Posts tagged Money

40 Days of Preparation Day 35

Apr15
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Friday April 15, 2011, is the thirtieth-fifth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” stealing and “put on” honesty. This year the IRS has graciously given Americans until Monday, April 18, 2011 to pay their income taxes.  Traditionally, however, April 15 has been tax day. Many of us pay our taxes only begrudgingly. Jesus taught that we are responsible to pay the tax which our government determines we owe. One of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, was a tax collector Mt 9:9 (IRS agent).

If you want to protest the paying of taxes to the government you will not find a sympathizer in Jesus.

17 . . . . Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” . . . 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:17b;19–21 (ESV)

Jesus had a rather unique way of paying His tax.

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Matthew 17:24–27 (ESV)

Rather than focusing on Jesus’ method of gathering the funds necessary to pay his tax, however, we should focus on the fact that the funds He needed were supplied to Him by His Father.  In fact God provided more than Jesus needed giving Him enough to pay His and Peter’s tax bill. We don’t need to steal from the government but simply need to trust and obey God and be honest about our tax bills. You and I need to “put off” stealing and “put on” honesty.

Paul clarifies the biblical principle taught by Jesus in his letter to the church in Rome.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.  8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:6–8 (ESV)

Our problem with feeling pressure to steal and be dishonest arises from our violating the principal to “owe no one anything, except to love each other.” Because we have failed to trust God and live by His principles we take control of our lives to our own selves and begin to believe that we have what we earned therefore it is ours to do with as we choose. Instead we should recognize that what we have, whatever it is, whether great or small is the gift of God and is His for us to be good stewards of. You and I need to “put off” stealing even when we may think it is justified and “put on” honesty because whether or not we can trust the government we know we can trust God.

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Pray Now Bartow Day 15

Mar15
2010 Written by Warner Smith

On any given night in Georgia, there are over 23,000 children and adults who are homeless. Almost half of the homeless are under-employed like Homer who has a high school education and was once employed in a nearby factory. His company terminated his employment when he was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Then he lost his apartment when he could not pay the rent. Now he sleeps in the woods. Homer has lost all hope.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34–40

It continues to amaze me at how many in American have more sympathy for their own pets, but refuse to take in individuals like Homer, or to become a foster parent.

Pray for the homeless of Bartow. Ask God to show you how to help them to have a home and hope. Check with the homeless shelter on ways to help. http://www.goodneighborshelter.org/history.html

Before they can hear about our Savior they need us to show them His compassion.

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God Cares About Every Aspect of Our Lives

Jan21
2010 Written by Warner Smith

The unemployment rate in the state of Georgia has reached 10.4%.  This statistic does not  take into account the number of people who are chronically unemployed (unemployed so long that they are no longer looking for work) or under employed (working in a position that does not fully utilize their training or work experience).

Almost five out every thirty five home loans in the United States were in foreclosure or at least 30 days past due at the end of October 2009.  As of June 2009 the number of Americans filing for bankruptcy has increased to over 6000 every day.  Many more are paying their bills but have little to no savings and live paycheck to paycheck.  Are you depressed yet?

The reality is that many people are hurting financially and have little to no hope.  My point in this devotion is : “No matter how bad your situation is, there is hope, and your help comes from the Lord.

Each of us need to learn from our poor financial behavior that we should not believe the credit card companies.  Scripture is more reliable.

The rich rule over the poor, and borrowers are servants to lenders. Proverbs 22:7 (NCV)

We have not often lived in strict adherence to this principle.  Sometimes we get into debt but many of us are struggling now with too much debt and some of us are overwhelmed with debt.

The scriptures tell us how one woman’s experience with debt was miraculously met by God’s provision.

1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:1–7 (ESV)

Here are some principles which those of us who find ourselves overwhelmed by debt need to learn from this widow.

  1. Creditors are not your friends. They will take your children and sell them into slavery.  We deal with creditors at our own peril. Getting out of debt and living free from debt should be the goal of all of God’s children.
  2. When you have a problem, any problem even problems with money you can bring them to God and to the servant of God. Many people have asked “Is it o.k. to pray for money.”  My answer is,  “Yes, if you need money ask God for it.”  Jesus taught us to pray; “Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11 (ESV).  It is my opinion that praying is a much better course of action than buying a lottery ticket, and saying “you have to be in to win.”
  3. The man of God used what the widow had in her own house to bring her the money she needed. You need to ask God to show you how you can use what you already have to bring in an income to pay your creditors.
  4. The widow and her sons had to act on and implement the plan given her by the man of God. Getting out of debt will require you and your familiy’s action.  Pray and work and work and pray.

God is our ultimate source. Ultimately your paycheck comes from God not your employer.  Be faithful to Him! He alone can make what you have last, and make you satisfied with that which He has supplied you.  Just be faithful, seek His will and obey him.

Someone once told me we should work as though everything depends on us and pray as though everything depends on God, because it does.

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