#57 IDENTITY IN FINANCES:
CONFIRM DIRECTIONS
Throughout biblical history, God has used the lack of provisions (money) to guide and direct His people in His given pathway. There are times He uses the abundance of provision, or the lack of it, to confirm His direction for our lives. A classic example of this is the purchase of a car, but not having the funds saved to purchase it. For godly stewards, we can safely see that until God provides the funding, it is not His will for us to buy the car. For each of us who have fallen into the poor steward mentality: we see, we want, we pray, and we go into debt to get it.
SECOND PURPOSE OF MONEY: CONFIRM DIRECTIONS
Let's say that we do have the funds set aside to make the purchase. Is it God's will for us to go ahead and buy? Not necessarily! God bases the "yes" on one simple factor - Is it a true and real need? This, too, can be subjective. We humans tend to rationalize our decisions based upon what we think is a need, rather than what God calls a need. In order to discover what God calls a real need, we must embrace all of the stewardship guidelines of the Word. An example is buying a used car instead of a new one. Buying a new car is not necessarily a sin; whereas, purchasing a good used car may be more in line with God's rules of stewardship.
One of the first symptoms of indulgent purchases I watch for in myself, as well as in others, is impatience. People who "buy on the spot" with large purchases tend to justify their indulgences. Those who carefully weigh the "pros and cons," walk away, pray, and then decide, show due diligence unto the Lord.
"Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes" (Psalm 37:7).
Let's examine the five building blocks of this particular purpose of money.
PRINCIPLE 1 - BUILDING FAITH
God has made a commitment to clothe the grasses of the field, which are alive today and tossed into a pile of rubble tomorrow. Will He not much more clothe you and me if we have increasing faith (Matt 6:30)? The Lord seems to move upon the lives of those who show or ... read more here
Identity in Finances: Confirm Directions. Copyright � 2015 IOM America. Permission to reproduce for educational purposes. Please keep author's name intact.
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible, � Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Dr. Stephen R. Phinney PDF version: click hereFounder/Ministry Host
   
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