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INVEST YOUR TREASURER IN HEAVEN
Inquire of the Lord
1 Samuel 30:8 tells us what David did next as He sought to
deal with the troubles that besieged him. After grieving and strengthening
himself in the Lord, here is what he did,
So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
David inquired of the Lord.
There is a story in the book of Joshua that shows the importance of inquiring of God, of seeking His guidance, no matter how things may seem.
The nation of Israel had entered the Promised Land and they were gaining great victories. One day a group of Gibeonites showed up (Joshua 9-11). They had bags full of old moldy bread, their sandals were worn out, their water skins were cracked and old, and their clothing was old and worn.
They told Joshua and the leaders that they had come from a country far, far away. They went on to tell them they had heard about the great things God was doing through Israel, and they wanted to make sure they would not be attacked. So they had travelled from afar to make a covenant so that when Israel eventually reached them in the future, they wouldn’t attack the Gibeonites.
The Bible says specifically that Joshua and the men did not inquire of the Lord. Rather, they looked at the people’s provisions…the moldy bread, the old sandals, the old water skins…and they made a covenant with them.
It turns out they were the next door neighbours and Israel had been deceived. And it caused huge problems in Israel’s future.
I am telling you, things are not always as they appear. It pays to inquire of the Lord when you are going through difficult times. He will lead you.
So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”
David inquired of the Lord.
There is a story in the book of Joshua that shows the importance of inquiring of God, of seeking His guidance, no matter how things may seem.
The nation of Israel had entered the Promised Land and they were gaining great victories. One day a group of Gibeonites showed up (Joshua 9-11). They had bags full of old moldy bread, their sandals were worn out, their water skins were cracked and old, and their clothing was old and worn.
They told Joshua and the leaders that they had come from a country far, far away. They went on to tell them they had heard about the great things God was doing through Israel, and they wanted to make sure they would not be attacked. So they had travelled from afar to make a covenant so that when Israel eventually reached them in the future, they wouldn’t attack the Gibeonites.
The Bible says specifically that Joshua and the men did not inquire of the Lord. Rather, they looked at the people’s provisions…the moldy bread, the old sandals, the old water skins…and they made a covenant with them.
It turns out they were the next door neighbours and Israel had been deceived. And it caused huge problems in Israel’s future.
I am telling you, things are not always as they appear. It pays to inquire of the Lord when you are going through difficult times. He will lead you.
Invest in heavens
Your gold and silver are corroded,
and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like
fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the
laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the
cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth (James 5:3-4).
19 Msijiwekee hazina duniani, nondo
na kutu viharibupo, na wevi huvunja na kuiba;
20 bali jiwekeeni hazina mbinguni, kusikoharibika kitu kwa nondo wala
kutu, wala wevi hawavunji wala hawaibi; 21 kwa kuwa hazina yako ilipo, ndipo
utakapokuwapo na moyo wako. (Math 6:19-21)
Introduction
Why, how, where, when do we invest?
Main theme
These words are written to believers, to Christians who are hoarding up wealth rather than giving to support the spread of the gospel. Who use most of their time in thinking of improving their wealth.
The reapers in verse 4 are those preaching and working out in the harvest fields of the world. Notice it says that the Lord has heard their cry. But if you read carefully, you will find that another cry has entered the Lord’s ears as well.
“The wages” of the laborers cry out to God as well! The tithes and offerings that have been withheld cry out. Monies that should have been sown into the cause of Christ are raising their voices in a mighty chorus to heaven!
Large amounts of undesignated and unused funds that sit in bank vaults cry out. Funds God has graciously given to His people that have been withheld from their purpose—to bring a living Jesus to a dying world—cry out and cry out and cry out!
Are you sitting on a talking wallet today? Is your purse crying out to God? If you could hear their voice, what would they cry? “China! Europe! Africa! The Middle East!”??
Are you generously supporting the work of your own local church? Do not let your money testify against you! Give where, when, and how much God directs—consistently—into the work of His Kingdom.
If the precious fruit of the earth is going to be reaped, we have to support those who labor in the field.
These words are written to believers, to Christians who are hoarding up wealth rather than giving to support the spread of the gospel. Who use most of their time in thinking of improving their wealth.
The reapers in verse 4 are those preaching and working out in the harvest fields of the world. Notice it says that the Lord has heard their cry. But if you read carefully, you will find that another cry has entered the Lord’s ears as well.
“The wages” of the laborers cry out to God as well! The tithes and offerings that have been withheld cry out. Monies that should have been sown into the cause of Christ are raising their voices in a mighty chorus to heaven!
Large amounts of undesignated and unused funds that sit in bank vaults cry out. Funds God has graciously given to His people that have been withheld from their purpose—to bring a living Jesus to a dying world—cry out and cry out and cry out!
Are you sitting on a talking wallet today? Is your purse crying out to God? If you could hear their voice, what would they cry? “China! Europe! Africa! The Middle East!”??
Are you generously supporting the work of your own local church? Do not let your money testify against you! Give where, when, and how much God directs—consistently—into the work of His Kingdom.
If the precious fruit of the earth is going to be reaped, we have to support those who labor in the field.
The Love of Money
In 1 Timothy 6:9-11, Paul gives us a critical
insight,
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some
have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue
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