Hope for Finances

Crisis, lowest since, hard times, bailout, job loss, bankruptcy, fear, recession…depression!  These are the words that we hear while we listen to the news.  And as we look at our personal account balance it might be what comes to mind as well.  As I listen to God’s voice in the scriptures I hear another story…food, blessing, open floodgates (in a good way), delightful land (see Malachi 3).  It’s not that God is living in a fantasy land either, these words of hope are found in the context of judgment, poverty, perverted justice, bondage, corruption, and in a landscape that sounds like the one we hear on cable news.  In the midst of fear and depression God springs into the scene with HOPE!  The challenge is that we are called by God to trust him.  One of the central ways we show that our trust is real is the way we use our money.  It sounds old fashioned, but giving our tithes and offerings to God first is an act of trust.  And God promises to bring blessing into our lives when we do.  That’s been my real life experience.

What do you think?  Leave a comment.