Bible Study
God wants us prosperous. One of the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection, is that poverty was taken away from us, and in exchange we have riches. In this article, I share 5 principles for enjoying financial sufficiency in Christ. This is Part 8, of the series; The Road to Financial Sufficiency in Christ. Find links to previous parts at the end of this article.
Principle #1: Faith
Faith is the Christian currency, it is the prerequisite for receiving anything from God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is a way of life for the believer (Hebrews 10:38). It is at the base of anything we can receive from God. We need faith to enjoy financial sufficiency in Christ.
Mark 11:24 says;
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.“
Mark 11:24 NKJV
The time to receive is when we pray or ask. Not when we see the physical manifestation of our prayer but at the very time we pray, we believe that we receive, then we shall have it.
So when you ask, believe that you receive. Believe that the response to your need is yours when you call it forth. Receive your harvest when you sow. Believe and be fully persuaded that the Father will take care of you. Believe, receive and you shall have.
Principle #2: Generosity
We established in Part 6 that there’s a blessing in giving (Luke 6:38). And we said that if we can commit to a lifestyle of always giving, fully utilizing every opportunity the Father sends to us to give, we can set in motion (for ourselves) unending seasons of harvest and blessing.
First Timothy 6:18, charges us to be RICH in Good works, liberal and generous in heart…
“[Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share [with others],”
1 Timothy 6:18 AMPC
Friends, we can enjoy full supply when we make ourselves a source of supply for others.
Amen!
Principle #3: Stewardship
A steward is someone who manages and looks after another’s property or one who administers something as an agent of another.
We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. All that the Father has belongs to us. Therefore all that we have came from Him. We are God’s stewards chosen to manage, administer and properly dispense of every resource in our care. We should do this in a way that honors God and blesses humanity.
In Luke 16:1-12, Jesus shares on the shrewd steward. This guy was mismanaging his master’s money. And when his master asked him to give an account of his stewardship, sensing he might be sacked, he decided to first settle himself. He bought influence for himself with his master’s money! While this may not totally seem like a good thing, see what Jesus said in verses 8-9;
“So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.“
Luke 16:8-9 NKJV
Money has value, however, we are not to be driven by a selfish desire to accumulate or use money for our personal gain only. We should also give money a value that enhances the Father’s Business. To enjoy financial sufficiency in Christ, we must be a good steward of what God has freely given to us.
When we recognize that all that the Father has actually belongs to us to manage, we will not be anxious about money/wealth, but rather grateful and accountable to God for all that we have.
Principle #4: Contentment
Contentment is a state of being happy and satisfied. An attitude of gratitude is a strong driver for operating in contentment. If we would pray, ask, request, etc, from a heart of thanksgiving, we would express more contentment (Philippians 4:6). However if we are always focused on the things we don’t physically have, we will be in a perpetual state of discontentment, leading to dissatisfaction and gradually eroding into unbelief.
Therefore keeping the right focus in life encourages contentment (Luke 12:22). An uncontrolled desire for riches, wealth, power, etc, will always keep someone sad, dissatisfied and discontented. An unmoderated focus on money will drive someone straight into the enemy’s snare (I Timothy 6:6-10). Silver does not satisfy, riches are fleeting, a selfish drive for abundance is an effort in futility, the Father doesn’t give such (Ecclesiastes 5:10, Proverbs 23:4-5). If we would regularly ask ourselves ‘why do I want more?’, we are more likely to be more contented than greedy and unthankful.
And having the right definition of personal worth, will keep someone confident, satisfied and content. We are not defined by what we have or do not have, we were bought by the precious blood of Jesus and that’s worth more than enough (Luke 12:15). We are God’s sons, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, we are not beggars or servants, we are God’s priced possession. Having a revelation of the fatherly heart of God will keep us settled and free from anxiety because the Father is fully committed to taking care of us (Matthew 6:25-34).
Godliness with Contentment is great gain (I Timothy 6:6). A Christian who is not content will never have a sense of sufficiency.
Now I am not quite sure if the 5th point is a principle per se, however I think it is a very important one.. …?
When we are generous, we position ourselves to enjoy all financial sufficiency in Christ.
Principle #5: WORK
"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NKJV
If you don’t work, you should not eat.
Sometimes Christians are lazy because they claim to be working in faith. It is a lot of faith to expect to be rewarded from working.
God put Adam in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. God expects us to work. Proverbs 6 shares the way ants work hard in order to have regular supply of food. The bible admonishes us to learn from the ants.
Work doesn’t just bring financial reward, it’s also a way to discover and utilize God’s giftings.
Friend, work so you’ll always have enough for yourself and others.
Well, thank you for joining me again today.
Remember you can access previous parts of this study as follows;
Part 1: The Road To Financial Sufficiency In Christ: Introduction
Part 2:The Purpose of Money from The Bible
Part 3 : We Have Been Delivered from Poverty.
Part 4: Benefits of Being An Heir of the Father.
Part 5: Did Jesus Really Have Any Needs?
Part 6: How Jesus Met Needs In The Bible.
Part 7: How Did Jesus Meet Needs?
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