Deuteronomy 8:12-13,17-18 (NKJV) Lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;…then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
In these verses, God reiterates that He was the one who gave the power to get wealth to fulfil the Mosaic Covenant with the Jewish people. God was not opposed to them being well-fed and living in beautiful houses because He was the source of their blessings. He is still blessing the Jews today even though many of them deny Jesus Christ as the Messiah because God’s covenant is continuous.
Similarly, it becomes an issue for us too when we start to think that we have gained power and wealth with our own hands. When life is good, our hearts will be lifted up, and we begin to think that we do not need God and can do whatever we like because we have money at our disposal and nobody dares to speak into our lives. God wanted them, and He wants us to remember that our blessings are the result of His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant with His people—the Christians of today—lest we forget that God is the source of all our provision and blessings.
God gave us the ability to obtain wealth so that He may establish His covenant. Everything is shared in a covenant relationship, including material goods and wisdom. God gladly provides for our daily necessities and gives us jobs or businesses to provide for our families based on the callings and gifts that He has given us, such as business acumen and skill sets. If God is truly our provider rather than people, we can remain steadfast and content in any circumstances because our trust is fully in Him. This strong foundation will ensure that we will not compromise with the world under pressure!
Mark 10:21 (NKJV) Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Even though Jesus asked the rich young ruler to give up his wealth to follow Him, salvation is not by works but purely by the grace of God so that no man can boast. Also, God doesn’t want us to have two masters but to trust in Him alone. Let us not be like the rich young ruler who failed the test of giving up his wealth and breaking the stronghold of his life. To ensure that money is not a stronghold in our lives, we must constantly remind ourselves that God is the source of our provision.
Sermon Series: Money – The truth shall set you free!
谨记上帝是我们供应的源头
申命记 8:12-13,17-18 恐怕你吃得饱足，建造美好的房屋居住， 你的牛羊加多，你的金银增添，并你所有的全都加增， 恐怕 你心里说：『这货财是我力量、我能力得来的。』 你要记念耶和华－你的 神，因为得货财的力量是他给你的，为要坚定他向你列祖起誓所立的约，像今日一样。
在这几节经文中，上帝重申祂才是赐予获得财富能力的那位，为要成就与犹太人所立的摩西之约。上帝并不反对他们丰衣足食、居住华屋，因为祂本是祝福的源头。即便今日许多犹太人否认耶稣基督是弥赛亚，上帝仍在祝福他们，因为祂的约是永续的。
同样，当我们开始以为财富和力量是凭自己双手获得时，问题就出现了。当生活顺遂时，我们的心容易高傲，开始认为不需要上帝，可以随心所欲，因为手握金钱，无人敢指责我们的生活。上帝当年提醒他们，今日也提醒我们：务要记住，一切祝福都源于祂信实地履行与祂子民——今日的基督徒——所立的约，免得我们忘记上帝才是所有供应与祝福的源头。
上帝赐予我们获取财富的能力，为要坚立祂的约。在盟约关系中，万物皆可共享，包括物质财富与智慧。上帝乐意供应我们日用所需，并根据祂赐予我们的呼召与恩赐（如商业头脑与技能），为我们提供工作或事业来养家。若我们真以上帝而非世人为供应者，就能在任何境遇中坚定不移、知足常乐，因为我们的信心全然在于祂。这坚固的根基能确保我们在压力下不与世俗妥协！
马可福音 10:21 耶稣看着他，就爱他，对他说：「你还缺少一件：去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。」
虽然耶稣要求富有的年轻官长变卖财产来跟随祂，但救恩本乎恩典而非行为，免得有人自夸。上帝不愿我们事奉两个主，而要我们单单信靠祂。我们切不可像那年轻财主，在放弃财富、打破生命枷锁的考验中失败。为确保金钱不成为我们生命的枷锁，当时时谨记：上帝才是我们供应的源头。
讲道系列：金钱—真理必叫你得自由！
Image Source：pixabay.com