Deuteronomy 8:12-13,17 (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.’
It is important for us to acknowledge that everything we have is a blessing from God and that we are stewards of His resources. Otherwise, we will become proud, boastful, and entitled. Pride leads us to become self-centred and believe we are self-made, drawing us away from God. If we begin to trust in the riches we possess, we will think we don’t need God since we lack nothing. We will pursue riches, cultivate greed, and come to love money, which will lead to many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).
Instead, we should put our trust in God. God wants us to trust Him wholeheartedly, especially with our finances, because money can easily become an idol in our lives. God is never against the riches that He has provided for us, but He is against money turning into an idol in our lives. He is a jealous God who wants us to love Him wholeheartedly.
God is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. As our covenant partner, God is obligated to share His wealth with us when we are in need. Therefore, our God shall supply all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Jesus left the riches of heaven to dwell among us so we may be rich and well supplied. Adam and Eve were abundantly supplied prior to the Fall. Lack and poverty are curses that came with the fall of mankind. The land was cursed, and man had to toil to produce. Therefore, poverty is not a blessing, nor is lack a virtue. Instead, Godliness with contentment is a virtue (1 Timothy 6:6).
Provision was restored after Jesus became a curse for us on the cross. Hence, the Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to give willingly and joyfully—to excel in giving. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Light, who does not change like a shifting shadow (James 1:17). If we can look after our children and ensure that they are adequately supplied, how much more will our Heavenly Father ensure that we are well provided for in life!
Reflection: What does my current level of generosity reveal about what I truly trust?
Sermon Series： Is Money Evil?
信靠耶和华以勒——我们的供应者
申命记 8:12–13,17 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……你就心里说：‘这货财是我力量、我能力得来的。’
我们必须承认，我们所拥有的一切都是从神而来的祝福，而我们只是祂资源的管家。否则，我们就容易变得骄傲、自夸，甚至产生理所当然的心态。骄傲使人以自我为中心，误以为自己是“白手起家”，从而渐渐远离神。当我们开始倚靠所拥有的财富时，便会觉得自己一无所缺，不再需要神；于是追逐财富，滋养贪婪，甚至爱上金钱，而贪财乃是万恶之根，会带来许多愁苦（提摩太前书 6:10）。
相反，我们当单单信靠神。神渴望我们全心信赖祂，尤其在金钱的事上，因为金钱极容易在生命中成为偶像。神并不反对祂所赐下的财富，但祂反对金钱在我们心中取代祂的位置。祂是忌邪的神，渴望我们专一爱祂。
神是“耶和华以勒”——我们的供应者。作为与我们立约的神，祂在我们有需要时，必按祂的应许供应我们。因此，“我的神必照祂荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里，使你们一切所需用的都充足”（腓立比书 4:19）。
哥林多后书8:9 你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典：他本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因他的贫穷可以成为富足。
主耶稣离开天上的荣耀与丰富，来到世上与我们同住，使我们在祂里面得着真正的丰富与供应。在堕落之前，亚当和夏娃原本拥有充足的供应。缺乏与贫穷，是人类堕落之后所带来的咒诅；地受了咒诅，人必须劳苦才能得出产。因此，贫穷并非祝福，缺乏也不是美德；真正的美德乃是“敬虔加上知足的心”（提摩太前书 6:6）。
当耶稣在十字架上为我们成为咒诅时，供应也因此得以恢复。所以，使徒保罗劝勉哥林多教会甘心乐意地奉献，在施予上更加卓越。各样美善的恩赐和全备的赏赐，都是从众光之父那里降下来的；在祂并没有改变，也没有转动的影儿（雅各书 1:17）。如果我们尚且懂得照顾自己的儿女，使他们得着充足的供应，我们的天父岂不更会看顾我们一生的需要吗？
反思：
我如今的慷慨程度，显明我真正信靠的是什么？
讲道系列：金钱是邪恶的吗？