Nobody prays to be poor, we know
that, and some people who are poor today became poor as a result of diverse
things.
Some people became poor by their
reckless spending, while some others became poor as a result of choices they
made (especially, during their youthful ages).
As a Christian, in this generation,
to be poor is to be vulnerable to various temptations and ridicule – that could
force you into doing dirty things.
The Bible, itself, recognises money as a security. “For wisdom is a defence,
and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth
life to them that have it”. Eccle 7:12.
Money matters in all
things
It not a form of mockery but for us,
in our organisation, we do not covet the gift of suffering (financially or
otherwise). There is nothing wrong when you suffer for the gospel, but
suffering because there is no money to: eat, buy your wears, take care of your
body/health, do the works of ministry or get the basic things of life – is
totally unacceptable to us, and we cannot covet it.
Without money, you will be forced to
accept whatever people drop on the table for you, and then, you will be making
statement like ‘I have no choice’. For God’s sake, you got a choice – in fact,
choices.
As a man or woman, you are
responsible for giving your family, especially children, a befitting standard
of living, without apology, but you cannot do that if you were poor.
Many families
struggle with a variety of financial issues that range from whether to pay
allowances to their children to whether they should charge their grown children
to live at home.
Just as there is no
single personality that fits all children, there also is no single financial
answer that fits all situations. One child may hoard and save money to the
point of stinginess; another may spend every dime on frivolities. Sounds like a
lot of adults, huh? That’s because kids turn into adults—for better or for
worse.
God’s Word tells us
that if we train our children in the ways of the Lord they will not soon depart
from it. And the results of God’s way are peace, happiness, and successful
marriages.
The Word promises
that if we don’t train them they’ll end up in debt, depressed, and divorced.
It’s really our
choice. Let’s help our families succeed.[1]
How to avoid being
poor as a Christian
from: bahaiteachings.org
Whether to be poor or rich depends on
the choices of the individuals. Some people take pleasure in their predicament:
they like people to be giving them money to eat: they desire not to work, and at
the same, desire to enjoy the fullest of life.
Sometimes, some people will say that
‘they receive a call into ministry’ and the next thing they do – is to resign
from their employment.
Please, if God does not clearly tell
you to leave your employment – you are not to leave. The works of the ministry
is so tedious that you need money to do a slightest thing. You cannot afford to
be poor.
Somebody was giving an illustration on
the people that leave their employment and said, “If you leave your employment because
you’re called into the ministry, you’re going to suffer. Except you come into
it with a large money but when your ministry is still striving, you don’t go
out of employment – unless God tells you to”.
The solution is to find a job to do. If
due to the tediousness of your ministry – you cannot cope with your employment,
you can leave it to start your own business. In fact, as a minister – the best
form of work you can do is to be self-employed, which gives you the privilege
to call the shot (when necessary). It gives you the choices of how you want to
use your time.
The provost of LIFE Theological Seminary, Ikorodu,
Lagos, Dr. C. C. Orgu once said, “It’s not righteousness to be poor and
it’s not godliness to be rich. If you have the money use it” (quotations inferred).
We, therefore, advice you not to be
poor. Hence, you should do something about it, but you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour to have defined relationship with God. By that, you will be
able to know God’s plans for your life.
Please, say this prayer:
Thank you God because your grace has
found me right now. I confess that I am a sinner and that I could not save
myself. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour: grant me the grace to be yours – all my entire life. In Jesus name I prayed, amen.
Congratulations, please:
Get a copy of the Bible and read it daily.
Pray to God every day.
Join a church for your spiritual growth,
be a worker in that church.
Speak to your friends, colleagues,
and everyone you are privileged to meet about Christ (the message of God’s
love).
Live your life by the standard of
the word of God.
Shalom.
[1]Burkett,
Larry: Money Matters : Answers to Your Financial Questions.
