Trusting God for Provision

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16 NIV)

In our era an culture, this struggle for money is perhaps the greatest temptation and deception we face.  Our entire economic system tells us that we own what we have, we earn everything we own, and the more we own the better.  God's system tells us that God owns everything we have, we are entrusted what we have, and the more we have means managing more on God's behalf.  Our whole mindset and approach to money encourages pride (it's mine) and boasting (look at what I have).

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV)

In God's system, more stuff simply means more responsibility before God.  Wealth is not a sign of success.  It's simply a piece of your ministry.  God gives you money do you can do God's work.  When you see God face to face, you won't be asked, "How much did you make?"  You will be asked, "How did you use what I gave you?" 

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10 NIV)

Money is a deeply spiritual issue.  If it were not, why would people be attacked so fiercely over it?  Talking about money in church immediately sends up defense systems.  People are convinced that churches only want their money.  We get angry, frightened, worried, defensive, controlling and a whole other host of other negative feelings when we think about finances.  We don't trust God.  We don't look at it God's way.  So, we pierce ourselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12 NIV)

How about you?  Do you trust God for provision?  Do you pursue money as a goal or receive it as a responsibility?  Do you ask God how to use what God has provided?  Do you trust yourself and pursue money or do you trust God and pursue a walk with Him?