Game on for God!

Devotion for today ... Proverbs 22:7

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender."

Borrowing money is not sinful in itself but the danger is that in borrowing we becomed enslaved by something that has a knock on effect to other areas of our life and it can take us down a slippery slope.  At this time of year particularly, we need to be wise in how we borrow and spend! 

Devotion for today ... 2 Cor 9:10-15

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.  Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Devotion for today ... 1 John 3:17

How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

If any disciple of Jesus has enough money to live well and yet doesn't help another disciple when they see them struggling to pay bills, buy food, etc, is God's love being shown in that person?  Acts 2:44-45 tells this of the early disciples:-

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Having wealth is not a bad thing but seeing a need and meeting it, because of our love for God and God's love for us, is a basic Christian principle.

Devotion for today ... 1 Pet 4:9-11

Be hospitable to one another without complaining.  Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.   Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ.  To him belong the glory and the power for ever and ever.

Amen.

Devotion for today ... Mark 10:21-22

Mark 10:17 says, "As he [Jesus] was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus answered him and verse 21 continues with:-

"Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’   When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Nothing should be more important than our relationship with the Lord!

Devotion for today ... Deut 28:8

^"The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."

Praise you Lord for your never ending blessings.

Devotion for today ... Proverbs 28:25

"Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity."

Trusting God enables us to lead the kind of life that rejects sin and strives instead for holiness, when we put God first.  In that way, we can prosper and not focus on the things of the flesh or of the world. 

Devotion for today ... Proverbs 28:27

^"Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse."

Even when we feel we have very little we usually don't need to look too far for someone more in need than ourselves.  Extreme poverty can be very evident but perhaps those struggling with little are able to conceal their poverty more easily.  That does not mean it is acceptable to ignore it.  We need to be sensitive to the needs of people and be discerning in how God prompts us to give.

Devotion for today ...'a tithe'

Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field.  In the presence of the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always but if, when the Lord your God has blessed you, the distance is so great that you are unable to transport it, because the place where the Lord your God will choose to set his name is too far away from you, then you may turn it into money. With the money secure in hand, go to the place that the Lord your God will choose; spend the money for whatever you wish—oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, or whatever you desire. And you shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your household rejoicing together.  (Deut. 14:22-26)

The tithe spoken of in this passage was never meant to be a legalistic ritual but something that facilitated celebration and feasting 'in the presence of the Lord' - no different to our communion celebration today.  So often we get caught up in the ritual rather than what it is to signify.  What is important here is that God's people were to share and eat together with the best of what God had blessed them with 'in the presence of the Lord', so that they may 'learn to fear the Lord always'.  This is a reverend fear - remembering that there is nowhere we can go to hide from God and nothing we can hide from him.  As the Psalmist reminds us, "Where can I go from your spirit?  Or where can I flee from your presence?" (Psalm 139:7).  We live our lives constantly in the presence of God and as we share and celebrate in his presence at all times we are giving of ourselves and all that God has given us - our gifts, our abilities, our time, our homes, our possessions and our wealth.

Devotion for today ... 'God first'

"Honour the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Prov. 3:9-10)

When we see all that we have as coming from God in the first place it is not that difficult to give a small part back for his purposes.  Honouring God as our first priority will focus our hearts and minds on what's important in life, and we will know God's divine blessing and provision.