Note: Thank you for all the birthday love I received yesterday. I truly appreciate it.
Today we continue our series entitled, “Expecting the Word to Work!” This is part 29.
We have been studying the parable of the sower for a while now. Within this study we have looked at the first two types of soil and we are looking at the third: thorny weeds. Let’s get back to it this morning. Jesus said:
“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.” (Mark 4:18,19)
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.
- One of the major points of the Parable of the Sower is around the fact that God sows His Word in our hearts and He wants us to give His Word the priority it deserves and requires, so the Word can produce change IN us and fruit FROM us. The people characterized by Jesus as “thorny ground” make a major mistake where money is concerned. They desire money so much that they prioritize their pursuit of money OVER the Word of God. This winds up being counterproductive on many levels. Allow me to explain. The Lord has a multitude of ways to get money to you. However, the Lord will never favor you for financial increase until you have proven to be a faithful steward over the level of finances you currently have oversight of. The Lord knows that if He gives you finances above that which you are capable of managing, while maintaining your relationship with Him, the money can actually ruin you. What you think is a blessing can wind up being a curse if you are not capable of managing the responsibilities associated with financial increase. So the people Jesus talks about in the parable, who chase money instead of focusing on the Word, are hurting themselves in two areas. First, they are making the mistake of NOT giving God first place. If God is not first, then nothing in your life will be in order. Second, they are neglecting the ONE THING that will actually prepare them for the finances they are chasing. You need the Word to help develop your character to the point where you are capable of being a faithful steward. Don’t make this mistake. Honor God, allow His Word to work in your life, and develop Godly character. Once you have proven that you are capable of handling more, God can trust you with more. This applies to finances and to every area of your life.
- The Bible commands the rich in this world to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” (see 1 Tim 6:17-19). God 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, God simply teaches us to use the money He places in our hands TO BE a blessing to others. This is why you must meditate and medicate God’s Word. The Word of God will help you develop the character you need to be able to handle financial increase and earthly influence. If you lack Godly character, money and earthly power and destroy you, which is why God will not give it to 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 overflow comes with responsibility. The more you have, the more you have to manage and the more demands their will be from others. This is why you need the Word of God. The Word of God will help you develop the character you need to be able to manage the increase and 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. Don’t run away from this responsibility.
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. My expectation is tied to Your Word. I meditate and medicate Your Word day and night. Your Word transforms me 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 do, I have the character to handle it. I keep the proper focus. I focus on BEING a blessing to 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!
