Did you know that there are about 380 million motor cars in the world and 160 million are here in America? What does that leave the rest of the four billion people? I hear people talk about how bad times are. But in reality we are extremely blessed.

And beware lest you say in your (mind and) heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me into this wealth. But you shall (earnestly) remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
(Deut. 8:17-18 AMP)

If you ever hear a self-made person talk about his life, he would say something like, "When I was 21 years old, I did this...and when I was 26 years old, I did that...and when I was 30 years old, I was at the top...and look at me now. I am a self-made man. I did it my way. I listened to Frank Sinatra every day and did it my way."

The Scripture, however, says,

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
(Ps. 20:7)

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
(1 Tim. 6:17)

The Bible says that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Money is not the root of evil—the love of money is. The Bible also says that "God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth..."(Deut. 8:18).

This statement seems to be contrary to what many churches preach. Why? Because God wants to anoint you to acquire wealth in order to establish His covenant. If you have read these principles in the Bible, you need to live them and put them into practice.

Hearers and Doers of the Word
You may know that God wants to save you. You may know that God wants to heal you. And you may know that God wants to prosper you. But are you living in this knowledge?

Just knowing the Word isn't going to cause it to work in your life. It's acting upon the Word of God and appropriating His promises on a daily basis that does.

Remember the devil also knows the Word. He is a legalist concerning the misquoted Word. When he came to Eve, he said, "Did God say?" When he came to Jesus, he said, "If thou be the Son of God...for it is written."

He likes to put people in bondage with Scripture quoted out of context. He even quoted Scripture against Jesus. But Jesus came right back with a Scripture, quoted correctly, which cancelled out his attack. There is a difference between knowing the truth and acting on it.

When we travel throughout the country, we can actually walk in a church and sense the spirit of poverty that hangs over the people. It's a spirit of fear. It's as if the people live in fear of not making it. They walk in fear of the times they are living in.

If you think these are hard times, let's take you on a world tour for a while. Let's go visit some third world countries and you will come back here and thank God for what you have.

Did you know that there are about 380 million motor cars in the world and 160 million are here in America? What does that leave the rest of the four billion people? I hear people talk about how bad times are. But in reality we are extremely blessed.

Thank God for America. Thank God for what you have today. There are people half the world away who are going to bed hungry. You are blessed. The Bible says God gives you the power—or you could say the anointing or the ability—to get wealth so that the Gospel can be preached.

The only thing you take with you when you leave this earth is people. MasterCard, Visa and American "Distress" don't work when you leave earth.

So everybody talks today about investing. "Do you have something for your retirement? Do you have stock, shares or some investment?" But there is something beyond retirement. There is a life after death.

Yes, your money can help you here, but what on earth are you doing for heaven's sake? The question is, What are you—not your brother—doing for the kingdom of God with what He has given you?

Source: Thoughts On Stewardship - Vol. 1
by Rodney Howard-Browne
Excerpt permission granted by R.H.E.B.A. Publishers