This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
We have been looking at “The Mother of All Parables.” Let’s get back to it today. Jesus said:
(Mark 4:13-20 ERV)
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.
In this parable, Jesus teaches us to receive His Word and to allow it to be settled in our hearts. God’s Word is settled in heaven, but if it is going to produce in our lives, it must be settled in our hearts. One of the issues that compete with the Word, especially as it relates to being settled (or at peace), is the issue of money. Jesus taught that the love of money competes with the Word. If your heart is focused on money, it is because you are not at rest in your heart concerning God and His commitment to provide for you. For the next few days, we will discuss an uncomfortable topic for some believers: money.
Since we are talking about money, we should get wisdom from those who have experience with it. Solomon was the richest man in the world in his day. He was an ultra-billionaire, and the best part is that the Lord made him rich. Let’s learn something from Solomon.
In Proverbs 23:4,5, Solomon said, “Be wise enough not to wear yourself out trying to get rich. Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.” God does not have a money issue. God has made countless people rich. The issue is ‘money having you,’, especially to the point where it becomes your underlying motivation in life. I personally know people (a few in my family) who are completely motivated by the accumulation of money. Some have ruined their marriages, relationships with their children, and even their health over pursuing the “almighty dollar.” Once money becomes your motivation, you are no longer in a position to allow the Word of God to grow in your heart.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. For the Word to work in your life, your heart must rest. When you enter into God’s rest concerning any area of your life, you are showing God you are in-faith. You are not concerned; you trust Him, and you know He will make His Word good, so you don’t take on any care concerning the situation. You know the issue is settled in heaven, and it is only a matter of time before it is settled on the earth. You believe this so much that the issue is settled in your heart. This is the point we need to get to where money is concerned.
2. To unlock your maximum purpose and potential, you must enter into rest in God’s provision for your finances. When you enter into God’s rest concerning money, you are free from worry and doubt, knowing that God is your source. You are fear, worry, and stress-free concerning it.
3. If I allow worry, fear, and doubt to enter my heart regarding money, I am hindering my faith. I am creating a blessing-blocker. However, by embracing God’s provision and entering into His rest, I experience peace and complete trust in Him, knowing that He has already settled the financial matters in my life.
4. It is crucial to reach a point where I am fully convinced that God is my ultimate source of provision. I must understand that everything I need for my divine assignment has already been provided by God. When I trust in God’s abundance and cease pursuing money, I am aligning my heart with His will. At this point, my faith will access God’s grace for provision and overflow. But the money will never get a grip on my heart because I know money is not my master.
5. Solomon’s wisdom reminds us not to exhaust ourselves in the pursuit of wealth, as it can lead to a life filled with stress and emptiness. Instead, when we prioritize seeking God and His kingdom, He ensures that our needs are met, including financial blessings. God is able to supply our needs, PLUS MORE (see 2 Corinthians? ?9:10-11).
6. While there is nothing wrong with desiring wealth and success, we must guard our hearts against making money our ultimate focus in life. The pursuit of money should never overshadow our pursuit of God and His purpose for our lives.
7. Maintaining a Godly perspective on money is essential. Money serves as a valuable tool, but it should never control or dictate our lives. When we prioritize God and His kingdom, we position ourselves for blessings, and abundance flows effortlessly toward us. Instead of chasing money, chase God. When you do, God can see to it that money chases you (Matt 6:33).
8. True prosperity is found in resting in God’s divine assignment for our lives. When we find peace in His plans and trust His provision, we experience prosperity that extends beyond financial wealth. By living according to God’s ways, we enjoy overall well-being, success, and fulfillment in every area of life. I call this #TheGraceLife.
9. Everything you need for your divine assignment has already been stored up for you. God filled up the storehouse by His grace. Your job is to now discover what He sent you to this planet to do, so you can know what you need and then ask for it in faith. If you pursue the wrong things, you will need things that were not stored up for you. So you will ask, but not receive, because you are asking amiss (James 4:3). However, when you ask for things that God already planned for you to have, then you are asking in accordance with God’s will, and God will release them to you at just the right time.
John explained it this way:
(1 John 5:14, 15 AMPC)
14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.
15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
— God called you to His divine purpose, and along with the purpose, God already stored up everything you will ever need to get it done. This includes all the money you will need.
— If you ask for the wrong things, God won’t release them to you because they are not yours.
— If you ask for the right things but then ask the wrong way, with the wrong motives, God won’t release them to you because He knows that if He gives you the “THING,” you will be more caught up in the “THING” that the God who gave it to you.
— You will never enter into rest where your money is concerned until you believe what God believes about your provision.
— There is nothing wrong with being rich or even working to be rich, just as long as the pursuit of money is not the object of your heart. Some have developed a lust and thirst for money in their hearts to the point where the almighty dollar has actually become their god, and this unrighteous desire chokes out the Word in their hearts.
— What God has to offer is bigger than money and the good news is that it does not exclude it. If you live your life God’s way, you can still be prosperous financially, but more importantly, you will experience total life prosperity and the fulfillment of knowing that you are walking in your divine purpose!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
My heart is at rest in God’s Word and provision. I prioritize You, Father, above the love of money.
I am fully persuaded that God is my ultimate source of provision.
I trust in Your abundance and know that You have already provided everything I need for my divine assignment.
I avoid wearing myself out chasing wealth and understand the dangers of making money my underlying motivation.
I maintain a godly perspective on money, viewing it as a tool rather than a master.
I pursue total life prosperity, which extends beyond financial wealth and encompasses overall well-being, success, and fulfillment.
I rest in Your plans for my life, Father. I ask for what You have already planned for me, in alignment with Your will, and You release Your provision to me at just the right time!
God is my source, and I am at peace in my heart concerning money! Therefore, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
