Although giving may be challenging, looking at God’s activity as the first Giver is essential to promote growth. Suppose riches, wealth, and prosperity were, in actuality, meant to be compartmentalized as something distinct from the activity and involvement of God. In that case, the Christian may be justified in saving all he could. In other words, if God was not the source of riches, then the Christian could not trust God for money. Therefore, he would be forced to trust in himself, and the wise decision may very be to hoard every penny.
But the Bible does not separate God and wealth. Instead, the Bible speaks plainly about God as the Giver of riches. While it may seem unimportant to consider this matter, it is not. The Christian must learn to trust God in all matters of life. A significant temptation arises in the area of finances and wealth. So often, even the Christian can make money his refuge.
It is interesting to see how the different translations translate the word refuge in the Old Testament. The KJV often uses the word trust to depict what some modern translations translate as refuge. The synonymous nature of these two words is telling. What the Christian trusts in will, by its very nature, become his refuge.
But God is a jealous God and does not want the Christian to take his place of refuge in money. Instead, God will go to great lengths to help the Christian realize that He alone must be the believer’s trust.
Understanding God as the Giver of Riches will help the Christian in several ways, but two are important in the present moment. First, when the Christian realizes that God is the Giver of wealth, he can trust God to supply His every need. He need not be anxious like those depicted in the Sermon on the Mount, but instead, he looks to God in faith as God supplies what is needed.
Second, the Christian must learn that the money he receives is not ultimately his own. Instead, the money God supplies is still God’s. The Christian does not own anything; instead, he is only a steward or manager over the resources God has given him. When the believer understands his role as a steward, he will grow in his ability and desire to use his wealth for the glory of God.
Remember the Lord
The Christian must remember the Lord in his prosperity. Scripture says, “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” (Duet. 8:18). There is a great danger of forgetting the Lord when prosperity comes.
In actuality, times of trial are often a blessing, for in them, the Christian seeks God. James tells of the need to consider trials pure joy because the testing of the Christian’s faith produces steadfastness. Paul speaks of suffering producing endurance and endurance producing character.
Elsewhere, Paul spoke of the severe affliction he experienced in Asia that caused him to feel as though the sentence of death was upon him. In the end, he realized that his time of testing caused him to rely on God and not himself for deliverance.
On the other hand, in Deuteronomy 8, God warned the Israelites that they were liable to turn from Him when He brought them into the Promised Land. Their lack of remembrance characterized their turning. Their lack of remembrance came from them no longer being dependent upon God because they thought they had all they needed.
Thus, the Christian must learn from God’s words. The Christian needs to remember that it is God Who has given wealth.
God’s blessing
God gives riches as a blessing. Scripture says, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22). Sometimes, God’s blessing will be on the Christian, and riches will come. However, this is not every believer’s lot in life. In actuality, the Christian is blessed to be a blessing.
While it may be God’s blessing to bestow riches, the Bible also has much to say. The recipient must use his wealth, so the blessing does not become a curse. Jesus has warned the believer that he cannot serve money and God.
Instead, 2 Corinthians 8 can be of assistance at this point. Paul sought to acquire donations to help fund his relief mission for the Jews in Jerusalem. He encouraged the Corinthian believers to abound in the area of giving. He encouraged them with the words, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus Christ gave up His riches in glory to supply the needs of others.
Later Paul would say, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack” (2 Cor. 8:12-15). Paul says his desire was not to overburden his listeners with their giving. Instead, the desire was for people to give based on what they had, thereby creating equality among those involved and supporting the saints amid their trials.
God’s gift
God is the Giver of gifts. James tells his listeners that every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father. Solomon spoke somewhat similarly when he said, “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God” (Eccl. 5:19). From beginning to end, it is all a gift of God. From rejoicing in labor to earning riches and wealth and eating out of the wealth, it is all a gift of God.
God’s money
Since God is the Giver, it makes sense that it is God’s money. However, there is a significant difference between God’s and man’s giving. When a man gives his money to another man, ownership changes. When God gives his money to a man, management starts rather than ownership. Scripture says, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag. 2:8). The silver and the gold are God’s. He is and always will be the owner.
Conclusion
So where does this place the Christian? God has given the Christian money. Based upon God’s blessing in his life, He is called to be a blessing. When God blesses the Christian with wealth, either the Christian becomes a blessing or does not respond appropriately to God’s blessing. If the Christian does not respond properly to God’s blessing, one of two things may occur.
First, the well of God may run dry. In other words, God may withhold the money He had been giving as a form of discipline. Second, God may turn the Christian over to his love of money to realize the emptiness therein.
God loves a cheerful giver. Therefore, the Christian must learn to look to God as the Giver of wealth and honor God with his money. When he learns to do this, he will see that where his treasure is there, his heart will also be.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your Word and the instruction You have given me on wealth. You have been faithful to me and have provided everything I needed. Help me to trust in You and look to You as the Giver of money, and may I respond in a way that is pleasing in Your sight. Guard my heart and help me not to fall into the deceitfulness of riches. In Jesus’ name, Amen.