Deuteronomy 14:28, 29  “At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all your work.” (NLT)

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God’s charge to Abraham is carried out by his many children, including us. (See Genesis 12:1-3.) We are blessed to be a blessing. We are not blessed to hoard wealth but to earn it, give it, save it, invest it, and make wise spending decisions. 

When we master our money and manage it in a manner that honors God and serves others, we protect ourselves and others from destitution. 

“There should be no poor among you, for the LORD your God will greatly bless you in the land he is giving you as a special possession. You will receive this blessing if you are careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today.” (See Deuteronomy 15:4 and 5.)

Don’t miss verses 6-11 in this same chapter. Pay close attention to verse 11 which says, “There will always be some in the land who are poor.”

Why are there some people who are always poor? This may be due to one or several reasons. 

Some people choose not to do the work necessary to earn all they can. Others work and earn but give away so much so carelessly that they can no longer provide for themselves. Some people choose not to plan ahead for the inevitable challenges of life. Some people repeatedly make poor spending decisions. 

Through no fault of their own, some people find themselves destitute and dependent on others. They have no desire to stay in that state and are willing to do whatever is necessary to escape poverty. Many foreigners emigrate to wealthy nations to provide better lives for their families. 

As far as it depends on you and me today, as we live under God’s abundant blessings, we should not live impoverished lives. To protect ourselves, our families, and to bless others, a regular checkup is in order.

* Are we earning all we can in an honorable manner?
* Are we giving all we can in obedience to God’s directions?
* Are we saving all we can so that we are always able to provide for our families and assist others where help is really help?
* Are we making wise financial decisions daily and regarding long-term, big-ticket items?

What are you doing today to honor God with the abundance he offers so that we can abundantly bless others?

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I will manage money in a manner that honors God and serves others. 

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Our Father, many of us are richer than kings of old. We live better than the vast majority of people in this world will ever achieve. Empower us to follow John Wesley’s wise guidance as we earn all we can, give all we can, save all we can, and make wise spending decisions. Deliver us from becoming unnecessary burdens on others. Use us to serve others with the wealth you entrust to us. Amen.