The next Ripple is all about our finances and what they say about the growth we are undergoing…or lack thereof. When we treat money and possessions as if they belong to us, alone, and refuse to share any of the blessings God has bestowed on us, it should be obvious that we have not been engaging in Sanctification at all. Our income is a blessing that is suppose to add to the joy in our lives, but then, somehow, translate into joy in the lives of others too. Yes, we must be responsible to save money for our needs, now and in the future, and to pay our bills full and promptly. We also should learn how to stay out of debt, or get rid of it as soon as possible if we have had to borrow in the past. But finances are supposed to be a blessing to us and those around us.
Finances are never just about finances, as we talked about. They can bring marriages closer together, or tear them apart. They can teach our children to be grateful, or spoil them altogether. They can display the generosity of God, or the selfishness of the devil. Money is not the problem. It is the heart behind the currency that counts. And as the Bible says, it is the LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (1Ti 6:10a) You see the trouble comes when money controls us. It misplaces Jesus as the Lord of our lives and everything goes down hill from there! This kind of greed warps and perverts who we were always meant to be in Christ, giving humans who love others and are able to be loved by others, including God, of course. This is a topic that really interests me so I can talk about it for hours, but suffice it to say, we must learn to use, maintain and enjoy our finances God’s way, because when we do, we stay balanced and display God’s benevolent character. And that is a major point to life and certainly to Sanctification.
<>< Peace, Diane
