Lockdown 2

One of the greatest fears gripping people’s hearts in this hour is financial fear. Stock markets around the world are crashing. Lockdown has forced people out of their jobs, cutting off their income. Businesses are having to shut their doors. And fear, worry and anxiety are running rampant as a result.

I do not want to be insensitive to the hardships and sufferings that people are going through but focusing on the problem is not going to help anyone. We need to focus on promises, not problems in this time. Pondering on the problem’s breeds fear; meditating on the promises of God breeds faith. So, let us receive faith for finances.

Matthew 6:25-27 NKJV
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

These are the words of Jesus, Who is the Word made flesh. And He didn’t say these words in the form of a suggestion. This is more of a command. Do not be anxious or concerned. Do. Not. Worry. And what was He saying that we are not to be worried or anxious about? Our needs and how they are going to be met. We need not to worry about our needs.

Today our needs, and how they are met, are directly linked to money and finances. And so, Jesus might as well have said: “Do not worry about money…” He goes on to advocate birdwatching instead of worrying. Birds neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. They don’t work. They don’t have jobs. Birds don’t care for making a living. They don’t even participate in the law of sowing and reaping – giving and receiving. They don’t give a cent to the church or to the poor. They don’t have savings accounts either. They don’t even have a pantry or a refrigerator.

All of the things that we think of as essential to getting our needs met have no place in the life of a bird. If birds were humans, then we would think that they were liable to starve to death. And yet, our heavenly Father feeds them! God takes full responsibility for meeting their needs. Birds don’t try to meet their own means.

There is no such thing as a “bread winner” in their circles. There are only “bread receivers”. They don’t make a living, they simply live. They don’t give (so, surely, they shouldn’t receive?), but our heavenly Father still provides for them. They don’t save up in preparation for hard times, and yet they are never without.

I haven’t seen a single bird stressing or worrying in this time. Actually, I was just outside, and they were chirping away, as happy as can be, making a joyful noise unto the Lord. They may not know where their next meal is coming from, but they are at complete rest and ease because our heavenly Father feeds them.

And now here is the punchline: “And are you not of more value than they?” You are far more precious and far more valuable than a bird. Jesus didn’t lay down His life for the birds. He did it for you. God sent Him to pay the highest price for you, demonstrating once and for all your true value and worth.

Romans 8:32 NLT
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Other translations ask the question this way: How will He not freely give us all things? How? It implies that it is impossible. It is outrageous to think that God would give up Jesus for you, but then not give you food or clothing. If He feeds the birds, then how much more will He do for you?

Matthew 6:28-30 NLT
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Flowers are even more helpless than birds. They cannot even walk or fly. They are even more incapable of looking after themselves than the birds. And yet again, our heavenly Father takes care of them. How much more will He take care of, and look after, you?

Your job is not your source. Your employer is not your source. And neither is the stock market. God Almighty – Creator of the Universe, Possessor of Heaven and Earth – is your source. And He shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by, with and through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19). Hallelujah!

God wants to provide for you according to His riches in glory. According to His wealth in heaven! I can promise you that there is no Coronavirus in heaven right now (nor will there ever be). No stock market in heaven has crashed. The word recession is not even part of heaven’s vocabulary. Abundance is all that is known in heaven.

The thief (the devil) may be coming to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus has already come to bring life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). Who are you going to yield to? Fear is yielding to the devil which results in destruction. Faith is yielding to Jesus which results in abundance. God once gave the Israelite’s this choice:

Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

I love how God gave them the two options and then even told them which to choose. What a deal! Well, a choice is set before us today too… Life or death. Blessing or cursing. Abundance or lack. Faith or fear. Peace or worry. Victory or defeat. I believe the Lord’s still, small voice is whispering to you: “Choose life. Choose blessing. Choose abundance. Choose faith. Choose peace. Choose victory!”

God is not limited in this time. Jesus once multiplied five loaves and two fish in order to feed 5 000 men. And that was not a freak incidence. He did a similar thing a second time. And another time He paid taxes by telling Peter to catch a fish, open its mouth and use the money that he found there (Matthew 17:27).

God fed the Israelite’s with manna – “the bread of heaven, “angels’ food” – for 40 years. He even commanded ravens to provide Elijah with bread and meat twice a day during a time of his life when he was isolated and alone, with no one else around (1 Kings 17:4-6). We could go on and on… But I will end with Jesus’ concluding instructions in His financial faith-building teaching:

Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Stay encouraged 🤗

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Peter

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Lockdown 2 – Faith For Finances