Having money is a gift – though I haven’t always considered it so. In my recent past I have said “Having money is more of a curse than a blessing”. I now believe that to be wrong. Before you say “DUH” let me explain. When I was still financially challenged I learned one of God’s secrets to having money. “It all belongs to Him”. It is not really mine. He lets me keep a large percent of it because He enjoys giving His daughter gifts but truthfully it is ALL His. But learning this lesson had no impact on me because when you have so little money to begin with you are totally focused on getting food on the table and warm coats for the kids. Having money left over at the end of the money was a rarity if at all.
Then the day came when I did have money left over – a lot of money left over at month-end. More money than I needed or expected. That is when the distant memory of a lesson came back. If it was all His and I have met my needs, what should I do with the rest of the money?? Somehow it didn’t sit right in my soul for me to buy more “toys” or a nicer home or more stocks and retirement insurance. So why had God given me the extra money? This is where the curse comes in – I spent a lot of time and prayer trying to figure out what to do with the money. My peace was shattered as I worried if I would do the right thing and be a good steward of the money. I soon hated the extra money and wanted to go back to the way it was. But I knew that was wrong too.
Then the Lord answered my question;
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
I, Toni, have in my own life a Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and ends of the earth. Not only was my body to go to these places but God’s money was too! So I set about figuring this out. My
Jerusalem = Lawrenceville
Judea = Georgia
Samaria = United States
End’s of the earth = everywhere else
When I started determining if and how I was contributing financially in these four areas and making adjustments with God’s money the blessing of money came and therefore the gift of money was finally understood.
T
