We all want to be blessed by God the Father. We want what we believe to be a life of ease. We want peace and prosperity. What we really want is the favor of Yahweh. We believe we are entitled to all the pleasant gifts from God. When those perceived blessings are withheld, we question our faith in God. Some Believers feel that if you are not prosperous, God is not with you or blessing you. Is it a sin to want or be blessed? The answer is simply no. As always, the sin lies in the motives of one's heart. It is easy to have false modesty and humility. We feel someone of wealth is to be avoided. They cannot be walking in total surrender. We believe that Christians should take a vow of poverty. None of these motives or philosophies are godly.
1 Timothy 6:10 teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil. Avarice of the heart causes wrong thinking, wrong actions and destructive behavior. Avarice is defined as an insatiable greed for wealth and riches. The desire is to be miserly and hoard wealth. In other words, if the desire to be blessed is to satisfy your base and evil urges, it is wrong. But, the word of God teaches in Psalm 67 the correct way of thinking. David begins by asking for God's mercy. He acknowledges the need in his life and the lives of others for the mercy of God. For we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. He understands that where there should be judgment and death, hold back your anger God and give us another opportunity to get it together. But, he doesn't stay there. He asks the Lord to bless him. He asks God to bless him in order that God will be glorified. Salvation will be known among the nations. God's character will be known to everyone. We will be His witness of His unfailing love and kindness. David asks to be blessed that he might be a blessing and bring glory to God.
Ministry requires wealth. Television stations cost money. Mission trips cost money. Food pantries require the purchase of food. Ministries do not function on good intentions. Yet, can God trust you with wealth? Can He place large sums of money in your hand with the expectation that you not only will give the tithe which is holy, but you will give offerings. Will you give from His heart? Will you give out of your abundance and your need? Will you give as He leads? Will you open your home to the homeless? Will you provide rides to those without cars or bus fare? Will you feed the hungry, the sick and the suffering? Will your hands be His hands and your heart His heart? But you say I need money to live. Yes, we need money to live in this world. Believers are in this world, not of this world. Our desire should always be to bring the Kingdom of God to those who do not know our Father. If your hand is closed, you cannot give or receive. If you open your hand, God can bless you as you are a blessing.
Come up from wrong thinking. Understand He is able to provide for you. Begin to trust Him. Begin to trust Him in your finances and resources. Trust Him to provide enough that you will have some to share with those not under His umbrella of provision. Bless those who are standing in line at the supermarket. Don't let them pay with bill money or stamps. Give a car to a single mother. Buy clothes and school supplies for an entire family. Give a ride to that person standing at the bus stop. Pay someone's bill who cannot imagine how it will be paid. Give liberally to ministries that are breaking ground and planting seeds of mercy. As you begin to bless others, tell them Yahweh loves you. Tell them they are not forgotten. Tell them the Kingdom of God has come to them this day.
For the choir director: A song. A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him. Psalm 67
- Determined Focus
1 Timothy 6:10 teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil. Avarice of the heart causes wrong thinking, wrong actions and destructive behavior. Avarice is defined as an insatiable greed for wealth and riches. The desire is to be miserly and hoard wealth. In other words, if the desire to be blessed is to satisfy your base and evil urges, it is wrong. But, the word of God teaches in Psalm 67 the correct way of thinking. David begins by asking for God's mercy. He acknowledges the need in his life and the lives of others for the mercy of God. For we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. He understands that where there should be judgment and death, hold back your anger God and give us another opportunity to get it together. But, he doesn't stay there. He asks the Lord to bless him. He asks God to bless him in order that God will be glorified. Salvation will be known among the nations. God's character will be known to everyone. We will be His witness of His unfailing love and kindness. David asks to be blessed that he might be a blessing and bring glory to God.
Ministry requires wealth. Television stations cost money. Mission trips cost money. Food pantries require the purchase of food. Ministries do not function on good intentions. Yet, can God trust you with wealth? Can He place large sums of money in your hand with the expectation that you not only will give the tithe which is holy, but you will give offerings. Will you give from His heart? Will you give out of your abundance and your need? Will you give as He leads? Will you open your home to the homeless? Will you provide rides to those without cars or bus fare? Will you feed the hungry, the sick and the suffering? Will your hands be His hands and your heart His heart? But you say I need money to live. Yes, we need money to live in this world. Believers are in this world, not of this world. Our desire should always be to bring the Kingdom of God to those who do not know our Father. If your hand is closed, you cannot give or receive. If you open your hand, God can bless you as you are a blessing.
Come up from wrong thinking. Understand He is able to provide for you. Begin to trust Him. Begin to trust Him in your finances and resources. Trust Him to provide enough that you will have some to share with those not under His umbrella of provision. Bless those who are standing in line at the supermarket. Don't let them pay with bill money or stamps. Give a car to a single mother. Buy clothes and school supplies for an entire family. Give a ride to that person standing at the bus stop. Pay someone's bill who cannot imagine how it will be paid. Give liberally to ministries that are breaking ground and planting seeds of mercy. As you begin to bless others, tell them Yahweh loves you. Tell them they are not forgotten. Tell them the Kingdom of God has come to them this day.
For the choir director: A song. A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him. Psalm 67
- Determined Focus
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