Focus on Faith! Week 3:Focus Our Finances

Week 3: Focus Our Finances
Five minutes with God each day
 
Monday: Psalm 24:1 reminds us that “the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.” This runs counter to our culture which says that we own our “stuff”: our homes, cars, finances, even our lives. How might God remind you today that all you have, and all you are, belongs to God?
 
Tuesday: In 1 Timothy 6:17, Paul reminds us that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” This day, thank God for all the gifts that God provides you: a warm place to live, healthy food and drink, the breath you take in each moment, even your life itself. How might you live this day in gratitude?
 
Wednesday: Paul addresses 1 Timothy 6:17-19 to “those who in the present age are rich.” Do you think of yourself as rich? Compared to whom? Give thanks to God for your “riches” today. (By the way, our culture is extremely good in making us think we are not rich. But compared to the rest of the world, we certainly are rich: go to www.globalrichlist.com for some perspective.)
 
Thursday: In Deuteronomy 26:2, the Israelites are told that when the time of the harvest begins, they are to take “some of the first of the fruit of all the ground” and present it as an offering to God. How might you give from the “first fruits” of what you receive? How would this differ from giving “last fruits”? Would it make a difference in how much you were able to give?
 
Friday: In 1 Timothy 6:18, Paul encourages us to be “generous and ready to share.” What does generosity look like in your life? Is it giving a tithe, 10% of your income? Is it more than that? Ask God to help you be generous this day, so that you may “take hold of the life that really is life” (1 Timothy 6:19). Thank God for the generosity of Jesus, who gave his very life – everything – for you.
 
Saturday: This day, as you spend Sabbath time with friends and family, consider giving from a longer perspective. How might God want you to give, not just from your regular income, but from your assets? Your estate? To what causes might God want you to give? How might you leave a legacy of generosity for your loved ones?

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