Financial Freedom in Christ

We are all striving and hoping to increase our savings. We are working hard to live debt free and we all have a desire to offer the best possible future for our children. There is absolutely nothing wrong with all of that. But since we are on a quest for financial freedom in Christ, let us dive deeper into what the Bible has to say about our Finances. 

The world economy is determined by many different factors like population, labor, infrastructure, trade and so on. Essentially, the global economy has its ups and downs. Investing in property, stocks and businesses cannot guarantee a future income. 

However, The Kingdom economy is always abundant and stable and functions on a different set of principles and is guaranteed to bring returns. Not because I say so, but because the Maker of Heaven and Earth says so. Unlike the Nation’s Economy, the Heaven’s treasury has no ups and downs. There is no recession, only abundance. 

 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel47:12

If we are operating by the Kingdom principles, then our source is Heavenly. There will be no dry spells. 

The Kingdom priniciples are:

1. Sowing and reaping.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

We reap in kind to what we sow. Those who plant apple seeds should expect to harvest apples.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9

2. Give and it will come back to you

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

It is like filling a cup with rice. if we tap that cup, the grains of rice will settle in the spaces like a game of tetris and we can fill a lot more in that cup. That is what it means by pressed down and shaken together. Not loosely packed but packed to the limit and overflowing. We have a generous Father in Heaven

So how can we give to Gods kingdom? 

1. This one is going to be an obvious one and it is giving money and giving it generously.
   Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops Honor the Lord with your wealth.
2.  Malachi 3:10-12“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

Luke 21:1-4 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all

2. Giving your talent/ gifting – Joseph was put in prison for no fault of his. He found a way to be a blessing even in his prison cell. He interpreted dreams for the cup bearer and the baker . His Gifting got him out of the prison into a very influential position in the kingdom. So if you don’t have money to give, maybe it is giving something you are good at. 

3. Serving -This is a story of Elijah and the widow. God instructed Elijah to go and stay with a widow. You would think that God would direct him to a rich widow. But God’s ways are different. God wanted this poor widow to give to Gods messenger so that He could richly bless her.

1 Kings 17:7-16 As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

Our Merciful father gave us His biggest treasure, for it says in John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosever should believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus’s mission on earth was to give, to Serve and to use his giftings and lay down His life for us. Because of His ultimate sacrifice, we can live an abundant life with direct access to God. No more mediators. Jesus stored up treasures alright. But not on this earth, where it will perish, but in Heaven, where it will be safe forever.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Solomon was the richest man in the bible and he had this to say, “In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle, Proverbs 23:5

C.S Lewis once said “I find in myself a desire that nothing can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that i was made for another world”

The sooner we realise that, the sooner we will experience financial freedom. Finally, A few verses to meditate on.

Matthew 6:28-33 ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.