"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly,
but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will
himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:24-25
One of the reasons God entrusts
money to us is to bless other Christians by meeting their needs. God uses the
transfer of money within the Body of Christ to build unity among Christians.
Sometimes we withhold money that God has designated for someone else. He wants
to bless through us, but His will cannot be accomplished through us if we are
disobedient.
This was the case for a business
owner who tells of the time when God told him to forego a company bonus one
year. God directed him to share his year-end bonus with an employee to show his
appreciation for him. He wrestled with God for three full days before obeying
the Lord on the matter. When he finally met with the employee to give him his
check, the man said he had been praying about a financial need he had three
days earlier. He had decided to borrow the money to meet his need. The amount
of money he borrowed was the exact amount the business owner gave him.
God had already planned to provide
for the employee through the business owner, but because he was hesitant, he
almost missed the opportunity to be an instrument of God in this man's life.
Even so, he could have prevented the man from having to borrow money. It was an
important lesson for the business owner.
How many people do we let down
because we feel the "harvest" God provides is all ours? In America,
the pressure is always on to move up the ladder of material accumulation. Jesus
warned us about this. If our focus is on accumulation, we will not look for
opportunities to be God's vessels of financial blessing to others. Ask the Lord
if you have an open hand when it comes to finances.
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