By Brad Rehl
So here we are, faced with another financial decision. Just as we were yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. Our world revolves around money; how to make it, how to invest it, how to keep it, how to pass it on, when to use it, when to give it away, what to buy, and where we store it. Too many times we put our trust in our bank account. We look at the balance and feel security and contentment. At other times we feel anxiety and anger. We can get stuck in the mindset of trusting in our money rather than trusting in the One who allowed us to be the stewards of it in the first place.
Matthew 6 famously tells us the cure for anxiety and how our mindset should be concerning our needs being met. But most people overlook verse 33 which says we need to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. It is this first seeking that assures us that our needs will be fully met. Here comes that age old battle between our flesh and the Spirit that comes to live in us when we trust in the name of Christ. If we look to ourselves or our money before we look to God, we may miss that integral piece of our fellowship with Him. He is waiting for us to join Him every minute of every day with every aspect of our lives. This motivation for connection stems all the way back to when we were created and what our true purpose is.
We were meant to glorify Him by being in close contact with Him personally until sin entered into the world. Here is why we have to wrestle with the temptation to rely on things other than God for our sustainment. Proverbs says over and over again that to trust in anything else but God is foolish (Prov. 3:5) and that this foolishness is the direct path to destruction (Prov. 14:12). Changing the mindset that we know what’s best is not easy. Fear and anxiety can rob us of faith. The future may seem uncertain right now, and worry keeps occupying too much room in our hearts and minds.
Remembering that God is already in all of our tomorrows is the key to resting in His grace. Remembering that what we are supposed to do is “Cast all anxiety on Him because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7) will help us to let go of the trap of worry. Understanding our Savior’s own words on dealing with the troubles that are inevitable in this world is an awesome way of letting go and letting God be God. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). What a powerful truth we can depend on! It is not a question of if but rather when in regard to the fact that trials are promised. How we deal with them (lay them at the feet of Jesus) is what makes the difference between joy and worry. This includes our financial burdens. If we can discipline ourselves into people who completely rely on God for all our necessities, as we pray without ceasing, and release our control over our lives, we can be Psalm 37:5 (“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”) people.
This discipline requires devotion to prayer and submission. Philippians 4:6-7 is a perfect reminder of how integral prayer is in this mindset that does not come naturally to us humans. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I say that this isn’t natural to us for a few reasons. One is that from the time we are raised by our parents or guardians, we are taught to stand on our own two feet. We are taught to be independent and fly solo into life’s facets like our jobs, our relationships, and our families. Two is that we try to cling to the things in this world we have come to know as a comfort when they are really destroying our spirit. We allow our flesh to win over the Spirit.
My own experience is along this line. I was in the habit of depending on myself for all the principles in my life. I was in charge of raising the kid. I was in charge of working. I was in charge of paying the bills. I was in charge of doing several chores at the house four times a day. It wasn’t until God reached out and grabbed my attention that I snapped out of this mindset and submitted to the fact that God is in charge. He is the maestro of life.
One day, I was cleaning the house for the millionth time in one day, and I heard a sermon telling people to lay their trials at the foot of the cross. I looked up at the ceiling as I was emptying the dishwasher and said, “Is that what You want, Lord?! You want me to admit it is You and not me?!” So many times we speak to God and go right back to our busy lives. We don’t wait to hear from Him. We miss the subtle whispers of His direction and that is what I did. I went right back to emptying the dishwasher without admitting anything. God reached out and grabbed my attention big time! I dropped a plate on the floor and it shattered into a million pieces on the floor that I just finished sweeping dog hair off of for the third time that day. That was all I needed. I took that as God screaming for me to submit to Him all my frustrations, independence, and even my successes. I broke down just like the plate I dropped. I got down on my knees in my kitchen and wept like a baby. Through ugly tears, I spoke out loud that I wasn’t in charge of anything and that it was all Him and that I desperately needed to give it all to Him. Things changed from that point on.
Now, this by no means is me saying that things got easier, because pain and trials are a part of life. It does mean, however, that I wasn’t independent and my failures were things that I could rely on my Brother Christ to carry for me. Every day we die to self and are reborn into the likeness of Christ. It is a part of the road of sanctification. We need daily reminders to allow God to take priority in our day-to-day routines. Jesus spoke repeatedly to His disciples about taking up their cross (an instrument of death) and following Him. He made it clear that if any would follow Him, they must deny themselves, which means giving up their lives spiritually, symbolically, and even physically, if necessary.
So, the next time you turn to your bank accounts for joy and security and only find worry and stress, first seek the kingdom of God and all things will be accounted to you. This doesn’t happen overnight (at least it didn’t for me) but with practice, it will get easier.
This profound passage from Philippians encourages believers to relinquish their anxieties and present their needs before God in prayer. By doing this, you can invite the peace of God to envelop you with a peace that defies human understanding and acts as a steadfast guardian of our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We can also turn to Matthew 6:25 (NASB 1995) where Jesus urges, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” These words resonate through the ages, reminding us that life’s true essence transcends material provisions. Rather, it lies in our spiritual connection with God. Even if this day brings us less than we expected, we can find comfort in this passage.
Continuing in Matthew 6:27 (NASB 1995), Jesus poses a thought-provoking question, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” This question serves as a sobering reflection on the futility of excessive worry. It underscores the importance of trusting in God’s providence and surrendering our burdens to Him. How can we further His kingdom or add anything of significance to our lives by worrying?
In Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB 1995), we are offered a blueprint for serenity amidst life’s trials. By engaging in prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, we open a channel for God’s peace to descend upon us, transcending circumstances and guarding our innermost being. It is an invitation to exchange worry for trust, anxiety for tranquility. By doing so, our minds and lives are free to follow the steps God has laid before us, instead of forcing ourselves down a different path.
Breaking free from financial bondage is not about dismissing the importance of responsible stewardship, but rather, it is an invitation to entrust our concerns to the One who holds all things in His hands. As we heed the wisdom found in Philippians 4:6-7 and Matthew 6, we discover a pathway to lasting peace that surpasses worldly comprehension. It is a peace that anchors us in Christ, reminding us that true freedom is found in surrendering our worries and embracing the unshakable peace that only God can provide.
Today’s Prayer: Lord, thank you for the provisions You have given me today. Thank you for loving me more than the lilies of the fields and the birds of the sky. I know that I cannot do this life on my own. Everything that I am, and everything that I have is Yours. Be with me today as I make choices with the resources You have given me. Guide my steps down the path that will make a difference for Your Kingdom. Keep my mind free from worry, coveting, and anger. Allow my words to be Your Words and my actions to be withing Your Will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.