How you perceive God has a tremendous impact on your finances. It will affect how you view material blessings, how you give to God and others, and how you perceive the rich and the poor. You must decide the answer to this question personally: How do you perceive God in terms of His generosity?
The Bible reveals that God is an extravagant giver. Everything we know about Him reflects a lavish, divine generosity. Examples of His giving surround us in creation, redemption, in the gifts of our family and friends, our personal abilities, and our world.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Jesus reminded people that God was their Father and, like all fathers, He loves to bless His children with gifts. Then Jesus pointed out that, unlike human fathers, God will not promise and then fail to deliver. God’s generosity to His children is far greater than that of your natural parents or even yourself as a parent.
The Bible describes God in two major areas which illustrate His amazing generosity. It identifies Him as Creator and as Redeemer. God is the One Who gives both material life and spiritual life.
These titles reveal the essence of God, and throughout the Bible He is worshiped in both of these roles. In Revelation 4:11, the elders sang, "Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
In Revelation 5:9, they sang, "Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nations ..."
The Bible repeatedly celebrates God’s twin gifts of creation and redemption, which are His material and spiritual giving:
1 Corinthians1:12-20 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
Verse 16 praises God because "by him all things were created" and verse 20 for " having made peace through the blood of his cross." These are His twin gifts of creation and redemption.
Deuteronomy 7:12, 13 "Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee."
Does this sound like a God who wants His people to live in poverty? No! It is God’s plan for you to have sufficiency in every area of your life, and that includes your finances. Sufficiency doesn't necessary mean wealth--although God blesses some people in this way. But it does mean that your personal and ministry needs will be met.
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