Financial Instructions From God – Scripture Meditation Cards

Card #1

“… My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

Many Christians don’t understand God’s financial instructions because God’s ways are entirely different from the ways of the world.  Christians should be determined to learn God’s financial principles so they can intelligently compare these principles to the world’s financial system.

Many of us have lived by secular principles.  Because of this, most of what we know about finances is based upon greed.  We should meditate on God’s financial promises until we believe them with deep, unwavering faith.  When we have extensively “programmed” ourselves with our Father’s financial instructions, He wants us to obey them completely.

Card #2

“…as long as he sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God made him prosper.” (2 Chronicles 26:5) 

Our Father wants to bless His children financially just as earthly parents want their children to be blessed financially.  Our father wants us to prosper in every area of our lives.  He will prosper us if we seek Him constantly and always keep Him first.

Financial prosperity is not wrong.  Many men and women of God were extremely wealthy.  “…Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold” (Genesis 13:2)  Joseph of Arimathea, the man who arranged for the burial of Jesus Christ, was a rich man.  The Bible refers to him as “…a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph..” (Mathew 27:57)  The Bible contains many accounts of the wealth of King Solomon.

Card #3

“..seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you…” (Mathew 6:33)

The most important financial principle is to keep God first at all times.  We should never allow money or the possessions money can buy to come ahead of God in any way.  Some Christians are overly zealous about accumulating wealth.  We cannot serve God if we allow our desire for wealth to come ahead of God.

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).  (Mathew 6:24)

Card #4

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]”  (Romans 12:2)

We can only learn God’s financial principles if we obey our Father’s instructions to turn away from the ways of the world by continually renewing our mind in the Word of God.  This passage of Scripture says we will be transformed if we renew our minds continually in God’s Word.  We’ll look at finances (and everything else) in an entirely different light if we obey our Father’s instructions to study and meditate continually on the Holy Scriptures. 

Card #5

“…Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.”  (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Renewal is a law of God.  We renew our bodies each day by eating food.  The Word of God is our spiritual food.  We need to renew our minds in the Word of God.  Our Father doesn’t want us to renew our minds occasionally.  2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us to renew our minds on a daily basis.

If we obey these instructions from God, we’ll continually change our thinking to think more and more like He thinks.  “…be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude)…”  (Ephesians 4:23)

Card #6

“…for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect]”  (Matthew 15:6)

We cannot afford to follow worldly tradition in the area of finances.  Some Christians are so ingrained with worldly financial principles that they deny God’s instructions and fail to believe God’s promises pertaining to finances. 

We should renew our minds daily if we truly want to succeed financially from God’s perspective.  We can actually block to power of God’s promises if we follow worldly tradition because of spiritual ignorance.  Our Father will bless His children who obey His specific instructions.

“I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go.”  (Isaiah 48:17)

Card #7

“…they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing”  (Psalm 34:10)

We can always go to our Father in prayer to ask Him to meet our needs based on specific promises in His Word.  This passage of Scripture instructs us to go to the Lord whenever we have a need.  We should ask to meet our needs based on the authority of the promises in His Word.  We should have complete faith that our Father will supply all of our needs.  He says that none of His children will lack any beneficial thing. 

“…God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”  (Phillipians 4:19)

Card #8

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.”  (Psalms 23:1)

Our Father wants us to trust Him to meet all of our needs just as sheep trust their shepherd to supply all their needs.  The Lord is our Shepherd.  We can trusty Him completely.

Whenever we have a need, we must believe that the Lord is our Shepherd.  He is with us at all times to feed us, to guide us and to shield us from all problems.  We should never worry about financial needs.  We will never lack anything we need if we are completely confident that our Shepherd will always take care of us.  He won’t withhold anything if we completely obey His instructions and believe His promises. 

“…No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  (Psalm 84:11)

Card #9

“Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another…” (Romans 13:8)

We won’t need to borrow money if we believe our Father will supply all of our needs and if we obey all of His financial instructions.  Our Father promises to provide everything we need in such a way and in such a time that we will be able to pay in full for every need without borrowing. 

We shouldn’t allow impatience or the desire for recognition from other people to influence us to buy things we don’t need and can’t afford.  Sometimes we have to be very patient.  Our Father will provide our home, automobile(s) and everything else we need if we obey His instructions and believe His promises.  Our Father doesn’t want us to be in bondage to debt.

“…the borrower is servant to the lender”  (Proverbs 22:7)

Card #10

“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”  (Joshua 1:8)

Our Father has given us specific instructions to follow if we sincerely want to be prosperous, wise and successful.  Continual meditation will draw us closer to God.  We’ll understand His principles.  We’ll trust Him more.  We’ll have a strong desire to obey all of His instructions.  We’ll speak His Word continually.  When we know God and trust Him and obey Him, we will be successful.

Card #11

“…his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.  And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]” (Psalms 1:2-3)

Our Father tells us exactly what to do to be prosperous and successful regardless of the conditions of the world’s economy.  Trees that are planted next to a stream are able to obtain water during a drought because their roots can reach into the water.  Our Father promises that we will prosper in every area of our lives if we delight in His Word so much that we will meditate on the holy Scriptures throughout the day and night.

Card #12

“[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Our Father doesn’t want us to worry about our financial needs.  He promises to bless all of His children who place complete trust in Him.  Once again, God compares an abundant harvest in the midst of a drought to the roots of a tree reaching into water.  We must not block our Father from providing for all of our needs because we are worried, anxious, doubtful and unbelieving. 

Card #13

“Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walk in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His precepts, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may do wisely and prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…”  (1 Kings 2:3)

Our father promises to give us wisdom and to cause us to prosper in every area of our lives if we will learn and obey His instructions.  Our primary goals throughout our lives should be to serve God in every way we can.  We should always obey the instructions in the Word of God.  Our Father will give us a full and prosperous life if we will serve Him wholeheartedly and obey His instructions.

” If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy…”  (Job 36:11)

Card #14

“The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”  (Proverbs 22:4)

Many people graduate from college and go forth into the world seeking fame, fortune and a long, full life.  The Word of God tells us exactly what our Father wants us to do to receive these blessings. 

Our Father promises riches, honor and long life to His children who are truly humble.  He wants us to place Him and other people ahead of ourselves.  He wants us to live to serve Him and to help others.

Our Father wants us to fear Him.  When we fear God, we revere Him.  We hold Him in complete awe at all times.  Every aspect of our lives revolves around Him.  More than anything else, we want to please Him.  Our Father will bless us with riches, honor and long life if we are humble and if we revere Him. 

Card #15

“…If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.  And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”  (John 8:31-32)

Jesus instructs us to abide in the Word of God.  When we abide in God’s Word, we fill our minds and hearts with Scripture each day until this Scripture comes alive deep down inside of us.  The Word of God is spiritually alive.  Our Father wants the power and the truth of His Word to explode on the inside of us.

We truly are disciples of Jesus Christ if we fill our minds and hearts with financial instructions from the Word of God, obey God’s teachings and believe His promises.  We will know the truth pertaining to God’s financial principles.  We will be able to overcome financial problems because obedience to and belief in the Word of God will always set us free. 

Card #16

“…when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish; and as their nets were [at the point of] breaking, they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and take hold with them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:6-7)

In this passage of Scripture, we see an example of the financial abundance God will provide for us if we turn away from our human ability and trust completely in Him.  The disciples were professional fishermen who were unsuccessful after fishing throughout the night.

When they turned away from their traditional methods of fishing and trusted completely in Jesus and obeyed His instructions, they caught so many fish that two boats almost sunk.  Jesus wants to provide abundantly for us just as He provided for these fisherman. 

Card #17

“…the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it.”  (Deuteronomy 30:14)

Our Father wants each of His children to fill their minds with His Word by renewing their minds each day.  He wants us to fill our hearts with His Word by meditating continually on Scripture until the Scripture we are meditating on drops from our minds down into our hearts. 

When our hearts are filled to overflowing with the Word of God the words that we speak will line up with God’s Word (Mathew 12:34-35).  When all of these conditions are met, we will do what our Father instructs us to do and He will prosper us. 

Card #18

“…For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.”  (Galatians 6:7)

We’ll obey God’s instructions in regard to giving if we renew our minds in the Word of God and meditate continually on the Holy Scriptures.  We will be blessed abundantly if we give freely to our church, to missionaries, to other ministries and to needy people.  We should sow financial seeds abundantly if we want to receive a financial harvest from God. 

If we want to reap a crop of tomatoes, we plant tomato seeds.  If we want to receive a crop of carrots, we plant carrot seeds.  If we need money, we should sow financial seeds.  We should believe wholeheartedly that God’s laws of sowing and reaping apply to a financial harvest just as they apply to an agricultural harvest. 

Card #19

“[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously (that blessings may come to someone) will also reap generously and with blessings.”  (2 Corinthians 9:6)

If we give abundantly to our church, to missions, to Christian ministries and to needy people, we will be blessed abundantly.  We determine the harvest we will receive by the seeds we plant.  This harvest is not only a financial harvest, but a harvest of blessings in every area of our lives.

We can’t outgive God.  Our Father has created a spiritual principle that is set into motion whenever we give freely and abundantly.  Our Father is very generous.  He has made provision to guarantee that all of His children who are generous will be blessed abundantly.

Card #20

“…God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].”  (2 Corinthians 9:7)

We should give freely and cheerfully when we give of ourselves, our talents and our substance.  Our Father is extremely pleased when we obey these instructions.  He places a high priority on cheerful and joyous giving. 

The Greek word that is translated “cheerful” in this passage of Scripture is the word “hilares” which has the same root as the English word “hilarious.”  When we give, our Father wants us to give with great joy.  He is unwilling to abandon any of His children who give joyously from their hearts.  We will always give cheerfully if we understand the importance of this spiritual principle. 

Card #21

“…God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].”  (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Our Father has the ability to bless each of His children abundantly.  He will do this if we sow seeds by giving abundantly.  In the preceding verses (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) we saw the relationship between sowing seeds and receiving blessings.

Would you like to be in such a good financial position that you will never need help from anyone?  Would you like to be able to give abundantly to every good work you would like to contribute to?  Our Father promises to supply these blessings in abundance to His children who sow abundantly by giving generously. 

Card #22

“…[God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing…”  (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Sowing should be a way of life.  Our Father promises to provide seeds for us to sow.  He wants us to give whatever He has provided, however small it may be.  God’s laws of sowing and reaping can begin with one seed.

Our Father will provide bread for us to eat.  Instead of “eating” all of the seeds that He provides, we should joyfully sow a generous amount of these seeds.  If we do, our Father will multiply these seeds and give us more seeds to sow in the future.  Even the poorest person will eventually have an abundance of financial seeds to sow into the kingdom of God. 

Card #23

“…It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

We should be much more excited about giving than we are about receiving.  Selfish people are concerned with their own needs and desires.  They are primarily interested in receiving.  As we grow and mature as Christians, we’ll understand that God created us in such a way that we actually receive greater fulfillment form giving than from receiving.

Jesus Christ has given each of us the greatest gift of all – forgiveness of our sins.  We should be so grateful for what Jesus did for us at Calvary that we will always have a deep desire to give freely to others.  We cannot possibly give as much as Jesus Christ has given to us. 

Card #24

“Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, in what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.”  (Malachi 3:8)

God’s laws of sowing and reaping should start in our hearts and be expressed with our tithe.  A tithe is ten percent of our income.  The Word of God says we actually rob God if we fail to give tithes and offerings. 

The tithe doesn’t belong to us.  It belongs to God.  When we tithe, we indicate by our tithe that God is first in the area of our finances.  Our Father is able to do much more with ninety percent of our income than we can do with 100%.  The Bible says that we are thieves if we fail to tithe.  Should we expect God to bless us if we rob him?

Card #25

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)

We should pay our tithe where the name of God is proclaimed and where the Word of God is taught – usually our local church.  Our Father challenges us to prove Him by giving freely of tithes and offerings. 

He promises to open the windows of heaven to pour out abundant blessings if we obey these instructions.  We should believe God’s promise wholeheartedly.  We should show our faith in God by giving freely of offerings in addition to paying our tithe. 

Card #26

“Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].”  (Galatians 6:6)

We have seen that God instructs us to bring our tithes into the storehouse – the place where the Word of God is taught.  Our Father wants us to pay our tithes and give offerings to people who instruct us in the Word of God.  We should share our love, our talents and our money with teachers who are used by God to enable the Word of God to come alive to us.  We should support these teachers in every possible way.

These anointed men and women are devoted to teaching God’s instructions to God’s children.  We should help to support our teachers financially through tithes and offerings for helping us to learn our Father’s instructions and to believe his promises.

Card #27

“Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; so shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)

We shouldn’t tithe after we have paid our bills.  Instead of giving God our “leftovers,” we should give Him the first 10% of our income.  Whenever we give, we should always be conscious that we are actually giving to the Lord.  We may be giving to a church, to missions, to a ministry or to needy people, but we actually are giving to God.

We honor the Lord by giving Him the first 10% of our income and by giving Him liberal offerings.  He promises to bless us abundantly today just as He promised to bless agricultural workers when this passage of Scripture was written. 

Card #28

“…in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground.  And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering, but for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard.”  (Genesis 4:3-5)

God blessed Abel because he gave the “firstfruits” of his sheep, but he failed to bless his brother Cain because he gave from the “leftovers” of the fruit he grew.  Cain failed to receive blessings form the Lord because he brought his offering “in the course of time.”  Abel was blessed because he gave the Lord the “fat portions” of the “firstborn” of his flock.

If we want our Father to give us His best, we should give Him our best.  We should give liberally to Him before we pay our bills.

Card #29

“Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.”  (Philippians 2:4)

Our Father doesn’t want us to be primarily concerned with ourselves.  He wants all of His children to turn away from self-centered goals. He wants us to give freely to others with the money and with the ability He has given to us.  Have you ever known a happy miser?  Have you ever known a “tightwad” who was truly fulfilled in life?  Have you ever known an extremely generous person who wasn’t loved by other people?

If we truly want to become what our Father wants us to become, we will obey our Father’s instructions.  We’ll receive deep satisfaction and fulfillment by reaching out to others and giving to them in every way we can. 

Card #30

“Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]…”  (Luke 6:38)

When we give generously, our Father promises to give abundantly to us.  When this passage of Scripture was written, people received an extra message of oats when they purchased a large container of oats. These oats were “pressed down” so more oats could be added.  The oats were then “shaken together” so still more oats could be added to the container.  The container was filled to overflowing until oats flowed over the side.  These oats were then gathered into a pouch formed by the recipients clothing.

Our Father has given us this example so we can see how abundantly He will bless us when we give generously. 

Card #31

“…with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.”  (Luke 6:38)

The size of the measuring spoon that was used to distribute the oats determined the abundance of oats that was received. This same principle applies to our giving today.

Human logic says we no longer have a thing when it is given away.  We have seen that God’s ways are completely different form the ways of the world.  Spiritual giving is the only thing on earth that multiplies by division.  Whatever we give, we still possess.  When we give, we actually give to ourselves.  When we withhold, we actually withhold from ourselves.  We will be blessed if we obey God’s instructions to give freely to others.

Jesus said, “…whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them…”  (Matthew 7:12)

Card #32

“Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 6:1)

Some of us are highly motivated by other people’s opinions.  A great deal of what we think, say and do is predicated upon what we want other people to think of us.  We should never give because of our desire to be recognized by other people.  Sometimes our pride tempts us to give in this manner, but the Bible says that pride causes God to resist us.  (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5)

Our desire for human recognition can prevent us from receiving the wonderful eternal rewards our Father will give to us if we give quietly with no desire whatsoever to receive recognition from other people because of our giving. 

Card #33

“He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse.” (Proverbs 28:27)

In addition to our tithe and giving abundantly of offerings to missionaries and to Christian ministries, we also should give freely of alms to needy people.  How can we expect our Father to bless us if we turn our backs on people we are able to help?

Our Father promises that we will not want if we give freely to poor people.  We close the door to God’s blessings if we turn our backs on needy people.  Our selfishness opens the door to Satan.  We give Satan an opportunity to obtain a spiritual foothold in our lives that he couldn’t get if we obeyed God’s instructions.

Card #34

“…in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.”  (Matthew 25:40)

When we give freely to poor people we actually give to Jesus Christ.  Whenever we are faced with a poor person, we should ask ourselves what Jesus would do if that poor person were in front of Him.

Jesus is pleased when we give to poor and needy people.  When we do this, the Bible says we are actually lending to the Lord.  We cannot find a better credit risk anywhere than lending money to the Lord.  We can be absolutely assured that He will always return every dollar we give to poor people.

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.”  (Proverbs 19:17)

Card #35

“Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble.  The Lord will protect him and keep him alive; he shall be called blessed in the land…” (Psalm 41:1-2)

When we give to poor and unfortunate people, our giving opens the door for the Lord to deliver us when we are in trouble and to bless us in many other ways.  When we give to the poor, the Lord blesses us by delivering us from the evil trouble that Satan and his demons try to bring into our lives.  The Lord will keep us alive when we otherwise might die.  Giving to the poor also results in eternal rewards.

“…He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!”  (2 Corinthians 9:9)

Card #36

“As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace…”  (1 Peter 4:10)

God has given each of us talents and abilities that we don’t deserve.  Because He has given us these abilities by His grace, we should always be willing to use these talents to help others.  We are trustees of the talents God has given to us.  As trustees, we should be very careful not to use our God-given talent and ability exclusively to provide for ourselves and our families.  We are here on earth to carry out God’s will for our lives.  Our Father’s will always consists of serving others.

Card #37

“And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven.”  (Mathew 19:23-24)

We must not allow any wealth we have been given to come ahead of God.  The gates in the walls around ancient cities in the Middle East contained a small door called a “needles eye.”  Travelers who arrived at night after the large gates were closed could only enter the city by unloading their camels.  These camels had to get down on their knees to go through the small door.  Wealthy people must get down on their knees to put God ahead of their wealth if they truly want to go into the kingdom of heaven.

Card #38

“…if riches increase, set not your heart on them”  (Psalm 62:10)

We have seen that our Father does want us to prosper financially.  However, we must understand the absolute necessity of prospering according to God’s principles instead of the world’s financial system.  If we are prosperous, we should never allow wealth to become our god.  Christians must be very mature to be able to handle financial prosperity.  Many people are easily swayed by riches and possessions.  Some Christians fall into the trap of forgetting the Lord after they become wealthy.

“…when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all you have is multiplied, then your [minds and] hearts be lifted up and you forget the Lord your God…”  (Deuteronomy 8:13-14)

Card #39

“…the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.” (Mark 4:19)

We can only deal successfully with substantial financial blessings if our hearts are completely dedicated to serving the Lord and if we live according to the instructions in the Word of God.  We must understand that the seeming glamour of wealth actually is deceitful.  If we crave the possessions that wealth makes possible, this craving ultimately will increase to the point to where it chokes the mighty power of the Word of God.  Some Christians are deceived by the craving for the wealth and the things money can buy.  We must not fall into this trap. 

Card #40

“…I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily. But God said to him, you fool!  (Luke 12:19-20)

Jesus told in this parable about a mistake made by a wealthy man who wanted to use his wealth to devote the rest of his life to pursuing pleasure.  We won’t make foolish decisions like this man made if we obey God’s instructions to renew our minds daily in His Word and to meditate day and night on the Holy Scriptures.  Instead of devoting our lives to the pursuit of pleasure, our Father wants us to be completely dedicated to serving Him.  Only then will we enjoy the deep fulfillment that is not available from any other source.

“…[the lust of] the eyes of man is never satisfied.”  (Proverbs 27:20)

Card #41

“…even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others.  Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] and after their own names.  But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.”  (Psalm 49:10-12)

Sometimes rich people delude themselves into believing their wealth will last forever.  Earthly wealth is temporary.  All wealthy people will die and leave their wealth to others.  Some wealthy people fail to honor God because they don’t understand that their earthly wealth really belongs to Him.

We should always put God first.  We should look at everything on earth from an eternal perspective.  We should understand that “…riches are not forever…” (Proverbs 27:24)

Card #42

“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.”  (Haggai 2:8)

One of the best things we can do if God blesses us financially is to remind ourselves constantly that the money and the possessions that seem to belong to us actually belong to God.  We are only temporary stewards of the money and possessions our Father gives to us.  All of this money and all of these possessions belong to the Lord.  Every aspect of our lives also belongs to the Lord.  The world we live in, everything in the world and everyone in the world belong to the Lord.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it.”  (Psalm 24:1)

Card #43

“For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”  (Revelation 3:17)

Unfortunately, some wealthy people believe they have been extremely successful in life.  When we get to heaven, our Father will not congratulate us on our financial net worth.  He wants us to turn away from the pursuit of wealth to devote our lives to serving him.  Our Father wants us to draw close to Him throughout our lives.  He wants us to obey the instructions in His Word and to yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

He wants us to wholeheartedly seek to find and carry out His will for our lives.  God’s children who do these things are successful in the eyes of God.

Card #44

“…If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven…”  (Mathew 19:21)

Jesus said these words in response to a question by a rich young man who asked Him what he should do with his riches.  The young man went away and grieved.  Actually, if this young man had given everything to the poor, he would have been blessed on earth as well as in heaven.  We have seen that God blesses us when we give to the poor. 

We can’t take earthly wealth to heaven.  Our treasure in heaven will depend upon our obedience to God while we are on earth.  “…we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world”  (1 Timothy 6:7)

Card #45

“Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.  But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;  for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”  (Mathew 6:19-21)

Our treasure is any area of our lives where we spend ourselves, our talent and our substance.  Our treasure is whatever we think about continually.  Our treasure is what we enjoy the most.

Our Father doesn’t want us to be attached to our earthly possessions or consumed by temporary earthly goals.  He wants us to spend ourselves, our talent and our substance to do what He wants us to do with our lives.  He wants us to devote our lives and our money to eternal values.

Card #46

“…those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing.”  (1 Timothy 6:9)

Severe problems will come to all people who allow their craving for wealth to come ahead of God.  People who crave wealth are bound by lust.  They open themselves up to temptation by Satan.  Satan sets a snare to trap people who foolishly put earthly riches ahead of God.  Their greed will hurt them and ultimately lead to destruction, a ruined life and a miserable death.

We won’t have to pay this penalty if we obey God’s instructions when He blesses us financially.  “The blessing of the Lord—it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].”  (Proverbs 10:22)

Card #47

“…the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.”  (1 Timothy 6:10)

Our Father has provided money as a tool to provide for our families and to spread the gospel.  He has provided money to enable us to carry out His will for our lives.  If we don’t use money the way God wants us to use it, our greed inevitably will cause mental and emotional suffering.

Our money is our servant if we share it.  Our money becomes our God if we love it and hoard it.  We cannot afford to fall into the trap of loving money and craving earthly possessions.  “Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions]…”  (Hebrews 13:5)

Card #48

“Weary not yourself to be rich; cease from your own [human] wisdom.”  (Proverbs 23:4)

Some people become physically, mentally and emotionally fatigued because they work so hard to attain wealth.  We must not make this mistake.  Our Father has given us specific instructions that will help us to be prosperous, but we will pay a severe price if we focus on accumulating wealth instead of focusing on God.  Greedy people would weep loudly if they knew about the future misery that ultimately comes to all greedy people.

“Come now, you rich [people], weep aloud and lament over the miseries (the woes) that are surely coming upon you.”  (James 5:1)

Card #49

“…Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.”  (Luke 12:15)

Our Father repeatedly instructs us to be on guard against succumbing to the temptations of earthly wealth.  He wants to meet our needs liberally, but He doesn’t want us to accumulate large sums of money over and above what we need.  We turn our backs to the Lord if we greedily disregard these instructions.  Our actions show that we truly despise Him and the specific instructions He has given to us. 

“…the one greedy for gain curses and spurns, yes, renounces and despises the Lord.”  (Psalms 10:3)

Card #50

“…beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart,  my power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.  But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth…”  (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

Some people think they are entitled to wealth because they earned this money with their human abilities.  This wealth actually came to them as a result of using abilities given to them by God.  Everything we are and everything we have has been given to us by the grace of God.  Our Father wants us to look at our lives and our earthly possessions as they truly are – a gift from Him.  We should always give back to God from what He has given to us. 

“…all things come from You, and out of Your own [hand] we have given You.”  (1 Chronicles 29:14)

Card #51

“As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.  [Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share [with others],  In this way laying up for themselves [the riches that endure forever as] a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed.”  (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

We shouldn’t be proud if God blesses us financially.  We shouldn’t trust in our riches.  We should always give freely to others. 

Our Father wants us to grasp the true meaning of life.  We are here to serve Him.  We will serve God if we use the money our Father gives us to give freely to others as He directs.

Card #52

“…I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One).”  (Philippians 3:8)

We are here on earth to progressively know the Lord Jesus Christ and to carry out his
assignment for our lives.  Money is only a tool to use to do what we have been called to do.

Like the apostle Paul, we should not allow money or anything else to come ahead of our relationship
with Jesus Christ.  As we consider our finances, every decision we make must be made with eternity in mind.

Jack Hartman