God Is Our Provider
God made this world and everything in it. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." In the beginning, it was a beautiful, pristine place. He did it for a purpose, to give it to us. Genesis 1:26-28 says, "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." First God gave us life; then, in the same verses, He gave us authority over the whole world. There were no string attached to this gift. It was freely given.
Before Adam fell, the world was perfect. There was no obstructed communion between God and man. There was no death. God took care of all our human needs. What a great gift God gave us! You know the story: Adam fell. In Genesis 3:17b it says, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life." And man has struggled with his gift of the world ever since.
The story of redemption to follow is really a story of a God who continuously gives extravagantly. Its end will be the restoration of all things that were lost in the fall, and more. Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." God gave us His Son. He gave us His Son to give us eternal life. He gave us His Son to free us from sin. He gave is His Son to give us the Holy Spirit. He gave us His Son to give us the kingdom. Luke 12:32 says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." In fact, anything that we now have or ever will have that is of real worth has been given to us as a free gift by the Father. The gifts given to us are gifts that money cannot buy. They are exceedingly precious and wonderful. Glory to God.
If God has given us everything we need for life and forever, what kind of response should we have when it comes to our finances? should I say: "God, since You gave the very best for me, I will give You ten percent in return"? I do not know about you, but I find a problem with that. After all, Jesus gave His all. Do we not owe Him all we are and have? Here is a parable Jesus gave in Matthew 13:45-46: "Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." However, you might say: "If I gave all I had to the poor, for instance, then there would be one more poor person, me!" The Apostle Paul wrote something about this dilemma in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15. He said, "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have ground when it comes to our finances. God wants us all to prosper and have plenty.
A right attitude towards finances is crucial to develop. This attitude needs to balance our consideration of what God has given us with our response in giving back to Him. @ Corinthians 9:7 says, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." It is our attitude that is most important.
The story of redemption to follow is really a story of a God who continuously gives extravagantly. Its end will be the restoration of all things that were lost in the fall, and more. Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." God gave us His Son. He gave us His Son to give us eternal life. He gave us His Son to free us from sin. He gave is His Son to give us the Holy Spirit. He gave us His Son to give us the kingdom. Luke 12:32 says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." In fact, anything that we now have or ever will have that is of real worth has been given to us as a free gift by the Father. The gifts given to us are gifts that money cannot buy. They are exceedingly precious and wonderful. Glory to God.
If God has given us everything we need for life and forever, what kind of response should we have when it comes to our finances? should I say: "God, since You gave the very best for me, I will give You ten percent in return"? I do not know about you, but I find a problem with that. After all, Jesus gave His all. Do we not owe Him all we are and have? Here is a parable Jesus gave in Matthew 13:45-46: "Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." However, you might say: "If I gave all I had to the poor, for instance, then there would be one more poor person, me!" The Apostle Paul wrote something about this dilemma in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15. He said, "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have ground when it comes to our finances. God wants us all to prosper and have plenty.
A right attitude towards finances is crucial to develop. This attitude needs to balance our consideration of what God has given us with our response in giving back to Him. @ Corinthians 9:7 says, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." It is our attitude that is most important.
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