STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCES - God's Way...

Our Heavenly Father and Creator desires for His children to be blessed... Just as the farmer plants, and expects his seed to grow, under God's care.  Many times we are cart-before-the-horse:  Lord, give to me, then I will give to You.   (Luke 6:38   38)... NIV..." Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."   We can always trust God, but can God trust us?  This is why God asks for our best and for our first fruits. There is a good lesson in giving.  (Prov. 3: 9-10...NIV... " 9)Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10) then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." 

How can anyone get out of debt... God's Way?  (the 4 P's)

Consider our need to  PLANT.  We must invest in God, as He is our best resource and provides our greatest opportunity for return. If we don't plant first, then God has nothing to respond to for the blessing.  We can't pray about the need without the seed. Consider our need to PLAN.  God cannot bless chaos...and if we proceed with a mindset that we will 'make it somehow',  or use luck/lottery thinking...these are not Godly plans to be followed. Consider our need to PRIORITIZE.  All have needs, wants and desires.  Let us understand needs - food, clothes, shelter, according to God's Word;    wants - the quality of the need.  After the ability to pay for needs, we can graduate to wants;   desires - our wish list that can be covered by surplus, after the bills are paid for needs and wants, then we can graduate to desires.

Consider our need to PRAY.  God is a debt-counseling God.  (Read 2Kings 4)  The widow in this scripture was in debt. She was also about to lose her children to offset the debt.  She spoke with the prophet, Elisha,  because she needed God's help!!  What is your financial statement?  This widow was counseled to sell the oil and pay her debt, but she did not know that what she had very little of (in her home), God would bless to help her get out of debt.  Prayer brings possibilities to the light, to God's light! Allow God to bless you as you GIVE your TIME, TALENTS, TITHES AND OFFERINGS... God's Way!!    

March 2007 Source: Principles of Christian Stewardship –

Dr. Anthony Evans