Day 23 Devotional.
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: "If anyone will not work, do not let him eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10Main Content
When Christians have financial troubles, they tend to take the anger out on God because they have not learnt to take responsibility. In today's devotional we will learn from the bible practical ways to take responsibility for your finances.
Money is the reward for value. According to our text today, the Bible teaches that an entitlement mindset that looks for money without work is a sinful lifestyle. Christians tend to go on one leg in their finances. Finance has the spiritual leg and the natural leg. The spiritual leg consists of your prayers, confessions, tithing and giving.
This is however not the full picture. Remember in the bible, God promises to give power (ability) to get wealth not to give wealth (Duet 8:18). This power comes in the form of ideas, concepts, wisdom, and relationships. The second leg is the natural leg. It involves putting this enablement of God into action. God is glorified when we apply our gifts and talents to the marketplace.
From 2 Kings 4, we can diagnose the reason Christians struggle in their finances. In the first verse, we see that she envisaged that by the virtue of her husband being a man of God, they should not be poor. She was entitled.
In verse 2, we see that she had no clarity about what she wanted. She did not give an answer to the prophet's question asking what she wanted. Lack of financial goals or plans put Christians into lack. She lacked vision (Prov 29:18). Visions not made plain is only a wish (Hab 2:2).
The second thing we see from verse 2 is that she had a scarcity mentality. Scarcity mentality focuses on what is not available, how the environment is not conducive, or how people are unwilling to help. As they focus on scarcity, they attract scarcity. This focus transforms into confession and they begin to manifest. This scarcity mentality also limited her from seeing the value of the relationships (neighbours) around her. It took the prophet to point it out to her.
To increase income, you need to recognise problems and solve them. Widen your scope, add tentacles of solutions in the industry you are currently serving. Do not just flip properties, furnish them. Explore the relationships you have within the body of Christ. Yes, you have heard it being said that Christians are the hardest people to do business with. You can change the narrative by changing the focus and confession. Join small groups where you can develop professional relationships, be open, expect to get ideas and inspirations.
Prayer & Confessions
Prayer: My finances overflow with increase and abundance in Jesus' name. I am favored by men. My labor is financially fruitful. I receive amazing financial rewards for my labor in Jesus' name. Money is attracted to me and comes to me from all sides. The Favor of God is on me, men are bringing blessings to me. I decree that financial doors of increase and abundance open to me in Jesus' name (Isa 45:1).
Confessions: I receive ideas and inspirations for riches in the name of Jesus. I receive the power to make wealth. I receive insights needed for wealth creation. (Deut. 8:18). I have financial intelligence to manage my finances well in Jesus' name.
