The True Value of Money

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:9, 10.
This scripture teaches that God, as the giver of all our benefits, has a claim upon them all; that His claim should be our first consideration; and that a special blessing will attend all who honor this claim.
Herein is set forth a principle that is seen in all God’s dealings with men. The Lord placed our first parents in the Garden of Eden. He surrounded them with everything that could minister to their happiness, and He bade them acknowledge Him as the possessor of all things. In the Garden He caused to grow every tree that was pleasant to the eye or good for food; but among them He made one reserve. Of all else, Adam and Eve might freely eat; but of this one tree God said, “Thou shalt not eat of it.” Here was the test of their gratitude and loyalty to God.
So the Lord has imparted to us heaven’s richest treasure in giving us Jesus. With Him He has given us all things richly to enjoy.
God … entrusts men with means. He gives them power to get wealth….
Our money has not been given us that we might honor and glorify ourselves. As faithful stewards we are to use it for the honor and glory of God. Some think that only a portion of their means is the Lord’s. When they have set apart a portion for religious and charitable purposes, they regard the remainder as their own, to be used as they see fit. But in this they mistake. All we possess is the Lord’s, and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it. In the use of every penny, it will be seen whether we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God’s children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked…. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ.
The Faith I Live By p. 160
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Prayer Requests
—-update—My neighbor Alvin passed away Friday evening. we were all relieved ALS is not a very good illness. to go through. thank you for the prayers. M
—-I received sad news this morning from my family in Colorado that my Cousin, Dennis, lost his wife, Ria, to Cancer. Ria was a wonderful woman that possessed the fruits of the Spirit and was loved by all her family and friends! Please pray for Dennis and all that are grieving her loss. Joyce
—-Prayers for safe travels on Tuesday night please. Lyra
—-Please pray for Mike. He’s working a double shift today. Eileen
—-Please pray for my son Chris. He is falling apart mentally , spiritually and physically. I am afraid for his life. Kay
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Dear Friends,
Many years ago, Ron and his brother, Dennis, learned how to scuba dive. Having those tanks of compressed air strapped to their backs opened up a whole new world to them and gave them many hours of enjoyment. The two brothers had their own likes and dislikes, however. Dennis enjoyed the feeling of “floating” suspended between the river bottom and the water’s surface, so he spent most of his time swimming around. Ron enjoyed carefully examining the river bottom and would find various artifacts. They both enjoyed looking at fish and turtles, and any other thing that they could see in the Tennessee River’s murky waters.
Those compressed air tanks helped me too. When the pollen and mold counts were high and I would be feeling really miserable, Ron would let me breathe from the tank. When he first suggested it, I thought that he was kidding, but I was willing to try anything. As I breathed in that pure air, I began to feel better. Since there was no pollen or mold in that tank, I got some needed relief from my allergies. From then on, Ron kept his scuba tank filled. Whenever I had an especially bad day, I knew exactly what to do to get relief.
Just as the allergens around me made me miserable, so the “allergens” of this sinful, old world can cause us to be sick and weary of life. How often we long for some relief from the things that are happening all around. We long for deliverance from the troubles and trials that we or our loved ones are experiencing.
Praise God! There is relief just as real as the relief I experienced when I breathed that pure air. Prayer has been called the “breath of the soul” and so it is. As we lift our heart and voice to the throne above, we feel a relief from our cares, from our sorrows, from our heavy burden of sin. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Paul admonishes us, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17 This is our only safety. As we keep our focus upon our Great Redeemer, the troubles and trials are not so overwhelming. We find strength to carry on.
Often times Jesus “continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12 If our Dear Saviour, the Pure and Holy Son of God, felt the need to pray, how much more should we, who are weak and sinful, lift our voices to the only One Who can help us. Jesus tells us, “Pray that ye enter not into temptation.” “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 22:40; 21:36 “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:24-26 When we focus upon our Glorious Redeemer, our attitudes and motives will come into line with His will for our life. When we keep our heart uplifted to our Loving Heavenly Father, there is no place for sin to dwell there. As we breathe the pure atmosphere of the Heavenly Kingdom , we have no desire for the sinful pleasures of this world. As the chorus goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.”
How wonderful it would have been to be able to hear one of Jesus’ prayers. His disciples had that privilege. It made them long to be able to pray as He did. One day, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Jesus gave them a blueprint, a simple prayer having elements that they were to include in their own prayers. They were to lift their voice in praise to God, desire His kingdom, be submissive to His will, ask for Him to fulfill their daily needs, acknowledge their sins and be forgiving themselves, ask for guidance and again remember to praise the One from Whom all blessings come. Jesus taught them, ” After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matt 6:9-13
May we, moment by moment, keep our hearts uplifted to the Majesty on High. May we continually meditate upon His Holy Word, that sin will not have dominion over us. May we ever praise the Lord for His great love and mercy to us is my prayer.
Rose