I think that today's Faith To Faith devotional by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland goes along very well with our SWC series on "Money Matters"! Here's a portion of it:
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
– Colossians 3:2
Things, things, things! A better job. A bigger house. New clothes for the kids. Tomorrow's luncheon date. A better television. Get the picture?
Many of us have learned to believe God to prosper us to such a degree that we have too much to keep up with. We end up spending so much time and energy taking care of the legitimate "things" of life that we unconsciously give the attention and affections of our heart over to this natural world instead of to God.
When Kenneth and I first heard about living by faith, we were in desperate circumstances. We were sick and broke, so it was easy for us to dedicate ourselves to prayer and to the Word. But as we honored God's Word, He honored and prospered us. We came to the place where we were no longer desperate. Then came the real test of our faith. Would we serve God out of our love for Him instead of our desperation?
Well, praise God, we did. But in the process we found out one thing: It takes a lot more dedication to serve God when you're prosperous than it takes when you're desperate! There's a constant temptation to get so caught up in the earthly things that your desire for the things of God fades into the background.
As the material blessings of God come your way, remember, God has not trained you in His Word so you can consume it on your own lusts. He has revealed His Word to you so you can walk in the Spirit and do the job He's called you to do.
Don't let the things of this world cause you to miss out on the glorious things of the Spirit. Get your priorities in line with God's Word. Set your mind on things above, and you'll discover just how heavenly life was really meant to be
We have seen many times over the course of the almost 32 years of The Spoken Word Church that someone will come to us in need of a job or some other financial or healing miracle. They are taught and trained in the Word of God and become a diligent DOER of the Word. Then, when the blessings begin to manifest and things are not so desperate, they slack off of their diligence in the Word and in the things of God. They begin to miss a service here and a service there until they are no longer coming at all! DO NOT allow that to happen to YOU! Remember, it is knowing the Word that sets you free, and continuing in the Word that KEEPS you free - in every area (John 8:32)! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Search My Heart":
Shalom in Him!
