If Jacob was gifted cash for his birthday, he knew what he wanted before he ever reached the store. If he received a gift card, he was usually bargaining with his dad before the party was over, ready to trade it for cash because he already had the money spent. As my dad said of us as kids, “that money is burning a hole in your pocket.” Somewhere along the way I learned to be frugal and the good Lord and my granny taught me to be generous. When tomatoes came in from the garden, she chose the best to share with neighbors and friends and carved up the rest for her own meals. “We always give our best,” she’d say.
My cousins and I received quarters for the offering plate at church and my children were given single dollar bills each and every Sunday when they were small. Leading by example was worth the effort it took to gather the correct change each week and instill the habit of giving into our families. Once they were old enough to earn money on their own, my husband and I and our parents before us taught the Biblical concept of the tithe. The first tenth belongs to the Lord. In truth it all belongs to Him and He has entrusted us with stewarding the entire amount. Giving back the first portion helps us acknowledge the Source of our daily bread and our dependence on His all-sufficiency.
It is easy to spend what you make and never quite have enough to save. That’s why it is so incredibly important to be in the habit of setting aside God’s portion first. If I never allow myself to look at it as mine to spend, I will be less tempted to fudge a little here or there. It becomes a matter of trust. Am I content with what I have? Do I believe that God will supply every need according to His riches given in Christ Jesus?
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.
I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
At the moment I have all I need—and more!
I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus.
They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever!
Amen.”
Philippians 4:11-14, 18-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.4.11-20.NLT
“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Look at what’s happening to you!
You have planted much but harvest little.
You eat but are not satisfied.
You drink but are still thirsty.
You put on clothes but cannot keep warm.
Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
Look at what’s happening to you!
You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor.
And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why?
Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.
It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.
I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God.
When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord.
Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord:
“I am with you, says the Lord!””
Haggai 1:4-7, 9-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hag.1.4-13.NLT
Jesus identified Himself as both the Bread of Life and Living Water. He taught us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread,” to His Father and ours, and he taught His followers not to spend time worrying over what we would eat or what we would wear. We are instead instructed to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be supplied in their proper place and time. The trouble comes when we begin bargaining with God for what we think we would prefer before we’ve even received what He offers.
He made provision for our greatest and only eternal need when Jesus took the punishment we deserved on the cross and was raised again on the third day. Salvation from sin, rescue from death and eternal torment, comes from Christ alone. We inherited a stillborn spirit but we can be made alive only in Christ. We can enjoy fellowship with our Creator and Savior today and communion with Him forever by receiving God’s free gift.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.
And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.”
Ephesians 1:3-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.1.3-11.NLT
“Why bother to ask God to bless us unless our priorities are conscientiously aligned with his?
That will affect our conduct and speech, our pocketbooks and our imaginations, our vocation and our retirement, where we live and what we do and how we do it.”
For The Love Of God: Day 346 • Devotional
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/786/day/346?segment=0
Who is Jesus to you? Until He is your All in All, nothing else will ever be enough.
A Fitting Reply 