by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011
Note: this devotion is tagged, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, because it seeks to help us understand God’s way of living better. This is the way we choose when we truly desire to be a nation under God’s sovereignty and beneficiaries of His covering. May God bless us to have ever greater understanding of His Kingdom Way so that we can enjoy living as one nation under God. ~ Elizabeth
5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] [Josh 1:5] (HEB. 13:5 Amplified)
6 So we take courage and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? [Ps. 27:1; 118:6] (HEB 13:6 Amplified)
31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt. 6:31-34 NIV)
Money is not bad. Money is not wrong. Money is not evil, but the love of money is. 1 John 2:15-16 (NIV) says: 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world?
It is not the money which is the problem; it is seeing money as the answer to all life’s problems and challenges and seeing its accumulation as the ultimate in life which can be attained.
Money is not the answer; God is. God created us and wills us to live in the now. God is the One with the plan for our lives and the power to enable that which He has purposed to come to pass. We have no power; we are not in control. God is the one who promises to ensure we have enough and if He is God, then He cannot lie (for He is Truth!) Money is a mere tool to accompany us during our time here on earth as an ambassador for God’s kingdom. As believers God is with us from here to eternity. Our trust needs to be in Him and nothing else.
We need to remember, that all we have belongs to God and not to us. Psalm 24 (NIV) begins with: 1 The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
When God enables us to have a certain amount of money, it’s not even up to us how that money should be spent. God is clear: everything we have comes from Him and still belongs to Him. We are mere stewards. God speaks to us, when we listen. He sent His Holy Spirit to be our Guide. He will tell us what we are to spend and what we are to give, what we are to save and how we are to invest, IF we will seek to learn to hear His voice (and have faith and trust enough to follow).
SELAH! (Pause and calmly think of that.) END
Remember to view the new song, “One Nation Under God” on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d593RguxQI8&feature=share Share the link! Let’s let everyone know that the USA is and remains one nation under God and be encouraged in how God values every individual.
For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.
