1 Minute Daily Devotions
February 1, 2010
Discouragement Over Money
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:12-13
Several years ago - just after we returned from our Christmas break - I began to sort through the bills, a sobering experience indeed. First I paid the MasterCard bill and then my quarterly estimated state and federal taxes. This was followed by an exorbitant check for out-of-state college tuition, which had risen 17% that year. (At that point, I had that mental picture of a giant vacuum cleaner in the sky, sucking up all the money we had.) Then I checked on our retirement account, noting it had, for the third year in a row, dropped double digits. I began to have this very sinking feeling of despair coming over me. I must confess to you that I walked around really discouraged for a few days.
And then the Holy Spirit began to minister to me. It was like the Lord said, "Haven't you paid all your bills? Haven't I met all of your needs? Haven't I ALWAYS met all of your needs? What makes you think that after all these years of so-called spiritual maturity that I'm no longer going to meet your needs?"
Let me tell you something: that was very convicting. And then the Lord said to my heart, "Bryant, it never was yours in the first place. And whether you're riding high for one year and down in the dumps the next, that's My decision. It has always been My decision. It has never been yours. I'm just interested in you seeking to manage what I entrust to you, to the best of your ability, and trust Me with the rest."
Comments on this Devotion
From Barry Blakely on Feb 1st:
I really can't put into words how your Daily Devotions just seem to hit the "nail on the head". I've been out of a job for several months and I really...I mean really needed this. I know that God closes doors in our lives & then opens another. Thanks for your great work!
From Steve M on Feb 1st:
Amen !
From Brent B. on Feb 1st:
I too see my dwindling savings and have expressed concern before God. During a recent sermon, our pastor reminded us that one of the reasons that God didn't allow His people to store more than a days manna was that He knew that they would begin to worship the provisions rather than the Provider. Great devotion.
From Lizbeth on Feb 1st:
We have been through some trying times, for 3 years I walked to work to save bus fare and use it for food and believe me it was a lesson well learnt, I never gave up. I helped my husband through thick and thin and to-day I'm a better and wiser person.
From Grant on Feb 1st:
And another Amen to all the above. One other thing that has hit me right between the eyes is how much money I just frittered away on "stuff". When you have plenty, you can get very wasteful. It's a painful lesson that will stay with me for the rest of my life.