Facing the Giant of Money

How to receive God's blessings on your finances.

I.       There are some things you must do if you expect God to bless your finances

"But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil."    Proverbs 1:33

A.     Follow God from your heart if you expect Him to bless your life

let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.   Prov 3:1-2

B.     Acknowledge the Lord in your financial decisions if you expect Him to direct you

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.   Prov 3:5-6

C.    Honor the Lord from your wealth if you expect the Lord to prosper you

Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.  Prov 3:9-10

D.    Accept the discipline of the Lord necessary for spiritual growth if you expect an ongoing relationship with Him

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.   Prov 3:11

E.      Be honest in your finances if you expect His blessings

Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.  

A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; all the weights of the bag are His concern.   Prov 16: 8,11

II.     The benefits of wisdom, understanding and discretion are better than financial profit.

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver

And her gain better than fine gold.  .they will be life to your soul   Prov 3:13-14; 21-22

A.     Be generous with what God gives you - do not withhold good

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.   Prov 11:24-25

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.   Prov 3:27

B.     Don't expect finances to bring you happiness.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. Prov 11:28, 30

C.    Seek to be happy with what you already have

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.   .a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred.   Bright eyes gladden the heart; good news puts fat on the bones.  Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.  Prov 15: 13, 15-17, 30; 17:1

D.    Be careful about pursuing things that waste your time and effort

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.   Prov 12:11

E.     Commit your works to the Lord

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor.  A lazy man does not roast his prey, but the precious possession of a man is diligence.   Prov 12:24, 27

Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. Prov 16:3

F.     Watch carefully the motivation in your heart - keep in mind that God directs your steps

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives. The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.   Prov 16:2, 9