Dwight Fletcher | Money matters shouldn’t cause worry

Have you been considering lately how to get a better handle on your money? If you’ve been following this current series, then you know that we’ve been discussing how to apply God’s principles to our finances to get better results.

Many of us live in anxiety, stress and serious pressure when it comes to money and we may fall for the lie that God is only concerned with our eternal soul, but not our bank account. If that’s you, then hear me when I say that money matters to God. In fact, the Bible details many principles that relate to this area of life and when we operate under His directive, then we get the blessing He has promised.

Last week we covered that people who know God should operate differently than those who don’t when it comes to finances. We must be willing to make radical shifts in how we approach wealth and material things. Today, we’ll look at the fact that our money matters shouldn’t cause worry.

I know many of you would say, “Bishop, if you only knew the state of my accounts right now. There is no way I can live worry-free when it comes to my finances.” But remember, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are a part of the Kingdom of God and there are different benefits for those who are His. Jesus was making this point when He said in Matthew 6:25-26 (NIV), “ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

For citizens of the Kingdom of God we must make knowing God our priority and when we do, then worry is:

1.UNNATURAL

We are the only creation of God who worries. Yet, all of creation is kept running by God. If He provides for the birds He created, and we are more valuable than they are, we can trust Him to provide for us as well.

2.UNHELPFUL

Worry and fear do not produce anything worthwhile. The next verse in Matthew 6 is powerful. It says, “ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” ( Matthew 6:27 NIV). Worry saps you of energy and hope and makes you miserable. Our time and energy is better spent getting to know God and trust Him than worrying.

3. UNNECESSARY

God provides for His own and promises to take care of our needs. Numbers 23:19 (ERV) says that “ God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.”. Matthew 6:33 is one of God’s promises – that when we seek the Kingdom, all the things we need will be given to us as well. So, if He always does what He promises, why do we worry?

4.UNBELIEVING

When we are worrying and living in fear regarding money, as Kingdom citizens, we are acting as if God does not exist or He is a liar. It is that unbelief that hinders God’s best in our lives.

Our heavenly Father knows our needs and He will provide. However, it is our responsibility to live righteously. We must apply the principles of the Kingdom of God. By living according to the Kingdom rather than relying on our own wisdom, we give God the room to miraculously transform our circumstances.