2025-04-03
Deuteronomy 16:17 NKJV
When it comes to giving, here are two important truths the Bible teaches us about money:
(1) God does not expect us all to give the same amount. “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you” (v. 17 NKJV). Paul writes, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12 NIV).
(2) God will ask you to make sacrifices to fulfill His kingdom purposes in the earth. In order to reverse the judgment of God that had come upon the people, King David was instructed to “go up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite” (2 Samuel 24:18 NKJV). When Araunah saw David coming, he offered him the land free of charge. But David said: “‘No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel” (vv. 24-25 NKJV).
God does not ask us to give equally, He asks us to sacrifice equally. And here is the good news: On the other side of every sacrifice God asks you to make for Him, there awaits you His blessings and His rewards.
Soul food: Lev 15-17; Luke 21:8-11; Ps 25:8-15; Prov 10:1
2025-04-02
Job 1:21 NKJV
Here is what Job said about his great wealth: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.” Job understood that we all enter life with our hands empty, and we all exit life with our hands empty. The only thing we can take with us when we go is what we have sent ahead.
Jesus talks about this: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV).
When Jesus referred to treasure, His audience would have understood that He was referring to clothing, food, or money. Rich people wore the best clothes, but moths could tear holes in them. Rich people ate the best food, but rats and worms could consume it. Rich people owned silver and gold, but since there were no banks, they stored their money in their houses. But because houses were made of clay, thieves could conveniently reach through the wall and rob it. What Jesus was saying was “Don’t put your treasure where it can be damaged, decayed, or done away with.”
A pastor writes: “Jesus doesn’t want your money. It’s already his. Jesus wants your heart. But since your heart always follows your money, he wants you to surrender your money, your wealth, your stuff to him.” When you do that, you’re investing in eternity instead of time.
Soul food: Lev 13:38-14:57; Luke 21:1-7; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
2025-03-31
Haggai 2:8 NKJV
God owns everything. If you doubt that, read these Scriptures: “‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.” “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 NKJV). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father” (James 1:17 NKJV). “Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all” (1 Chronicles 29:12 NKJV).
What do these Scriptures mean? They mean that the bank account, the stock portfolio, or the title deed to the property may be held in your name, but God owns it all. You say, “Then what am I?” You are the administrator of God’s estate, and the executor of His will. Can an administrator do as he or she chooses with someone’s estate? No, they are required to manage it on behalf of someone else. Can the executor do as he or she chooses with someone’s last will and testament? No, they are required to follow the instructions given in that will.
And if you want to know the terms of God’s will for your life, they’re found in His Word. And the more God entrusts to you, the more He requires of you. Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48 NKJV).
Soul food: Lev 8-10; Luke 20:34-40; Ps 72:12-20; Prov 9:7-9
2025-03-30
Psalm 30:5 NLT
One marriage expert says a single mother sent him a story that helped explain the loneliness and stress faced by those raising children alone. She said she was looking out her window one drizzly day and saw a mother robin and her brood of chicks perched in a nest. As the rain poured down, the mother bird covered her chirping little chicks beneath her extended wings. Then the hail began to fall. Instead of tucking her head safely in the nest, the mother robin raised her head upward and took the blows to protect her young. All of the chicks made it safely through the storm. What a graphic illustration of the perils of single parenting!
The responsibility of raising kids alone is unrelenting, requiring a mom or dad to earn a living, cook, clean, supervise homework, take care of sick kids, and so on. Beyond these day-to-day duties, they must figure out how to meet their own personal and spiritual needs. Taken in context, this may be one of the toughest assignments on earth. Single parents, whether mothers or fathers, need our continued support and prayers.
To those who are taking the blows on behalf of their children, be assured that there are better days coming. The storm you’re in won’t last forever. A beautiful rainbow will soon appear. When the job has been completed and a brood of healthy little birds has been raised, there will be sweet benefits for the parents who don’t fly away. God’s Word promises, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Soul food: 1 Cor 9:24-27; Num 6:1-8; Prov 25:28
2025-03-29
Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV
God instructs us to seek Him, but not as though He is hiding from us. When we seek God, we make a decision that’s necessary for bringing us into the spiritual realm. Some levels of blessing are never received unless they are diligently sought. It’s your seeking after God that moves Him to respond. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
There are no manuals that instruct us step by step as to the proper way to seek the Lord. Some people seek Him quietly, with soft tears falling gently down a weary face. Others seek Him while walking the sandy beaches of a cove, gazing into the swelling currents of an evening tide. Some raise their hands and praise Him with loving expressions of adoration. There are no rules, just that you seek Him with your whole heart.
What does it mean to seek God “with all your heart”? It’s giving Him your full attention and removing all distractions so that you can focus on Him. Imagine dropping a contact lens on the floor, or a precious stone from a ring and saying, “No problem, I’ll just look for that later.” No, the value you place on something determines the intensity with which you seek it. When you pray, “Lord, I need you; I won’t make it without You,” you are praying “with all your heart.” And God answers such praying, “I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:14 NKJV).
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Luke 20:27-33; Ps 72:1-11; Prov 9:1-6
2025-03-28
Psalm 44:8 NKJV
After sharing great truths and insights with us, the psalmist often uses the word “Selah.” It means “pause and reflect.” For years people have said that experience is the best teacher. But the truth is, evaluated experience is the best teacher! Stopping to reflect is one of the most important activities you can do in order to grow. It provides a superior value than motivation or encouragement because it lets you make sure you’re going down the right road. After all, if you’re on the wrong track, you don’t need motivation to move faster. You need to pause, reflect, and change course.
In describing the end times, the Bible says, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4 NKJV). You will note that it says “knowledge” will increase, which is information, facts, and data, but it doesn’t say understanding will increase. With a sharp intellect and a good memory, you can retain lots of knowledge. But in order to have understanding, you must take the time to drill down and understand what you’re seeing and hearing. Galileo said, “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered. The point is to discover them. That takes investigation.”
By pausing and reflecting, you can sort through the experiences you have, put them into perspective, and glean from them the wisdom required to have a better future. These are often referred to as “aha” moments, when you experience sudden understanding or insight. It’s when the proverbial light bulb switches on. Only a few things in life are better than moments like that. But these moments only come to those who take the time and effort to pause and reflect.
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 31; Prov 8:34-36
