Because of past debts, investments, or irresponsibility, the needs of a family may not be met. Those that give to anything while members of their family go without basic necessities are outside of God’s will.
Matthew 15:5-6 - But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
What does God say about the needs of the family here?
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
How does God assess the lack of family provision?
We can reverse the priorities in our lives just as easily, in doing so we suffer spiritually and financially. The Bible refers to basic commitments. Lets look at them and describe them in our own words.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Psalms 127:2 - It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Entanglements can be described as, shuffling bills around to keep our heads above water. They are also commitments that keep many Christians out of God services.
2 Timothy 2:4 - No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
What is a typical entanglement of today?
2 Peter 2:20 - For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Why is the second condition worse than the first?
Self Indulgence can be summed up as irresponsible impulse spending for little or no utility or function. It provides the buyer with temporary satisfaction.
Luke 8:14 - And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Does this verse apply to Christians?
What are three things that can result in an unfruitful life?
Most people wouldn’t think of having a lot of money as an example of being in servitude to money, but non-the-less it is. Scripture tells not only its charities, but also its dangers.
Ezekiel 7:19 - They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumbling block of their iniquity.
How does God view financial worth?
1 Timothy 6:17 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
What is God’s attitude towards the rich?
Often people in financial difficulty blame everybody else for their problems. In actuality they have never come under God’s authority and yielded to His wisdom. They harbor an inward resentment towards God. Attitude here again is the keynote in Gods plan.
Proverbs 15:16 - Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Is the reward from God always financial?
Lets answer the question asked in Romans 11:34 - For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor?
Before we move on to the next lesson I would like to examine the area of Credit. This area causes more chaos in Christian families than any other.
Lets have a look at credit from the range of God’s will. This means that we must understand what responses on our part are within an acceptable range for God. God will direct us to a specific response that is with the range of his will. What is acceptable for one may be wrong for another. That is God’s perfect will, and its is a very narrow channel in the range.
Psalm 37:21 - The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Luke 6:34-35 - And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Verse 34 – This side of the channel is to what? Without what?
Verse 35 – God says to expect what from others?
These verses apply to the needy only. We discover here that one end of the range in God’s will is not even to be debt free (Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.), but to lend liberally from our surplus. Many Christians are debt free but are still outside God’s will by virtue of their selfishness.