No area of our lives, and none of our decisions are to be off-limits to God’s jurisdiction. Trusting Him in a partial manner and in only certain areas where we may have no other choice, is far from ideal. We are to trust God in our finances, in righteousness, for the forgiveness of sins, for health purposes, for any reconciliation that may be warranted, in handling the delicate issues which arise between husbands and wives.
Trusting in God should rather be viewed as a way of life, rather than an occasional, or incidental resort when we may have no other choice. In every part of our lives, that trust should be made manifest, by us allowing God’s revealed will to take preeminence in our decision-making processes, and by obeying His word, and incorporating scriptural principles when, and wherever they apply.
It is thus that the passage: “The just shall live by his faith” has any meaning. Living by faith in God grants to Him the jurisdiction over everything we do. But with too many Christians, there is contentment with trusting God only in some issues while reserving our own personal judgment, biases, and preferences in others.
In fact, with many who claim to believe in Jesus, there is a decided reserve about Him meddling in our personal affairs, while we trust him for abstract things such as forgiveness of sins, spiritual blessings and eternal life. Others trust Him to bless us in the temporal areas, such as health and finances, but the other issues of diets and foods are held off-limits.
Thus, a one-sided approach to trusting God, results in a Christianity that is off-balanced, and shudders on the brink when emergencies arise in any of the off-limit areas. It is thus that medical, financial and marital emergencies find many in a conundrum, and cause us to question God’s goodness when all along we may have taken such personal matters into our own hands, with no regard to His input, His laws or His instructions.
Therefore, the following Bible passages should be understood, with the determination that trusting in God fully would be our own experience from here on out. Explanations will be given at the end of each passage, so that we may have clearer concepts of God’s will, and His ideals for Christian living. Let’s read:
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Pride of opinion and lifting our personal ideas above what is written in the Bible is what causes our souls to become “Lifted up”. Living by faith therefore, will move us to surrender every area of our lives to the knowledge that God has revealed. Worldly principle and ideologies, and philosophies will be subservient to what God says, and where genuine ignorance has led us astray in times past, the ongoing revelation of truth and duty should be eagerly adopted.
Romans 14:23 For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
This means that any and everything we may do that does not willingly conform to God’s revealed will is a sin. This can also and often does include very good things, but without a deliberate submission to God’s will, those works become meaningless, and are then opposed to God. Of this sort are those good works mentioned in Matthew 7, where many good things are claimed by many, to be done in Jesus name.
But after a thorough examination of the way those things were done, the motivation for doing so, and the necessary compliance with God’s principles and laws, a deficit of righteousness emerged, for it was ultimately discovered that those who made such a claim had trusted God only partially, doing the right thing in some areas, while denying His leadership in others. Let’s read:
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Giving a loaf of bread to a needy neighbor, while we deliberately violate one, or more of God’s precepts can be a form of partially trusting God. And helping those who are in tragedies, and distributing goods to the poor, while at the same time some cling to evolutionary philosophies, regardless of what the Bible teaches, manifests that they may be trusting God only partially, and have not yet made a full and complete surrender to Him.
Numbers 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land where-into he went; and his seed shall possess it.
Caleb followed God fully because all of his ways and doings, all of his decisions and his modes of thought and action came under the umbrella of the revealed will of God. Caleb did not let God lead in some areas and then deny Him access in others. Even when he suffered tremendous disappointment, after being found faithful, when with the other unfaithful men of Israel, he had to return to the desert, to wander for forty years he continued to trust God fully.
Whenever Caleb’s personal ideas and preferences clashed with God’s revealed will, as is so often the case with us, he humbly submitted to God’s ways. Not a mumbling word or murmur of being treated unfairly escaped his lips when he learned that he must wander for forty additional years, for the sins of his brethren. He also allowed God the jurisdiction over his food, as he ate his manna with singleness of heart each and every day, for forty years without complaint.
This is the condition in which those will be found, who will stand through the last days of this earth’s history, when every earthly support will be cut off, when the medical, financial, and social systems of earth will be declined to those walk by faith. It is in those coming days, that trusting God partially will break the resolve of those who are thus exercised, while those who have practiced trusting God fully will survive, for the just shall live by faith, alone. Let’s read:
Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
The area of finances is one of the main areas where some of us often fail to trust God fully, for we obey and trust Him in some issues, yet we take matters into our own hands in others. In other words, we may be faithful with the ten percent, but the other ninety percent we may view as coming under our personal purview, and discretion. Do we ask God how to spend the other 90%, or is it off-limits?
Whenever we receive our wages we should always remember that it’s not only 10+10, or 10+5 which belongs to God. All 100% belongs to Him, and thus, a truly faithful steward will allow all 100% to come under the jurisdiction of God’s revealed will. When in the book of Malachi, God stated that the whole nation had robbed Him, we must understand that in fact, there were many Jews who might have been returning a faithful 10% at that time.
But with the other 90% God’s leadership was no where to be seen, for they trusted God only in the tithe, but the rest, many of them had decided to manage for themselves. Therefore, we will address this important area of our lives, with the intention of bringing all our financial decisions and actions under the umbrella of God’s revealed will, so that we may trust Him “Fully”, like faithful Caleb did. Let’s read:
Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
Deliberate provision should be made to help supply the needs of the less fortunate from our salaries. It should not wait for last after the mortgage and car-note are paid either. Sacrificial, and willing giving is not to be restricted to tithes and offerings, it should also be exercised in our discretionary spending for the needy. Some give God the first fruits of their increase, but they leave the leftovers for the poor.
But according to what is written, the needs of the less-fortunate are to be a priority when we get paid, for if we were to leave such issues for last, in many cases, nothing will remain, especially if it’s around Black Friday, or Christmas. Therefore, after being paid our wages, thoughts of helping someone in need should be a primary concern.
Now as the Thanks-giving season is underway, and the holiday shopping season, with the temptations to splurge is right upon us, God reminds us of the less fortunate. There is a tendency across the land to get, get, get, but there is a tendency in heaven to give, give, give. Our charities should be more than merely spontaneous, but deliberate, for so the Lord instructed us in the Bible. This is what the righteous Boaz did, when reaping his field.
He did not reap the very best and the very last, thus leaving only unwanted leftovers for strangers. He deliberately decided to let Ruth have some of the best, as we should also too whenever we reap our vineyards. In other words, when we receive wages, a thoughtful consideration of the less fortunate is to be made, and corresponding acts of generosity are to be implemented, for Jesus Christ is well pleased with such actions. Let’s read:
Ruth 2:15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not.
16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
Another issue in which many professed Christians trust God only partially, is the area of lending to our fellow brethren. This particular issue can be quite sensitive, and many consider themselves “burned” from past experiences. Us being burned in the past should not cause us to become tight-fisted, being on alert lest we get burned again. This often reveals an unforgiving spirit.
In this area, many often forget to forgive and forget, and past experiences are allowed to mold the way we handle present requests. Yet, we must always remember that the other 90% of our earnings also fall under God’s wise instructions, and as such, we should be willing to trust in Him when it comes to the issues of borrowing, and lending. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother.
8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Let’s just say for reference purposes, that this year, 2018 was the seventh year, the year of release. We are now at November 17th, and a poor member of our church comes to borrow some funds, to supply his/her needs. But in just over a month he will be free of his obligation.
God is saying that our hearts should not be grieved because of the prospect of soon release, but should open our hands wide, not prejudging him that it is a deliberate ploy on the part of that member to avoid repayment. Instead, we should give liberally, over and beyond. That’s one example of trusting in God fully, to instruct us on ways to use the other 90%. But to balk at the instruction would be to trust Him partially.
Certainly, there might be some of the Hebrews who would try to abuse the privilege and the kindness of their fellows, and there would be some “intelligent” ones who would time their requests strategically. But if the premonitions of our hearts were to savor, or indulge such a sentiment, God describes it as a “Wicked thought”. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 15: 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Another issue to be addressed in the area of our finances, is the proportion of returns that should be made, over and beyond the 10% which is stipulated. The Bible does not teach any specified amount for freewill offerings, but it does teach us appropriate ratios, commensurate with the blessings of God.
If we pledge to give a set figure of $100.00 from our paycheck, then if God blesses us with a million, the rigid figure we had set would create an imbalance. It’s much better to give by percentages, so that our giving would reflect the magnitude and scope of the blessings God bestows. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.
2nd Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
Another area of our finances where we may need to trust God “Fully” is that of investments. As faithful stewards, it is important that we give God the right to direct us in our financial planning, for God is as much interested in our salvation as He is with the temporal interests of life. As such, trusting Him fully will lead us to make certain investments, while we avoid others.
Of the latter is the Lotto, by which many Christians believe they could enhance the kingdom of God by large, generous financial gifts. The motives may be upright, but God clearly states that not all income is acceptable in His sight. The investments and income from questionable, or forbidden sources are not to be brought into the treasury, nor should Christians seek to engage in such activities. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow, for even both of these are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent upon usury.
Some Christians may argue that the lotto is a form of investment which does not stem from pimping or sodomy, nor does it violate those laws against usury between brethren. And unlike the “Slothful servant” in the parable, some may reason that they do not want to be found guilty of hiding their Lord’s goods in the ground, but instead should invest it with the “Exchangers”.
That may be true, but there are certain investments which God forbids, even if they are profitable, and do not involve much risk. A faithful steward would trust God also in his investments. This means that he or she will allow Christ to have the last word in offering plate, on Wall street, or in the long lines at Publix. Let’s read:
Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.
Proverbs 23:4 Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Lastly, there is a tendency across the land to hoard, where so many are consumed with retirement, and having too much wealth in their golden years. At the same time, the Bible instructs us to save for the rainy day, for those times when financial famines would envelope the land. The question then is, how do we save without hoarding?
First of all, here is a huge difference between saving and hoarding. To save means to put aside a set sum from our earnings, from principle. For emergencies, for rainy days, for the golden years, for the children, and for college, cars, furniture etc, whenever such needs would arise. This is scriptural, and should be practiced by every God-fearing person, for it would prevent financial embarrassment to a great extent. Let’s read:
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Hoarding is the practice of us stock-piling enormous amounts of cash or other material wealth, over and beyond what we or our offspring will ever need, or use and guarding it too jealously to the point where the needs of our fellowmen fall on deaf ears. Of this sort were the actions taken by the rich man in the parable, whose only goal in life was to retire in ease and contentment, with very much room to spare. Let’s read:
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
God had no problem whatsoever with him building bigger barns, for that represented wisdom in the management of surplus. This is what Joseph did in times of plenty, to make provision for the rainy day. So, it wasn’t sin to build massive warehouses for the rich man to store his goods. The problem was that his attitude to life, his priorities, and his actions, all pointed to self, with no regard, or provision for the cause of God, nor the less fortunate. Let’s read:
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
God counsels us in the scriptures to exercise sound judgment and wisdom in the handling, management and dispersing of material wealth, but we ought to be very careful, lest the love of money, and material things, cause us to trust in treasures instead of God and thereby, we lose sight of eternal interests. God first, others next, self last, is a mantra we can safely live by, for it tends to put material wealth in its right perspective.
In harmony with the instructions thus given, we will end with a passage of scripture which cautions us as Christians, against a materialistic mindset that has come to engulf the thoughts and actions of many. Contentment, habitual kindness, generosity, and the eagerness to help others, are of more value in the sight of God than wise financial planning, and expertise without benevolence.
Therefore, let the needy and the greedy be always instructed from the pages of Holy writ, for God is to honored in all spiritual, as well as temporal matters. Let’s read:
1st Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things.
God Bless!