Money is just a tool, worry about it isn't a sign of responsibility

[Jane Hinrichs]

The last couple years have been pretty rough for me and my family, especially the last about 18 months after God asked me, "Will you believe me no matter what?" and I answered "yes."

This affirmation was tested greatly, finances being a big arena of testing.

I think when our eyes are on money our eyes are on the wrong thing. God is the Provider. Money is just one of his tools on how he provides. We are not to be lovers of money.

What I have found out in the last several months is how strong a grip financial worry has on the church. When we worry about finances we just took the driver's seat in our life. We are saying we have to provide for ourselves. No, we aren't called to be irresponsible or anything but there is a subtle trap we fall into because we've been raised to think that worrying and fretting about finances is the responsible way to look at them.

Last week while in a Bible study we were talking about worry. That evening I couldn't think of anything I was worrying about (this was after long months, even years of teaching by God and it isn't because my life is easy -- it is quite challenging). One friend said in a disbelieving, almost condemning tone, "Not even money?"

Now this friend loves me and she didn't mean anything bad when she said that. It was just so far outside her realm of thought.

From when we pop out of the womb we are ingrained into thinking worry and fretting and squirreling away finances is the way grownups act.

Goodness, how wrong we have it.

Remember when Peter was worried about the taxes? Jesus told him to go fishing, that he'd find the tax inside a fish's mouth!

God's ways are so far above ours, so much more creative than ours.

God is getting us out of a financial mess and it was all rooted in trying to provide for ourselves, rooted in fear of not having the money when we needed it.

Thank God for His deliverance!

[pochax]

Jane, i get your point and for many who are obsessed and idolize money, you are right that such a person needs to redirect his/her dependence on God. But just for sake of balance, there are also people (perhaps far fewer in number than the target audience of your post) who are tempted to disregard the care and discipline of being a steward of what God has given them financially and squander it and think to themselves, "it's ok, it's just money and God will provide for me every day no matter what". such an attitude takes the other extreme to be careless and reckless with what God has given us. A proper balance between these extremes to view money as a tool for God's kingdom is required. Again, not totally disagreeing with you, but making sure the other side of the coin is accounted for.

[Jane Hinrichs]

Pochax, Totally agree with you. We need to be responsible, do what God wants us to with the resources He gives us.

[Trent4God]

I don't think God asked you that, and the Bible says that God does not test people because he is omnipitent.