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Where Is Your Treasure?
God is using money to test you. He doesn’t just automatically give his blessings to anybody; he tests you first to see if you’re responsible. If he can trust you with material possessions, then he can trust you with spiritual power. But if you’re not even managing your money well, why in the world should he give you the stuff that really matters?
God’s favorite tool to test you is your finances. He’s using your money to test several things.
Money shows what you love most.
If you really want to know what’s important to you, look at your calendar and your credit card statement, because the way you spend your time and money tells others what you love the most.
Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth …. Store your treasures in heaven …. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (NLT). Wherever you want your heart to be, put your money in it, and you’ll get interested in it.
Money shows what you really trust most.
Do you trust in your money for security? Or do you trust in God? Do you trust in your happiness or do you trust in God for your happiness? Do you trust in money to make you feel good about yourself, or do you trust in God to make you feel good about yourself? Money is the acid test of faith.
The Bible says in Proverbs 11:28, “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (NIV).
Money shows if God can trust you.
Money doesn’t just show if you trust God; it also shows if God can trust you. Luke 16:11-12 says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?” (NLT)
How you handle money determines how much God can bless your life. Once you understand that there is a direct connection between money management and God’s blessing, you will be motivated to get your finances in order so that God will bless you with spiritual power.
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About this Plan
Like Paul from the New Testament, you, too, may know that you are not yet who God wants you to be (Philippians 3:12). In this series, Pastor Rick shares the steps that will help you move forward toward your goal of being transformed into Christ-likeness.
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This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission
