1 Timothy 6:18-19// Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
This final devotion is one we believe will provide you with one of the most important philosophies we as believers need to have in order to be successful in living and leading a God-first life, especially when it comes to our money. Once this philosophy is fully embraced, you will never have a problem receiving money, managing money, and most importantly, being a blessing to others with your money.
So here it is: our money is a tool.
This tool is one given to us by God as a gift to unlock everything we believe we are in lack of concerning our lives. When we see money as a tool and a gift, we no longer place our focus on possessions and experiences in this life that have no heavenly good. We no longer are consumed with earthly things, because our treasure is no longer found in money. It is found in how we can use money to store up greater treasures; the kind that will last beyond us.
Many of us understand (or should understand) the importance of saving and spending money wisely. There is wisdom in having good things in life, but not letting things have us. When we spend wisely, we place less stock in what is temporary and have room for what is eternal. But God wants us to be much more than wise spenders and savers of our money.
He wants us to be extravagant givers of our money too.
The Apostle Paul shares in this passage that we have not experienced true life until we have become generous givers. When we live with an eternal perspective concerning our money, how when invested into God’s kingdom, our money can actually make us rich in good works, that is when this tool of generosity is used the way God designed it.
As believers, when we give our treasure on Earth we are making an eternal difference in the lives of people and we are storing up treasure in heaven. We can’t take our treasure with us but can deposit it into our eternal future. Jesus commanded us to do so, when He said don’t store up treasures on Earth but rather in heaven where they will last for us forever. We ought to get excited about treasures that will last for an eternity.
If heaven is our goal, then how we spend our money here on earth should reflect that.
Today, why don’t you try challenging yourself to become a generous giver.
No matter what you’ve given in the past, there is still an opportunity to stretch and invest more into those around you and to what God loves more than anything, the ministry of the local church. We have the greatest tool to make a lasting difference in the earth.
So let’s use it together. Today.
Day 21 of 21 Days of Prayer
*This devotional is from A God First Life, written by Pastors Michael and Charla Turner
