Tuesday 22 May, 2018

5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

I once had a prophetic word givien to me. It came in two parts. First, “God wants me to a great leader. Great in heart not head. Nice – I liked that one.  Second, “you have issues with money.” Not so nice.

But he was right – I did and still do (hopefully to a lessor extent) have issues with money. I wonder if this is why Jesus gave such stern warnings about the lure of wealth. James echoes that here in this passage.

So let’s get real – will my finances stand up and condemn me one day? Will this savings plan or this superannuation scheme eat at my flesh like fire? Have I been COMPLETELY honest in ALL my financial dealings? If all my money is taken away will I still worship God and thank Him and praise Him? Is my hope in Him or in my money?

Because the truth is He provides it all. All the money I have – it’s all His. Not just the amount I tithe. If he wants it back it’s perfectly right that He takes it. The real question is, do I have faith that He will absolutely provide for me, even if I have nothing? Do I really believe that if I have nothing, but have Jesus, I have everything?

Dear Jesus, let the prayer of the writer of Proverbs 30:8 be mine as well – “please give me neither poverty nor riches”. Help me get to that place that even if I had nothing, because I have you I have everything. Jesus, be my everything!

Written by Boudy Van Noppen