This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by continuing to walk through the parable of the sower. Jesus said:
“The farmer is like someone who plants God’s teaching in people. Sometimes the teaching falls on the path. That is like some people who hear the teaching of God. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the teaching that was planted in them.
Other people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the teaching, and they quickly and gladly accept it. But they don’t allow it to go deep into their lives. They keep it only a short time. As soon as trouble or persecution comes because of the teaching they accepted, they give up.
Others are like the seed planted among the thorny weeds. They hear the teaching, but their lives become full of other things: the worries of this life, the love of money, and everything else they want. This keeps the teaching from growing, and it does not produce a crop in their lives.
And others are like the seed planted on the good ground. They hear the teaching and accept it. Then they grow and produce a good crop—sometimes 30 times more, sometimes 60 times more, and sometimes 100 times more.” (Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
We have been focusing in on the phrase, “the love of money”. Flowing in this vein, yesterday we looked at something the Apostle Paul wrote in his a to his spiritual son, Pastor Timothy. The Apostle said, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves…” (1 Tim 6:17-19 NIV).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Paul commanded the rich in this world to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” He did not tell them to get rid of their money. He did not tell them it was bad. He did not tell them money was evil. No, Paul was teaching them to use their money to be a blessing to others. That counsel still stands today.
- The Bible does not say you cannot have money. God actually goes out of His way to instruct those He has blessed with money to use the resources TO BE a blessing.
- In Deuteronomy 8:10-20 the Lord had Moses to be very clear with the nation of Israel. God wanted His people to never forget who it was that made them rich. They were once slaves, but God was preparing them to have houses and land. It was the Lord who got them out of slavery. It was the Lord who saw to it that the Egyptians gave the Israelites all their gold, silver and precious stones before they left. It was the Lord who had made them rich. So the Lord had Moses to say, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” If the Lord were against wealth, why would He give you the power to produce it? The Lord is not against money, He is against people falling in love with money. Don’t let that be you!
- Accept the grace and the responsibility to walk in earthly prosperity. Some say, “Oh, I only want enough for me and my family,” or “All I need is enough to get by.” While statements like these seem ‘holy’ or ‘spiritual’ on the surface, they are actually selfish. You should want everything God wants to give you in order to do what He birthed you to do. You cannot feed the poor if you don’t have enough food for yourself. You can’t help pay someone else’s bills if you can’t pay your own. You can’t help put a roof over someone’s head if you don’t have a place to stay. Our God is a God of overflow, because He wants us to bless others out of our overflow. God is not opposed to you having ‘more than enough,’ because He wants you to be in a position to help others. But it comes with a responsibility. The more you have, the more you have to manage and the more demands their will be from others. However, the same God who gave you the grace to increase will give you the grace to manage the overflow.
- The purpose of prosperity is evangelism. God can give you money with a mission and power with a purpose. God wants you to use what He places in your hands to bring glory to His name and to reach the world for Jesus.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus where money is concerned. You give me the power to get wealth. You favor the work of my hands. You grace me to succeed in every area of my life. You cause me to increase supernaturally and naturally. And as You give me excess, as I have “more than enough”, as I am walking in overflow, I am able to bless others out of my overflow. I declare that I have an overflow of love, peace, mercy, patience and money. I am blessed to BE a blessing. I tithe, I give offerings, I finance ministry projects, and I give to the poor, as I am led of Your Spirit. Therefore, Your Word teaches me that I am laying up treasure in heaven. And for that I am thankful! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
