“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1 Tim. 6:17-18).
God created us in His image. We have His very likeness branded inside of us. We have His giving image planted deep within us, and because of that, giving is one of the most basic spiritual needs we have. We need to give – and this need to give that’s inside us is far greater than the need to keep.
You see, the key to enjoying all things God has given us as mentioned in 1 Timothy is being “ready to distribute” at all times, and “willing to communicate.”
To be like those people who hold on to what they accumulate on this earth in order to provide for their own security, their own retirement, their own “cushion” or whatever you want to call it, is to be earthly minded. While people like this have put themselves in a position of being what the Bible calls earthly rich, Jesus says that those riches are uncertain. They are corruptible.
Obviously, Jesus is not condemning savings accounts, or the like. The point is, the “holding-on-to-everything-I’ve-got” mentality does not factor in faith. It does not factor in Philippians 4:19 that says “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
In the world’s way of thinking, money has no value unless fear is applied to it. Think about this…fear says, “I’ve worked hard for this. I may not have another opportunity to have this much again, so I’d better hold on to it as long as I can…because you never know.”
So fear does not give because the need to give is overridden by the need to keep, and this is because faith was placed in uncertain riches. You have never had so little in all your life as to have a lot of money that you are afraid to spend.
Faith, on the other hand, says, “I received all these riches by believing God, and as long as God is around, there is always more where this came from.”
Faith doesn’t have to hold on to everything it gets. Faith freely gives…because faith is not in a mind-set of expecting to do without.
So how are you handling your money? In faith, or fear? Give in faith. Give freely. Give of yourself, your time, your talent, and your money. Give as an expression of who you really are…someone created in the very image of God…the greatest giver of all!
Speak the Word: I trust in the living God, who gives me richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim. 6:17)
For Further Study: Matthew 6:19-20
Daily Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
They have seven ministry offices around the world: United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Ukraine and Latin America. Their God-given directive is to preach and teach the uncompromised WORD of God on every available voice, which is being accomplished through a variety of channels, including our Believer's Voice of Victory TV and radio broadcasts, podcast and magazine; Believers' Conventions, Victory Campaigns and Living Victory meetings; published books, website, and social media channels, to name a few.
With the expansion of technology, they have more work to do now than ever. They are determined to let the world know Jesus is LORD, and they are not slowing down anytime soon!