There are some basic bits of wisdom to follow if you want to find yourself in an ok financial situation. Don't be lazy, you have to work. Don't be a drunk or a glutton. Don't commit adultery. (Pretty basic stuff really, but also stuff that can be a challenge to pull off in real life... but that's for another post)
But once we've got the basics in place and maybe have a level of wealth behind us, there's still plenty of questions that remain. Will I be ok if there's a financial crash? What about a natural disaster? Bluntly - how do you predict things like a pandemic and the effect that will have on financial stability?
Money Can Never Be Our Source of Security
As much as the world around tells us that the way to be safe for the future is to have the right financial planning, sadly that kind of thinking is off the mark.
'The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.'
Proverbs 11:10-11
Though the rich think that their wealth is an unscalable wall, it is only a city, lit. a township. We need money to build organised society and communities. Poverty does not allow community and the structures that support it to thrive. But as important as wealth is, it can never be a source of long term protection. Only the name of the LORD can be trusted as a final protection.
Find Financial Security By Giving Money Away
Though it seems totally counter intuitive, the book of Proverbs tells us that financial security is found by living for Jesus and being generous to others, especially the poor.
'The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.'
Proverbs 22:2
The way God has designed this world is that those who are generous to the poor are blessed. In contrast, He stands against those who neglect the needs of the poor.
'Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life.'
Proverbs 22:22-23
As we stand with the poor, God says he will stand with us.
Letting Go Of The Stranglehold of Money
All of the above might seem a little bit overwhelming. Though we might be able to conceptually understand God being a fortress and God providing for us as we use our money in line with His heart, it can sounds like a very difficult way to live our lives. How do we actually pull that off, when we are so trained to view money as a source of security?
Well, the New Testament reminds us that wherever we experience 'poverty', whether that's literally not having enough money, or where we don't feel up for the task, it points us towards Jesus as the one who become poor, so that we benefit from his riches.
'For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.'
2 Corinthians 8:9
Wherever we lack, we have one who has freely given to meet that lack. That's the beauty of finding refuge in Jesus, He is so generous. So trust in Him, turn to Him as you have need, and then look for the moments where Jesus wants you to pour out that same generosity on others. And you'll be further blessed!! How good is God.
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About the Author
Jai Wright is a Christian Minister, who founded and leads MAKE Church in Mackay, Qld. He recently published the book, Life Plugged In: Connecting with the Source of Peace, Power and Purpose.
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