James 2:17 is

“Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”

James L. Kraft, the founder of Kraft Foods and another man who lived on a small portion of his income, once said:

“The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.”

5.      God will not use money to satisfy every whim and desire.

Charles Spurgeon, the renowned English Pastor, once said:

“You say, ‘if I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”

Here’s an absolute fact. . .God is displeased when our focus concentrates more heavily on ourselves without the regard of others.

We quoted James 4:3 earlier but in the King James Version it says,

“Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

It’s fine to have wants and desires, but lusts that turn into musts will eventually lead us down wrong paths.

We are blessed by God to be a blessing.  Proverbs 11:24 in the Amplified Bible says: 

“There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want.”

Our lifestyles must be guided by the Holy Spirit—not determined by the lifestyles of others. God has promised that He would meet ALL our needs and provide abundance so that we can help others.

Remember, abundance is the freedom to receive heaven’s resources so we can bless others. It is when we accept and activate this principle that God will multiply our abundance as well.

For a moment let’s talk about what causes us to grow dissatisfied.

It seems in our contemporary society there is never-ending thirst that nothing can satisfy our desires. We’re deceived into think that more money, a better job, a more expensive home, all the world’s toys (electronic and otherwise) and maybe even a new spouse is what we need.

I’m convinced that being unsatisfied with our lives is the root of all kinds of sin. Why do people cheat on their spouse, abuse drugs and alcohol, mindlessly binge-watch ridiculous amounts of television, scroll endlessly on Facebook and Twitter, steal, or commit suicide? All of these things and more happen … because people haven’t found happiness.

The truth of the matter is that many people are looking in all the wrong places to find satisfaction and happiness.

People tend to ignore, overlook or even reject the peace, happiness and satisfaction that can be found in the Bible.

Let’s review the five things God will never do with money.

1.      God will never use money to worry us.

2.      God will not use money to corrupt us.

3.      God will never use money to build our egos.

4.      God will not cause Christians to hoard.

5.      God will not use money to satisfy every whim and desire.

God’s Word says, trust Him, test Him (Malachi 3:10) so you will see how much He wants to bless you.

To achieve God’s best; we must apply what He says. Information without application leads to frustration. Proverbs 25:12 in The Living Bible says:

“Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best.”

Christians who are not experiencing peace in financial matters should reevaluate: Who is in control of my financial decisions? Who is directing my path? Am I being controlled by God or by my own desires? What are the consequences of my attitudes and actions?

Isaiah 26:3 in the King James Version says:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Are you willing to step into God’s plan for your finances? Do you want to find wealth and fulfillment greater than you’ve ever dreamed?

Think about it.

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